Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming

It has not only been the weather that has been improving recently. I also found out I was slightly richer than I expected. I was going through some old radio files and folders of mine last week when I came across seventy pounds in cash. I must have put it there at some point for a reason but I honestly can’t remember what that reason might have been. But this excitement instantly turned to concern as I noticed the notes in question were so old that they had been taken out of circulation some time ago. So I was then worried that they might actually be worthless. Thankfully after a quick check on the internet all was good again. Although I found out that they were definitely not legal tender.  I also discovered that they never actually lose their value and that the Bank of England have to exchange them plus High Street Banks can do so at their own discretion. So I went straight to my local bank who happily exchanged the notes for me for ones I could actually use. Giving me a nice seventy pound bonus that day. I am not sure how long the money had been hidden there but the two five pound notes included in the find became obsolete more than ten years ago. For the last seven days I have been searching the house to try and find out where else I may have stored cash in the past.

Neil Quigley Going Somewhere

I spent another great day at Wembley Stadium last weekend, including quite a bit of time just hanging around in the England Dressing Room and The Royal Box, as you do. And I can tell you those 107 steps from the pitch to the box must be a tough walk after you have lost a game there. I found them hard enough without even having actually played a match. While I was there they were getting ready for the host of Summer Concerts to be held at the Stadium including performances from Robbie Williams and Bruce Springsteen both of whom I wouldn’t mind seeing. I have seen them both live a couple of times before and they are truly amazing live performers, who really do put on great shows. The International Poker Stadium Tour was also taking place while I was there. With the players competing in massive domes on the pitch with each one being named after a different footballer so one of them was called the Beckham Room for example. Looking at the prize money that was on offer I am thinking of taking up the game and trying to get good at it very quickly. I will be doing some work with the FA and Wembley over the summer, which I am really looking forward to. It should be a lot of fun.

I have to confess I am partial to a nice day or evening at the races. Last Monday I went to Windsor Races with my parents to celebrate my Dad’s birthday, his idea not mine. Though I did applaud his choice of treat, mind you that was all the clapping I did all night. It is a lovely little course and a really fun, friendly and exciting evening out, plus it does serve some exceptionally nice Fish & Chips. Which I enjoyed before the first race as I do not like to gamble on an empty stomach. I have no idea about form, how to spot a good horse or anything like that I simply pick the name I like and go from there really. I like going to the bookies closest to the track once I have picked a horse. As I do like moving between them to try and get the best odds on it. Which to be fair is normally difficult as they have good communication between them and normally are all offering the same. I did not have any winners but it was still a good fun evening out. And just to prove that I am not completely rubbish I did manage to pick the Derby Winner at Epsom last Saturday. Thanks to “Ruler of the World” for bringing me in a few quid. I saw the winning jockey Ryan Moore at Windsor but I didn’t get the chance to shake his hand and thank him personally.

Neil Quigley Djing

I have not done too many live DJ gigs recently but the other Sunday’s I dusted off my CD’s and did the disco at my second cousin’s sons Christening, which was great fun. Family events are always entertaining as you do get very well supplied with drinks but you also do get a more direct approach when it comes to requesting songs or giving you feedback on the songs you are playing. It all went well so do not fear I have still got it. It was nice to get back behind the mixing desk and get a crowd going. I have got a few more gigs lined up for later in the year to look forward to.

I went on a midweek road trip down to the West Country to have a couple of meetings about potential future projects with the BBC. The sun was shinning and the traffic was not to bad, so it was actually quite a nice and relaxing cruise up and down the M4. I went to BBC Bristol first, which I have to say is a very impressive building from the outside and the inside. Not only that but a really friendly place to visit to. It was a very useful and productive meeting but I am not sure what the final outcome may be at this stage. Then from there it was off to Swindon to meet a few more people at BBC Wiltshire, once again to talk about some upcoming opportunities.

