All posts by Neil

And The Winner Is

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a good couple of weeks. Mine have been very good and very busy. Although I did have a slight culinary disaster the other evening. While I was cooking my dinner. Have you ever suddenly found yourself unable to do a simple task that you have previously carried out hundreds of times in the past, perfectly well. I put an extremely nice looking chicken in red wine sauce with crushed potatoes pre-made meal in the oven. Then when I returned to it some twenty minutes later. As I went to remove it from the said oven I somehow ended up wearing it. When taking the baking tray out I managed to drop it in on the floor throwing the sauce all over my jeans. And the chicken all over the floor. It smelt really great but sadly I never got to taste it. Instead I had to mop it up with kitchen roll and throw it all in the bin. Then to add insult to injury. All I had in was the ingredients to make beans on toast. Which then became my main meal. It is fair to say I would not win any awards for my performance in the kitchen on that particular occasion. But in the world of show business the awards season is well and truly under way.

Neil Quigley Presenter
Neil Quigley Presenter

Despite the fact I rarely watch films and have only been to the cinema twice in the last five years. I still always watch and enjoy the “BAFTA” Film Awards. Which are expertly hosted by Stephen Fry. Who as well as being a very accomplished presenter. Is an actor, writer and director himself. So therefore has the required gravitas and respect to demand the attention of the often star studded audience. It is said that it can be a good guide towards who the big winners we be at the Oscars. If that is true it would appear that the Sandra Bullock and George Clooney film “Gravity” could do pretty well in Hollywood at the ceremony this weekend. My favourite winner of the night was the recipient of The Rising Star Award. As I said earlier I do not watch many films. So I was not familiar with any of the nominees. However on watching the clips of all the actors in contention. One of them stuck out to me instantly. As it showed the person in question playing several very different roles and displaying brilliant versatility with each performance. Straight away I wanted them to win. And I have to admit I was actually delighted when Will Poulter then went and won it. I also thought that he gave a very good, honest and genuine speech. Mainly because he really wasn’t expecting it. So he did not have a thank you speech prepared and so just spoke from the heart. Which always makes for a more entertaining and humble acceptance in my opinion.

Neil Quigley Filming on Location
Neil Quigley Filming on Location

Then came an award’s ceremony I always love to watch. One which I actually had the pleasure of attending a few of years ago The Brit Awards. As it happens that night was the very first “Brit’s” that James Corden presented with the recent event being his fifth and final time at the helm. I am not just saying this because he is a fellow Buckinghamshire lad but I think he did a great job. It is so difficult to in effect present a television show from a room the size of the O2 Arena. You are basically playing to two separate audiences at the same time. The crowd in front of you and also the viewers watching at home. While trying to link nicely together the live music performances, the award part and the acceptance speeches. It is not easy at all. Even down to that fact that when presenting in an arena that size. The echo of your own voice going around the place every time you speak, could be quite distracting. This was well demonstrated by some of the singers who he tried to interview at the tables. So well done James Corden very nice work Sir.

It once again got some criticism for being not as rock and roll as the good old days. And because there were no explosive moments. What are they taking about? You had David Bowie giving political messages via Kate Moss. Who was wearing one of his outfits from the seventies. The host swore on several occasions and had a kiss with the Radio One Breakfast Show host. That does not seem any less strange than some of the big previous shocking moments like Jarvis Cocker joining Michael Jackson on stage or the band Chumbawamba throwing ice over John Prescott. I liked Prince’s rather cool but odd appearance to give out an award. I thought Ellie Goulding’s speech, when winning the Best Female Solo Artist was fantastic. And I loved the irony of One Direction winning the Best Video Award for the song called Best Song Ever. A song that has not won any music awards itself. I have just re-watched Alex Turner from the Artic Monkeys final speech back again. And I still can’t work out what he was trying to say. But if he thinks that dropping a microphone that you have already offered to pay for if it breaks is wild and breaking the rules. He is very wrong! It is hardly Ozzy Osbourne snacking on a nocturnal creature is it? I still enjoyed it and the finale with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers was a fitting end to the show.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I have this week finished writing and submitted several sketches for the new series of the Radio 4 comedy programme “The Show What You Wrote”. It is due to be recorded in the late Spring and it will then be on air in the summer. It was great fun to do and I am very much looking forward to hopefully being part of this excellent production. They have a great cast of performers lined up to appear. In what will be a four week series run. Next Thursday see’s the return of the topical news show Newsjack to Radio 4 Extra. It has had a slight format change. And there have been a few changes to the cast for this series. The first episode will be on Radio 4 Extra at 22:30 on Thursday 6th March. I will once again be writing some jokes for this show. Talking of radio comedy I am very much looking forward to going to see a recording of The Unbelievable Truth at a theatre in London later this month. It is a panel show hosted my David Mitchell. That I would describe as a radio style cross between Would I Lie To You and Call My Bluff. It will be a top night out. As it is a very clever, funny and amusing show.

