Back To The Future

September 30, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been busy with lots of fun things going on. Two weeks ago now I headed up to Northwich to see one of my oldest friend’s for the weekend. We first met when we started first school together. When we were five.

Now as far as he was concerned I was just randomly coming up to see him. To have a fun night out at a local comedy club with him and his wife. It was good timing as it was his birthday the Wednesday after. But what was actually happening was I was visiting him to go to his surprise 40th Birthday Party on the Saturday night.

I travelled up on the Friday afternoon. I had a bit of a nightmare journey. As it was the day after all those big storms. There were lots of problems on various rail routes. Meaning all my trains were delayed. So a three hour journey took me over five hours. My mate picked me up from the station. We went back to his. Where his wife had my dinner waiting for me.

After popping down to the local off licence and getting some wine. We settled in for a few drinks and a chat. So far so good. He had no idea what was happening the next day. As we discussed plans for our “comedy club” visit and general timings for the day.

On the actual day of the party. His wife’s parents were collecting their two children to look after them. While we all went out later. His wife needed to secretly join them all at the hall for a bit in the afternoon. To set everything up for the party. So she needed someone to take him down the pub for an hour or so. Of course I was the perfect man for this job.

I even made it look like the trip to the local pub’s beer garden was all his idea. Although I did overplay my role slightly. In that as it was so lovely and sunny in the garden. We actually spent around three hours there and had four pints in the end. It was great chatting about the past and the present with him. And he still had no idea about the plans for that night, so job done.

While we were sitting in the pub beer garden. I did something that I had probably not done for more than thirty years, I reckon. The borders were a bit overgrown and we were at a table right near the edge. So when I learned back slightly I caught my elbow on some nettles and stung myself, which I am pretty sure I have not done since I was a child.

Straight away I was trying to look for a dock leaf. But to be totally honest having not had to do this for some time. I could not remember what they looked like. I did pick up some random leaf and rub it on it. Which seemed to help. And on the plus side it didn’t hurt as much as it used to. Or may be I have got a little bit tougher over the years.

When we eventually returned from the pub with a takeaway as a peace offering. His wife had just started watching Back To The Future. I had not seen it for years. But as I was watching it. It all started coming back to me. Though I did realise there were bits of it that I had forgotten or had remembered differently.

For example I used to have a classic pair of white Nike trainers with a blue tick. That I called my Back To The Future trainers. I now know I was wrong. Marty’s trainers are white with a red tick. Still a very watchable and decent film. And in many ways it was pretty apt for the celebrations ahead for that evening.

So we had nearly pulled this off. We just had to get him to the venue now. Luckily the hall where the “comedy club” was being held was within walking distance of their house. We got him outside it. His wife had gone to the trouble of having some flyers made for the “comedy club”, so these were on the doors and windows as we walked in.

Just before we walked in. He decided he wanted to go to the toilet. So I went there with him. Making some jokes about not wanting to go when the comedians were on in case they picked on me. Then finally we walked through the doors to the room. And with the big cheer and the chorus of happy birthday. He realised what the night was really all about.

It was a great night. The look on his face when he realised what was going on was a picture. His dad lives in Spain but had secretly flown in specially so he was there to welcome him with all the other guests. Towards the end of the evening I even graced the dance floor with the birthday boy. Good news I can still remember all the big party dance moves from my disco days in my early twenty’s. Well done to his wife and family for organising such an ace surprise party for him. Happy 40th Birthday mate!

I went out for a few leaving drinks for somebody who was moving departments within the BBC the other week. Although unfortunately by the time I arrived the person in question had already left due to a family emergency. But I still stayed for a drink with the rest of the group.

It actually took place in the BBC Club. Which is a bar for BBC Staff. That serves drinks and food. It is a pretty cool and relaxed place to unwind in after a hard day’s work. It was only the second time I had been in there. That said now I am working so near it. I could possibly find myself venturing in there a bit more often.

On the way to BBC New Broadcasting House

Finally managed to get round to having a cup of tea and a catch up with Nathan Cooper recently. I used to work with him at Mix 96. Well I have been there in several different spells over the years. I kept going away and then coming back.

Nathan is a very busy man. As well as presenting the Morning Show on Mix 96. He also commentates on Oxford Utd for BBC Radio Oxford. And is actually the stadium announcer at the Kassam Stadium to. It was a good laugh, having a natter about all things radio, football and personal with a good mate. He was as ever on top form.

Strictly Come Dancing is well and truly back for the new series. I watched the first two show’s last week. As we got to see all the contestants and their dance partner’s perform for the first time. They gave them a free pass, in that no one could get voted off the show on the first weekend. I must admit I did feel the judges were a bit harsh with their comments. Let them just enjoy the relief of getting the first one out the way. I mean do score them low if you need to. Though that said there were some high marks for week one. But there is no need to be so picky yet. Sure when the public are voting then criticise away.

