Razzle Dazzle

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of week’s. Mine have been busy with a lots of fun things going on. The excellent Tringe Comedy Festival has now just finished for another year. This annual event see’s many of the best comedian’s in the country head down to Tring to perform. Normally work in progress Edinburgh Festival shows.

Among the acts appearing this year were Sean Walsh, Mark Watson, Nish Kumar and James Acaster. All of whom I have seen live. It does always attract a great line up of comics. And it is brilliantly organised and put together by the lovely impresario that is Ben Moorhouse.

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up
Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

Unfortunately I did not manage to get along and see any gigs there this time round. But the festival does hold a special place in my memory. As it was there where I made my stand up comedy debut. Every year they have a Roving Comedy Night. For people who want to try the dark art of comedy for themselves.

You go on an eight week course with the legend that is Logan Murray. Then you are let loose on the good people of Tring. Performing your newly written five minute set in four of the town’s pubs. With a headline professional comedian with you. To close each of your mini shows. That night I got to work with the genius that is Tony Law. Who was totally brilliant!

Neil Quigley Stand Up Comedy
Neil Quigley Stand Up Comedy

If you have ever wanted to try stand up comedy. I would recommend this course and the Roving Comedy Night. It is an amazing experience. The buzz I got from that night lasted for about two weeks after. Plus I got to meet some great and very funny people. In fact the night of my very first gigs. I got to give the wonderful Silky a lift back to his hotel.

He was a finalist in the first ever BBC New Comedy Awards. He runs his own very successful comedy clubs. And is a top bloke. So night one and I was already giving fellow comics lifts. I still do plan to return to stand up at some point in the future. It is really good fun.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

Like a large majority of the country. I only really seem to get excited about Tennis during Wimbledon. Whenever that comes on the television. I find it always makes me want to dig out my Andre Agassi racket from the loft. And find a free court to play on. It is a sport I do enjoy playing but do not think about for most of the year. I did go through a stage of playing quite regularly with a mate. But I kept beating him and then strangely the offers to play games suddenly seemed to stop.

I did manage to watch a fair bit of this year’s Wimbledon. Including the Men’s Single’s Final. I was delighted to see Andy Murray win his second All England Club title. He is such a dedicated and hard working sportsman. And therefore deserves all the success that comes his way. He has earned it. And that win easily makes him the greatest British Tennis Player in my life time, certainly.

Wimbledon
Wimbledon

I was very jealous of my Uncle and Auntie who managed to get Centre Court tickets. For Ladies Semi Final day. So they got to see the powerhouse that is Serena Williams in action. What an athlete she is.

That is very much on my to do list. To go and witness the tennis live at Wimbledon. Ideally on Centre Court. May be I can be there when Andy Murray wins his third title there next year.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I had a brilliant night the other week watching the stunning Chicago. At one of my favourite venues. The wonderful Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. This was a show that I had been wanting to see for sometime. So I was really looking forward to it. And I have to say it did not disappoint.

After seeing her at one of the Celebrity Juice recordings I was at. I also really wanted to see Hayley Tammaddon playing Roxie Hart. She was hilarious on the show that night and brilliant on stage in that role to. She really did make it her own. And put her own stamp on it. She has a fantastic singing voice. Which I guess, always helps in a musical.

Aylesbuy Waterside Theatre
Aylesbuy Waterside Theatre

The whole cast were excellent. It was very well put together, the staging, sound and choreography were all fantastic. The character I think I can relate most to, is of course Billy Flynn. Who was perfectly portrayed by John Partridge. He was so good from start to finish. And he can hold a note for such a long time. I reckon he would seriously give Bill Withers a run for his money.

The orchestra are actually on stage and fully in view. They really do get involved and add to the fun and enjoyment. In fact I think a few of them may be a little bit crazy. There are some nice surprises in it. A very enjoyable show. Performed by a great company. I am very pleased I went along to see it. Great fun night.

Beautiful The Carole King Musical
Beautiful The Carole King Musical

It has been a theatre packed fortnight for me. As I also went and saw Beautiful The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre in London. This was another show that I had heard great things about. And had been wanting to see for a while. It was brilliant. It is really fast paced and very slick. And it tells the amazing story of her life and career. In a very clever and direct way. But the best thing is the amount of excellent songs in the show. Most of which of course were written by the subject of the story herself.

These songs by the way are all brilliantly performed by the fantastic cast. It is just huge hit song after huge hit song. Mixed in with the different stages of the great singer and songwriter’s life. Cassidy Janson is sensational in the lead role. And totally nails all of the amazing songs. That she gets to sing. It was again another lovely night out at the theatre.