BBC Radio Theatre
BBC Radio Theatre

I have got a good fun couple of football related days coming up. That I am really looking forward to. Tomorrow I am going to Wembley to do some work on behalf of the Football Association before the Capital One Cup Final between Sunderland and Manchester City. Basically I will be having a good look behind the scenes at the first big event of the year at the national stadium. Then a few days later I will be doing pretty much exactly the same thing before the England versus Denmark International friendly there. It will be very interesting to be there while the final preparations ahead of two big matches are taking place. I reckon it might be quite a good opportunity to spot a few familiar faces around the place to. I will let you know how I get on on both of these big occasions, when I speak to you next.

England Football
England Football

I have had a bit of a medical problem during the last fortnight. That did involve a trip to the doctors. One day last week I started getting a bit of pain in my eyes. It was enough to make me pop in and see my Optician. Who was great and advised me that I had a Style in each of my eyes. I then came home and did what we all do now with any illness. Search for it on line to find all the worst case scenarios we could face. The first thing it said was the average person will get one or two style’s in their lifetime. I have seemingly managed to get my quota out of the way at exactly the same time. The one it my right eye just kept getting bigger and redder until then one morning I woke up and it was virtually closed. Meaning I looked a bit like Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky films. So I went and saw my doctor. Who did give me a course of antibiotics. Which appear to have worked and means I am now starting to look slightly less like the Elephant Man.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

It was great to see the return of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway last weekend. For me it is just perfect Saturday night entertainment. They are such good and natural presenters. And all the features are so well thought out, researched and executed. And most importantly all extremely funny. How they can do a zip wire off the ITV studios during the programme for a challenge. And then just continue hosting the rest of the show as if nothing had happened amazes me. I am a huge fan of the end of the show, show. Which never fails to put a smile on my face. There is always at least one wow moment and something that happens that is a big surprise. That you just can’t see coming. Plus it is just another showcase for the Geordie duos undoubted and impressive talents.

Not only that but the TV studio audience for that show are probably one of the best around.They are so lively, loud, excited and very much into the spirit of the show. The credit for that must surely go to the man who is responsible for warming them up. That man is Andy Collins. He is a warm up man for a lot of the big TV shows. And has been excellent for the last two years starring in pantomime in Aylesbury. He is a top bloke. Everything about “Takeaway” just works for me. It’s totally fantastic. The team they have working on that show are pretty much the best in the business in each of their fields.

Neil Quigley TV Presenter
Neil Quigley TV Presenter

My good friend Andy Holmes is about to launch his second book this coming Monday. A follow up to his debut novel “Always the DJ” The new release is called “Everything But The DJ” and will be available on Amazon for the kindle and in paperback to. The short film I am set to appear in this Summer is actually a storyline taken from the first book in the series. Please see below the link to the latest book launch.

www.facebook.com/events/616881315069394/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Neil Quigley Website Header New

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

Funny Business

Hello again, I hope all is well with you. And that you have had a very good couple of weeks, despite this continuous wet weather. I honestly think I must have worn my waterproof jacket every single time I have left the house recently. For a man with so little hair I am surprisingly keen to not let it get rained on. It is quite shocking and worrying seeing areas that I know so well and often visit during the summer months being submerged under so much water currently. I do really feel for anybody whose property has been affected by the floods. The thought of being ankle deep in water walking around your own kitchen is horrible. So I send my good wishes and support to anybody who is going through this nightmare situation at the minute.

Neil Quigley TV Presenter

So the last time we spoke I was off to a James Bond Themed Comedy Birthday Party on the day that my month of not drinking alcohol was coming to an end. So did I or didn’t I start straight back on the demon drink that night? Of course I did. The first thing I did after arriving at the do wearing the classic Bond Dinner Suit and bow tie combination was order myself a pint of lager. I needed to. When I realised pretty much all the men had come wearing exactly the same outfit. Proving ninety percent of men see themselves as James Bond in full suave evening mode, myself included. Fair play to some of the other gentlemen there though. We did have two Odd Jobs, a Q, a Wyatt Earp lookalike (yes I was as confused as you are by this trust me) and the women who is murdered in “Goldfinger” using gold paint. Needless to say the last outfit really stood out. He had on a gold coloured body suit, gold paint on his face, a blonde wig and his girlfriend’s black bikini. You have to admire his total commitment to the part but the fact that this party was also a comedy night with eight comedians performing did mean he got quite a lot of stick for his wardrobe choice. It was a good fun night. All of the comedians were great. A few of them I had worked with before and the rest I got the chance to see for the first time. There is a lot of good stand up comedy talent around at the moment. These guys were all really funny and it was a very entertaining evening. The mate whose birthday it was is a comedy promoter. Who runs the Laughing Badger Comedy Club in Hemel Hempstead. Therefore he has access to some great acts. So managed to pull in a few favours to put on a fantastic show. In which he actually found himself to be the but of many of the jokes. With the climax being everyone being advised of his middle name. Which he had gone to great lengths to keep a secret from even his closest friends. It was a bit like the Wedding scene in Only Fools and Horses, when we find out Rodney’s middle name is actually Charlton!

