Tag Archives: football

Ear We Go Again

June 25, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been quite busy with a few fun things going on. I did have to make a brief trip to Stoke Mandeville Hospital the other week. It was just for a check up appointment for my ears. I had some problems with them at the start of the year. And saw the same nurse back then.

Without getting to gory. They basically hoover out my ears with a special mini vacuum cleaner. Which is not painful but it does give you a pretty weird sensation. While they are doing it. So I am pleased to confirm that my ears are now nice and clean.

And my hearing is probably the best it has been for ages. While they are doing the procedure. You can see what they are doing in the ear itself. On a big screen, right in front of you.

Neil Quigley at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio

I chose not to watch it. As I am very squeamish. I am so bad I can’t actually watch Casualty. I know what they are doing is not real but if there is any blood and gore on it. I really cannot look. I started my broadcasting career at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio.

So as I walked past the studios on the way to my appointment. That brought back lots of nice memories. I started there as a producer before progressing to hosting my own shows. During the five or so year’s that I was there. Good times and some lovely memories.

Neil Quigley back at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio with Martin Kinch

A couple of weeks ago my good friend Adam Fisher celebrated his fortieth birthday. With a night out at a casino in Reading. I have been on a couple of holidays with him over the years. Including my one and only trip outside of Europe. When we went to Las Vegas for a week.

A place which I absolutely loved and fully intend to return to at some point in my life. I also had the honour of being an Usher at his Wedding to. In fact while we were in Vegas. I ended up going ring shopping with him. As he was planning his engagement to his now wife. When we returned from the States.

Neil Quigley and Adam Fisher in Las Vegas

I got to the Casino first. It is a place I have been to a few times over the years. However I was surprised to find that when I arrived I was actually still a member there. I must have joined over fifteen years ago now. On the plus side it meant I did not have to sign in. So I could just walk straight in. They then showed me up to where we would be having our meal.

It was the night of the England versus Russia game. With Adam being a big fan of the football. He had organised for us to be near a big screen, so we could see it. The waitress gave me a place name card with what meal I had ordered on. As I was first there.

I put it in the best place to be able to watch the television. So when everyone else arrived later on. And they were looking for somewhere to sit. I already had the best seat in the house reserved. I am telling you. You can’t buy experience.

Neil Quigley's Favourite Shirt Number — Neil Quigley’s Favourite Shirt Number

It was a great night. And lovely to catch up with lots of people. Who I had not seen for ages. The only slight disappointment was England conceding a last minute equaliser. Although that did mean one of the guests won a bottle of Prosecco. For predicting the correct score. It is very fair to say that she was the only one cheering at the final whistle.

I did do a little bit of gambling. Well it would have been rude not to right? I played a couple of hands of Black Jack. Which is my casino gambling game of choice. Sadly though I had no luck at all. But fair play to the Birthday boy. Who managed to double his money. As we were sat there at the table.

As part of the deal struck with the venue. We each got a five pound free bet token to use. I have always fancied having a go at Roulette. But as the odds are so stacked against you. I tend not to play it with my own money. But I did use the free bet on it. I felt a bit like James Bond.

When I put my whole five pounds on just one single number. It felt quite exciting while the wheel and ball were spinning. But then it stopped. No where near my selection. And the game was over very quickly. At that point I decided to leave. Quit while you are level. Right!

I am spending more time working and socialising in London. Which is brilliant. This has led to a couple of sporting celebrity spots recently. Firstly I saw the Welsh former Hurdler and Olympic Silver Medallist Colin Jackson. Then the unmistakable figure of former boxer Chris Eubank walked past me. His dress sense is amazing. Both of them are forty-nine. And both are still in prime physical condition.

A doctor once said to me. That it is easier to maintain a level of fitness. Rather then stop and start from scratch. So I do still try to keep myself fit. With running and some weights. And seeing two guys ten years older than me looking so well. Gives me great motivation to keep going. And proves that the hard work and effort is worth it.

Neil Quigley talking to Victoria Pendleton

I am enjoying watching the Euro 2016 Championships. England are doing alright I think. We are playing some good football. And have done what we needed to do. Which was to get out of our group. And get in to the knock out stages. And from a personal point of view.

I think it is nice to see so many Tottenham players in the squad. I am starting to get quite excited now. I think we might have a chance of winning it. In a one off match there is always a chance right? But people are so right, when they say, it is the hope that kills you. Come on England!

I have to confess I have quite enjoyed seeing all of the Queen’s Birthday celebrations. When the whole Royal Family are dressed up and they appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to wave at the huge crowds below. That is always a beautiful moment, I think. There is something very British and very reassuring about it.

Also I like the tradition now of the military fly past’s down The Mall and over the Palace. They always looks great. In Regents Street currently. They have Union Jack flags running down the whole street. It looks brilliant. There is nothing wrong in being proud of where you are from, displaying a symbol and a passion for that.

It has been quite a busy time for the Queen. Last week it was Royal Ascot. So she was at the races every day. She arrives in a horse drawn carriage. In another fantastically splendid procession. Proving you can gamble on absolutely everything nowadays. You can have a bet on what colour hat she wears.

She is massively into her horse racing. And actually owns a couple of race horses herself. So I was very pleased when she had a winner on the last day of the festival. She had a nice big smile on her face in the winners enclosure. When she was collecting her prize.

The new series of Task Master on the TV Channel Dave started last week. It is a comedy challenge panel show hosted by Greg Davies and Alex Horne. The episode that I went to the filming of will be shown next Tuesday night at 10pm. I was sat right in the middle of the front row. So if you do watch it keep a look out for me.

