My wife is my first priority - Frank Edoho

Frank EdohoFrank Edoho, one of Nigeria’s most popular and admired television presenters of the game show; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, that keeps millions of people glued to their TV screens twice every week. The thirty-five -year-old indigene of Esit Eket in Akwa-Ibom State, who dreamt of becoming a star as a youngster, is happy that his dreams have come true. The husband of Catherine, herself a broadcaster and presenter, is a father of two children. He did not cut the picture of a star as he came across as friendly, down-to-earth and very humourous. Adia Ukoyen caught up with him at the studios while at work and it was his turn to be in the hot seat.

How did you get the role of anchor man for ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’?
It was through an audition organised in Lagos. First of all, they had a notice calling for a presenter and they asked people to send their scripts and materials. Unable to find what they were looking for, a second audition was called and I attended. I was up against established broadcasters, movie stars and I didn’t think I could do it.

I didn’t realise we were supposed to have memorised the script and when it was my turn, I had to quickly improvise. I guess it was my ability to compose and deliver under pressure that gave me the advantage. But if you ask me I wasn’t impressed with my performance, but I got a call that I was being considered with some others and that made me feel good.

I read a lot but I read with style. For instance, if I pick a novel and the story is set in Pakistan, I could learn a few things about the Middle East because the story will target the country by bringing in the landmarks. I read novels a lot and I watch movies a lot. If I should be modest, I would say ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ pays me better than any job I have done ever. I am comfortable, can cater for my family and that makes me happy. The show has affected my life positively, in the sense that it opens doors. I have business proposals or other business activities, and the image makes people easily feel comfortable with me. It is like they have a relationship with me; they see me every Friday and now on Sundays too, on TV, so, they call me and ask for what they can do. It is a good thing to have happened to me. As for finances, I get paid and do whatever I want to do. Courtesy of the job, I get a lot of goodwill and get to do other jobs like MCing. I do production work on the side and I am also trying to go into events. So all these add up. I have a couple of SUVs. I need three cars for my family not because I present the show but because when it comes to cars, I have to show that I am down. Believe it or not, what people look out for is not your ability to speak English or present the show well but what you have acquired doing what you do.

Before you got this job, what were you doing?
I was a radio presenter on Radio Nigeria, Metro FM. I used to present ‘Cruise Control’ at night. I loved that programme, I still do. I also used to do ‘Masculine Line’ where I was a male chauvinist. I was also a voice over artiste, I still am.

If asked to describe yourself, what would you say?
What you see on the TV that is me. Easy, jovial. At home my wife is always laughing. I am a family man and I am the same with my kids. I’m just that kind of person.

What will you do when ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ is eventually rested?
To tell you the truth, I don’t think millionaires will end. The programme may end but the way it has affected people even when it ends, five years later, people will still see me and say ‘I Want to Be a Millionaire’ You know people will still see me and say ‘I love your programme, how can I get in it’ and I would tell them the programme ended five years ago. I think I will still be doing my private business and that’s producing. I am a producer both for TV and radio. I also want to remain in entertainment, and there is nowhere else to go for me. I enjoy it; I will produce everything except Nigerian movies.

What are your hobbies?
I play video games. I also go to watch movies; I hang out a lot at the Galleria. If I’m staying at home, I like watching football. I’ve turned my wife into a football fanatic. I am a Chelsea fan and when I am not at home to watch the game; my wife does so on my behalf and gives me live commentary from the house.

How do you cope with the pressure from admirers, especially the female ones? What is the worst thing a female fan has done or said to you?
Well, thank God I’m married to a broadcaster. She understands, but she doesn’t understand that much. Also, as for the females, it is very disheartening; I’m sorry to say if they are reading this, but that’s just the way I feel. I don’t fall for their flattery. I mean I came to Lagos in 1999 and since then I have been on air. First DBN, then radio and now this, I cannot be flattered by the things they say. I mean the way they act is terrible. If a lady can look at an already made man and have the hots for him, come on, what about the guys out there that are trying hard to make things work and you don’t even see them? So I’m not flattered; I’m just friendly that’s all. Once, a lady called me and told me she wanted to have sex with me. Then, another time, as I was walking out of the studio, a lady just walked up to me and before I knew it, she planted a kiss on my lips. It was shocking because I did not expect it.

Do you tell your wife these things?
Yes. I told her the first one, but this; I will have to tell her now before she reads it.

How did you meet your wife?
I had always known her because I was friends with her three brothers. Then we met again at DBN TV, and became very good friends. We got into a relationship and got married in 2003. She is with the NTA and used to present the breakfast show, AM Express but she does not anymore.