Quigley Neil Quigley
Quigley Neil Quigley

Now I did actually make a slight mistake when talking about this event. Previously I said that Lee Nelson was going to be one of the comics performing at it. And I was saying that I would be interested to see if he remembers me appearing alongside him in a sketch for the pilot episode of his television show. Well Lee was never due to be at this one. I got my birthday parties mixed up. Lee Nelson will be appearing at The Laughing Badger Comedy Club’s Birthday Party not the man behind its party. So there is good and bad news here, as a result of this. The bad news is that I did not get chance to see him the other week but the good news is everyone can still see him at the Comedy Club’s Birthday Party. When all the details and tickets are released for it. I think that all this information has already been made public but if not consider this as a headline comedian exclusive for an upcoming Comedy Night in Hertfordshire. There is also the chance that I could well be doing some stand up comedy myself at one or two of the Laughing Badger Nights before the end of the year. So as ever watch this space for more details on that.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I was up in London last week in the studios of a national broadcaster recording a demo for them. With one of their senior editors. It was a lot of fun and brilliant to be back behind a microphone once again. In my natural environment. I should find out within the next month, if this will lead to some regular work with them. While I was in the capital I did take the opportunity to pay a visit to my favourite pub. It is a place that I have been going to when in London for around fifteen years now. I was first introduced to it by a friend one Sunday afternoon and instantly felt a home there. Over the years I have taken many members of my family and pretty much all of my friends there at some point or another. The pub in question is Waxy O’connor’s. It is just off Leicester Square right in the heart of London but once you step through the doors and walk down the long staircase to the bottom bar. You are suddenly in a completely different world away from the hustle and bustle. With a very relaxed atmosphere and normally whenever I have been in there great background music. And in my opinion they do the best pint of Guinness in town. If you are ever around that way I urge you to pop in for a quick drink. I personally think there is something very magical and inspiring about the place. I always try to include it on any trip to London where I have some spare time. And I am able to have a drink.

Neil Quigley Radio Presenter

That trip to London is not the only recording that I have done during the last couple of weeks. As part of my work with the Football Association at Wembley Stadium. I ended up taking a group of French school children for a tour and a talk about the place. Which all went very well and despite my lack of language skills they seemed to understand me. And enjoy my presentation. When I had finished one of the teacher’s came over to me and asked it she could record me talking about myself and just answering a few quick questions. Happy as ever to oblige I said yes but only after double checking what see wanted this for. Basically it was to aid learning English in France. The teachers there like to try and record different English people talking and use these to help the children understand how real people in the country speak. Rather than the way the actors and teachers talk on the audio books they mostly use. So I spent two or three minutes talking to the teacher while she recorded this all on her mobile phone. Not the highest audio quality recording that I have done for a while, but she seemed pleased with it. This now means of course that French school children are going to be listening to how I speak to learn how to communicate in English. So I am looking forward to French people in five years time coming to visit England and talking exactly like me. While they are here. That could be quite freaky if I bump into any of them. A bit like when Jon Colshaw meets any of the celebrities he does impressions of and does them in front of them I guess.

England Changing Room
England Changing Room

I am currently in the process of writing some sketches for a Radio 4 Comedy programme called The Show What You Wrote. It is a sketch show that covers a wide range of topics over four episodes. It is being recorded during June and July and will be on air during August. It is all coming together nicely and I am looking forward to being part of this production. Next month also sees the return of the topical weekly comedy news show Newsjack to Radio 4. This is a something I have written for in the past and will be doing so again this time around. I will bring you more details on my involvement in both of these projects as soon as I can. But remember their names and do look out for them both. They are very clever and more importantly very funny.

