Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. Mine have as ever been very busy and involved lots of fun things. I have still been doing a bit of work at Wembley Stadium recently. I was there for the latest England Football Team Press Conference. The one where the manager announced his first post World Cup Squad. For the friendly with Norway and the Euro 2016 Qualifying match away to Switzerland. I just happened to be standing in the Mixed Zone area. Which is a corridor just outside of the Press Conference Room. When the boss Mr Roy Hodgson himself came past to head in and speak to the members of the media inside. I have met him before, so fair play to him. He did give me a quick nod and a smile as our paths crossed. I also saw the England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate. He was there naming his latest squad for his team’s next two games. The whole event was covered by Sky Sports. And I did bump in to their Chief Football Reporter Nick Collins a couple of times during the day to. There is always a nice buzz around that area when squads are announced.

He also confirmed Wayne Rooney as the next England Captain. Which personally I think is a very good choice. And I wish Wayne all the best with the new role. I feel he is easily the best man for the job. I will be very surprised if he does not go on to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s long standing record of forty-nine goals for the national team. I also think he has a good chance of beating David Beckham’s record of one hundred and fifteen caps for an outfield player, for the men’s national team. Wayne is twenty-eight years old. He currently has forty-one goals in ninety-six appearances for England. So he is closing in on both of those records.

Staying with football and the national team for just a little bit longer. I took my Dad to see England play Norway at Wembley the other week. It was nice to be able to return the favour. Because as a child I remember him taking me to see my first full England game. When we played Holland at the Old Wembley Stadium. I remember it being loads of fun and very exciting to see the top players up close and in person. So as my Dad had never been to the new place to see a match. And as he had not seen an England team play for over twenty-five years. I think he was as excited as I was, when the roles where reversed all that time ago.

It all worked out perfectly. We got an early train in, so both of us had a seat. We went to a bar I know right near the Stadium. Where there was no queue at all at the bar. So we were able to have a relaxing drink before heading in to the ground. There was no waiting at the turn style. So we went straight in and grabbed a quick bite to eat before taking our seats. In time to see the team’s warm up. Which is something we both like to do. The match was good and most importantly England won. We found a hotel bar near the station for a quick drink. So we could wait for the crowds to go and then jumped on a quiet train home. It was a perfectly fun night, watching a game at a truly great stadium. It really is a comfortable place for the fans. My dad enjoyed it so much. That he has already booked tickets to see the next home England match there against San Marino on the 9th October.

My mum celebrated a land mark birthday last weekend. So as well as spoiling her with presents and flowers. We went out for a nice family meal together at a local pub, where my parents often go. Once a month they have a steak night with a special set price on a meal for two. Which includes a bottle of wine in it. This worked out very nicely for me. As I was paired with my sister. Who does not normally drink. And who was driving all of us home that night. Which basically meant I got a whole bottle of red wine to myself. Result! I had not had a steak for ages, so I really enjoyed it. Over the last couple of years I have started getting a bit braver with them. So I now have them medium. And fair play mine was cooked to perfection.

The night got even better when they came round with the desert menu. As I managed to finish things off with Apple Crumble and Custard. Which is certainly up there in my top three favourite puddings. There was also a singing duo there performing for us during the evening. My parents actually know the people who run the pub. So with their help we proceeded to embarrass my mum by getting the band to lead the whole pub in singing her happy birthday. Just before the music finished. We did all manage to get up on the dance floor and have a little family dance. It was a really nice evening, spending time together as a family and celebrating a big occasion. Most importantly of all the birthday girl had a great time and really enjoyed it.

Last Sunday night I did manage to get along to the Wycombe Swan to see my friend Ben Langley’s new show Ha Ha Hood. After making a brief appearance the last time one of his show’s was in Buckinghamshire.This visit was spent completely in the comfort of the auditorium watching with the rest of the audience. As normal with the Ha Ha brand Ben takes a well known story and re-writes it for comedy effect. While keeping with the variety and madness of the Ha Ha style. This latest play sees us catching up with the icon that is Robin Hood. Ten years on from the last we heard of him. A lot has happened. There have been many things that have changed. And then some things in his life that have seemingly remained the same. Ben plays Robin Hood. He is joined in the cast for this show by the fantastic Su Pollard. Who plays Maid Marion. And the comedy legends Cannon and Ball. Who both have duel hero and villain roles in the show. Which in itself leads to plenty of confusion and fun on stage. They are joined lastly by Andy Pickering. Who as well as supplying the musical accompaniment. Does pop up from time to time with some classic comedy moments of his own.