Generally the standard this year seems to be so high. They all looked quite good on the floor. Obviously as the competition goes on we will need to see improvement from everybody. I really like Laura Whitmore. She looks the part and has the charisma. Even though I am not convinced she is that good a dancer yet. But she is very entertaining. As is Judge Rinder to be fair. He is certainly throwing himself in to it. I have a sneaky feeling Will Young and Louise Redknapp could be the one’s to watch this year for me. Danny Mac started brilliantly but the public like to see improvement. He might just be too good already.

Doing Strictly Come Dancing is such an amazing opportunity, I think. I mean you get to be taught how to do several different styles of dance’s by some of the best dancers in the country and beyond. You get to wear marvellous outfits. You perform in front of an euphoric audience every week.

Not least because over five million people applied for audience tickets this year. So if you do get hold of one, you really do want to make the most of it. Also if you do really well in the show. It may open up new career avenues or you could get to go on their UK wide tour. Which all sounds like a great laugh.

I went out for a few drinks with my cousin’s husband to celebrate their new arrival to the family last Saturday night. We went out in Thame. As usual I was early. So I got to the pub first before everyone else. So I went straight up to the bar to get myself a drink. I am a fan of real ale nowadays and this pub had quite a selection. So I was standing next to these two gentleman at the bar. While I was deciding which one to have.

Now I have no idea who they thought I was. But there had been a food and drink festival in Thame that day. So they started talking to me about that. Which I had not been to. At that point the bar man comes to serve me. So I order a pint of XT which is brewed by a local brewery. As I do this one of the blokes says well that is quite the endorsement. So I am not sure if he thought I was a professional Chef or a beer expert. But I am pretty sure I was not who he thought I was.

I am very happy with how the football season has started so far for my team Tottenham Hotspur. We are second in the Premier League. We are still yet to lose a game in the league. And we have made our best start to a campaign for fifty-one years.

Not only that but we are getting all our young and very talented players signed up on long term contracts. I honestly cannot remember a time when being a Spurs fan has been this good. All this and we are still playing entertaining and attacking football. Long may it continue, is what I say.

The current series of Newsjack is still running on Radio 4 Extra. I am still writing jokes for it. It is recorded every week at the BBC Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House. I have had material performed on it in the past. Which is really a thrill.

Some of the stuff has actually made it on to the show and other bits have been performed in front of the audience but not quite made the final edit of the programme. It is a very competitive business. And the jokes have to be satirical, topical and funny. Plus it depends on which main stories they concentrate on. So there are a lot of different variables that can effect if you are successful or not every week.

I am going to Ascot to enjoy the horse racing this afternoon with a good friend of mine. As part of his fortieth birthday present. I do really enjoy an afternoon at the races. I am hoping for a few winners.

But it is also their annual beer festival. So as I see it everyone will come out a winner from this situation. I will let you know how I got on next time we speak.

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

Watch and Listen

September 16, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been pretty busy with a lots of fun things going on. In the way things work in the world of television.

Programmes are often recorded quite a while before they actually appear on screen. So in the last fortnight some of the show’s I watched being filmed in the studio ages ago have finally been shown on TV.

Neil Quigley with The Beatles — Neil Quigley

The first of these was the first episode of the new series of Mr & Mrs hosted by Phillip Schofield. He is one of my presenting hero’s. He is just so good. He is like a machine. During the whole recording he did not stumble over any words or make any mistakes. He was word perfect all the way through.

I am a big Strictly Come Dancing fan. So I was very happy that I got to see Kevin and Karen Clifton there. And of course pleased that they won the show.It is really clever how in the edit they fit the programme together. As on the night the conversations between the questions and answers go on an awful lot longer. In fact we got to find out way more about Kevin and Karen’s relationship in the studio than was shown on television.

The other thing that I find amusing as a difference between what you see in the studio and then on screen at home. Is what the sets look like. In the studio they can look like cardboard and very basic but on the television with the right lighting. They usually look very professional and showbizzy.

The second show that I was at and that was on recently was a new programme on the TV Channel Dave called Go 8 Bit. Which is presented by the ace Dara O’Briain. It is a computer gaming comedy panel show. I am not a massive fan of computer games but I was invited along. And they did give me a bottle of beer on arrival. So it was more than worth going.

It was actually good fun. They played some really old and retro games including one that I used to play on my very first computer. Which was a ZX Spectrum 128.

The show is an extension of an Edinburgh Festival Comedy Show that Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon did. They are the team captains on this show. The guests on the one I saw were the comedian Susan Calman and former England Goal Keeper David James. They were both very competitive, which made for a very amusing evening. Dara O’Briain was brilliant and very funny, as always as the host.

The audience get to vote on which team they think will win each game. So they show the audience while this process is happening. Therefore the more eagle-eyed viewers who saw the show. Might well have seen me briefly appear a couple of times.

Staying with television. I mentioned last time that a friend of mine was in the latest series of People Just Do Nothing. Well the second episode that he appeared in has been released online and shown on BBC 2. If you saw it he played Darren the new short lived mate of one of the comedy shows main characters.

I might be a little bit biased but I thought he was brilliant in it. Still find it fun and entertaining seeing people I know on the television. And I have to be honest it is probably not something I would have watched had he not been in it.