Arriving at Elstree Studios
Arriving at Elstree Studios

Last Thursday I went to the filming of the television pilot for a new sitcom called Party. It has been a successful radio comedy for a couple of years and now the makers and producers are seeing if they think it will transfer across to TV. They stuck with exactly the same cast as the radio show which is Tom Basden (who also writes it) Tim Key, Johnny Sweet, Anna Crilly and Katy Wix. It was filmed at the Elstree Studios and was really good. There were two additions to the regular cast. One of which was Justin Edwards, who is from Radio 4’s Newsjack. And he has actually delivered all the material that I have previously written for that show. The script was very funny and the cast were all brilliant,so good. The atmosphere in the studio was great to, so we all had a good time. I will be amazed if this does not progress into a full blown television series. They ran through the whole show twice. The first time they went straight through it with no breaks. And then after some notes from the director the second time round there were a few more re-takes and a bit of fine tuning. As I said the script was excellent with plenty of laughs from the audience. But still alas the funniest joke in the world will sometimes never be as funny as the actors messing up. It’s just amusing. But I would stress that we were all behind them, willing them to do well and laughing with them not at them with any mistakes they made. It was just fantastic to see that close up a TV sitcom filmed in front of a live audience. It was a wonderful night out. Very educational. It’s called Party and it will be on BBC 4. So do listen out for my laugh, when it goes out.

Neil Quigley TV Radio & Live
Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

I have to confess I did watch most of The Jump on Channel 4 in the end. Firstly I have to give credit where it is due to the celebrities who actually took part in the show. At least half of them seemed to return back to the UK with a serious injury of some kind. I have to admit I am not really a fan of winter sports or skiing in general. I have never been skiing for two reasons really. I like a holiday to be hot and sunny on a beach not cold and snowy up a mountain. And secondly because I am so clumsy and accident prone. If I ever went skiing I guarantee you I would definitely hurt myself in some way. So it is my own personal choice to avoid it completely. There is no way I would have attempted any of the events they did on The Jump. no way. So I do honestly have the up most respect for everybody who took part even Amy Childs. The contestants did get a lot of criticism for doing it. But as Marcus Brigstocke explained. It was his free choice, he loves the resort lifestyle and surroundings. And the fact that he was being trained by Olympic Medal Winners made it a once in a lifetime opportunity. And as I have been lucky enough to interview Marcus and taking into account the fact that he is a top bloke. That all seems like perfectly decent logic to me. That said I do hope the knee ligament injury he received on the show, heels quickly. Strictly Come Dancing is still the only reality TV show, that I think I would ever consider doing. It’s the safest and the most enjoyable.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

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

Shaken and Stirred

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had an enjoyable couple of weeks. Already this year seems to be going pretty quickly to me. Which I guess is a sign that I am keeping myself nice and busy. Which is just how I like it. I had a great time at my Uncle’s fiftieth birthday party the other Saturday. Nice as ever to catch up with the family. And just to confirm I did drink lemonade all night. Therefore easily achieving my plan of not having any alcohol through January. I have to say I feel great for it. I also did plenty of exercise and ate healthily. Which I try to do on a daily basis anyway to be fair. I have been sleeping really soundly. And have had so much energy. It has been a total triumph, as far as I am concerned. It has been a good way to kick start things and set me up nicely for the year ahead.

Neil Quigley Presenter
Neil Quigley Presenter

I do like watching a good award ceremony. So I made sure I was able to see this year’s National Television Awards. For which a majority of the categories are voted for by the public. So by and large they go to the big shows. The ones that the most people will have been watching and enjoying. It was nice to see a lot of my favourite programmes winning including I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Strictly Come Dancing, This Morning and Mrs Brown’s Boys.

Neil Quigley TV Radio & Live
Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

Even though they win it every year I still think personally that the most deserved award again went to Ant & Dec. When they were crowned the best entertainment presenters. They are the best in the business at what they do by an absolute mile. They had a great year last year with Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here again being must watch television down to the way they host these shows. And the comeback of Saturday Night Takeaway was probably the strongest series in it’s history. With so many great moments of variety style entertainment. It was basically the perfect Saturday night entertainment show in my opinion.

Then just when I thought the National Television Awards could not get any better they totally surprised the Geordie duo by awarding them the special landmark award to mark their twenty-five years in show business. I liked this for two reasons. Firstly we got to see lots of old and funny classic clips of the boys in action. And secondly the way they came up and received the accolade. They were naturally funny, charming, very humble and low key about the honour in a very appreciative way. Not only are they hugely talented but they are also two of the nicest people you could wish to meet. A well deserved award for my favourite TV presenters. Who make it all look so effortless. And clearly love what they are doing. Which I think makes the audience love it even more. Well done gentlemen!