It is a very funny show. The whole panel were on fire but Joe Wilkinson was very funny on the night. Plus you may also want to keep an eye on just how competitive Jon Richardson and Kathryn Ryan are. Simply a good fun, totally silly programme.

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

Also the BBC New Comedy Award London Heat that I went to see. At the Up The Creek comedy club in Greenwich. Was on Radio 4 Extra last Sunday night. It was a fun night with some great up and coming new comedians.

Having listened back to it myself I can confirm I totally agree with the three acts that the judges sent through. And the winner of the heat George Lewis is definitely one to watch and keep an eye out for in the future, I reckon.

Also you may well have caught a very brief cameo appearance from me during it. My name does not get a mention and there is no real way of knowing it is me. But one of the acts believe it of not does do a knock knock joke.

Which required a little bit of audience participation. And no one will be at all amazed to discover. I was more than happy to step in and help out. In my best Radio 4 style voice. Listen below.

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Congratulations to the legend that is Rick Astley on securing his first number one album for around thirty years. With his latest record called 50. In doing so he also managed to hold off the challenge of Tom Odell. Whose new album Wrong Crowd went in at number two.

I have to confess I am a fan of all his eighties songs. As was the comedian Peter Kay. Who used the singer as the support and warm up act for his “Tour That Doesn’t Tour Tour.” The first single off the album called “Angels on my Side” is absolutely brilliant. Welcome back Rick.

Neil Quigley and Elvis Presley hanging out in the 70's #crazydays — Neil Quigley and Elvis Presley hanging out in the 70’s #crazydays

I have always been a fan of the chat show format. Currently my favourite one is The Graham Norton Show. Mainly because he gets some great guests on. But also because I do think he is a very good, funny and laid back interviewer.

It is quite a chilled show. So people do tend to open up a bit. It is definitely on my radar to go along to a recording of it. A couple of weeks ago he did a rare one on one interview with Charlie Sheen. Who happily did seem in quite a good place.

He appeared to have calmed down a lot compared to his past behaviour. And he appeared to be coming to terms with his current and well publicised medical condition. I have to admit I was a little concerned about him when he was having his tiger blood rants. Although I did find them fascinating.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but personally I reckon he is a pretty good comic actor. And let us face it he has certainly lived a little over the years. He did seem genuinely happy about the warm response he got from the audience.

I am very much looking forward to paying another visit the the ITV Studios on the South Bank in London. To see an episode of Mr & Mrs being filmed. I went to a recording of the last series. And it was brilliant fun. Phillip Schofield is the master. When it comes to studio based presenting.

They always get brilliant celebrity couples on there. Who reveal a lot more to the audience, than will get shown. When it eventually goes out on the television. I will let you know who was on it and how it was next time we speak.

I have started working more regularly at the BBC in London. It is just an amazing place to be and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of this fantastic organisation. And producing radio with such talented and dedicated professionals.

I am really looking forward to getting more involved with lots more different shows during the rest of the year.

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

Sport and Leisure

June 10, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been very busy as ever, with lots of fun things going on. So firstly congratulations to Richard Jones on winning this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. In doing so, he became the first magician ever to win it. I think he might have been the only magical act this year. Who basically did not look like he would injure or kill himself in some way during his act.

It was kind of fitting that in this, the Queen’s 90th Birthday year. A member of the Military Services was successful. And will now therefore perform at this year’s Royal Variety Show. Providing his boss, who is technically Her Majesty of course. Will give him the time off.

So once again well done to him on this massive achievement. I will now look forward to seeing him performing alongside the other famous soldier turned entertainer James Blunt at the Queen’s 95th Birthday Party.

It was another fun series hosted brilliantly by the masters that are Ant & Dec. The judges were great again. And all do bring something different to the party. Annoyingly Simon Cowell is still the one judge I find myself agreeing with most. When he is commenting on the act’s performances. Although sometimes I might personally have phrased this criticism in a slightly different way.

I really enjoyed my night at the Dominion seeing one of the heats. I will most likely try to get to another one next series. Being there live does give you a good chance to get an idea of the overall standard of that year’s contestants.

I am a huge football fan. I have always played the sport. I really enjoy watching it. I have been lucky enough to visit many of the great stadiums in the country. And I have even managed to play a match at the biggest and best one of all, Wembley Stadium. Rugby however is something I hated playing as a kid at school. I was never really any good at it. I was quite tall and fairly skinny as a child.

But my games teacher still put me in the second row. Which meant I had to go in the scrum. Which I really disliked. Mind you that said with my lack of pace. I could never have been a winger or full back. Since leaving education I have watched the odd game on the television and kind of enjoyed that. Even though I have little idea of what is actually going on.

However when a mate of mine offered me the chance to go and see England play Wales at Twickenham. I jumped at the chance. Even though I used to live in Iseworth for a couple of years, when I was growing up. And therefore drove past it quite a few times. I had never actually been to the stadium to see a match. And despite not being a massive fan of the sport.

I am very patriotic and always happy to support an England team at whatever they are competing in. I had heard what a great experience it was suppose to be. Plus how the feel and atmosphere differed from that of a football match. And I am pleased to say this information was perfectly accurate. It did feel different.

I met my friend in Wembley and we got the tube to Hounslow East. A station I last used around thirty-two years ago I reckon. When my mum took me for my first ever day trip in to central London. So it was nice and at the same time quite weird to be back there. We then decided to walk to the ground. Stopping to enjoy a drink at a lovely little pub, we found on the way.