If you like good old fashioned laugh out loud fun. You must go and see this show. It has jokes, songs, pathos, lots of silliness. All with the added bonus that you are never totally sure what exactly is going to happen next. I was lucky enough to have a very quick catch up with Ben Langley before the show. He is a top bloke and really deserves all the success that he is having with the Ha Ha series. I did also manage to say hello to and shake the hands of Bobby Ball and Tommy Cannon. Who are both excellent in the show. It reminded me of when I used to watch them on television, when I was a kid growing up. They have lost none of the old magic. Nor has Su Pollard who proves yet again what a wonderful all round performer she is. And she does also get the opportunity to showcase her great singing voice. I had forgotten that she has released a few records over the years. I totally enjoyed the show. It was entertaining, funny and made me laugh out loud on several occasions. I will be going to see it again later on in the tour for sure. So if you can, do go and see it. Find out more here www.hahahood.com

It is fair to say I do have very limited options when it comes to what I can do with my hair nowadays. At the moment I normally visit the hairdressers around every three weeks. And have my head shaved with a grade one cut all over with the clippers. Now I always go to the same place. Which is a family run barbers near where I live. So I have one of the three relations in there cut my hair. I went in as usual the other week. I had to wait a little bit for my turn. Which is quite unusual. As I normally time it right, so I can just walk straight in and sit down in the the main chair. But this time I had to wait for a while. I then got called up to go to the chair. I was wearing my glasses. So as I sat in the chair for the haircut. I took them off. Meaning of course that I could not see.

Normally they do ask and check what I want before they start. But this time they didn’t. However as I have been having the same thing done there for the last two years. I thought nothing of it and just let them get on with it. We were chatting away as normal. At which point I started to feel that something was not quite right. Then at the end of the haircut. When I put my glasses back on and looked in the mirror. I instantly noticed my hair looked a lot shorter than normal. Instead of a grade one cut. I think they had done an half grade or even a grade zero. Which doesn’t sound much of a difference, when you say it quickly like that. But believe me it looked a lot shorter than I had ever seen it before. And it took me a few seconds to actually recognise myself in the mirror. Too shocked I didn’t say anything afterwards I just paid as normal and walked out. On the plus side. As it will have a lot more growing to do. I will probably not need to go back for at least a month now. And I will definitely confirm with the hairdresser exactly what we are doing before we get started next time. I will not make the same mistake twice.

Good news if you remember the new potential television quiz show. That I went to do some work on. To help them develop it a couple of months ago. It has now been taken up by a major TV channel. I am afraid I still can’t say which one yet at this stage. But it looks like they are going to make the first series of it early next year. They are starting to look for potential contestants for it at the moment. It is a very different concept and format to the more normal and conventional game shows. So I do think when it launches there will be a lot of publicity surrounding it. There is a very good chance that I may well still be involved with it in some way, before it hits our screens in 2015.

The new series of the brilliant Radio 4 Extra comedy show Newsjack starts on the station on Thursday 25th September. I know this as I am going to watch it being recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London the night before. I will once again be writing some jokes for the programme. So the ideal situation would be that I get to see and hear some of my work being performed, that night while I am there. I am looking forward to catching up with the very talented cast and seeing them in action again. It is always a good fun night out. I am actually back there at the BBC Theatre the night after to watch the excellent The Now Show with the amazing Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis being recorded. I have seen both of them live in the theatre before. And they are just fantastic. So I have a couple of decent nights of comedy lined up to enjoy there.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hello again, I hope all is well with you. And that you have had a very good couple of weeks. Mine have been a lot of fun. When I spoke to you last I was off out to the New Theatre in Oxford to see Avenue Q. I interviewed one of its stars. When it was on in the West End eight years ago. And had been wanting to see it ever since. So it was really nice to finally get round to seeing it. We had fantastic seats. Right in the middle of the Upper Circle with a perfect view of the stage. The show itself was worth the wait. It was absolutely fantastic. It has to be the most modern and up to date musical I have ever seen. In respect of the story lines and the song lyrics. It is fair to say it’s not for the faint hearted. And it is not for people who are easily offended or do not like swearing. But if you like a fun night out with some very catchy and clever songs. I would recommend that you see it. Due to the fact that the majority of the cast are puppets. It does mean they can get away with a lot more than you would be able to with real actors in certain scenes. But that all adds to the fun and the naughtiness of the show. It is in many ways like a very adult version of Sesame Street. I managed to have a very brief conversation with one of the stars after the show. And needless to say they love performing it. Plus it always seems to get a great reaction wherever they go. I really enjoyed seeing it. And I am glad that I finally got round to watching it.