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

The other week I had a really nice catch up with a mate of mine. Who I met when I was living and working in Somerset. He is a hugely talented guitarist and singer called Tom Toomey. I met him when I was working at a radio station in Yeovil. He came in to talk about a charity live music event. That he was organising in the grounds of a National Trust property in the area. From that initial meeting he ended up coming into the studio quite a few times. And me and a colleague had the great honour of hosting and being involved with these, what became annual concert’s. They were always brilliant evenings. With great acts all personally selected by Tom himself performing. In totally exquisite surroundings with Montacute House beautifully lit behind the stage. So by the end of the show it all had quite a magical feel to it. In fact during the final number from the final band one night I found myself on stage playing a tambourine and clapping along. Which is the closest I have ever got to being a rock star. I loved it. It felt great.

Tom Toomey
Tom Toomey

For the last four years Tom Toomey has been in The Zombies as their lead guitarist. Which has seen him perform all over the world with the band. Including at an open air concert in Central Park in New York. Which sounded amazing the way he was describing it to me. I met up with Tom when The Zombies headlined at The Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury as part of the Ultimate Rhythm and Blues 50th Anniversary Tour. Which see’s them heading up and down the United Kingdom until the end of March. After which they then head back to America via the Bahamas. Nice work if you can get it. It was really good to see him and reminisce about the gigs in Somerset and get an insight into what life is like out on tour with a band of this stature. I do always feel very comfortable just hanging out in theatre dressing rooms talking to people.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

My friend Andy Holmes self published his first novel called “Always The DJ” as an e-book a couple of years ago. He has now just made it available in paperback. So if you are like me and a bit old school, when it comes to reading. You can now get it in traditional book form. To help promote this fact he has made a very short cartoon. And I am delighted to say that I have lent my voice to this animation. Which did involve a fun and interesting recording session in his home studio. Now I will let you into a little bit of a secret about the cartoon. For a bit of a laugh at my expense Andy has actually put a cartoon version of me in the background of a couple of the scenes. So why not see if you can spot me or at least his interpretation of me in the promotional cartoon for the book below.

There are plans in place to make a short film version of the book. In which it looks like I will be also making a small cameo appearance. Currently this is being scheduled in for filming at the start of the Summer. With a preliminary release date of this September. I always like to do a little acting from time to time. So I am looking forward to this project.

Neil Quigley with Behind the Painted Smile Team
Neil Quigley with Behind the Painted Smile Team

I am excited about the fact that Neil Sands is bringing back a show of his that I love. I have to confess I do have a huge and varied taste in music and I do like a bit of classic Country and Western. Neil produces and stars in a show called “Nashville Nights and Dixie Days.” Which celebrates country music with an exceptional cast. He has rested it for a bit to focus on other productions, that he is involved in. But it is back on tour this February and March. I first met Neil several years ago when he came in for an interview on a radio show I was presenting. He is a top man. And I remember we got chatting about a Sunday afternoon party event I used to go to in London called “The Church”. It turned out that he was the promoter and the person behind it. I spent many a fun afternoon there and proves once again, what a small world it is. I am planning on seeing the show at the end of March and I am really looking forward to hopefully catching up with Neil Sands to. He also used to be a professional wrestler. So needless to say he has lots of great stories to tell.

Nashville Nights and Dixie Days
Nashville Nights and Dixie Days

I am looking forward to going to watch a new TV Sitcom Pilot being filmed on the 13th February at the Elstree Studios. It is called Party and up until now it has been a radio comedy. Of which there have been three series of it on BBC Radio 4. So they are making the pilot to see if it can transfer to television. This is not that unusual with both Little Britain and That Mitchell and Webb Look starting out as radio comedies before they moved across to television. The cast includes Tim Key, Johnny Sweet, Anna Crilly and Katy Wix. I have never seen a sitcom filmed. So I am interested to see how it is all done. I will let you know what I think about the show and if I think it will be given the chance to grace our television screens in the future or not.

Arriving at Elstree Studios
Elstree Studios

Tonight then I am off to the James Bond themed Birthday Party of Lee Bryant, who runs The Laughing Badger Comedy Club in Hemel Hempstead. He has used his contacts to put on a couple of great comedians to start the night off with a bang. And a mini show including Lee Nelson. I will let you know if he remembers me from the time we met before. When I was on set with him filming the pilot for his television show. I have my outfit all looked out and ready. And a hotel booked that is round about a four hundred metre walk from the party venue. As it is the first of February obviously my self imposed alcohol ban is now over. So if I chose to I can have a couple of drinks tonight. Only if I want to of course. So find out next time what I decided to do. Although some of the information above may help you to make a well informed and educated guess as to what my decision will probably be. Either way I have a good feeling it will be a fun night. I mean lets face it. Any night where you get to pretend you are James Bond is always a good night right.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I have got a couple interesting meeting’s in London lined up over the next couple of week’s. And there are several other exciting projects I am currently working on that are at various different stages. As previously mentioned I only watched the first episode of celebrity big brother to see who was actually going into the house. Just for the record there is no way I would of predicted that Jim Davidson would win that show. I am constantly surprised that it’s mostly the older people who seem to win since it moved to Channel 5. When I thought their viewers would be on the whole a bit younger. So the young reality TV or pop stars would stand a better chance of winning the competition. I wonder if Channel 5 will now bring back Big Break or even better Jim’s sitcom called Home James. Which I really used to like.

Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming
Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming

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

Hi And Dry

Hello again, I hope all is well with you. I trust that you have had a good start to the year and eased yourself into it nice and gently. I can’t believe how quickly the first half of it has already gone. It has just flown by. I have decided not to have any alcohol for the whole of January. I normally go at least a couple of weeks before drinking anyway but I thought I would do the whole four weeks to start the year off with some sort of detox. I have done it quite a few times in the past. So I must admit I do find it very easy. Good luck to you if you are taking a break from something this month or if you have started a new fitness plan or healthy eating routine. Remember what they say. Everything in moderation is the key. But then again, who wants to live moderately?

Neil Quigley Presenter
Neil Quigley Presenter

Tonight I am going to my Uncle’s fiftieth Birthday Party. Which is taking place at his house. And which I am now hoping is not a surprise or I may have just ruined it. It will be nice to catch up with the family again. Having not seen them all since before Christmas. With me being tee-total currently. As it is a bring a bottle party I have got the difficult decision of deciding what soft drink to take with me. You see when I am out at a social occasion I do like to keep a drink on the go at all times.

But when you are not drinking alcohol. It is difficult to find something that you can steadily drink all night, that doesn’t make you feel too bloated or sickly, in my opinion. Pints of coke will leave me wired and unable to sleep and J2O seems to have so much sugar and so many additives in it. I fear it may be worse for you than actually drinking beer. Plus I can only manage about three of them, before I can drink no more. And do not get me started on non-alcoholic beer. What is the point of that stuff? Removing the only reason you drink beer, seems ridiculous to me. Would it look bad to just turn up with a big bottle of mineral water? Or is it acceptable to drink tea all night? I will still be the life and soul of the party but I just might need a coaster wherever I go, to put my cup down on. I am really looking forward to it though. It will be a good fun night.

Neil Quigley Having A Water Break
Neil Quigley Having A Water Break

So pantomime season is over for another year. Nice to see so many people I know being nominated for awards for their performances this year. Good luck to Andrew Fettes, Eric Potts and Holly Brewer in their individual categories. I hope they all are winners. My mate Ben Langley has also finished his Panto run and is now writing his new play Ha Ha Hood and the Prince of Leaves. The follow up to the play I made my cameo appearance in at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre last year. I haven’t asked him if he is writing a special bigger part for me this year. Mainly because I would very much expect the answer to be no, definitely not. Though I still maintain I did get a really big laugh during my first and last appearance. Which in a comedy play is a very good thing. Watch out for Ha Ha Hood at a theatre near you, later this year. When it heads out on a nationwide tour.

Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming
Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming

I watched the first episode’s of two celebrity based television shows this month. I think the makers of programmes realise we are more likely to stay in and watch TV at this time of the year rather than go out. Maybe because we have over spent or partied too hard over Christmas. So basically they are less selective on what they put on for us. That is the only conclusion I could reach.

I watched the first night of Celebrity Big Brother to see who was going into the house. And was pleasantly surprised to see that I recognised about a third of them. Which is more than in previous years. For me though personally that is where my interest in the show starts and ends. Once they are in. I tend not to bother because the way these things are cast and produced tends to lead to some very awkward moments. Which I find too uncomfortable to watch myself. I like to watch people having a laugh not having a massive public breakdown then arguing. Even though it could mean eating something unpleasant. Given the choice I would rather go on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here than Big Brother. If you get kicked out of the jungle early you can sunbathe at a six star hotel. While if you end up leaving the house early, you just get hounded by the papers.

Neil Quigley TV Radio & Live
Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

The other show I watched is also one that I would never want to do. That said fair play to the celebrities who do take part. I think they are very brave and it is certainly a personal achievement to compete in it. I am talking about the diving show Splash. Vernon Kay and Gaby Logan are excellent on it. Tom Daley is amazing on it to and he comes across like the talented and friendly lad that he is. But from a celebrities point of view to appear on prime time Saturday night television in just your swim wear, before throwing yourself off a diving board takes a lot of courage.