Neil Quigley in Car

On my way back from Swindon I popped in to see a mate, his wife and their one year old son. When I arrived we went straight into their garden to enjoy the sunshine and I found myself playing a bit of football and messing about in the sand pit with the little lad, not my mate. Which bearing in mind I do not have kids myself was something I was not really used to, but I think I coped with it alright. We then went inside for a bit and his son ended up holding my hand and walking with me up and down the living room for a bit. Later on I found out that he will not normally even let his mum or dad hold his hand and walk with him. So I am not sure if that means I am welcome back there in the future of not. Or if I am now on the potential baby sitter list. Once the little one had gone to bed my friend then fired up the BBQ. Which was the first one I have had this year. Burgers and sausages just seem to taste so much better when cooked outside on charcoal for some unexplainable reason. Fingers crossed that will be the first of many this summer.

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

It’s the final of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent tonight.  I have to confess I have been watching this series and I worryingly also have to confess that I tend to agree with Simon Cowell’s comments and judgements a lot of the time. Although the show does discover some very talented performers. I think their focus is more on making a great TV show than worrying about new talent too much. Which I think can be the only explanation how some of the acts that made it to the semi finals, did so. The other danger is that it seems to be becoming more of a singing show, with the occasional dance group thrown in. It never seems to have enough different variety acts in it for me. I know there are plenty of good ones in the UK, so I guess they probably must be put off by the shows format. And by the fact that the people who generally vote and a lot of the judges do not seem that keen on real variety acts. For that reason I would like to see Attraction, the impressionist or the young comedian win this year but suspect it will be either a singing or dancing act still. That said I will still very much be watching the final and enjoying it for what it is good light hearted entertainment hosted brilliantly by Ant & Dec.

I am really looking forward to being involved with Regatta Radio this year at The Henley Regatta. I will be working onsite there between the 3rd and 7th July. Helping to produce their coverage of all the boat races and interviews as well as bringing a flavour of the event to the airwaves. It will be great to get such a close behind the scenes look at this huge traditional annual event.

And finally tickets are now on sale for the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Fundraiser in August that I will be making an appearance at to do a bit of hosting. The Radio Rocks Music Festival is taking place at the Westcott Sports and Social Club on Sunday 11th August. For more details just click on this link http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/8971/chk/5dfb

Neil Quigley

Have fun and we will speak again in a fortnight. Cheers Neil.

Neil Quigley Presenter

So a couple of Monday’s ago it was the Sony Radio Awards hosted by Chris Evans at a very swanky hotel in London. Congratulations to all the winners. It was nice to see a lot of people who I either know or have at least met being recognised and rewarded for their efforts over the last twelve months. I have never been to the actual awards but I did get to go to the nominations event once. It was held in a trendy bar just off Piccadilly Circus in London and hosted by Margarita Taylor. To be fair it was good fun mingling with pretty much everyone from the world of radio. At one point I was standing between Johnnie Walker and Neil Fox, (who I actually got a signed photo of when I was a teenager and he was presenting the evening show on Capital FM). Ever the daredevil Dr Fox’s publicity picture back then was made to look like he was skydiving. The only thing that is slightly more worrying than that, is the fact that I think I might still have it somewhere.

Neil Quigley

While we are talking about awards ceremonies did you see the TV BAFTA’s the other week? It was very well anchored by Graham Norton in his own unique style. He managed to keep it moving along very nicely, which is no easy feat. I always like to watch the people who come on to give out awards, when they try pre written skits or some comedy banter which just doesn’t work and leaves the audience stunned and confused. There were a few of those to enjoy this year. My favourite two winners on the night were Olivia Coleman and Sheridan Smith. Simply because clearly neither had expected to win. They were both extremely nervous and didn’t really know what to say. Which led to some lovely real and honest moments of people just being surprised and happy at winning. I think I might just prefer that to the people who come on and give perfectly rehearsed acceptance speeches. But then again if everyone just came up, cried and swore it would lose it’s impact and effect a little. Well done to Olivia and Sheridan two very deserving winners in my opinion.

