Charlie Kristensen is a ten-year-old budding presenter who won over the hearts of the West End theatre industry last year after launching his #CheerUpCharlie campaign.
In order to help others, Charlie spoke about his traumatic experiences while being bullied and the support he received afterwards. He’s always dreamed of being a television presenter and we’re so excited that he’s taken those first steps towards it by launching a series of lockdown interviews with some of your fave stage and screen stars!
The chat show is supported by The Theatre Café, and it is hoped that most interviews will be recorded there when it becomes possible. They will be shared on Charlie’s YouTube channel, Musical Chairs with #CheerUpCharlie! where he will be talking to guests about their own experiences of being bullied. In Charlie’s own words he also asks a mix of “fun, interesting and serious questions” about their life and work.
Actor Sam Retford with Charlie Kristensen. Sam Retford said: Charlie is “one of the most intelligent, charismatic and talented people I have ever met”
Charlie said: “I love speaking to people and I know that by sharing their experiences of bullying and how they overcome it we can start to make a change. I want everyone to associate #CheerUpCharlie with acceptance and feel confident in just being themselves. The world is full of different people, with different talents and in my eyes that is what makes the world an exciting place. If me talking to people helps just one person then we are doing the right thing. I want to talk to everybody as talking makes it all okay.”
The budding presenter has set up several interviews with actors, musicians and visual artists from the UK and USA and his recent interview with actress Amanda Henderson (star of Casualty) has already hit nearly 6,000 views. In addition to interviewing actor Matt Lucas, Charlie was even invited to do a duet with him singing The Baked Potato Song in support of NHS workers, a video which has received 100k views on Twitter.
Other guests in the Musical Chairs line-up include Iain Armitage, Luke Bayer, Daniel Boys, Kerry Ellis, Dominic Ferris, Jacqueline Hughes, Irvine Iqbal, Nathaniel Morrison, Nadim Naaman, Will Poulter, Sam Retford, Gaby Roslin, Nina West, Nathan Wyburn and Michael Xavier, with many more planned.
As if this wasn’t isn’t exciting enough, future plans for Charlie and his #CheerUpCharlie campaign, with the support of his West End friends, include a special fundraising show and a musical theatre video. Watch this space, and in the meantime, check out his YouTube channel below for some feel-good stagey interviews!