Seeing some of them on that first show I did wonder if may be some of them were not paying complete attention in the meeting with their agent about their appearance in the competition. I think they may have just heard the fact it was a big Saturday night show and the fee they would get. Specially the one who was scared of water, heights and Olympic medal Winners in very tight trunks. She had possibly picked the wrong showcase for her talents. I have to watch this one from between my fingers to as I am worried one of them could hurt themselves, when doing their dive. The reason I watched the first one was so I could see which celebrities had signed up for this year’s series. And definitely not so I could just see what Michaela Strachan looked like in her swimming costume. Well I am one of the generation who grew up watching Wacaday and The Really Wild Show. There is no way I will be able to watch the latest celebrity sport show “The Jump”. Where the contestants attempt a Ski Jump. How on earth they managed to get insurance for that one, I have no idea. Proof that sometimes being famous can lead you down a very slippery slope.

BBC Radio Theatre
BBC Radio Theatre

I have started reading David Jason’s autobiography in the last week and needless to say it is absolutely fantastic. Fascinating and expertly written. It is a must read for any young actor or fan of TV and Theatre from the 1960’s to the current day. Lots of great and very honest personal stories. All explained in a very reasonable and fair way. Showing the mark of the man and giving a glimpse into his personality. Which is interesting to see as he is not really a man who makes many personal appearances as himself. It was so good to see him on lots of different shows promoting the release of the book to. He came across brilliantly demonstrating what a naturally funny and generous man he is. Can’t wait to finish it. And I have a long way to go, as he has only just made his first couple of TV appearances currently at the point I am at.

Laughing Badger Comedy Night
Laughing Badger Comedy Night

I am going to the Birthday Party of the person who runs the Laughing Badger Comedy Club at the start of next month. Which I am looking forward to. I have performed at a few of these nights in the past and they are always good fun. The night in question will include a performance from the comedian Lee Nelson. Now I have met him before because I actually appeared alongside him in a sketch for the pilot for his television show Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show. I played a football club Press Officer in a scene involving his character Jason Bent. Which we filmed at White Hart Lane. Being a Spurs fan that is always a place I love visiting. So it was quite nice to have a look behind the scenes, while I was there. I am wondering if he will remember me. Well I guess we will find out the answer to that pretty soon at the party.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

A very talented guitarist I know called Tom Toomey is now in The Zombies and has recently spent a lot of time in America with the band. He is playing locally next week so I am hoping to catch up with him after the gig. In the past he has put on fantastic outdoor live music events for charity in Somerset. Which I have hosted for him. They were always brilliants nights with great performers and a good crowd of people who knew how to enjoy themselves. So I am looking forward to seeing him and talking old and new times with him.

England Football
England Football

I’m pleased to be continuing my work with the FA at Wembley Stadium this year, which is always good fun. I still get a bit of a buzz every time I step inside that place. Happily I am also working on a couple of new radio projects currently. Which I hope to be able to bring you more news about soon.

Neil Quigley i
Neil Quigley

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

Happy New Year 2014

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a very enjoyable couple of weeks. Spending lots of time with family and friends. I had a fantastic Christmas and New Year period. Basically just having lots of fun.

Neil Quigley Presenter
Neil Quigley Presenter

The Sunday before Christmas Day I went to my Uncle’s annual pre Christmas house party. Which is always brilliant fun. We are a quite a big family. So there are always lots of us there. And we all like competing for the chance to be the centre of attention. Aiming to be the focus of what is happening in the room. As well as having a few drinks and a good laugh. It was great to see everyone there, enjoying themselves. We had the now traditional family Christmas sing-a-long. My cousin’s boyfriend is a very accomplished and talented guitarist. Who can read music and literally play any song it would seem. That he can get the music for on his I-phone. Another one of my cousin’s loves singing. So much so that we have even got her a small battery powered Madonna style microphone. So we can now send her to the front of the room to lead the singing. We sang for about forty-five minutes performing our own very unique versions of several big Xmas hits including Do They Know It’s Christmas, Last Christmas and Fairly Tale of New York. Now this concert was filmed but I am hoping footage of this never makes it outside of the family. I enjoyed it, but never has the phrase well you had to be there probably been so apt.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

Before Christmas it was The Strictly Come Dancing Final. Which I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed. The whole series this year in my opinion was amazing. Simply excellent Saturday night family entertainment. I have to say It Takes Two every week night during the show was also top quality. Giving you chance to get to know the couples better and to see behind the scenes. With Zoe Ball presenting it expertly. Unfortunately it was not a great night for the couple that I was supporting Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Brendan Cole. Who were the first couple voted out of the final. So meaning they did not get the chance to dance their breath taking Charleston again. Which was a great shame. As it was arguably the dance of the series. And my back up pairing of Susanna Reid and Kevin Clifton did not manage to win it either. That honour quite rightly went to Abi Clancy and her partner Alijaz Skorjanec. Who deservedly lifted the Glitter Ball Trophy. They had been brilliant all the way through the competition. I think she surprised quite a few people along the way, by how good and nice she seemed. It does of course mean that the statistic that none of the professional dancers have ever won the title more than once, still remains firmly in place. At least for another year.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