Neil Quigley in Yeovil

I was so pleased to see Yeovil Town win the League One Play Off Final at Wembley to gain promotion to the Championship for next season. That is an amazing achievement for a club, who after spending five years in Somerset and working quite closely with I still have an affinity to. I still always look out for their results. I was actually working for Ivel fm last time they got to the League One Play Off Final against Blackpool in 2007. I presented a whole football special show live from Wembley including full commentary along with Nathan Cooper, Daniel Freeman and Ali King. The disappointment that evening back in Yeovil after losing the match was evident with a real subdued atmosphere in the town. So I would have loved to have been there after the win this time around I bet the place was absolutely buzzing. I was also working in Yeovil when they won promotion from League Two to League One going up as champions. There was an open top bus tour around the town to celebrate the teams efforts and I was lucky enough to be able to get a place on it to cover it for the radio station. It was a great experience with thousands of fans lining the streets to cheer, clap and join in the massive party. And I even got to hold one of the players winners medals for a bit. Before we finished up in the centre of the town we did a tour of lots of the local schools in the area with all the players getting off and signing autographs. As I was with them I found myself signing quite a few autographs that day to but if I am honest I have no idea if that is because they recognised me from the radio or because they just thought I was one of the footballers. Congratulations to Yeovil Town and all the best for next season.

Neil Quigley in Football Action

As I have mentioned before I am a big fan of Twitter and use it quite a bit mainly to keep up to date with what people I like are doing.  Professionally as in what TV shows they are in and when they are gigging, not so much as when they are cutting the lawn or doing the washing. Now if you are a regular user of the social networking site you will be able to relate to this I reckon. Last weekend I got a reply from Gary Barlow, which I was pretty pleased about considering we have not actually met as yet. It wasn’t a long message but he did acknowledge me, so I will settle for that. And I am now expecting an invite to help host his next charity concert. I also got a nice RT and a reply from Chris Ramsay. All because we were having a brief comical chat about that classic film Back to the Future. I saw Chris perform as part of the Tringe Festival in Aylesbury last year and he was hilarious. He is coming back to Tring to perform later this year.  So I may have to get myself along to that I think. You can of course follow me on Twitter if you wish I am simply @NeilQuigley

Last Night I went and saw the brilliant Ellie Taylor headline the latest Laughing Badger Comedy Night at the Rose & Crown in Hemel Hempstead. It was a very funny night with her being supported by several other excellent stand ups. She was absolutely lovely and a lot taller than I realised. I am not short but she towered over me. I have performed at a few Laughing Badger nights myself and they are always nice events to do. They do have some fantastic gigs coming up over the next couple of months, so for more details check out their website.  http://www.laughingbadger.co.uk/

I am pleased to announce that I will be joining the team at Regatta Radio this year to help produce their coverage of the Henley Regatta from Wednesday 3rd July to Sunday 7th July. I am really looking forward to it. It will be great fun and good to work with Danny Cox again to help with broadcasting a truly great sporting spectacle. Also just a quick a reminder that I will be at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio “Our Radio Rocks” event on Sunday 11th August doing a little bit of hosting and general messing about there with a few old friends.

And finally I do have quite a few interesting meetings lined up over the next two weeks about future projects or events that I may well be involved in this summer. As ever I will give you more information on them when I have it myself and when I am allowed to tell you. The latest on the TV show that I had the meeting about at the start of May  is that filming will be taking place in late August or during September for the first series of what will be a brand new show. I am still awaiting final confirmation on my involvement at the minute. And my appearance in the “Always the DJ” short film will now definitely be shot in June with the finished project currently  planned for release sometime in the Autumn.

Neil Quigley

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

Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

It has been a busy but fun couple of weeks. The other Friday I was up in London for a meeting about a new TV show, which I am hoping to be involved in. I can’t say to much about it at this point as it is still in the early stages of production. But what I can say I think is it’s a new TV format to the UK but is a style of show that is already very popular in certain parts of Europe. My trip to see them involved me messing about in front of a camera for a bit, which is never time wasted in my opinion. They seem like a great bunch and it was a good laugh. The current plan is to shoot a pilot for it sometime in June. So I will be able to give your more information then I hope.