Last week I was in London for one of the hottest days of the year. So I took advantage firstly by having a few drinks in the sunshine on the South Bank by the river. Which was lovely.

I then managed to catch up with someone I know who works at the Globe Theatre. It was really good to see him. And it reminded me that I really do need to get round to seeing a Shakespeare play performed there at some point.

The main reason for my visit to the capital was to see the musical American Idiot at the Arts Theatre. It is a musical featuring the music of Green Day. It was a big success on Broadway in America and won two Tony Awards and in 2010 it won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album. If you are a fan of the American Band. You can’t go wrong as you will obviously love and recognise all the songs in it.

It is a very fast moving and snappy production. It does not feature much additional dialogue outside of the song lyrics. But it is very clever as from just what you see the actors doing. You can follow the story without the requirement for a spoken narrative.

Singer Newton Faulkner stars in it. And his voice can more than handle the rock stuff and sounds amazing during the slightly softer ballads. I am not sure if it is because he does have to spend a part of the show just in his pants. But he has certainly got himself in to pretty good shape for the role.

The whole cast are great. It is a real high energy show. They also have a band on stage with the guitarists in view. So you can see them rocking out, during the songs. Which adds to the spectacle and the atmosphere. It is quite a dark show, tackling several difficult issues. But it is all very well done. They received a well deserved standing ovation at the end of it.

Last week my team Tottenham Hotspur began their first Champions League campaign for six years at Wembley Stadium. The club are in the process of building a new ground next door to their current home White Hart Lane. A stand has already been knocked down to help with that work.

Which is why the European matches have been moved to the national stadium. Which holds ninety thousand people. Spurs’ home currently holds around thirty six thousand. Therefore the chance to get together with so many of our fans to see the team in action was to good to turn down, I thought.

So I managed to get hold of a ticket on the morning of the game. I met up with some good friends of mine on the train to travel in with. We had a good chat and few drinks before the game. And then we made our way in to the Stadium.

I have been there many times to see games and I worked there for around three years. So it is a place I know well. But the atmosphere before kick off with around eighty-five thousand Tottenham fans chanting at the top of their voices was brilliant. And like nothing I had experienced there before.

Unfortunately the game itself did not turn out exactly how I hoped. We conceded two bad goals in the first half. And although we pulled one back right at the end of the first half. Despite having a good go at Monaco in the second half. We never really created any clear cut chances. And we were unable to get the breakthrough we needed.

I could not fault the effort from the team, though. They were working hard and trying their best. The support from the fans was top class from start to finish. They really got behind the team. It was a brilliant experience to be a part of it.

Overall it was an enjoyable night out with the exception of the result. I guess a potential problem of playing home games at Wembley Stadium is that the team that you are playing may raise their game. As it is such an impressive and legendary venue to perform at.

But that is something Spurs are I think going to have to overcome. Specially, as it looks like they could be playing there for a whole season. While the new stadium is completed. If I can I do certainly plan to attend more of the Champions League games this season. If nothing else I would quite like to see them win there for a change. As the last two times I have seen them lose 2-1.

The Beatles are still arguably the best band there has ever been. They really put English bands on the map all over the world. They wrote their own top songs and wrote songs for many other artists in the sixties. They were all such accomplished musicians to.

And although they took the music seriously. They did not seem to take themselves to seriously. Which made it seem like they were great fun and just having a brilliant time. Plus particularly John it would seem had a great sense of humour. For example his famous off the cuff line about Ringo being “not even the best drummer in The Beatles.”

They worked so hard to get where they did. You have to admire their work ethic and determination. When they were working in Hamburg. They were working seven days a week for five hours a night.

During that time you could argue they possibly turned themselves in to the best and tightest covers band in the world. I mean you can’t say they did not earn their stripes.

This week a brand new film about the band has been released. The documentary Eight Days a Week has been directed and produced by Ron Howard and does have the full backing of The Beatles. With Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr involved in its promotion and attending the premiere in the West End of London.

It uses a lot of old and famous footage that has been digitally remastered so it looks and sounds great apparently. It also features some behind the scenes stuff the group and fans shot during the period of their career the film covers. I am really looking forward to seeing it.

The topical comedy radio news show Newsjack is back again on Radio 4 Extra. It was very nice to be contacted by the producers of it before it started asking me to keep sending in jokes for it. Which I have been doing. The standard on this current series has been very high. It is hosted by Nish Kumar. Along with some new up and coming comedy talents.

If you have never heard it. It is well worth a listen. If you like satirical comedy about current events. As and when I get any of my material featured on it. Rest assured I will let you know. And more than likely give you a chance to listen to it on here.

Whilst working with the BBC recently I have been involved in the production of some of the World Service news programmes. Which are brilliant to be involved with. They are informative, current and fun. As things during the live show can be constantly changing.

I was also lucky enough to be part of an interview with Lemn Sissay. Who is a writer and a broadcaster and a MBE no less. He writes the most fantastic poetry. He is also Chancellor of the University Of Manchester. He is an inspiring and fascinating person to talk and listen to. So that was an interesting hour I spent in his company.