There has however been some very good dance news for me though. My favourite male professional dancer on the show Brendan Cole. Who lives fairly locally to me. And who I have seen twice. Once at a pantomime and once at a well know DIY store. He is going to be starring in his own brand new dance show. Which is touring all over the UK this year called Licence To Thrill. His dance partner in it is going to be my favourite female professional dancer Aliona Vilani. So if I do go and see one dance show at the theatre this year. I think you can already guess which one it will be. Good luck to them both . I am sure it will be a spectacular night out.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

In the week before Christmas I was in doing a little bit of work at one of my old radio station’s Mix 96. It was really nice to catch up with everybody and be in the studio there once again for a while. I was helping to produce an outside broadcast show that my good friend Nathan Cooper was presenting. Great fun and nice to work with the team there once again albeit briefly.

Neil Quigley in the Studio
Neil Quigley in the Studio

I have to confess I think I have got Christmas present shopping down to a fine art. I never panic about it and I never do it too early either. This is the way I do it. I sit down before I head out to the shops and write a list with exactly what present I am going to get for each person. That I am going to give to one to. I then decide where I am going to get them. And then in my head I quickly work out roughly the order I will head to the shops, to purchase my required items.

This year I set aside the Saturday before Christmas for this operation. Once again it was a huge success. From arriving in the town where I was shopping in to leaving with all the gifts and cards I required. It took me just under two hours. Which I think is very good going. Everyone had something that I knew they either wanted or would like. I did not waste time browsing as I knew exactly what I wanted. And somehow I still managed to avoid any big queues in all of the shops. Not only that but I actually had all the presents wrapped and the cards written by the time I went to bed that night.  Completed with no stress and no hassle. May be I should write a book as a guide for men. Telling them how to shop more efficiently for gifts. So they can spend more time in the pub on Christmas Eve.

Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming
Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming

I had a lovely family Christmas Day. I was at my parents for the whole day. So we started it with a nice fry up. Before then opening our presents. I then left my dad and mum to get on with cooking the dinner. While I went and met my uncle for a few lunchtime drinks at his local. Which did include a nice glass of champagne courtesy of the very generous landlord there. Then I arrived back at the house in perfect time for a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings, which was sensational. Once dinner had settled. As always it was competition time in the house. As the WII console was switched on. And me and my dad who were happily exchanging presents earlier in the day, suddenly became big enemies. Trying desperately hard to beat each other at every single game we played. To say we are a competitive family, would be a huge understatement. But once the games were finished there was a friendly handshake and we settled down to end the day watching some TV. The perfect Christmas Day, as far as I am concerned.

Neil's Wii Avatar
Neil’s Wii Avatar

On Boxing Day I did watch Still Open All Hours. A new version of the classic comedy that starred Ronnie Barker and David Jason. Both of whom actually have links with the town where I was born Aylesbury. Ronnie Barker made his professional acting debut in a play in Aylesbury and to mark that milestone. There is a statue of the great man in Fletcher from Porridge guise outside the Waterside Theatre in the town. The legend that is David Jason also lives in the area. And I have been lucky enough to have been in the same room as him on more than one occasion. I enjoyed the new show. Once I got my head around the fact that Granville had literally morphed into Arkwright and his son was just a modern replica of him as a lad. There were some great lines and cameo’s in it. My favourite appearance being a non-speaking glimpse of one of the Chuckle Brothers, being dragged around by a huge dog. I thought David Jason was brilliant. As he is in everything he does. I got given his autobiography for Christmas. So I am really looking forward to reading it. I just know it is going to top quality.

Neil Quigley Drawing
Neil Quigley Drawing

This New Year’s Eve was the first one I have not worked for quite a while. It is normally a night where I find myself doing a disco somewhere. But this time around I decided to give myself a break and have a night off. I couldn’t really decide what I wanted to do I thought about going up to London to see the fireworks. But in the end I thought it would actually be nice to stay in and see the new year in at home for a change. So all very last minute a mate of mine came round and we fired up the Karaoke machine. And celebrated the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 with what can only be described as a concert. Which would have made a Bruce Springsteen concert seem short. We started singing songs at about 8.30pm and sang the last one at around 1.30pm. So I saw in the New Year with five hours worth of singing. I had a great night and really enjoyed it. To be honest I have not actually spoken to the neighbours yet. So I do not know if they share my views on it or not. But it was a fun start to the year.

Neil Quigley TV Radio & Live
Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

I have lots of exciting and interesting things lined up during the next twelve months. Which I very much look forward to telling you about as the year progresses. I know it is going to be a great one. Happy New Year and may 2014 be everything you want it to be and more. Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.