Once we were refreshed we continued our walk to the ground. I have to say as you approach it. It is a very impressive sight. We got in to the fans area outside the stadium. Which was impressive in itself, with live music and television screens to watch. Not to mention a nice selection of places to get pretty much every type of food you could think of.

We then made our way towards where our seats were. We were up in the top part of the South Stand. Which meant that we had to make our way up a concrete style ramp. Like in a multi-storey car park. To get to where we needed to. I actually preferred that idea to having lots of steps to climb up.

To blend in with the rest of the crowd only, of course. We found the nearest bar and got some drinks. With the two main choices being Lager or Guinness. When you buy your first drink they charge you an extra pound for the plastic glass it comes in. Then as long as you bring this back to the bar they will refill at the normal price.

I am guessing this is to encourage people to bring glasses back to the bar and not leave them lying around the place. At the end you can either take the glass home as a souvenir or take it to the bar and get your original pound back. Fair play to some kids at the end. Who I saw collecting up any glasses that had been left. To take them back to the bar and get the cash for them. One child I saw must have had about ten pounds worth in their hands.

The atmosphere was really friendly and relaxed. And one thing I found very strange coming from a football watching background. Was that the fans were not segregated. It did not matter who you were supporting. You could just sit anywhere, it would seem.

I really enjoyed the game. Even though I did not understand the finer points of it. We had some good seats. So we got a decent view of all the action. I think by following the rest of the fans I shouted and cheered at the right times. It was great to see England win.

It was just simply a fun and relaxing afternoon. Watching an England team play in the correct national stadium for that sport. I would definitely go and see a game of rugby there again. If I got offered the chance to.

Last Tuesday I went to the fabulous Up The Creek Comedy Club in Greenwich. To see the first London heat of this year’s BBC New Comedy Award. It was the first time that I had been there. I have to say it is a lovely little room for comedy. With a nice bar that has a nice selection of drinks. Which is pretty unusual for these kind of places.

I would say it was the perfect place to hold this event in. Very comfortable for the audience. Which means it is a nice arena for the acts to perform their comedy in. In front of a very supportive and enthusiastic crowd.

Previous finalists in the competition include amongst others Silky, Lee Mack, Marcus Brigstocke, Peter Kay, Shappi Korsandi, Russell Howard, Rhod Gilbert, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican and Joe Lycett. So as you can see over the years since the first one in 1995. The standard has been pretty high.

It has also been a great stepping stone for many new and up coming comics. There were ten comedians taking part. All performing their own original stuff. I can’t say any more at this stage. As it was all recorded for Radio 4 Extra. Who will be playing out all the heats and acts in a special radio series later in the summer.

What I can say is. The heat was hosted by the excellent Jessica Fostekew. Who was very funny and did a brilliant job. I was sat right on the front row. Which did lead to a very awkward conversation between me and her.

When she asked me if I could be any food at all. What food would that be? To be honest this is something I had never previously considered. So after a lengthy pause I panicked and said a burger. Funnily enough she did come back to me at all after this incident.

Then later on one of the acts used me. So they could tell a sort of knock knock joke. So do listen out for it when it is on the radio. As you may get to briefly hear my dulcet tones. I thought all the comedians were great. I know from experience. That it is not easy getting up there and making people laugh.

And on reflection I do think the judging panel of three. Which included the brilliant Holly Walsh. Got the decision about right on which three acts to send to the semi finals. Another great night enjoying some live comedy. Go and see some yourself. When you can. Laughter is always good for you.

Also last week I went to see a former colleague and friend of mine Jack Harding in his latest stage production. He was starring in the brilliant Sea Life at The Hope Theatre in Islington.

It was the first time I had been there. It is a lovely venue above the Hope and Anchor pub. Which of course acts as a theatre bar for the performances.The play was totally amazing. It was a very dark comedy written by Lucy Catherine and directed by Matthew Parker.

The set was fantastic. Being sat in the audience you really felt you were there. The sound, lighting and staging were also spot on. Even to the point that as the play is set in a coastal town. When you walk in to the auditorium. There is a strong smell of Fish and Chips that greets you.

The whole cast were excellent but I have to say Jack Harding was sensational as Eddie. A really strong and powerful performance. Showing exactly why he has been Offie nominated for Best Male actor for this role. It was a full two hour show. Which flew by so quickly. As it was so gripping and entertaining.

It was also lovely to catch up with him after the show. And it gave me the chance to buy him a well deserved drink. For the role he has had to grow a big bushy beard. Which to be fair is an absolute triumph in itself.

It seemed to me like it was a quite an emotionally draining role. So I imagine he has been sleeping very well during its run. The final performance is actually tonight. So I am glad I managed to catch it when I did. Also keep an eye out for Jack Harding. When the next series of People Just Do Nothing is released.

I was away for a couple of weeks for work related reasons recently. I stayed in a great hotel in Worcestershire. That had some great photographs of old BBC Television shows on many of the walls. The room that I was staying in had some pictures from the original Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth.

And two from Allo Allo featuring the great Gordon Kaye. When I was a child my parents ran a newsagents in Iseworth. And he used to come in to the shop regularly to buy his papers.

In the hall way just outside my room was a picture of Smashie and Nicey. The DJ creations of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse. Harry actually lives near to me nowadays. I actually saw him at my local train station the other month.

Small world isn’t it? I think the person who came up with that sixth degrees of separation thing, could really have been on to something.

So the Euro 2016 Football Tournament is underway and England play their opening game against Russia tonight. I have to confess I have not got too excited about this yet.