It is also a great place to just spot interesting or recognisable people. For example in the last few months Mark Kermode has let me in to a lift ahead of him. I have seen the One Show’s Alex Jones in the canteen a couple of times.

I bumped in to Chris Eubank in a corridor. Not literally obviously or I would of not came out of that favourably. And I have also spotted the legend that is John Humphrey around and spied Simon Mayo through a studio window. You really never know who you might see next.

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

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

September 3, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been busy with lots of fun things going on. When the first series of The Office was shown on television. It completely passed me by. It was only when it was repeated and due a colleague who had seen it already insisting it was brilliant. That I watched it. I found it very funny but if I am totally honest at times awkward and hugely cringeworthy.

At the time I was myself working in an office. So I could appreciate a lot of the humour and jokes, that come from being it that situation. In fact lots of the wind ups they were doing in the show. We started doing to each other on a daily basis. I was vaguely aware of Ricky Gervias from The Eleven O’Clock Show. But The Office was when he really caught my attention.

I was also a fan of Extras and his latest television show for Channel 4 called Derek. He has previously performed four stand up comedy shows. These were called Animals, Politics, Fame and Science. He has a very unique style and approach to the way he delivers his comedy. He always has a lectern. So it is almost more of a college lecture, than a normal stand up show. And he always seems to have a can of Fosters Lager on the go to.

He is currently in the process of putting together a new show called “Humanity”. As part of the development for this project. He is doing some work in progress shows in London. So he can try out the new material and shape the show. Before he takes it on tour and I would guess releases the DVD of it.

I was lucky enough to got hold of a ticket to go and see one of these work in progress show’s at the Leicester Square Theatre in London. It holds four hundred people. So it is a relatively intimate venue. By his standards, at least. I was about four rows from the front. So I got a good close up glimpse of the main man in action.

Obviously I am not going to give anything away about the content of the jokes. But a lot of it is based on his own experiences in dealing with people. As well as the delights of social media. It is still in the early stages but already there is some very amusing and clever stuff in there. In my opinion at least.

He also had a couple of guests with him. Who came on and did some of their routines. He was worried, as his show was still new and being written the audience would not be getting value for money. So he bought some mates along with him.

The first one was Brian Gittens. Who is the comedy creation of David Earl, who played Kev in Derek. He came on and did about ten minutes of his very bizarre act. I think it is fair to say his style is very different to that of Gervais.

Then later on we had the brilliant Doc Brown. He was great. He also appeared in the second series of Derek and is in the new David Brent film “Life on The Road”. So it is fair to say he knows and gets on very well with Ricky. It was a good night of comedy. I look forward to seeing the finished version of the show later on this year or early next.

Last Friday I actually ventured out in my local town to see some live music. I was invited by a friend of mine because she really wanted to see the band who were playing after spotting them online. So I went and met her and a couple of her mates at The Bell in Princes Risborough. A venue that I had no idea did live music.

The group were a duo called Purple Lights. Consisting of a drummer and a guitarist, who also played the keyboard. And seemingly to give themselves a bigger all round sound. They had additional backing from a laptop.

They were from High Wycombe but are now based in London. They were really good. They play quite an original style of music. There is a little bit of everything in their songs. It is hard to pigeon hole them. Clearly they are influenced by lots of different genres. They played all their own material. It was a lovely night catching up with friends. While hearing some new, engaging and interesting music.

I have been to Oktoberfest in Munich twice and I am a big fan of German Beer. So when a mate asked if I wanted to join him and some friends at the Bavarian Beer House in London, it was a no-brainer. A definite yes from me. We went there last Saturday night. We got a decent deal to.

As part of the package we got a shot of Jager each, a two pint stein and so much food between us. Which all came on giant trays and included a selection of German sausages in buns, huge meat balls, cheese with salad rolls and a pretzel each.

It was all glorious. There is a really good atmosphere there. The music is cool, if you like late nineties sampled Euro Pop. Although later on the DJ starts playing classic party tracks. Which had the whole place singing along and tapping their Steins on the tables to the beat of the music. It was a good laugh. Having a few decent beers and a bit of a dance.

I had a brilliant time last weekend at the Wedding Reception of Adam Morris and his wife Claire. I used to work with him at Mix 96 in Aylesbury. It was held at the wonderful Burnham Beeches Hotel. A place that used to be the England Football Team Hotel. For when they played at Wembley about fifteen years ago.

Also it is somewhere I have gigged before. And where one of my best friend’s had his Wedding Reception a couple of years ago. So it was nice to be back there. I had a fantastic evening. The bride and groom both looked great. Happily I was there to see them cut the cake and also have their first dance. During which it seemed Adam managed to refrain from doing his trademark stirring the beans move. Probably for the best on this occasion.

It was good to see another former Mix 96 colleague Chris Maskery and his wife. Always good to relive fun times from the past. And to catch up on the current. It was also nice to see another one of Adam’s mate’s Nigel Mitchell.