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

I love live performances. So much more engaging and fun than just watching stuff at home on the television. I like to think that I know quite a lot about music. But even I had moments a couple of times during the night when I was thinking “I had forgotten this one was a Carole King song”. She does have such an amazing back catalogue of classic songs.

And bearing in mind a lot of these came out of. In effect a music factory style environment. In many ways makes that more astonishing, I think. Some bands go away for years to write their albums. She and her writing colleague’s had to deliver songs. Like they were working at a car plant. Virtually on a daily basis. Her debut solo album Tapesty was huge. And packed full of timeless classics. She was in a way the 60′ s and 70’s answer to Adele. Great night out. Seeing yet another excellent West End show.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

Staying with musicals. I am very excited that I am going to see Sheridan Smith star in Funny Girl at the Savoy Theatre in London on Monday. I have been a big fan of hers for years. I have always wanted to see her perform live on stage.

So I can’t wait. I have been following her career from the start. All the way from the Royale Family, Two Pints of Lager, through to Gavin & Stacey and her excellent portrayal of Cilla in the ITV biopic of the singer’s rise to fame. I will report back on the show next time we speak.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

One of my former radio stations Mix 96. Just happened to be in the town where I live. As part of their Summer Tour last week. So I thought it would be rude not to pop along and say hello. Over the years I have spent several spells working there.

And it was actually where I had my very first taste of a radio studio. When I did a week’s work experience there. When I was at Aylesbury college. Funnily enough one of the presenters who I met that week Max Hailey is now the Managing Director.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

A few years after that initial visit. I was back helping out on the Saturday Sport Show. Phoning up the local football teams to get the scores. And then reading out the results on air. From here I progressed to doing the Sports Show myself.

Before that though my first ever show on the station was a one hour show on a Sunday morning. Which I covered for just one week. Which was equally exhilarating and terrifying but great fun. That was really my big break in radio.

Victoria Pendleton and Neil Quigley
Victoria Pendleton and Neil Quigley

The next step was to cover a few weeks worth of the Evening Show. Then this eventually led on to me doing six months on the Drive Show. Before then doing three months on the Morning Show. I then just dropped back to doing Saturday Sport at the station for a while.

Before a year later returning to do the Morning Show for another six months. Then after five years in Somerset. I returned initially for a Saturday Afternoon Show. Which then led to me doing the Evening Show. For a couple of years before leaving the station.

Neil Quigley in a still from the Mix 96 behind the Scenes Video
Neil Quigley in a still from the Mix 96 behind the Scenes Video

Anyway it was really nice to catch up with someone I have known for many years. As he has been at Mix 96 for quite some time himself now, Nathan Cooper. Good to have a chat and see him in action. We have done a few outside broadcasts together over the years.

And it was also nice to see Darren Scott. Who I worked with during my last spell there. Mix 96 is a excellent radio station. So it was nice to see them out and about doing their stuff. It was a good giggle to see everyone.

Neil Quigley at Mix 96 Tour De Vale Bike Ride
Neil Quigley at Mix 96 Tour De Vale Bike Ride

I am really enjoying working with the BBC in London. Being around such talented and dedicated people is fantastic. It is fun and very fulfilling being involved in the production of some excellent programmes. There is also the added bonus of you never know who you will bump in to. Everyday while you are there.

Plus thanks to The One Show studios being there to. You also never know. Who might just be performing live outside the building. For example last week as I was on my way home. Bryan Adams was performing his latest single with his band. And for the record he sounded sensational. Previously James Bay was serenading me as I was leaving.

On the way to BBC New Broadcasting House
On the way to BBC New Broadcasting House

I recently tried my first ever gluten, wheat and dairy free health bar. Which although I appreciate that it was probably very good for me. I must admit I personally thought it tasted horrible. If you are unable to eat these food groups. You have my sympathies.

It confirmed what I already know. Despite the fact I do try to keep fit and healthy. And also eat quite well. I do really love bad food and the things we shouldn’t eat. They taste so good.

Health Bar
Health Bar

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to a family party. Which is taking place in a pub beer garden with a BBQ and some live music performances. That is basically my perfect Sunday. Hopefully the weather will be nice.  You will never find me complaining that the weather is too hot. I do like it nice and warm.

During the year we have enough cloudy and wet days. So anytime the sun is out and the temperature is high. I am very happy. Plus I am a great sleeper, so no matter how cold or hot it is. I still sleep fine. I have two settings in life. I am either on (awake) or off (asleep).

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

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

Task in Hand

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been busy as ever, with lots of fun things going on. Well for starters the episode of Task Master. That I went to watch being filmed was shown on Dave. It was the one that included them making their own videos for nursery rhymes. Which were mostly terrifying, I thought.