But a good England victory tonight could change all that. Good luck to Roy Hodgson and the squad. Somebody has got to win it. So why can’t it be us?

I remember I was very excited before Euro 1996. Which was held in England. There was a really good documentary about it with Alan Shearer on the BBC the other week. He caught up with the manager Terry Venables and lots of the players from the squad. To talk through their memories of it.

That made me remember how great it was. The feel good factor in the country. And how close we came to winning it. If only Paul Gascoigne was two inches taller. We would have made the final at the very least. So near and yet so far. A win for England this time would make for an amazing summer. Come on England!

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

Face in The Crowd

May 14, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been very busy with lots of fun things going on. Firstly on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday. I went on a road trip with my good friend Andy Holmes. To see his football team Hereford FC play in a Cup Final.

It was the Herefordshire FA County Cup Final between Hereford FC and their local rivals Westfields. It just so happened, that it was being played at Edgar Street. Which is The Bulls home stadium. Mainly because it is the biggest and best ground in the county. It was the first time I had been there. And the first time I had ever seen his side play.

We decided to watch from the seated area. There was no seat allocation. So you could basically sit anywhere you liked. We sat right at the back and by ourselves. With no-one either side of us. Before kick off the Hereford FC mascot.

A great big huge pedigree Bull was shown around the pitch a couple of times. While they were playing Woolly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs. Which to be fair was the perfect song for the occasion. They play in the FA Vase final next weekend against Morpeth. And apparently the same Bull is heading to Wembley to do the same thing there.

The game itself was pretty entertaining. If not a very one sided affair. Hereford FC beat Westfields by five goals to one. With the visitors being reduced to ten men after conceding a penalty. At the end of the game we were allowed to go on to the pitch. To see the players lift the trophy in the stand over the other side of the ground.

It was a very pleasant afternoon watching a better standard of football than I was expecting. It was nice to be able to share in my mate’s team’s victory. It also means I have an one hundred percent record of every time I have seen them play they have won. I really do wish that I could say the same with my team Tottenham Hotspur.

Talking of my team. We did get back from Hereford in time to see Spurs draw with Chelsea on the television. In what was a very lively game to say the least. It has been a while since I have seen that many of our players get booked. And I have to admit I was a little bit disappointed at the final whistle. I then also watched us lose to Southampton at home last Sunday to. Which was equally as annoying, to be honest.

That said a point tomorrow away at Newcastle. Will mean that we finish second in the Premier League. Our highest finish in twenty-three years. Mind you whatever happens. It has been a brilliant season. And I am greatly looking forward to next season already. The club motto is “Audere est Facere” which means “To Dare is To Do”. Which is also a mantra, that I do try to use in my everyday life to.

The other week I was once again back at the fantastic Museum of Comedy. It is a place that firstly contains lots of great comedy memorabilia, from the Carry On Films to Tommy Cooper and much more in between. Including the actual stuffed bear that appeared in an episode of Steptoe and Son.

And secondly it has a lovely small performance room. Where lots of top comics often come to perform “work in progress” shows. In front of audiences of around ninety people. I was there to see Stewart Lee do just that.

I have to confess that I had not really seen much of his live stand up myself. So I was not sure totally what to expect and if I would like his stuff. But he does seem to be the comedians’ comedian. As lots of his peers often reference him as being someone very clever and creative. Who totally gets the art form. And who you can learn from. I have to say that he was brilliant from start to finish. A master of his craft.

From his very specific and explicit no pictures rule. That he laid down the second he walked out on stage. Through to him then reading out some of his columns from The Sunday Times. He was hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. He also did the set he used to do at Open Spots. When he was just starting out in comedy in 1989. And that in itself is a bit of a masterpiece. Which has weirdly just about stood the test of time. Well it has with a few ad-libbed amendments anyway.

It was another great gig. At one of my new favourite comedy venue’s in London. So far I have seen Trevor Noah, Josh Widdicome, James Acaster and Michael McIntyre play there. It is a really friendly room, giving the acts a great environment to try out new jokes in. While I was there I did notice that the exceptionally talented Maddy Anholt is there performing her new show Rent Girl on 23rd July. If you are free and around London. I would suggest you get along and check this out.

While we are talking about comedy and comedy venues. The line up for this year’s Tringe Festival has been released. It is a three week annual event organised by the great Ben Moorhouse. Most of the gigs take place at the Pendley Court Theatre in Tring.

A lot of the acts who perform are previewing their latest Edinburgh Festival shows. This year the Tringe runs from Sunday 26th June through to Saturday 16th July. Comedian’s appearing include Milton Jones, Sam Simmons, Shappi Khorsandi, Nish Kumar, Katy Brand, Mark Watson and Sean Walsh to mention just a few.

The Tringe Festival does hold a lot of very happy memories for me. Because it was as part of this great event four years ago now. That I made my stand up comedy debut. I took part in the brilliant eight week comedy course led by the Guru that is Logan Murray. When I started I thought I was amusing. But had no idea if I could write material, stand up on stage and then make people laugh. I met lots of great new friends. We spent the time just playing games and constantly laughing. Then some how at the end of it. All of us had five minutes worth of jokes to perform at The Roving Comedy Night.

For the night we were split in to groups of four. Then we were allocated our own professional comedian. We then travelled around four pubs in Tring performing our new comedy musings to around four hundred people in the process. With the professional comic headlining each of our little shows. I went around with the sensational Tony Law.