Why?
I told her to relax for a while. I see her presenting other programmes than that. That is just basically a template programme. Nice show, though because it is all over Nigeria and very popular. But I think my wife could do other things like help me in my radio production projects.

How is it like being married to your wife? What is the nicest thing she has ever said to you and how does she deal with female admirers?
I am a married man and I am a family man; but I’m still a young guy and I make sure I feel like it. I like to look good and have a nice time. Many men make the mistake and feel because they are married they should become one grumpy husband that sits on the couch all day watching TV and waiting for his meal. No, I like to look good for my wife because if I don’t, one fine clean guy would come and try to sweep her off her feet. I have two children and they are adorable and we enjoy ourselves as much as possible. I really like to be friendly and youthful. As for the nicest thing she has said to me, there was a time I was on my way home and I called to tell her that I was round the corner. She came out to greet me and told me what a fantastic presenter I was. That was touching and flattering because my wife is not one to compliment me. She really made me happy that day. I talk a lot with my wife and so I am beginning to understand the female psychology. If a man wants a successful union with his wife, he needs to know the woman’s behaviour and begin to think like her. Whenever we are in public together, I try to share the limelight with her. As for female fans, I make sure they realise that she is a presenter as well, and a good one too. You will not believe the kind of attention I get from ladies but I control it because I wonder where these ladies were when I was just a struggling young man. When I look around, all I see is my wife who was the only lady there when I was growing so I owe her all the respect.

How do your parents deal with your fame?
They are very proud of me. My father didn’t want me to be an entertainer but my mother supported me all the way.

How many suits do you have?
I can tell you authoritatively that two weeks ago, my wife just packed a bundle of suits and put them in this carton that our refrigerator came in. These were the ones that I do not use often. She just pushed them aside and said we would try to see if I could get to use them again or maybe give them out because they are occupying lots of space. I have about a hundred and twenty suits; I am being modest of course. The problem with television in Nigeria is that because we are black, we have to wear dark colours. So I buy Italian cuts, English cuts; I like the Italian suits because they fit like a hand in a glove.

What are you most passionate about, style-wise?
Shoes, wristwatches, shirts, then natives, in that order.

What is your favourite food?
Hot steaming Affang soup. I don’t like it with pounded yam but with eba, and goat meat. I also love beans and dodo.

What is your guiding principle?
Imagine it and you can do it. It sounds like a cliché but it works for me. All you need is a little faith, a little bit of perseverance and the exclusion of wet blankets from your life; that is people that will discourage you. For once you are discouraged; it creates an iota of doubt that is enough to discourage you from the whole project. I have been into broadcasting since 1993 and the dividends only started paying off recently.

Recently you were in the news for dating Stella Damasus. How do you react to negative reports about yourself?
I do not reply reports which will only create avenues for more stories to be written. The truth is that I do not have anything to do with Stella. The only thing I have to do with Stella is that she is Kate Henshaw’s friend and Kate is a sister.

What is the worst report you have ever read about yourself?
There are two; that I beat my wife and two, that it was because of Stella I wanted to leave my wife. It was my wife’s birthday on May, 17th. That day I had a special recording of the show and later got invited to the Hush Party. So, I decided to take her there so we could spend some time together as she had taken friends out earlier in the day. Kate, Stella and other people happened to be at that party and we all sat together having fun. My wife tried to get me to dance but I wouldn’t. So what my wife did was to connive with Stella and Kate to get me to dance. Bimbo Akintola’s job was to get me to drink alcohol which I asked my wife about. My wife was even the one that showed me the story.

How did she feel?
My wife knows everything about me, well almost everything about me. She came and said to me; “your people are at it again, you have a new girlfriend”. We had a great laugh. It is just a pity because I have feelings for Stella that she is a widow that is one. And two, they keep writing all these things about her. How I know the truth about her is that this one is false. And because I have been roped in, I know that these people just write anything. My wife and I have been married for five years. We have had misunderstandings all based on what friends tell her about me even before Millionaire. But theses misunderstandings have only made us stronger and love each other more because she has been there for me. Today, as I was leaving the house, my wife was close to tears because for two days we had been together at home. I take care of my wife. Every woman should be envious of my wife. From clothes, to internet connection both on phone and laptops, to fuel in her car, anything she gets. My wife is my first priority. My wife is my investment. You take care of your wife you get blessed, no questions asked.

What is the biggest lesson that life has taught you?
Life has taught me to help at all times, that is just it. I pray to God to make me an instrument of help for those who really need to be helped.