He is an excellent television presenter. Who met Adam when they were both working at Capital Disney. He is the main host for Arsenal television and he has looked after the hub area on ITV’s This Morning to. He is a really top guy and fascinating to talk to. So that was all good fun.

It was a lovely event full of friendly, happy and chatty people. And continuing the German Beer theme. They did actually serve Lowenbrau at the hotel. Which was a bit of a bonus. When I arrived they had a singer performing and playing the guitar. Who was excellent. They are both extremely musical and do perform themselves to. So they do have quite a few musician friends.

It really set the tone for the evening perfectly. I stayed at the hotel itself and predictably I think I was possibly one of the last to go to bed. After having the traditional one more drink after the party has finished in the hotel bar. There was an after Wedding Breakfast the next morning. So I got to see the bride and groom again for a quick chat. While enjoying a bonus hotel fry up before I left.

So a while ago, you might remember that I went to see an actor friend of mine Jack Harding appear in a play in London. Prior to that he had recorded some scenes for the third series of the BBC Three television show “People Just Do Nothing”. I remember him saying that he had a lot of fun filming it. And that the cast and crew were great to work with. The first of the two episodes that he appears in went live on the station’s website a few weeks ago.

They are shown online there first of all and then the whole series is also being shown on BBC Two. One of the main characters is set to become a dad. So they show him and his other half going to parenting school. Which is where Jack appears as one of the other dad’s to be. I may be a little bit biased but personally I thought the bits he was involved in were some of the funniest moments in the show. He also is set to make an appearance in episode four to. So keep you eyes out for the programme. And see if you can spot him.

I am getting a lot of enjoyment out of working for the BBC in London currently. And being based at Broadcasting House is pretty cool to say the least. It is also where The One Show studios are. So occasionally they have guests outside. Who you can see performing or chatting, if you so happen to be in the area.

I was delighted that on the day Team GB arrived back from the Olympics. A selection of them came along to be on the show. They had them walking down a red carpet outside. And luckily for me it was at a time when I could pop along and welcome them.

Amongst the medal winners on display were the gold medal winning women’s hockey team. Some of our Kayak and Rowing athletes, sailors, a few of the men’s Rugby Seven’s Team. Plus cyclist Ed Clancy, swimmer Jazz Carlin and the boxers Joe Joyce and Nicola Adams.

So I managed to get outside and see them arrive. It felt good to be able to give all these heroes a big cheer and a well deserved round of applause. It was also nice to get a close up view of those medals around their necks.

Being a two times Olympic Champion Nicola Adams quite rightly led them all in and down the red carpet. She is actually tiny but that said there is no way I would mess with her. The way the Hockey team were laughing and joking around together you could tell that they have a great team spirit and togetherness. Which I think was highlighted in the way they went on to win their Olympic final.

Lovely to see them appreciated and celebrated in this way. Another big bonus for me of working at this amazing location. You really never know who you will bump in to next.

One of my favourite television shows returns to our screens tonight. It is the Strictly Come Dancing launch show. Where we get to see all the celebrity contestants get paired up with one of the professional dancers. Normally meaning we can see how long are favourite dancers will be in the show this year. Depending on who they get given. It is a great line up this year, very impressive.

After this first show there is then a couple of weeks gap until the show starts properly. To give the contestants chance to learn to dance. The only downside of when the show starts for real. Is you know that it is the countdown to the end of the year. As ever, I do hope to try to get along to see one of the shows this year, fingers crossed.

I am going to see American Idiot the Musical in London soon. It is a production based on the music of the American band Green Day. In the same way that We Will Rock You was worked around the songs of Queen.

It stars Newton Faulkner and won two Tony Awards when it was on in America. So I am expecting big things when I see it. I will let you know what it was like, next time we speak.

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

Golden Times

August 19, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been pretty busy with a lots of fun things going on. I have mentioned previously that there is actually another Neil Quigley. And that he is a well known and respected Dance Music DJ and producer. Who often does remixes of some really big songs.

I am a regular user of Twitter. On the social networking site I am simply @NeilQuigley. While my namesake is @djneilquigley.

So from time to time people will get us confused. I will get a tweet saying what a brilliant new track I have released. Or even better sometimes I get a review of my latest remix promoted on line. Normally when I get the chance to. I try to point out that they have got the wrong man. And also I suggest the man they want.

The other day this led to me having a very brief conversation with the other Neil Quigley. We are not at all related. Although we do both have similar hair styles. It was nice to finally speak to him and acknowledge each other. I wonder if he ever gets any tweets that were meant for me?

I had another great night out at the theatre recently watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal in London. It is the musical stage version of the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn. That movie gave us quite a few iconic moments and images. Most of which featured the lead actress.

In this adaptation the singer Pixie Lott plays the mysterious Holly Golightly. Although best known as a pop star. She went to a very well known stage school. So is no stranger to the world of acting. And of course after her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. The same applies to dancing.

I thought she was fantastic in the role. We all know that she has a sensational singing voice. Which she showed us with the two great versions of Moon River she did during the show. Her accent, timing and over all performance was excellent. She played it brilliantly in my opinion.