It was great to see him at close quarters and then get to talk to him as we walked between gigs. The whole of the night was just a totally unbelievable experience. It gave me such as buzz. It is hard to explain the feeling of excitement, relief and satisfaction. That I felt as I met up with the rest of my comedy group for a pint after our memorable shared experience.

This year’s Roving Comedy Night is on Sunday 3rd July. I would recommend you go to see new people giving comedy a go for the first time. While also being supported by top class comedian’s. It is a really entertaining night out.

Best of luck to all the trainees currently on the course. And preparing to give their first performances. You will absolutely love it. For more information about the Tringe Festival and The Roving Comedy Night click on the link here. Tringe Festival

I was back at the Fountain Studios in Wembley last week. To witness a recoding of an episode from the new series of the Dave Channel comedy show Taskmaster. I have just realised it is quite a hard concept to explain in writing.

A team of celebrities are given a selection of weird and wonderful tasks to complete. They are all set the same one and have to compete against each other to win points. Their efforts are then scored in his own unique way by the Taskmaster. Who is Greg Davies. The show was devised by Alex Horne. Who assists Greg with the show itself and also he helps the contestants with some of the challenges to.

Greg Davies was hilarious. And did a great job hosting and chatting to the audience in between takes. He and Alex Horne were really good together. It is a very funny. If not at times slightly surreal programme. With some of the things that they make them do. Taking part in this series are Doc Brown, Joe Wilkinson, Jon Richardson, Katherine Ryan and Richard Osman.

Now I do not want to give too much away but to say Jon and Katherine are very competitive is an understatement. The whole panel were on form and very entertaining. But for me on the night I thought Joe Wilkinson just edged it. Mainly with his sly looks to the crowd and his reactions to what the others were saying. Which at times were priceless.

It was a fun show to watch being filmed. I had a decent seat right in the middle of the second row. So I got a perfect view of all the action. Not only that but the production team also gave me a free bottle of Budweiser on entry. If you saw the first series. You will know a lot of it is filmed in advance with them doing the tasks.

Well we got to see them played to us on a big screen. While watching the contestants watching themselves and more amusingly the others attack these dilemmas in very different ways. Keep your eye out on Dave for when this new series starts. It is well worth seeing. I witnessed some true works of genius. While I was sat there in that studio.

Last Sunday Night it was the TV Baftas. Hosted brilliantly by Graham Norton. I thought his opening monologue was great. He kept the whole thing together very nicely. I do always try to watch the awards ceremony if I can. Mainly to see what great dramas or documentaries have passed me by over the last twelve months.

Well done to Peter Kay for winning two nods for his brilliant come back situation comedy Car Share. I thought it was right that Strictly Come Dancing won the Entertainment award. The last series was brilliant. The standard of the dancing was so high. Every week the show was a real spectacle. And very enjoyable.

Lastly it was nice to see Leigh Francis win Entertainment Performance. The character’s that he plays including the wild Keith Lemon. Are I get the impression a million miles away from the actual man. Who I have heard is one of the nicest and loveliest people. You could wish to meet and to work with. That is according to a friend and former colleague of mine, anyway.

I even liked the way he did not want to or feel comfortable accepting the award in his own voice. May be showing how he likes to try to keep his public and private life completely separate. Anyway Well done Leigh Francis. Totally deserved. I almost got to interview him once. It was all booked in. Then unfortunately something came up at the last minuet and it never happened. Oh well that is showbiz.

If you watched last week’s Britain’s Got Talent. Towards the end of the show you may have seen a familiar face appear in the crowd. I went to the final London audition. Now as they cut and change from location to location during this stage of the show. You never know when acts you witnessed will be on or indeed if they will make it on screen at all. There was a fantastic singer called Rachael Wooding. Who came on and did a great version of “With You” from the musical Ghost.

She admitted she had been an actress and appeared in the West End before taking a break to have children. At the end of her song the camera cut to the audience. And you got a nice view of me appreciating her stunning performance. Clapping and smiling. It must have been quite obvious it was me. As basically straight away after it happened. I was getting text and Facebook messages from friends and family. Telling me that they had just spotted me on their television.

So it might be worth keeping your eyes out for me for the rest of the audition shows. Just in case you see me clapping and cheering for another one of the wannabe’s. That I saw when at the Dominion Theatre, trying out for the judges. That is them not me, just to be clear. I was sat right behind the top judging panel. So I got a good view of their reactions to the acts.

As I said previously I am going to be working for the BBC starting this summer. I will be doing some behind the scenes radio production work. Across several different shows on a few of their different networks. I am really looking forward to the challenge. And I am very much looking forward to when I start with them. I have always wanted to work for this great organisation. So I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity.

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

My January So Far

January 23, 2016 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been good but if I am honest, it has been a fairly low key start to the year so far. I do travel on the train in to London pretty much on a daily basis. The line heads through some pretty nice locations to live in, in the fine county of Buckinghamshire. So there is always the chance of spotting a familiar face or two.

Just the other week while heading in to the capital I found myself standing next to the former Wimbledon and Sheffield United football manager Dave Bassett. Now I had actually met him once before. Although I would really not expect him to remember, as it was around twenty-one years ago. When I was eight years old I attended an official Football Association Fun Week during the School Summer Holidays.

It was five days of coaching with fully qualified coaches and then on the final day there would be a special surprise guest to hand out the certificates. So at the end of the Friday afternoon session Dave Bassett appears to give us a talk on his football career. Which as I recall seemed to involve a lot of red cards, when he was a player.

