Cast your minds back to the last issue, and you might remember our ‘website of the week’ - the wonderful Mark Roberts and his world of streaking. As promised, we contacted the world’s number one streaker for an exclusive interview.

As streaking or public nudity is something which a few students may try at some point in their University career, we thought it might be usefull to ask Mark for any advise he could give.

When we called Mark,  he was in the comfort of a Liverpool pub. Fully clothed (we assume!), Mark was really friendly, entertaining and had a great sense of humour (unsuprisingly!) He was full of hilarious stories, most of which can be found on his website:
 www.thestreaker.org.uk.
Where did you get your inspiration?

I was working behind a bar in Hong Kong in 1993, and there was a two-day rugby event on. Someone dared me to do it. At first, I thought it was a joke, so agreed. It was all ale-talk really. On the day, my friends dragged me down to the stadium, so I had to do it. There were 65,000 people there. I picked up the ball and scored a try... the crowd went mad! They loved it! I’ve never known anything like it, everyone was shouting, it was a phenomenal feeling. I did it purely by chance, I have a lot to thank the guy who dared me to do it for; I’ve had 9 years of adrenaline rushes. It’s a real buzz, after that first time, I had to continue doing it! I’m running out of ideas though.

How many streaks have you done?

199. About 45 of those were major streaks... at games, on T.V shows... It’s difficult to get tickets now though! (Laughs) I have to use aliases; most recently I went by the name Richard Slinger. I managed to get tickets to do my lottery streak under the name Dickie Winner.

What has been your greatest streaking achievement?

The Liverpool VS. Chelsea match a few Novembers ago... I came on to the pitch after half time, just before kick-off. Zola passed me the ball and I scored a goal!

Do you think streaking at sporting events is better than non-sporting events?

Sporting events are better, there are more people there - the more people the better the response. For that I was banned from football for 12 months! It led me to think of other ideas, like the weatherman streak... I jumped down onto the platform, and had to swim over to the island.

What do your friends and family think about it?
Everyone thinks I’m mad. Some of my friends won’t come out with me anymore because they’re scared that I’ll drop my pants - which I normally do after a few drinks! The other week I was in the pub, and I’d had a few. I saw a garage across the road, so I got naked and went through the car wash. It was one of those ones with the big rollers; I got sucked in and spat out at the end, gleaming. It was great.

At which point one of our housemates, Robert Serjeant (Geology and Oceanography 3rd year) runs past us naked! As usual he had failed to take a towel into the bathroom with him - his excuse is that ‘it will get wet’! (PLEASE STOP DOING THIS ROB!!!!!)

We explain this to Mark, and he suggests that he join the union of streakers...

I’ve decided to set up a union for streakers... its called GUTS (global union for streakers) it used to be called BUMS (British Union of Male streakers...)

Any plans or ambitions for future streaks?

I want to streak at the Superbowl or the Olympics. The Olympics would be good... they called Linford Christie the Lunch box... I could be the snack!

What are your future plans for T.V. / Sponsorship?

I’ve done lots of T.V shows all over the world, ever since the website started. I’ve done chat shows in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and lots of other places. I’ve got five major television appearances lined up. I’m appearing in the Mirror’s M magazine in a couple of week’s time. When I first stared doing the appearances, it was a bit intimidating. Sometimes the presenters get a bit funny with me, but now it doesn’t bother me. I just tell them ‘if you get funny with me, I’ll drop my pants and jump on ya.’ I normally do this at the end of the show anyway!

Did you go to University?
 
No, I went to college, but got kicked out. I was studying Dance and Drama, but I got kicked out ‘cause I kept swapping courses. I have no regrets though, if it hadn’t happened I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today. My whole life has led up to this career.

Is streaking a full-time career then, or do you have another job?

No I don’t have another job. Streaking takes up most of my time. The website is like a full time job. At the moment, I’m looking for someone to write a book... to be a ghostwriter and to tell my story. I do lots of interviews and things, so this takes up most of my time. I’ve just made some t-shirts too, which I’ll probably hand out to the police when I get arrested! It’s an unpaid full time job, so I’m up to my neck in debts and fines. I’ve given up on the fines though; I’d rather do the days.

There were 5 arrest warrants out for me once, so I decided to turn myself in. I went to the police station naked with a tie on, and a cardboard box on my head with eye-holes cut out. The police recognised me, and eventually sent me away!

What do the police think of your streaking? Do they see the funny side of it?

The police are great about it; they often shake my hand and congratulate me! If they won’t chase me, I don’t leave until they do - the audience loves the chase, so I have to do it. For example, I streaked at the Grand National, wearing a cowboy hat with ‘raw hide’ written on me arse. The police wouldn’t chase me, so I started shooting at them with my toy guns until they did!

What do you do when you’re not streaking?

Shave me arse, shave me legs, buff me Willy and go to the pub!

[Do you mind if we quote you on that?]
No not at all!

Is there any occasion you wouldn’t streak at?

I used to say that I wouldn’t do the royal family. But the jubilee’s coming up isn’t it, so who knows? Maybe I’ll have to change the rule!

How long do you intend to continue streaking?

Until it falls off from frostbite!
It does get very cold - when I’m running it always looks cold!
But seriously, I have no intention of giving it up in the near future. As long as people are still encouraging me, I’ll carry on doing it. I love the way people treat me.

Any final comments?

Well... I should just tell you about the time I went on the ‘Vanessa’ show. I was in the audience, in my Velcro suit, whipped it off, ran up to Vanessa and shouted ‘Come on fatty!’ She just panicked. Her security guards grabbed hold of me and through me in to the nearest back stage area, which just happened to be her dressing room. So, I was standing there naked, waiting for the police at arrive, and I spotted one of her bras lying about. It had to be done - I put it on. It was HUGE! It was so big I put my feet through it and put it on me arse! I was still wearing it when the police came to arrest me. They asked me what I was doing, and I just said, ‘I’m having a laugh’. That’s what it’s about.
She didn’t even let me keep the bra.

On that note, we said a fond farewell to Mark, who reminded us to look out for future T.V appearances, and to check his website for the forthcoming video...

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