The rest of the cast were also great. It was brilliant to see the hugely talented Victor McGuire. Who I remember from the television comedy Bread, perform. The lead male Matt Barber was also fabulous.

I have to confess I have never watched the whole film previously. So I found the story interesting and engaging, seeing it for the first time. As ever with timeless classics that are brilliantly written. A lot of it is as applicable now to our lives as it was back then.

Another show that is worth a look if you get the chance. It is only on in London for a limited time and then it is going on a nationwide tour. I can see Pixie Lott doing more work in musicals after this has finished. She is perfectly suited to it.

Breakfast At Tiffany's — Breakfast At Tiffany’s

I must admit that I have not watched that much of the Olympic games this time round. A lot of the main events have just been on a little to late for me to stay up and watch. During London 2012 I just about managed to catch all of the big moments.

And I was delighted to go along with my mum to see one of the events. I went to watch the Beach Volley Ball. Which was at Horse Guard’s Parade in London. Great though that was for me. I am guessing that the teams possibly prefer playing at the Copacabana Beach at this championship.

The view from my seat at the Beach Volleyball

Well done to Mo Farah for his amazing achievements on the track. The brilliant Max Whitlock for winning two gold medals in the Gymnastics. The great Justin Rose for getting gold in the golf. Andy Murray for regaining the title he won in London four years ago. Katherine Grainger for being great in the rowing. And Laura Trott for becoming our most decorated female Olympian.

Not forgetting her fiance Jason Kenny who now tops the over all men’s medals table along side Sir Chris Hoy. Adam Peaty for his gold in the pool. And the whole of Team GB. Who did the country proud and provided us with so many great sporting moments. There have been so many great individual and team performances. It has been a good games overall for us. Building and improving impressively on the last one. Which is all you can do in life.

I think the Sports Personality of the Year show is going to be intriguing this year. There are already so many contenders for the main award. They may as well just make this year an Olympics Special and forget about all the other sporting achievements this year.

One thing we can be sure about after the recent European Championships is that the winner will not be a footballer.

While the sportsmen and women have been out in Brazil. The comedians have been up in Scotland taking part in their own sort of Olympics. I am of course talking about the Edinburgh Festival. I have been keeping an eye on some of the shows and performers up there.

Mainly to see if I can find any new acts that I have not seen before. To watch in London later on in the year. As a massive comedy fan. I am always on the look out for new people to go and check out. And new shows to see.

There are quite a few comics up there performing who I have seen before. There are quite a few I have interviewed or spoken to in the past. And there are a few that I have actually had the pleasure of gigging with. These include the wonderful Tony Law. Who headlined my first four stand up gigs. The hilarious Silky, who was on the same bill as me for my debut. And is brilliant.

And the unbelievable Olaf Falafel, who I have performed with a couple of times. He also did the same comedy course I did the year before I did it. He is doing his first one hour show at the Fringe this year.

He also is a huge producer of very funny comedy vines. Which have currently had over seventy-five million views. So keep an eye out for him.

Last weekend I went up to Liverpool to see my good friend Jeff Nolan. And to enjoy the start of the new Premier League season. By watching my team Tottenham in action against his team Everton at Goodison Park. I got up there on the Friday evening. We went straight to the Pub for a few drinks and a good old chat.

Then we went back to his for some food. And then as can sometimes happen. When you have two people who are massive music fans. We ended up staying up and talking until the early hours listening to songs. Great fun at the time but it did leave us a little light on sleep for the match day.

We were up bright and early on the Saturday ready for the start of the season. And after a hearty protein inspired egg and cheese breakfast. We set off in to the centre of Liverpool to meet the others who we were going to the game with. I really like being there. I know the place pretty well, as I go there so often. So I enjoy visiting the usual pubs while I am there.

When we arrived at the ground ready for kick off. We found Everton had slightly changed their season ticket system. Which meant there were massive queues outside. Which actually led to us missing about the first ten minutes.

We were standing outside when we heard a cheer. Initially I thought it was coming from the Tottenham fans and that we had taken the lead. But I was wrong and it was the home side that had gone in front. So when I got to my seat my team were already losing. That was still the case at half time, when we met up inside for the traditional half time pint of Chang Lager. They are Everton’s sponsor. And it is the only place and time I ever drink the stuff.

Then it was back in for the second half. Tottenham equalised and had a few chances to win the game. But one all it finished. I was a little disappointed that we did not win it, to be honest. Although I was happy with a point. I think Everton under Ronald Koeman will be difficult to beat at home.

After the game we visited a few more of Liverpool’s drinking establishments finishing up in one that was called the Old Ballroom. It was like a real old fashioned social club. It had a Wedding going on in the function room. While we and a few other locals were in the main bar.

This room had a jukebox that seemed to play nothing but eighties music. With that soundtrack, the venue and the other people there. It did feel a bit like we were in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. I did think that at any moment somebody could fall through the bar hatch.

So the football season is now under way and I had another brilliant weekend in Liverpool. We finished the evening with a Pizza. From a well known chain that used to use ex England footballers in its adverts. Classic lads day out. On the Sunday before I got the train home.