Neil Quigley with Behind the Painted Smile Team

The short film “Behind The Painted Smile” that I am appearing in started shooting on location last Sunday. So I went along to meet the rest of the team and help out with some of the production requirements on the day. It was really good to get the project underway and get to know the rest of the cast and crew better. It meant we were outside all day working on some key scenes in the story and even though it did not feel particularly warm I still managed to get a bit of a tan. Plus the writer and producer treated me to dinner after which is never a bad end to any work day.  I am really looking forward to filming my piece for it and seeing the finished project. Rest assured I will keep you up to date with this and let you know when I have shot my scenes and then when it will be released. I am still waiting for confirmation of that date currently.

Neil Quigley Filming on Location

I always like to see people I have met or interviewed doing well and always keep an eye on their career to see how they are getting on. So I was delighted to hear the hugely talented Elsie getting some national radio airplay with her new song “Your Loving Arms” a cover of the Billie Ray Martin song from 1994. I met her when she came on one of my radio shows when she was on tour in Somerset. She was great fun to interview, nice and a really good laugh plus she does has a brilliant voice to. Not only that but she had just got back from working with Robbie Williams performing backing vocals on an album of songs he was producing at that time. And since then she has gone on to work as one of Tom Jones backing singers performing with him all over the world. All this as well as pursuing her own solo career. She is a great girl, who loves her music and works hard at it, so I wish her all the best and hope her current single really takes off for her.

Elsie

When I was a teenager I used to watch Wycombe Wanderers on a regular basis and I did honestly have an unsuccessful trial for their youth team. Anyway last Saturday there was a Wycombe Legends match taking place at their home stadium Adams Park. So for old times sake I went along to the game with my parents. To see a lot of the players I used to watch as a kid. It is fair to say some of them have aged better than others.  That said I found out this week that I am actually old enough now to be able to play for a veterans football team. It was a fun afternoon and you could tell they were really enjoying being back together and back out there on the pitch. Over the last decade I have been lucky enough to have played football against and with a couple of them. And up close you can see just how good they really are. So it was nice to catch up with them again after. And to top the day off my dad bought me a pint. Happy Days!

It was nice to have the first Bank Holiday Monday of the year this week wasn’t it? I used mine to catch up with some mates for a few drinks and a lovely bite to eat in Beaconsfield. Why is it that time goes so much quicker when you are sitting in a pub beer garden than when you are sitting down at work. Surely it can’t just be the alcohol. That reminds me it looks like I may be working at this year’s Henley Regatta as part of the production team for the Regatta Radio which will be great fun. I have never actually been to the event before although I have been to Henley itself loads of times. Summer is on the way.

And finally it is the radio Oscars this coming Monday 13th May, so good luck to all my radio friends who have been nominated. I hope you have a fun and enjoyable night at the ceremony and that you win of course. The entertainment is pretty decent this year with Robbie Williams being one of the acts performing. So to misquote Judith Charmers “I wish I was there”.

Neil Quigley

Have fun and we will speak again in a couple of weeks. Thanks Neil.

Neil Quigley

Last Sunday it was of course the London Marathon, so congratulations if you or somebody you know took part. Anybody who has done that has my upmost respect, specially the people who run it in those Rhino costumes. I know quite a few people who have done it over the years. It is something I have thought about doing but never quite got round to applying for as yet. I am not totally convinced my ankles or knees could handle it. At least that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. I remember one year after a particularly heavy night out me and a mate found ourselves in a well known pub chain in front of a huge TV having a massive fry up, very hung over watching the Marathon on TV. Which felt a little bit odd to be honest. I think may be I would like to do it one day. For two reasons really to say I have and to experience the atmosphere which looks great. My worry is I am either doing something or I am not. Therefore if I got a place I would want to win the whole thing or finish as high as possible, with a very decent time. Which could end badly.