He then did a question and answer session and handed us our certificates. It was very exciting to see him and he was the first proper professional football person I had ever met. I didn’t talk to him on the train. If I am honest it would of been a bit awkward and odd me explaining how he met me as a child. But it did bring back a nice childhood memory seeing him. He was holding a FA Coaching clip board to.

Staying with Football, as a child I was for a couple of season’s a season ticket holder for Wycombe Wanderers. I played one season for their Under 16’s and did have a trial for their youth team. Plus both my parents are big fans of the club and go home and away to watch them. So I was delighted to see them do so well in the FA Cup holding Aston Villa to a draw and getting a replay back at Villa Park. Which they narrowly lost. The previous time that Wycombe had played there was against Liverpool in the FA Cup Semi-Final in 2001.

So I guess you could say they do have a little bit of a Cup pedigree. And you know that clip you often see of John Motson standing on a snow covered pitch. That is at Adam’s Park Wycombe’s ground on the day they should have played Peterborough United in the FA Cup but the game was called off.

I remember it well because me and my parents were virtually at the ground when we found out it was off. And had to turn around and go home. So well done to Wycombe Wanderers for their cup efforts this year.

I am currently reading Steve Coogan’s autobiography “Easily Distracted” which I got for my birthday. The slightly weird thing is he actually released a fictional autobiography for his character Alan Partridge a few years before he bought out his own book. I am about two thirds of the way through it so far and it is very interesting. I do love reading about how people “made it”

He is very honest and open about his life in it. Which I feel you should be when you are writing this kind of book or you are just cheating yourself and the reader. I do like when these books are written how the person talks, if that makes sense. So as you are reading it you can hear them saying these things and describing them. How you would expect them to. It is interesting how he views his body of work and his career. And what are his biggest achievements in his opinion. It is a good read and I am really enjoying it.

Last weekend I found myself dog sitting for my sister. She went away to Centre Parks for the weekend, so I agreed to look after her pride and joy for her. She has had her dog for I think around seven years now. I did obviously come round to see it when she first had it as a little puppy. So the animal in question knows me very well. I am quite a good brother, really.

Every time I see the dog it is pleased to see me and always wants a cuddle and to sit on my lap. So I knew we had a little bit of a rapport. But this was the first time I was solely in charge of its well being. And just make things slightly more challenging the poor thing had been a bit ill recently, so was still on some medication. Which I had to administer.

I am pleased to report it was a success. I managed to feed and walk the dog as required, she didn’t seem to put out to be stuck with me for the weekend and we did not fall out during it. Plus I did manage to give her the medicine. Which required me trying to get her to sit perfectly still.

While I had to put a huge syringe type contraption in her mouth while using both hands to push the trigger down so the stuff came out. Trust me that is a lot harder than it sounds and I had to do that twice a day. Both me and the dog survived but I have to confess now having had hands on experience of what is required to look after a dog. I have absolutely no plans to get one of my own.

While I was in dog sitting I took the opportunity to watch Chris Ramsey’s first stand up DVD “All Growed Up”. I do really like him as a comedian. He has a really friendly style and with his Geordie accent his gigs really do just feel like a mate telling you stories and jokes over a pint down the pub or a cup of tea at his place. I have seen him live and that is really how it feels. It is like you are all in it together. And the way he constructs his shows is very clever. It is like you are all going on a journey together.

It was really funny and I would recommend seeing it if you get the chance. He was originally due to record the show in London for the DVD but then there was a problem with the venue and he ended up moving it to Newcastle. Which as he is from the North East having that home area crowd really added to the atmosphere and helped the show, I think. So although not the initial plan I think it worked out brilliantly doing it that way in the end. He is still touring this show, so keep an eye out and may be even catch it live.

I am looking forward to going to see the recording of a brand new television show next week. It is called “It’s Not Rocket Science” and is hosted by Ben Miller, Rachel Riley and Romesh Ranganathan. It is a new entertainment show which looks at new technology and gadgets that are meant to make all of our everyday lives easier.

It should be a lot of fun. It is being recorded at the BBC Studios at Elstree, which is the same complex where Eastenders is filmed. I have no idea when it is due on TV yet. But rest assured when I do I will let you now and I will tell you what the episode I saw was like the next time we speak.

I am also very pleased to have been invited along to watch another London audition for this year’s Britain’s Got Talent. I went last year and it was ace to see Ant & Dec in action. As well as the many good and bad acts which go in front of the judges. The game in the audience is trying to guess which of them will make it on screen. Sometimes it is easier to predict the bad ones rather than the good ones.

It is quite a long evening as they do pack in as many performers as they can. I will let you know if I do spot any potential winners. A lot of the banter and fun between the judges does not always make the shows final edit. So when you are there it is usually a lot more fun in between the acts.

I wonder what Simon Cowell will be wearing? I’m guessing it will be a white shirt, jeans and black Cuban heels but you never know I could be wrong. One thing is for sure, it will be an interesting night at the theatre.

I think Ricky Gervais may have seen something that I sent to him as a reply on Twitter and then passed it off as his own. I mean he might not of and it could just have been a total coincidence and just weird timing. Here is what happened.

He posted a tweet about people complaining more now as it is easier with social media to moan straight away rather than in the days before the internet having to sit down and write a letter, then post it to make a point. Most people didn’t because it was too much hassle.

I replied to it saying that also thanks to Twitter there is less writing on toilet walls now. He then two minutes after I had made that remark posts a new update on his twitter page saying pretty much exactly that with no acknowledgement to me anywhere to be seen.