While I was heading in to the theatre. I noticed a big poster on display for a play that is coming to Oxford later in the year. The reason that it caught my eye was that it featured my mate Ben Langley. It was promoting his new show Ha Ha Hood. Which also stars Su Pollard, Cannon & Ball and Andy Pickering. It starts its nationwide tour in a week’s time. And is then set to go all around the country. Recently it has been on at the Chelmsford Civic Theatre for a week .To put the finishing touches to it before it heads out on the road. It then comes to the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe on Sunday 7th September. Now I am very much hoping to be able to get along and see it that night, if I possibly can. If not I will definitely be there to watch it the next time the show makes an appearance in Buckinghamshire. To find out more about the show click here  http://www.hahahood.com/

Did you know? That if you have one of the new style card driver licence’s. They need updating and renewing every ten year’s. And I do believe everybody in England now legally has to have one of these new licences. If you don’t believe me have a look at your driving card licence. It will have an expiry date on it. Luckily the DVLA do write to you to remind you when this needs to be done. Unluckily for me I needed to update mine this week. So there were two options. Go and get your own photo taken and then send the form back yourself. Or just go to a Post Office and they can sort it all out for you there digitally. I was a little sceptical as it all sounded a bit to simple and straightforward. But I decided to give it a go. So I walked in signed and dated the form. Then they have to take your picture for you in this little booth.I was wearing my glasses. And you are not allowed to have these on for an official legal document photo. So the women dealing with me asked me to remove my glasses, which I did. She then tried to direct me to the exact place that I needed to stand to have my photo taken. Which was a bit difficult because by then my glasses were off and I couldn’t see. A point I have to confess that I did feel the need to make to her. But we got there in the end. To be fair it was quick and painless apart from the twenty five pounds that it cost me to renew something that I have to have. Unfortunately I didn’t get to approve the photo on the day. So the first time I will see the picture I am stuck with for the next decade will be when the new licence drops through the door. Fingers crossed it is a nice one of me.

Last Saturday I went along to a good friend of mines joint 50th Birthday Party and 30th Wedding Anniversary. Which I did feel meant I had to get two presents. As it was of course a double celebration. So I got one for him for his birthday and one for his wife for putting up with him for thirty years. I had a good time catching up with quite a few people who I had not seen for a while. Which is always a nice way of spending the evening, I think. My mate had booked a band. Who he knew and liked as the main evening’s entertainment. They were great. And fair play to them they knew a lot of songs and actually played for nearly three hours in total. They were heading towards Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band territory there. With that sort of length of performance time.

During one of the bands rare breaks. There was a surprise act that the birthday boy had arranged for everyone. He is a big fan of Irish music. So he had organised for an Irish Traditional Dancing Troupe to put on a bit of a show. They were brilliant. And had a great mixture of ages from one star performer, who could have only been around five years old. To dancers in their late teens. After a couple of dances they paused and then invited up the guy whose party it was to join them. He then decided he did not want to do it on his own. So then me and another one of our mates suddenly found ourselves thrust on to centre stage. About to embark on a brand new Irish Dancing career. With no previous experience. It was fantastic fun and I was doing my best to watch the professional dancers. And try to copy their moves but I have to admit it was really hard. They move their legs and feet so quickly. And move them in to what seemed to be some very unusual positions to me. But we all gave our performance everything. And we did get a generous round of applause from the rest of the guests who were there. When our routine had finished. I remember seeing

Ant & Dec join in with the cast of River Dance during the last series of Saturday Night Takeaway. They managed to get away with it and look good. Which once again does highlight how annoying talented those two are. After that party night I think I have earned the nickname Michael Flat-Feet for my Irish Dancing display. But it was great fun to be involved in though.

This is always a slightly depressing point but we have just enjoyed the last Bank Holiday until Christmas. So I hope you made the most of it and had a good one. Well done to my good mate Dez Kay. Who did a great job hosting Hobble on the Cobbles in Aylesbury. An all afternoon free music event which was headlined by the band Toploader. I had quite a quiet and relaxing Bank Holiday Monday in the end. I just relaxed around the house and took it easy. While still being very happy with the start to the new football season. I know we are only two games in. And there is a long way to go but my team Tottenham are currently top of the Premiership. I appreciate this may well not last. But I intend to enjoy it while I can. If that is still the case when I go to Liverpool to watch Spurs at Everton for the last day of the season next year. I can see that being a bigger than normal party weekend. And they are normally pretty big when I head up there anyway.

I am really looking forward to going to see England play Norway at Wembley next Wednesday night. In a friendly ahead of our important European Championship qualifier. Now that the two great servants that were Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have retired from International Football. It is time to see which players can rise to the challenge and establish themselves as England regulars. As both of those players mentioned each have over one hundred appearances for the national side. They do leave big boots to fill.

