My Private 8 Minutes With Sir David Frost

Very rarely do I open an email to find myself stunned with disbelief…

But that is exactly what happened in September 2011 when I received an email from Al Jazeera producers that Sir David Frost wanted to interview me for his show.

My immediate feelings were one of elation and fear at the same time.

Elation because I was excited at the prospect of being interviewed by a man I have admired for many years. Fear because I knew I had some homework to do! Let’s face it, I did not know what kind of questions David Frost was going to throw at me.

I remembered that this was after all the man who had interviewed ex-President Richard Nixon in one of the most iconic TV interviews of the last 100 years. The famous Nixon interview was later made into a movie called “Frost/Nixon” and has remained one of my all-time favourite films.

See also: My Top TV Moment #2: Richard Nixon’s Shocking 12 Words To Sir David Frost.

Anyway, I spent the next week preparing for the interview. I made a list of every possible question he could ask me. I imagined he was going to throw some “curve balls” my way.

One of the things I remember doing was calling up my agent and asking:

“How do I address him? David or Sir David?”.

“Call him Sir David, Alessio.” My agent replied. “You want to be polite and professional.”

Fast forward one week later and I am at Al Jazeera studios in Central London. I walk into a small room (I believe they call it the “Green Room”) where I watch on a TV screen Sir David interviewing the guest before me.

Then the make-up lady starts putting a heck of a lot of powder on my face. Just as well, I thought, because I was certain I was going to sweat on the show.

A few minutes later I am being escorted down to the main TV room where I can see Sir David putting his microphone back on. “Oh my God, this is it”, I thought.

I was most definitely nervous. But at the same time I was extremely excited because I was looking forward to the interview.

One of my friends had suggested that just before the interview starts, I ask Sir David the famous “Richard Nixon question”. David Frost remembers that during some “small talk” with Nixon about what they’d done the previous evening, Nixon asked him, “Did you do any fornicating?“.

I decided that that was not a question I was going to ask.

Here is a brief 5-minute video of my interview: Sir David Frost Interview With Shocking Trader Alessio Rastani.

After the interview finished, I had a feeling of great relief. It had gone far more smoothly than I had imagined in my mind.

I took off the tiny microphone and walked with Sir David to the exit doors. I don’t remember exactly everything we said to each other, but I do remember bringing up the subject of Richard Nixon.

“I watched your interviews with Richard Nixon. Absolutely fascinating.” I said.

“Yes that was a long time ago. Nearly over 30 years now”, Sir David replied.

I tried to bring some humour into the conversation, so I said:

“A friend of mine had suggested that I ask you the famous question that Richard Nixon asked of you just before filming. You know the one I mean…?” I said jokingly. I did not want to use the word “fornicating” in front of David Frost. I just hoped he would figure out what I was alluding to.

“Ahh yes”. He laughed. He didn’t say anything further about it so I left it at that.

Overall, my experience of Sir David Frost that day was one I will never forget. He seemed a truly genial and friendly man. I could imagine sitting and having a drink with him and talking about lots of fascinating subjects.

I heard him say that the one person he wished he could have interviewed in his TV career is a man who is no longer alive. When asked who that was, he said it was “Cyrus The Great” – the first King of Persia.

I find that interesting because my choice of people I wish I could have got to know better are also now long dead and gone…

Rest in peace Sir David Frost.

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