I did make a brief return to five-a-side football the other week having not played for nearly a year. My cousin invited me along play in a game he was organising and as the sun was shining and I had just visited the home of football, which I will tell you about in a bit. I said yes. It didn’t start that well the boots I had been using for the last fifteen years split in the first five minutes but luckily someone was able to lend me a pair. After that it went well I scored a few goals and was not walking too much like a cross between John Wayne and CP30 the next day, so I am calling it a success.

Neil Quigley’s Favourite Shirt Number

As part of a new project I am working on I was lucky enough to go up to Wembley Stadium and get a personal behind the scenes mini tour, which was pretty cool. The person I was meeting met me in the rather lavish main reception and then proceeded to take me around the place during our meeting. So we were walking and talking. A bit like a football inspired episode of the West Wing, if you like. I got to see the impressive Press Room where the England Manager talks to the media, I hung out in the England dressing room for a bit, spent some time in the tunnel area, which in nowhere near as big as it looks on TV by the way. Then I got to walk out of the tunnel and stand in the area by the dugouts in front of the pitch. Before we ended up in a meeting room overlooking the pitch. It was a great experience. Then just as I was leaving he showed me a new mini exhibition they have which includes the original handwritten FA Rule Book from 1863, which is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Don’t worry they did not let me touch it, it was safely behind a glass case.

Recently I have been writing some new jokes ready for my next set of Stand Up comedy gigs, there are many more in the pipeline but here are a few confirmed appearances for later this year for you. Friday 5th July Essendon Country Club, Friday 5th October Village Comedy Night and Wednesday 13th November Red Lion in Hatfield for their Children in Need Comedy Night. And while we are talking about comedy a reminder that the Tringe Festival this year runs from 30th June to 20th July in Tring. Starting off with the Roving Comedy Night where I made my Stand Up debut last year with the brilliant Tony Law, who is back this year to perform with the trainees along with Dominic Holland, Duncan Oakley and Silky who I gave a lift back to his hotel after the after show party last year. For more details on the night click here http://www.get-stuffed.biz/index.php/tringe/2013/07/roving-comedy-night1/

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

I’ve had a few more meetings about the short film I am set to appear in playing the role of a Policeman.  Due to the schedule having to be reworked for availability reasons my scenes now look like they will be shot in early June but filming on the actual project starts next weekend. It is based on an extract from the book “Always The DJ” and will be called “Behind the Painted Smile” I have already started learning my lines and I am very much looking forward to being involved in the production. In fact I am already looking forward to its Premiere.

So this week JLS have put themselves in prime position for the next Big Reunion TV show in ten years by announcing they are to split after a greatest hits album and a farewell tour. Which is the right way to do it if you want to maximise your earning potential. All boy and girl bands do have a shelf live no matter how good they are. The signs were there when they started doing individual projects, Aston judging on Dance Shows and Marvin doing his own radio show. That said if there is one band set up for a big Take That style comeback in ten years, it could well be this one. All this proves is what every man knows deep down you can’t go on being Jack the Lads for ever, even if you have some swing!

Neil Quigley in the Studio at Mix 96

Have fun and I will catch up with you in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Neil Quigley Presenter

Most of it was studio based but then we headed out on to the roads of Buckinghamshire to do some Top Gear style in car filming. Some things that we discovered from doing this included why the motoring show does its test drives either on their track or on quiet country roads because if you try it in the middle of a town during rush hour you spend more time sitting in traffic than you do driving. Also if you have a camera in your vehicle other motorists are suddenly a lot more courteous to you. We were pleased with the results from this and we are currently looking at may be producing a comedy spoof Top Gear Test Drive, which I am currently in the process of writing, just for a bit of fun of course. Unless that is on seeing it the BBC want to employ me as a new presenter on the show, but I think that might affect the excellent dynamic they currently have plus I probably drive slower than James May.