Now the eagle eyed amongst you. May have caught a quick glimpse of me on a couple of occasions. As they were going in to and out of the tasks on the big screen. It was a great evening. And the finished show was equally very funny.

Neil Quigley Presenter
Neil Quigley Presenter

The latest episode of Task Master. Which was on last Tuesday night featured the Mayor of Chesham in one of the task’s. Alex Horne who actually came up with the idea for the show and co-presents it with Greg Davies, lives near there.

So I guess he must of thought it would be nice to get the town and county on the show. And put Buckinghamshire on the map. So the task they devised was simply to entertain the Mayor Peter Hudson in his chambers.

It was interesting to see the different ways that the contestants on the show went about this. My favourite was Joe Wilkinson. Who simply went to the local shop and came back with forty-two Calypso Ice Lolly’s and six cans of strong lager. To give to the Mayor.

Although a special mention deserves to go to Richard Osman. Who wrote a special poem about the Mayor and town. Which he read to him while juggling. Personally I think this performance should mean that they make him the next Poet Laureate for Buckinghamshire.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I was talking about the show on Twitter, while I was watching it. And this led to a very quick online conversation with the man of the moment himself. None other than the Mayor of Chesham, Councillor Peter Hudson. Basically he said he had a lovely time recording it. And that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

He also said that each comedian actually spent thirty minutes with him doing their bits. He said they were all great people. I thought he was brilliant on it. And did an excellent job. I am very jealous that he got to spend half an hour with all those people, specially Kathryn Ryan.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I did watch a little bit of the Glastonbury Festival coverage on the BBC. I have been to it a couple of times myself. Once for the whole weekend. Which was an amazing experience. And the second time I just went for the Sunday afternoon.

Both times I had a back stage pass. So it was good for celebrity spotting and getting around the site easier. I am not a great fan of camping. But I would really like to go to the Festival again in the future. That is the only place. That could possibly get me back in a tent.

Neil Quigley at Glastonbury
Neil Quigley at Glastonbury

Although the camping there was not massive fun. The great acts, good times and memories created out weighed all of that. That is the part that makes me want to get involved with it again. It is crazy how a dairy farm in Pilton is totally transformed in to a temporary home. For one hundred and eighty thousand people and the who’s who of the music industry. But anyway I wasn’t there this year but I did watch a few of the performances on television.

The first one I caught was Madness on the Saturday afternoon. They were performing at an American Football game. That I was working at last year at Wembley Stadium. So I got to hear them sound checking with just a small handful of people. Which was brilliant. They sounded great. And they really do have that unique sound. So you instantly know it is them.

I thought they did a great job at Glastonbury. Suggs was in his element messing about on stage in front of that many people. And as any band should at a Festival. They banged out all the big hits. Top work from a top band. A couple of year’s ago and went and saw Suggs’s one man show at The Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. That was also a really funny and very entertaining night.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

The next performance I saw was from the Saturday night headliner Adele. I know many people felt that she was an odd choice to close the first day of the weekend. But she is an exceptionally talented and very popular singer. Who has won many many awards. She is renowned for putting on great live shows. She is a massive Glastonbury fan. Who has been going there since she was a young girl.

And lastly she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan. All of those things meant that she was an obvious and excellent choice for this slot. As far as I am concerned.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

I thought that she was absolutely brilliant. For starters that singing voice of her’s is just sensational. She has a real presence, warmth, and connection with the audience. When she is on stage. Plus that back catalogue of songs. That she already has, is phenomenal. She is seemingly so down to earth to.

Her interaction with the crowd is just so relaxed. Not least her language. I think it is fair to say she swears a bit. In fact I think she may swear more on stage. Than any other artist I have ever seen. She got several people up from the crowd to have photos taken with her. She went down and chatted to the fans in between songs. She was so chilled and very happy to pose for photographs and selfies!

What I think I am saying is that I might be a little bit in love with her. I bet she is great fun on a night out. Not to mention a bit useful to have around for some Karaoke. The way she talks to the audience and then launches in to great songs.

She is a bit like a one women modern day version of the Rat Pack. I thought it was brilliant how she ended her performance. By finishing her last song, saying “see you later” as she picked up the pint of cider she was drinking and slowly headed of stage. Genius. Great gig by a super talented and lovely person.

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

It has become a tradition to have a “legends” act on the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday Afternoon. The two times that I was there. This slot was filled by Shirley Bassey and Neil Diamond. Shirley came on stage in an evening gown and diamond covered wellingtons and belted out all her biggest hits.

