Sarah Greene has returned to television after nearly a decade away, anchoring the new game show The Finish Line.
Sarah, 65, was once a regular on Blue Peter, Saturday Superstore, and Going Live! When her husband Mike Smith died in 2014 at the age of 59, she naturally chose to go away from the spotlight.
Sarah opted to focus on taking over his business, Flying TV, when the Radio 1 DJ and Top of the Pops host encountered problems from heart surgery.
She described taking up the firm as a “huge endeavour” that took up “a lot of my thoughts.”
‘Offers of TV came in but for a long time I was trying to learn this new business but also feeling too raw,’ she explained.
She continued to The Mirror: ‘Only time can help that, you know when you feel ready, when you have that energy.’
Sarah ultimately agreed to participate in The Finish Line, a game show that tests players’ general knowledge. Speed is also vital as the five contestants compete to be the first to complete a ‘racing course’ and win the £5,000 prize cash.
The BBC series was the perfect reintroduction to the industry with Sarah saying of her experience: ‘This reminded me of how much I love working in television’.
Sarah has got no plans to take another break from TV, when asked if she’ll be doing more programmes she told the BBC: ‘Well, I would like to think so, I hope so. I’m watching this space really. Once this has started going out, there might be some things going on.’
One prominent show has already set its sights on her.
‘They’re desperate for me to do Mastermind and I just don’t know if I could cope,’ she revealed.
‘Too much pressure! But we’ll see. I said to them, if ever Clive [Myrie, the host] wants the day off, I’ll go in and I’ll ask the questions.’
Sarah also appeared as a guest presenter on This Morning for a short time.
For the time being, she is content with The Finish Line and has instantly bonded with her co-host Roman Kemp, 30.
‘I feel as though I’ve met him because I work with his parents [Martin and Shirlie Kemp]. So, I said, “I am your honorary godmother. You do know that, don’t you?”‘
The programme, which was shot in Belfast, also has a personal connection to Smith, who grew up in the city. While filming the show, Sarah felt “a couple tiny touches on the shoulder from him.”
Sarah also feels Smith is to blame for her current connection with former British touring car champion Robb Gravett.
‘He has undoubtedly been responsible for me meeting my beloved who was one of his oldest friends,’ she shared on the My Time Capsule podcast.
‘I sort of know Mike is pulling so many strings in my life.’
The Finish Line airs on BBC One at 4.30 pm on weekdays.