Neil Quigley in Car

If you want to see the latest show reel here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7YiZRuT4qE

I am a bit of a horse racing fan so predictably I did watch a lot of the Aintree Festival including of course the Grand National itself. I was lucky enough to go to Ladies Day at the famous Liverpool racetrack four years ago. It is such an amazing event, it felt like the whole of the city was there and you have never seen so much fake tan, hair dye and eye catching outfits. It was great fun and I have to confess quite an alcoholic day. Well I did have a couple of winners, which warranted a little celebration. The horse I backed in the National this year was Tea for Three for a few different reasons. Firstly it was quite well fancied by some of the so called experts plus I fancied its trainer.  And secondly the jockey riding it Nick Scholfield was actually taught to ride by my uncle, so those combined reasons made up my mind to go with it. It finished third in the end after looking at one stage like it might just do it.  Luckily I had the foresight to put an each way bet on it, so I did at least get some money back.  If you managed to pick the winner Auroras Encore at odds of 66-1 fair play to you and have you considered becoming a book maker?

Have you seen the new Channel 4 game show Five Minutes to a Fortune with Davina McCall? I went along at the beginning of the year before they started filming the series to see the production company and help them with its development by playing some of the games they had devised to see what they were like to play from a contestant’s point of view. Some of them were rock hard, there was a spot the difference one which I found virtually impossible. It’s a good fun show to watch and trust me anybody who wins money on that deserves it, seeing that money drip through that egg timer really puts the pressure on. It was good fun helping out at that early stage and interesting now seeing the finished product and the adjustments they have made on screen to it.

Neil Quigley in London

Now I have been wearing glasses since I was about seven and wearing contact lenses since the age of fourteen. This week I had my yearly contact lens check-up. The weird thing with eye tests is that they are the only exam you take where it is impossible to know if you have given the wrong or right answer to all the questions asked. You are never sure what they are looking for or what they are trying to find out. I learnt something quite amazing at this latest appointment my eyes have been slowly and steadily getting worse since I was a child. Obviously my prescription has balanced out so they have not changed for a while, but I found out that as you get older your eyesight can improve. Let me qualify that if you are short sighted like me it may improve by up to 0.5 which it would appear mine may have done. When you have relied on equipment to see for as long as I have this actually feels like a small victory. Although it changes nothing and does not even alter my latest prescription, it’s the little things in life that are important right.

I have had confirmation that filming for the short film I am in will definitely take place in May and June.  I have received my script but I will be honest I have not started learning my lines yet but I do have a bit of time on my side so nobody panic yet ok. I am in the process of confirming and then in good time announcing some more personal appearances for later in the year.  Including comedy gigs, DJ sets and various events I am hosting and presenting at.

Neil Quigley TV, Radio & Live

This afternoon I am off to see Wycombe Wanderers play Aldershot at Adams Park from the comfort of one of the Executive Boxes.   I have been before and it is a great day out with pie and chips before the game, tea and biscuits at half time and a couple of pints after the match. I regularly used to watch them play between the ages of eleven and sixteen. I also played for their Under 16 team for half a season and I did have a trial match for their youth team but didn’t get in. So then I switched my allegiance and ended up playing for the Aylesbury Utd Youth Team who were in the same league as Wycombe anyway.  While I was working at a radio station in Aldershot I had the pleasure of interviewing the former Aldershot and Wycombe manager Gary Waddock. He was a top bloke and it is a shame that things ultimately did not work out for him in Buckinghamshire.  That said I am very much hoping for a win from Gareth Ainsworth’s Blues today as it will make the post-match beer taste much better.