And the American came on in normal stage attire and played all his biggest songs. As you can imagine “Sweet Caroline” was quite the sing-a-long that day. This year it was Jeff Lynne’s ELO who were playing. He is another cool cat who is pretty chilled and relaxed on stage between the songs it is fair to say.

As you would expect from a man of his calibre. There was nothing missing from his set at all. All the big hits brilliantly delivered. I think my favourite bit was when he played Mr Blue Sky. The whole of Glastonbury was singing and dancing along in the pouring rain. Which kind of sums up the festival for me. It is all about forgetting what is happening around you and just losing yourself in the music and in the moment. Then the last thing I saw was Coldplay, closing the whole thing.

Neil Quigley with The Beatles
Neil Quigley

I thought they put on a fantastic show. And you could tell that they were in the middle of a big stadium tour. By how slick and good their performance was. It sounded and looked great watching at home on the television. I like the way they got their kids on stage for one of the songs. Nice to share the amazing experience of playing to such a big crowd with the family. And it will certainly give them all something to remember.

The interaction with the organiser Michael Eavis was something different. Plus as I was watching I was saying that unusually there were not any real surprise guests this time. When they suddenly brought out Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees. To do a few songs with them.

And then just when you thought things could not get any weirder. They decide to bring out Michael Eavis to sing My Way. I have not seen any official announcement. But when that happened I was thinking that was his sign off from being the man in charge. And that the baton would now very much be passed to his daughter Emily. She has been getting more and more involved with things every year. So that would make sense. I enjoyed my little slice of Glastonbury. And who knows I may even find myself up to my knees in mud. While enjoying live music in a field in Somerset for the festival next year.

Neil Quigley at Hard Rock Calling
Neil Quigley at Hard Rock Calling

The less said about England’s exit from the Euro 2016 Football Championships the better I think. Let me just say that the performance against Iceland was disappointing, to say the least. Unfortunately none of the players involved in that game came out with any credit. We got what we deserved from the game.

Sad to see Roy Hodgson depart as England Manager. I have met him and I do really like him. But I think he has taken the team as far as he can. Trouble is there is no obvious replacement. But on wards and up wards. Let us look to the future and not to the past.

England
England

Well done to Wales for making it to the Semi-finals of their first tournament since nineteen fifty-eight. After England went out everyone was trying to find something that made them Welsh, so they still had a team to support.

The best I could do is the fact that I once spent a week on a caravan holiday in Tenby with my cousin. Which I believe qualified me to be Welsh for ninety minutes. To support them against Portugal. Sadly it did not happen for them on the night. But they can all be proud of what they achieved. Together we are stronger is possibly a mantra, we could all use currently.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

Last Sunday it was the final day of this year’s Henley Royal Regatta. I have worked at a couple and had a great time there last year. So I went along to catch up with my mate and former Regatta Radio colleague George Thomas.

After stopping off at a well known supermarket to get some food we then headed down to the Thames to catch some of the action. Last year I watched some of the racing from the river. This year we found a nice spot on the river bank to eat our food and watch the competitors go by.

Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta

While we were there I got to witness the great Mahe Drysdale the current Olympic Champion fly past me. We then had a walk to the start of the course to have a look round. And while I was there. As I am always one to support local business’s. I did treat myself to a nice pint of beer from the Rebellion Brewery.  Who are based in Marlow. It is fair to say I am a big fan of their work. I had a lovely afternoon.

There is something so very English about the Regatta. The atmosphere is great. It is all good fun. And I am already planning to go there for a bit longer next time.

Henley Regatta Mahe Drysdale
Henley Regatta Mahe Drysdale

Last night I went to the ITV London Studios on the South Bank to see an episode of Mr & Mrs being recorded. It is always great seeing the master Mr Phillip Schofield in action in a studio. He is just so good and so consistent. Despite the madness going on around him. He rarely makes any mistakes or has to do anything again. One take wonder. He is a legend. Although he did get the giggles at one point.

The couples on the show were, Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas and his wife Claire. From Strictly Come Dancing Kevin and Karen Clifton. Dad’s Army and Eastenders star Ian Lavender and his wife Michelle. It was a fun night. All the pairs were very entertaining. And all revealed way too much about their  personal and home lives.

ITV Studios London
ITV Studios London

My favourite couple were Kevin and Karen. as I am a big fan of the show they appear on. They do seem perfectly suited. They are both a little bit crazy. But in a fun and a safe way.

Some of the expressions Karen pulled were amazing. Not sure when the series will be shown. But I suspect it will be some time in September. Keep an eye out for it. It is well worth a watch.

Neil Quigley
Neil Quigley

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