So just when I thought I had got away with it. Suddenly out of nowhere I got a double nomination for the Ice Bucket Challenge. I had been watching from a safe distance as various celebrities were doing it. Then more and more of my family and friends seemed to be doing it. Still I kept my head low and started to avoid social media but in the end it was unavoidable. It is to raise awareness and money for an excellent cause. When I was working at Mix 96 in Aylesbury. I did a little bit of work with the local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. I spoke to people who were directly affected by it. And some who were actually suffering from it. It really is a very unforgiving and nasty condition. Which they still have no cure for at the minute. And it is something that can effect anyone at pretty much any time. The effects of the disease are life limiting making things you take for granted impossible. And unfortunately in some instances life shortening. Please take a minute to find out more about MND here http://www.mndassociation.org/  Never one to refuse a challenge of course specially for such a good cause as this. I did take up the challenge. So please see my Ice Bucket Challenge video below.

I am still busy writing new material for a Stand Up Comedy competition. That I have got coming up in a couple of months. Once the set is written I will be out and about doing some try outs ahead of the night itself. Or at least that is certainly the plan currently. The new series of Newsjack starts again on Radio 4 Extra next month. So I once again plan on doing some joke writing for that. Plus I am still hopefully going along to a few more radio comedy recordings. I am also very pleased to hear that ITV are bringing back an old television institution in Sunday Night at The London Palladium. I can’t wait to see variety acts back on our screens to round off the weekend. I am in the process at the moment of trying to get myself some tickets for one of the shows during the new series. I think that would be a brilliant way to spend a Sunday evening.As you would expect the acts that are rumoured to be lined up to be on the bill for these shows are amazing.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. Mine have been lots of fun. And very busy to with quite a few things going on. I had a nice chat with one of the producers of a brand new game show. That is currently being developed for a major terrestrial television channel. This could lead to me spending a day or two with them. To help them get the project in to a position where they can present it to the station executives. And hopefully get it made into a whole series. They already have a well known celebrity lined up to host it. If that does come off that will be a lot of fun. I am still currently waiting to hear if the last game show I worked on will make it on to our screens. It all sounded very positive the last time I spoke to them about it. If it does get commissioned you will be the first to know of course. And I will be able to tell you more about it at that point. There is still a possibility that I might be involved with it in some form, if it does get on television.

As I have mentioned before. I do come from a rather large family. Which is great because as there are so many different relations around. We tend to average at least one wedding every year. So the other week I was at a family wedding. It was a lovely occasion and great to catch up with everyone there. We hired a minibus to get to and from the venue. Have you ever been in a situation where you are being driven somewhere by a professional driver. To a place you think you know and they go a route that seems odd or at best a very long way around. But you don’t say anything because you think that they know best. Or you start doubting that you have the right place in your head. Thinking it is you who has confused the location. That is exactly what happened on the way to the wedding. Until we finally realised the minibus driver was lost. And decided it was time to start giving him directions. The important thing is we got there in the end. And that we did still arrive before the bride and groom were introduced the the room.

I have to say I really liked the buffet. It was basically a choice of bacon, sausage or egg rolls with some chips, chicken nuggets and a few crisps thrown in. A simple and yet brilliant and very tasty idea I thought. They also had a photography area where you could have your picture taken while wearing silly props like hats, glasses or wigs. Needless to say these photos got stranger as the night went on. I did have some taken but fortunately I have not seen any of these yet. I was there with my parents. So it did feel a tiny bit like being a kid again at times. Specially when I got a bag of various penny sweets at the end of the night. That they had available there in the form of a miniature sweet shop. Complete with a lady in a white coat to administer the treats. I started eating these sweets on the minibus home and despite not being that hungry. I managed to finish the whole bag. And then felt a bit sick at the end of it. Which led to me feeling like an eight year old. As I got off at my stop with my mum claiming from the back of the bus. That she had told me not to eat them all at once. Will I ever grow up? I think we all possibly know the answer to that question by now.