I had a quick walk down Mathew Street. Which is where the original Cavern Club used to be. It is fair to say that pretty much all the venues there have some sort of nod to the Beatles. I have had some good fun around that area over the years. It is a lively place to visit.

One of the television quiz shows that I went to an audition for earlier this year began this week on ITV 1. It is called Alphabetical and is hosted by the great Jeff Stelling. I had a good time meeting the production staff and playing a version of the game at their offices.

I did well I thought. And won my head to head on the day. So if I was playing for real I would have walked away with some money. It is a fairly straight forward general knowledge quiz. Where they will tell you either what letter the answer starts or ends with depending on the round.

I did get short listed for the show but I was never invited along to the studios to play it for real unfortunately. Which is a shame for two reasons. It was great fun to play in the audition and secondly the prize money on it is really good. It would have also been nice to meet Jeff Stelling.

I am a big fan of his work on the Sky Sports Show Soccer Saturday. He is brilliant on there. He did walk past me once when I was working at Wembley Stadium. But I never got the chance to speak to him.

So as well as releasing a new David Brent film. Ricky Gervais is also making a return to stand up comedy and working on a new show. Like most of the comedians do when they are honing a new show. He is doing some warm up shows for it in London. Thanks to a friend of mine I am actually going to see one of these performances in London this week.

I am really looking forward to it. I have enjoyed his previous tours. And I am fascinated to see the early stages of this new one. I will of course tell you about it next time we speak.

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

Music Be The Food of Life

August 6, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been busy with lots of fun things going on. I had dinner at a very good mate of mine’s house recently. This guy was actually my very first landlord. As I moved in as his lodger. In the very first house he bought. I was good friends with him before this arrangement. That was not how we met, by the way.

As it happened, he actually received the keys for the place. Just before he went away on holiday with his then girlfriend. So I moved in and started living there. Two weeks before he finally got to move into his own place. He had already selected which bedroom was his, mind you. I decision which I respected.

Anyway I had not seen him for a while. So he invited me round to see him, his wife and their children. For a general catch up and some food. It was a lovely evening. Just having a few drinks. Enjoying the sunny weather in his garden. Chatting and laughing like friends who have known each other for a long time do. Then after they had put the children to bed, we ate. I thought it was genius what they did for the meal. It was certainly something that I had never done before.

They had one of these special cooking stones. Which you heat up in the oven at a very high temperature for an hour. So it absorbs the heat. Then when it is at the correct temperature. You carefully bring it out and put it on its own special stand. Which has two little gas burners under it. So it maintains some of its heat. Laid out on the table were small bits of steak, escalopes, chorizo slices, halloumi and some tuna.

Which you then just cook up yourself using the aforementioned stone. Which is placed right in the middle of the table. So everybody can reach it. You can then cook everything to your own taste. Exactly how you like it. Have the combination of food that you fancy. It is so sociable as well. As there are natural pauses when you are cooking on the stone. There is lots of time for good quality conversations. During what is a leisurely and enjoyable dining experience.

It was the first time I had tried it. And I would definitely do it again. It was a fantastic evening. I must say that I was very impressed with my own stone cooking skills. As the food tasted great. Compliments to the chef.

A few Sunday’s ago now I headed over to a pub in Surrey. To help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of one of my Dad’s cousin’s and his partner. They are a very musical couple. And they are really in to the folk music scene. So as part of the afternoon. They organised for some friends of theirs to come and play live in the beer garden. They set up a little acoustic stage in one corner. And the acts took turns to get up there and play a few songs.

They were all great. Martin and Sara, the hosts of the party also play guitars and perform to. So they got up on the stage and did a few numbers. That was the first time I had seen them play.

Now I appreciate I am family. So I might be slightly biased. But I thought they were absolutely incredible. The guitar playing and the vocals were spot on. So it was an afternoon of great music performed by really friendly and nice people. Who could want more?

I was not driving. So I thought I would treat myself to a couple of drinks. I was delighted to find that the pub did a particular lager. That you rarely see nowadays. The German beer Lowenbrau was on tap. It has been years since I have seen it any where. But I love the taste of it and it brings back lots of great memories for me. I have been lucky enough to go to Oktoberfest in Munich twice. It is a fantastic event. Bigger than you can imagine. With over fifteen Bierkellers. Each of which can hold around four thousand people.

The camp site I stayed at both times I went actually had Lowenbrau available in their on site drink dispensers. Plus my favourite Bierkeller was the Lowenbrau tent. I had a great time in there. Having a few steins and dancing on the tables. While singing along at the top of my voice to the Oompah band. If you ever get the chance I would recommend you go along and experience it for yourself. The atmosphere there is just brilliant. Great fun!

So I think what I am saying is. Basically I enjoyed finding the drink in the pub. And I enjoyed drinking it sitting out in the sun. While watching some great live music. A lovely Sunday afternoon, whichever way you look at it. Thanks to Martin and Sara for the invitation. I look forward to seeing you perform again in the future.