I will never know the truth about this situation. Unless I ever meet him and actually get round to asking about it. If he did use it, I mean it would have been nice to get a little bit of credit for it. That is all I am saying.

Yesterday I went for an audition to be a contestant on a brand new game show. It is a completely fresh idea and format, so I can’t really say any more about the actual game play. However I had a really fun afternoon meeting the production team, showing off a bit and answering some general knowledge questions.

I should find out in the next few weeks if I have been selected and therefore when I will be invited along to the studios to play it. I do not know currently who will be presenting it or indeed what time in the television schedule it will be on. But I will of course keep you posted.

I am on the whole having a pretty quiet January. I am still not having any alcohol and will not have any until I go to a party on the first full weekend in February. I am doing plenty of running and weight training to get my fitness levels up ready to take on the year. I would like to say I am doing a bit of a detox but that is not true. While I am trying to eat lots of fruit and vegetables I am still having plenty of chocolate and crisps. Well if you are doing a lot of exercise I feel you need some rewards. I am feeling good for the slight sacrifice though, which is the main thing.

I am already starting to put some plans in place for the party to end all parties this December. I am already thinking about venues and exactly what kind of entertainment I intend to put on for the guests. I have got some pretty good ideas which if they do come off, they will be amazing. It is still a little way off but already I think I may have to take next January of the booze to compensate for the celebrations taking place at the end of this year.

Neil Quigley and Jeff Nolan in Liverpool

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

Relatively Interesting

September 19, 2015 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been busy with lots going on. Including quite a few special occasions. The first of which was my cousin’s Wedding Reception in the Dairy at Waddesdon Manor. I have to confess that it was the first time I had been there. It is a beautiful venue. And I had a lovely evening catching up with the family, while just having a few social drinks and a bit of a dance. I can confirm that I can still bust some moves on the floor. There was a band there. The fantastically named “Carte Blanche”, who were truly excellent. Congratulations to Sarah and Stuart. Who are now off enjoying their honeymoon in Italy.

Before they jetted off. The day after the reception we continued the celebrations with an afternoon party at my Uncle and Aunty’s. I do love doing this. As you can talk about what happened at the Wedding and relive all the fun you had the night before. Or check on anything that you are may be slightly unclear about, if you need to. There was lots of delicious food on offer. The happy couple made an appearance of course. As this event was being held in their honour. It was great to be able to have a nice chat with them and wish them well. While also having a look at some of the photos. One thing I learnt from that weekend is that my family still know how to party. It was all good fun.

Then the day after it was Mum’s birthday. So I went and spent the afternoon with her. It was a nice day, so we sat out in the garden for a while. And a couple of her sister’s came round. It was really good to catch up with them. We are all very busy with our own lives but it is good to take a little bit of time out when you can and catch up with your relatives. We finished off the day with a Chinese Takeaway. Which is always a winner in my eyes.

The present she wanted from me was a day out in London. She says that she has not really been to the Capital and seen all the big tourist attractions since she took me there as a child. Which it is fair to say was quite a long time ago now. So I will be repaying the favour at the end of this month. And taking her to see all the sights. Which I must admit I am really looking forward to. I have already started planning my route for the day and organising a few surprises for her along the way.

I have once again been spending some time at Wembley Stadium during the last fortnight. One day I took my friend and his son for a look around the home of football. I am not sure who was more excited my mate or his kid. The boy is only four years old but already in his short life he has changed his football allegiance from Chelsea to Manchester City. Either he just likes the colour blue or is choosing to support the team most likely to win the title each season.

From the visit they have got a nice picture of them, sitting up on the stage in the Press Conference room. Looking like they are talking to the media after a game. The stadium is getting ready this weekend to welcome the first of two big Rugby Union World Cup matches. New Zealand play Argentina tomorrow and then next Sunday Ireland take on Romania.

I was also at Wembley on Tuesday 8th September for the Euro Qualifier between England and Switzerland. That date saw a little piece of history being made. I was really glad I was there to see it in person. We have got game day for international’s perfectly sorted. We arrive early, so we can have a nice meal in one of the restaurants near by. Then we go to a bar I know near the ground. Which is never too busy. So you can always get in there and get a drink really quickly. Then we head in to the stadium in time to see the players warm up. I am not going to lie to you the first half of the match was not exactly amazing. And I was querying my decision to go at that point.

But things then did pick up a bit in the second half. When a certain Harry Kane came on. I have never watched him live and not seen him score. And luckily this record continued. As he got the first goal. May be he should hire me to go to every game. England seemed to relax a bit at this point plus Switzerland actually had to try and attack now. To get something from the game. Which gave the home team more space. Then something happened that gave us the moment we had all been waiting for. Wayne Rooney going in to this game had scored 49 goals for his country. He was joint top scorer with the legend that is Bobby Charlton.

So when the Manchester City player Raheem Sterling was tripped in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. We all knew who would be stepping up to take it. The chants of “Rooney Rooney” echoed around the ground. Then after quite a lengthy delay he took it and smashed it into the top corner of the goal. So therefore breaking the all time scoring record for the England National Team with his 50th goal.

I was sitting right behind that goal to witness that historical moment. The shear delight and in many ways relief in his face was really great to see. Big congratulations to Wayne Rooney. That is a truly amazing achievement. There is a great video of him accepting a special shirt from the Manager Roy Hodgson. And then giving a very gracious speech in the dressing room after the game. It was fantastic to be there, to see it all unfold.