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

Right I better get off to the match now then. Until next time, have fun Neil

Neil Quigley Going Somewhere

As I have mentioned before I am currently working on getting a sitcom that I have written produced. Which is an on going project of mine. It’s all moving in the right direction but I can’t tell you anymore than that at the moment. But this I can tell you and it’s pretty cool. I happily provided some new material for the brilliant Radio 4 Extra topical comedy show ”Newsjack” the other week for the last episode of the current series. I was thrilled to be involved and I am hoping to be writing some more jokes for them when the new series starts in September. Here is a link to the credits for last week’s show. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kvs8r/features/series-8-6

If you have some free time over this long Bank Holiday Weekend I have recently added a new video of me doing some stand up comedy from November last year when I performed at a Children In Need Charity Night at the Red Lion in Hatfield with some members of the comedy course I went on last summer. The crowd were great and it was a really fun night plus we raised a good amount of cash. And there are actually no rude words in this one.
Here is the link to it   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlxSMFgG8Z0

Talking of comedy the line up for this year’s Tringe Festival has been announced. It was at the Roving Comedy Night during last year’s event that I made my stand up debut after completing an eight week course with the brilliant Logan Murray. The Tringe runs this year from 30th June to 20th July in and around Tring, With most of the gigs taking place at the wonderful Court Theatre in Tring. It has got a great reputation, which is why so many big comedians like coming to play it as a warm up for their Edinburgh Festival Shows. Acts performing this year include Stewart Lee, Sean Walsh, Russell Kane, Richard Herring, Ed Byrne, Rob Newman and Josh Widdicombe. Plus the brilliant Tony Law who I was lucky enough to see close up as he was with me on the Roving Comedy Night. As we did four gigs in four pubs in the centre of Tring. He has since gone on to recently win a Chortle Comedy Award. I am hoping to be involved again in some small way this year may be, but we will have to wait and see if that happens or not.For more details about this year’s Tringe Festival  http://www.get-stuffed.biz/tringe/

Neil Quigley

It really is a great time for local comedy in this area at the moment as the Laughing Badger Comedy Club in Hemel Hempstead have also announced a whole list of fantastic gigs for this year featuring appearances from James Redmond, Mark Dolan, Ellie Taylor and Eric Lampeart. They are always good fun nights out and I know this personally because I performed at a couple of their comedy nights last year and hope to do the same again this year. Watch this space for more details. http://www.facebook.com/laughingbadger/events

Laughing Badger Comedy Night

I had a brilliant afternoon last Tuesday doing some filming for a new project I am working on. Which I will be able to tell you more about in a couple of weeks. Thanks very much to my Director and Producer Danny Cox and to Gary at Argle Creative in High Wycombe for letting us use his studios. http://www.argylecreative.net/ As well as the studio stuff we did some in car filming, which certainly got us a few interesting looks as we were driving around the streets of Buckinghamshire.

Neil Quigley Doing Some Filming

I mentioned last time that I was going to be doing some acting in a short film written and produced by a friend of mine. It’s an adaptation from his current book. Well I have now received the script and can tell you I will be playing the role of a policeman. Filming is scheduled to take place in late May/early June. So hopefully that will be available to watch towards the end of the Summer.

I am very pleased to announce that I will be making an appearance at the Radio Rocks Music Festival at The Nest in Chesham on Sunday 11th August. Doing a bit of presenting on stage. The twelve hour live music event will be raising money for the place that really helped launch my career Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio.  So I am delighted to be involved and hope everyone will support it and come down and have a wonderful day listening to some good local bands play. I will give you more details about it in the coming months, when I know more myself.

Neil Quigley back at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio with Martin Kinch

I am still absolutely loving Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away. It is just the perfect fun, silly, entertaining and well produced show for Saturday evenings. The end of the show show is possibly my favourite bit. It has seen the boys do a musical theatre number with Robbie Williams, perform gymnastics with Spellbound, play piano with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Irish Dance with River Dance and last week bring back PJ & Duncan for probably the best rendition ever of “Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble” I could not stop laughing all the way through, it was brilliant. They did it as a laugh and a bit of fun, but things then went nuts. And despite only reaching number nine in the charts when it was originally released in 1994.  It has gone to number one this week on downloads alone. Then if any further example was needed of how nice they are. They are donating any profits they make from it to a children’s charity. I am so glad that ITV have already confirmed the show will be back on our screens next year, surely a no brainer though, it had to happen right. Long may it continue.