Last Saturday I was at another family party. This time it was the annual summer barbecue at my Uncle’s. We were lucky with the weather. In that it mostly stayed dry apart from one big shower. Which meant that we all had to pile into the small marquee he had up for half an hour. Although that did give me a nice chance to have a chat with everyone who was there at the same time. A bit of a common theme currently it would seem. But once again I do have to say the food was brilliant. Burgers, sausages, chicken, pasta dishes and great deserts to. I have a very sweet tooth and pretty much have to end every meal with a pudding of some sort. As part of proceedings we had the hugely anticipated Quigley Table Tennis Championships. Think of it as like Wimbledon for table tennis. Only a lot smaller and with hardly anyone watching. I got beaten in the final last year. So I was keen to go one better this time around. Although it would be a tough challenge. As we are a very competitive family. Last year was the first time it had happened. So this time round I knew how good the opposition were. With the exception of a friend of the host who had been invited along to join in the fun for the afternoon. I then managed to draw this mystery man in the second round. And he was unexpectedly good. We were matching each over all the way but in the end he beat me in a tie breaker. Much to my annoyance. I really hate losing. He then went on to lose to my Uncle in the final. The same one who beat me last year. This is not me being bitter at all. But if it was just family involved I would have made the final. And then still lost. As my Uncle owns the table tennis table and therefore he gets to practice when he is at home. And I only play once a year. That said I am still hoping next year it could be my time.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is still very much in full swing. I have been taking a keen interest on what has been going on up there in Scotland. Being a big comedy fan I did manage to see quite a few of the preview shows performed in the lead up to the event. And I have to say it is really good to see lots of the shows I saw and thought were very funny getting good reviews. Particularly nice to see Silky, Matt Forde and Gavin Webster doing well. I thought all three of their shows although hugely different were really entertaining. And it does seem that the crowd and critics up there are agreeing with me. The other thing I am liking is how supportive the comedians are of one another. They are all recommending each other. And trying to see as many of the other comics shows as they can while they are there, which is great. That is one thing I found when I started doing comedy. You imagine it is very cut throat and that everyone is out to try and out do each other. Just wanting themselves to get all the laughs, while everybody else struggles. But that is not the case. Most comedians on the circuit are so encouraging. They want the whole of the line up to get laughs and all to go down well. They are often very happy to offer tips and advice to. That is one of the things that really makes doing stand up fun. The people that you can find yourself working with.

Do you remember last year I made a brief cameo appearance in my mate Ben Langley’s play called Ha Ha Holmes at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. Well Ben is back with a brand new play. Which is set to go on a huge UK wide tour very soon. It is another in the Ha Ha brand.He once again has written it. He will direct it as well as starring in it alongside comedy greats Cannon and Ball, and Su Pollard. It will also feature the very talented Andy Pickering. Who did appear in the previous play as the much picked on musician. According to Ben the rehearsals are going great and it is shaping up very nicely. Plus he also seems to be enjoying hearing some classic old show business stories from the rest of the cast. The play is called Ha Ha Hood. And yes it does have some links to a certain well known tale but tells us the story of Robin some twenty years on, from when we last saw him. So a few things in his life have altered, just a little shall we say. I had two cracking nights watching the previous show. Which was hilariously funny. So I really can’t wait to see this new one. I am still considering asking Ben if he has any cameo roles available for this year’s production that may be I could do. I had such a great time being involved the last time. I urge you to go and see this play. You will not be disappointed if you like silly old fashioned good old proper laughs. It you want to find out more about Ha Ha Hood including when it comes to your nearest theatre check out the link here http://www.hahahood.com/  

The Premier League football season gets under way this weekend. So I am hoping that my team Tottenham Hotspur get off to a good start and have a decent season. I am quite optimistic about our chances. But then again I always am at this stage of the season. After last year’s disappointment. I have not had any bets with any Everton supporting friends. On which of our teams will finish the highest this time around. Although as it turns out Everton play Tottenham at Goodison Park on the last day of the season. So I have already made plans to go to Liverpool for the weekend to catch up with my mate and watch the game. I think it could well be another wide open and interesting season.With a few different clubs in with a chance of claiming the title. Spurs kick off the season with a trip to West Ham. A team who beat us three times last season. So it would be extra nice to get a win today to make up for that. But as it is a marathon and not a sprint. I will remain level headed whatever the result. Good luck to your side this year. Hope they have a good one, except if and when they play my team of course.

Tonight I am going to the New Theatre in Oxford to see the musical Avenue Q with my sister. It is a show that I have not yet seen, but have heard very good things about. So I am really looking forward to it. When it was in London’s West End I actually interviewed one of its then stars Mark Goldthorp. It was while I was working at Ivel fm in Yeovil. Mark was from the Somerset town and was coming home to perform a charity concert. So I spoke to him about that and his musical theatre career. I remember when he was describing the show to me that it sounded like something that I would greatly enjoy. Yet it appears to have taken me over six years to actually get round to seeing it. I have heard it explained as like Sesame Street for adults with some very good and catchy original songs in it. It has got some pedigree as it won a Tony Award when it was on Broadway in America. I will let you know what I thought about it when I speak to you next.

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.