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Well done you. The fact that people came up to you at the end means they enjoyed it. I have to do a training day at work in a few weeks time which means standing up in front of a group of people. Not on such a grand scale as you but it will be a first for me and I’m bricking it already!

This was such a brave thing to do, I would be terrified at the prospect of having to talk infront of a few people, let alone a huge crowd at the Tate. Well done for getting through it, even if it didn’t go as smoothly as you’d hoped it sounds like everyone enjoyed it and they probably didn’t even notice the things that you thought went wrong! x

I would never have guessed you’d feel like this about public speaking, Bangs. It’s kinda reassuring!

I was hideously shy as a child and still carry that nervousness with me. Blushing is the thing that gets me. And that awful moment when your voice catches in the back of your throat. Yeah, THAT.

I think you did an amazing job. I cannot imagine anything more nerve-wracking than speaking at the Tate on a Saturday afternoon, but you did it and they loved it. High five! x

I bet you were utterly fabulous. What an amazing achievement. It is huge, anyone would be nervous, I’d be worried if you weren’t. Well done, you are right it’s about practice and gaining experience. Some of the world’s most incredible actors are nervous on stage and in front of the camera. It’s about taking the nerves and manipulating them into adrenalin and confidence. This takes time. Can’t wait to see this online. I’m very proud of you x

I wish I’d been there! You’re a confident, funny and gregarious person anyway, so this was always going to come across. People who do this for a living get the shits before going out in front of an audience; it takes BIG COJONES. You felt the fear and did it anyway. Bravo. x

Whether you did as well as you wanted to or not, the fact that you got through it and the audience warmed to you is an achievement in itself. I’m sure there will definitely be a next time, so hey at least you have something to ‘learn’ from. I’m proud of you hun xxx

First of all…well done on being asked to talk at the Tate. *clap clap* And second of all for getting up there and speaking, for feeling the fear and doing it anyway (cheesy, but true). *rapturous applause* I used to have to do public speaking a lot at school – hated it, but seemed to be a good bluffer. I kind of that would stay with me – not so! Recently I had to speak to a room full of business people about KP for 45 seconds (yup, 45 tiny seconds). They had a buzzer to cut people off who went over their allowance (nice eh?) Now I’ve lived and breathed this business for nearly two years…I could bore the shit out of anyone for as long as their ears could cope. But with a room full of ‘proper grown up business people’ when I still feel like a wee girl playing a game, and the fact that many were men who rolled their eyes (did they? Or was I paranoid?) at the mention of handbags and I just about managed 22 seconds, 11 of which were probably um’s and eh’s. It didn’t help that someone had to introduce me and nobody told me about that…so she pretty much covered everything I had planned to say. But we live and learn. For me, I realised it’s just not my thing – but one day I may have to get a grip, get used to it and get on with it. For you – firstly we’re always our own harshest critic and I am sure you were your natural fantastic self so no more giving yourself a hard time over one blip which you probably more than made up for. Secondly it’s great that you’re using this to push you to do it again and maybe do it better. We won’t improve if we don’t keep trying. Just like with running, you didn’t want to do it but you made yourself and look what you’ve achieved with that – both personally and with Team Bangs. It’s just one of the amazing things that makes you you so don’t go changing or any of that shit. Proud of you as always my love. x

That shit is scary, dude. Good on you for grabbing the bull by the horns, feeling the fear and doing it anyway. (And sorry I missed it!) I swear everyone feels terrified by this, even people who do it a lot. I admit, I am not afraid to speak in public, and yet whenever I do it I find myself shaking with adrenaline and nervousness and I can never work out why. I once went to a talk at the Tate Britain and they had Q&A at the end, and I found myself putting my hand up. I was all eager to talk, I knew what I wanted to say, and yet when I spoke into the mic it sounded like my voicebox had slipped into a hole underneath my chair. I was shaking like a leaf. Afterwards someone actually said “Bravo” but I felt like a puddle. Why does this happen? I’ve learned that deep breathing, reminding yourself “what’s the worst that can happen?” as well as “I’m only human”, and just going for it does help. And so does grinning (where appropriate of course)! Always remember that you will think you came across more nervous than you really did. We’re all in our heads comparing us to our imagined public-speaking ideals, but the audience is just…. listening. xx

I was also there on Saturday, and agree completely with Veiled Rebel. I was up in the front row so saw you start to panic, but I frequently have the same thing happen to me so I know how hard it is to keep going, and I really was impressed that you got back on track. If you can do that in the Tate with all those people and that damned camera in your face (I had to introduce Fiona Bevan myself earlier in the day, so I know how that sucked!) then you have made it through the biggest challenge. It felt very honest, the way you presented, and what you said- the crowd responded to that. By the way- I am a pretty good cook, although I started to wish that wasn’t the case during your talk