Do you remember what seems like ages ago now I said that I did a little bit of filming for the latest series of the Sky One show Duck Quacks Don’t Echo with Lee Mack. I took part in one of the experiments they do, to prove or disprove theories the guests bring on to the programme. Well the other week the episode I was in was shown. I just happened to be in and able to watch it for myself. As it has been on TV. I guess I can say a little bit about what it was.

I was hooked up to an electric shock machine. While sitting in a completely empty and totally white room. Basically when I got a bit bored I could press a button, which would give me a little shock. Now I do have a really low attention span. So yes I did actually give it a try to see what receiving the shock was like. The results of which you can very clearly see on the television. It was a fun morning spent shooting it. And it was equally as much fun to watch the finished product on screen.

I had a great time once again seeing an episode of Celebrity Juice being recorded at the Elstree Studios. That show is just total madness but lots of fun to watch and be involved with. I can’t wait to see how much of the really funny stuff. They will actually be able to show on the television. When it goes out. My initial guess is a lot of the most hilarious bits will be a bit to hot for TV shall we say. For this series the two team captains are Holly Willoughby and Gino D’Acampo both of who were great. I said previously that I had hoped Kelly Brook might be replacing Fearne Cotton, as I quite fancied seeing her. Well imagine my delight when she was one of the guests on the night I was there.

The other panellists were Louis Walsh, Hayley Tamaddon and the brilliant Jimmy Carr. Everyone was top quality. That is the first time I have seen Jimmy Carr in person. And he did not disappoint. He was hilarious. Everybody joined in and took the jokes about them in their stride. I have to say Hayley Tammadon really threw herself in to it all and was thoroughly entertaining.

And finally not forgetting the main man, Keith Lemon. Who was fantastic. The perfect ringmaster, creating the magic and the madness and to be fair also marshalling things brilliantly. You may have seen the show on Thursday night. If so you may have spotted me clapping in the audience. I did tweet the main man to tell him how much I enjoyed it. And he did send me back a nice reply. I have already organised to go and see another one filmed in a few weeks time. It is a great way to spend an evening. If you enjoy laughing a lot at crazy and surreal situations, that is.

Staying with the television theme last Saturday evening I went along to the filming of the latest It’ll Be Alright On The Night. At the ITV Studios on the South Bank. Most television shows have a warm up person. Who comes out first, explains what is going to happen and gets the audience laughing and ready for when the stars walk on. Now last time I watched this particular show Ted Robbins was doing that role.

Since then he quite publicly suffered a heart attack. While on stage performing in the Comic Relief stage version of Phoenix Nights. Happily he has made a full recovery and was once again back at the studio for this recording. And I must say on top form. It was good to see him again. It is presented by the excellent Griff Rhys Jones. Who is so slick, professional and funny. While he is linking all the sections of bloopers together. It featured all new never seen before out takes from all over the world.

Lots of them were proper laugh out loud funny. A few of them featured some of my favourite and the best known presenters in the county. Once again proving that no matter how good you are, things can still go wrong. And it is how you react to them. That shows your true value and class. It is actually a pretty quick show to record.

As there are no real set changes or breaks. Plus it is just Griff talking to camera between the videos. They do get played to the audience in the studio. So the reaction to them can be recorded and of course used on the programme. When it is then shown on the television. Which for this show will be sometime during the Christmas period on ITV 1.

I really enjoy spending time in TV studios and always feel quite at home there. We were all done by about eight O’clock. So I treated myself to a few weekend drinks in London. The city was vibrant and great fun as ever. With lots of people in fancy dress for the opening of the latest production of the Rocky Horror Show. I have only seen that once at the theatre, so far. And in that version Jonathan Wilkes was Frank N Furter. Fair play though I have to admit there were some brilliant and brave costumes on show in the pubs, I was in.

Also last weekend on the Sunday I went to the christening of my friend’s two sons. It took place at the church were my friend and his wife got married. It was the first time I had been back there since. It is a lovely little village church. Which is actually over nine hundred years old. The ceremony itself was fun. As there were quite a few children around the parents seemed busy keeping them all interested and in some cases under control. Which as someone who has no kids I found mildly amusing.

The two stars of the show were great. Well after the older one had two failed attempts to run out of the building that is. Afterwards there was a lovely reception at their house. With a Bouncy Castle for the children and nice food with great company for the adults. It was lovely to meet up with and talk to lots of people that I had not seen for ages, many years in some cases. So another fun time was had by all. And predictably, as with all social occasions I attend. I was again one of the last to leave.

So we now know who is paired with who on Strictly Come Dancing, ready for the start of the new series. Firstly it is great to see Anton Du Beke paired up with Katie Derham. Normally he seems to get difficult ladies to teach. But this year I think he might have a chance of doing very well with this one. And hopefully going a long way in the competition.

My favourite dancer is still Aliona Vilani and she is with Jay McGuinness from The Wanted so I do want them to do well. Both Peter Andre with Janette Manrara and Kirsty Gallacher with Brendan Cole could do well in the competition. But the duo I am supporting are Jamelia and Tristan MacManus. I have always liked her and I thought he was great last year. So they are my tip to win the Glitter Ball trophy this year. I am looking forward to it starting again.

This Tuesday I am going to the ITV London Studios to help out with a game show run through for a brand new format idea in front of some executives from ITV. It will be lots of fun and I hope they pick it up and make it. As I think it is a great concept and genius idea for a quiz. I have to be there quite early in the morning. So I am hoping I might spot some of the Good Morning Britain presenter’s, when I am there. Or may be even Philip or Holly from This Morning. I will let you know how it goes the next time that we speak.

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

Neil Quigley Presenter