I had a great evening at the Savoy Theatre in London seeing Funny Girl. Unfortunately I did not see Sheridan Smith perform in the lead role. As I was hoping to previously. So I saw the show but not her.

Not her fault, mine completely. I did not realise that she does not do the Monday performance. So she was never actually due to be there. That was a bit of a shame. Only because I really wanted to see her perform live. As I am a big fan.

The show though was fantastic. Natasha J Barnes was sensational in the lead role of Fanny Brice. The part played by Barbara Streisand, no less. In the film version from the sixties. She was excellent, the accent, the comedy and her singing voice were all exceptional. She was really good and thoroughly deserved the ovation that she received at the end.

Also in the cast and playing the leading man Nick Arnstein brilliantly is the charismatic Darius Campbell. Now we all remember the first time we saw him on television on Pop Stars doing his own unique version of Britney Spears’s “Baby One More Time”. Since then he has gone through several style changes. Had a few big hits as a solo singer And now has reinvented himself as a decent West End performer.

He was great in this role, totally assured and in command of everything. Top marks to the whole cast. It was another really enjoyable musical outing. And you never know. I still might go and see it again. To see if I can catch Sheridan Smith in it before the run ends.

For a very long time my mum has wanted to go on a river boat cruise down the Thames in London. The other Thursday I finally managed to make this wish a reality for her. I organised for us to go on an Afternoon Tea Cruise with Bateaux London.

They are a tour company who operate from the pier at the Embankment. We had to arrive fifteen minutes before our designated boarding time and wait in a lounge area. For the Captain of the ship to give us the green light to go on board.

Once on the boat we were then shown to our table by one of the staff members. I had booked us a window seat. So we could make sure that we got to take in all the sights as we sailed past. Then next an extra little surprise arrived. I had ordered us both a glass of champagne on arrival.

Well I figured if it is worth doing, it is worth doing properly. It set the afternoon off lovely. It felt great sipping on the champers as the boat set off on its journey. It is the closest I will ever get to feeling like Richard Branson.

There was also an on board pianist. Who played all through out the cruise. That gave the whole thing a little bit of class. And made for a very enjoyable atmosphere for the journey and the sight seeing. We were on a boat called the Harmony.

We set off down the Thames to take a look at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament first of all. We then turned round there and headed back up the river. Heading past the South Bank and a few places I know well like the ITV Studios.

We then passed by HMS Belfast. Which is a very impressive sight. Got a great view of the Shard and the London skyline in general. Then we caught a glimpse of the wonderful Globe Theatre. Which by the way is well worth a visit if you get the chance. I have been on the tour there. But I really want to go and see a Shakespeare play performed there at some point.

Now as a massive Tea fan. An Afternoon Tea cruise is of course perfect for me. So I have already enjoyed a few cups of the best drink in the world. When they bring the food part of the experience out.

Firstly the sandwiches. Which were a selection of Ham & Mustard, Cheese & Cucumber and Salmon & Cream Cheese. They all tasted great. And were cut perfectly with no crusts. Then we got a huge Scone each. With plenty of clotted cream and jam to go with it.

I had not had one for such a long time. I had forgotten just how amazing they taste. Then to top it all off we had a great selection of mini cakes. All of which were then washed down with yet more cups of tea.

All this is happening while we are heading up to Canary Wharf. And then turning around again there to head back past land marks such as the Tower of London and the Gherkin. Plus we passed underneath Tower Bridge and London Bridge for the second time. As we made our way back to the pier. That was our starting point.

It was a really enjoyable hour and an half. All the staff were lovely and helpful. The food and beverages were fantastic. It all just worked so well. With the piano music as a nice back drop the our great capital city. It was a brilliantly relaxing afternoon. Just a nice way to see London.

So Celebrity Big Brother has returned to Channel 5 for the second time this year. I have to confess I did watch the launch show. To see who was going in to the house. And to see if I had actually heard of any of them. Most of them I had no idea who they were. But I can’t say I warmed to any of them. From what they were saying about themselves. The only ones that I recognised were Ricky Norwood, James Whale, Samantha Fox and Christopher Biggins.

I met Christopher Biggins when he came in for an interview on my radio show. When I was working at Ivel Fm in Yeovil. He was on a tour promoting his autobiography. It was not long after that he had been crowned king of the jungle and won his series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. He was a nice bloke. Easy to chat to and happy to answer any question on any subject you liked. With plenty of humour thrown in for good measure.

He gave me a signed copy of his book. Which is a fascinating read. He has had a very wide and interesting career. He has been in so many huge shows and pretty much worked with everyone in the business at some point or another.

So I have to confess I am very surprised at what happened to him in the house. Which led to his early departure from the show.

I am very much looking forward to going up to Liverpoool next weekend. To see my mate Jeff Nolan. And also to see Tottenham Hotspur’s first game of this season at Goodison Park against Everton. We had a great go at it last time.

So I am full of hope of optimism for the the year ahead. Be good to see the team in action. And it is always a great stadium and great place to visit.

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

Neil Quigley Presenter