Gok Wan is embracing a brand new era. After turning 50 last September, the celebrity stylist and cook is trying a new medium – radio. Already a TV favourite through shows such as How To Look Good Naked, Say Yes To The Dress: Lancashire, Celebrity Gogglebox and on top of his cookery programmes he’s an accomplished author and panto star. Gok also became the new full-time host of Magic FM’s Breakfast Show alongside Harriet Scott in January, taking over from Ronan Keating who left in July 2024. And while he's only three months in, Gok is already having the time of his life, having met his ‘idol’ Gabrielle. Closer caught up with him to find out more…
How’s your 50th year going, Gok?
It’s amazing. I’m really enjoying it. I got very excited about turning 50 and I’m having lots of fun. There’s lots of new challenges. I lost my best friend to cancer last year, which was a huge shock to the system and that changed me a lot as a person. And so I feel like a different person in my 50th. I feel confident and strong, like I could take on the world now because I faced one of the scariest things that any human can ever face, which is loss. That makes 50 feel great.
Congrats on the show! How would your younger self feel about it?
He would be very proud and very excited. I never wanted to work in the media. I wanted to be a serious Shakespearean classical actor, so my younger self would have said, ‘What went wrong?’ But this slightly older version of me would have been very excited and said, ‘Bloody hell, that’s a big job!’ I don’t know whether I would have been ready for this in my 30s with the lifestyle change. 50 seems to be the right age for it.
How does it feel to step into Ronan’s shoes and wake up the country?
It’s big shoes to fill. I mean, it’s Ronan Keating the pop star and heartthrob! He was a massive part of the show – he developed the breakfast show with Harriet so I want to do a good job and continue giving the listeners what they want. A breakfast radio show is a huge, huge, rewarding job. This is a big challenge. It’s the first time in 30 years that I go to the same place every single morning.
How are you coping with the early starts?
I always wake up early. I’m an early bird but a night owl at the same time, and I’m having to be very strict with myself. I’ve never watched so many boxsets in my life! And so Mondays to Thursdays I’m at home having dinner really early with my dog [French bulldog Dolly] and watching TV. I was normally out raving and pubbing with my mates and that’s had to change, but it’s probably good for my liver!
What are your morning must-haves?
Two cups of tea, the first as soon as I wake up. I’ve got a Smart Kettle in my bedroom, set for 4:30am for my first cup. I’m a routine person so after I get ready, make my bed, sort the dog out, I sit down for another cup of tea and breakfast. I often bring breakfast in for the team because no-one else can cook!
Have you had to curb nights out?
I have. There’s been a couple of nights that I’ve wet the whistle and I probably shouldn’t have done. At 50, I can’t be doing early mornings in the week and then DJ all weekend and all the other stuff I’ve got on. It just wouldn’t work. That was part of the reason in taking this job, to see whether I could make those lifestyle compromises.
What’s on your playlist right now?
Beautiful Things from Benson Boone. It’s a great track and he looks amazing in a catsuit – just saying! I love all types of music, I’ve always been eclectic. Being a fashion stylist, I can’t be judgmental about anything so whether I’m listening to Madonna, Benson Boone, Tracy Chapman, Gabrielle or Kylie Minogue on the breakfast show, or playing tech house at the weekend, it’s all music because music is creative.
Are you on TikTok a lot?
Yeah, I’m an awful TikTok scroller. I will get into a loop for hours and hours. It keeps me awake at night, it consumes my brain. I have to limit myself to 10 minutes because I can mindlessly watch it for hours. I think, why have I just spent an hour watching somebody bake bagels? I already know how to bake them!
Listen to Gok Wan on Magic FM Breakfast Show, Mondays to Fridays from 6-10am