Neil Quigley

It was the finale of The Big Reunion on TV this week showing the big concert they had all been working towards. I thought it was really good bearing in mind some of them had not performed together for over twelve years. They all did great. And I have to admit some of them surprised me by just how good they sounded and how slick they looked on stage, but I am not going to name name’s. I think the best thing was just seeing the buzz and enjoyment they clearly got from being back on stage and performing again. They all revisited the type of outfits they were wearing at the height of their fame which meant Bewitched dragged out the denim. I recently found of a picture of me wearing double denim from 2001 and I can confirm I do not carry off that look anywhere near as well as the Irish girl group do.

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

Right then,  that is enough from me for now. Happy Easter and if you watched it I hope you enjoyed the comedy. Have fun Neil.

Neil Quigley

I can confirm I am now going to be doing a bit of acting over the summer after agreeing to play a small part in a short film that is being written and produced by a good friend of mine. As things stand I should be filming my scene’s in May or June with the finished article being released by the end of the year, more on that when I have it of course. This is the first of a few acting projects I am currently looking at, so this may not be the last one this year, but we will have to wait and see.

As a fan of Horse Racing I have been watching a bit of the Cheltenham Festival this week. One of the truly great sporting events of the year, such drama and excitement. It reminded me of a certain Wedding that my mate Dez Kay and I were the DJ’s for. We were part of the entertainment for the celebration of the marriage of Gee Armytage and Mark Bradburne. Both National Hunt jockeys. Gee is one of the few women to have rode in the Grand National before retiring from riding and going on to become Champion Jockey AP McCoy’s PA. And Mark rode over 350 winners during his nineteen year career in the sport. It was a great event held in a massive marquee on the couples land. Highlights of the night for me included the evening food arrangements. There was a massive hog roast and then the pudding arrived in the shape of two ice-cream van’s. Who arrived on the field to serve all the smartly dressed guests with ice-cream cornets. Which they all hobbled across the ground to go to the vans to collect themselves. Also it was just amazing seeing all the big players from the world of horse racing letting their hair down and enjoying themselves. I spotted AP McCoy, Jon Francombe, Clare Baldwin, Carl Llewellyn, Mick Fitzgerald and Alice Plunkett to mention but a few. I will tell you what they know how to enjoy themselves. We finished playing at about 4am and they still wanted to go on. I think it is fair to say that people who work in horse racing really do work hard and play hard.

I am still enjoying the Big Reunion. It was nice to see some familiar faces joining the line up in this week’s show. When Blue were added to the bill. Although this decision was not that well received by some of the other groups, and to be honest I do see their point. They have all got back together specially for this show and for the gig. While Blue have already been back together for a couple of years, and not that long ago they represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest. I still think it adds to the concert personally. They are a good band, who can all sing.

Blue Backstage at Armed Forces Day

When the band split up I supported both Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan at solo appearances they made at a venue in Somerset. They were both easy to work with, nice and most importantly could both sing live.  They knew how to put on a show for an audience to. Then a couple of years ago at the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Day I got to meet them two again along with the rest of the band. Who were very professional, polite and generous to their fans, before putting on a good show, performing all their biggest hits. So I do think they are a decent addition. Although the way they are coming across you can see they have not been out of showbiz or the music game as long as some of the others. Due to their confidence, the way they are taking it all in their stride and the fact they seem a lot more relaxed and more in control than some of the others.

Neil Quigley at Hard Rock Calling

I was at Bruce Springsteen’s headline performance at the Hard Rock Calling Concert in Hyde Park last summer. The Boss and the E-Street Band were brilliant as ever and it was a real show stopping moment when Sir Paul McCartney appeared on stage during the encore. But the gig is still possibly best remembered for the fact that the organisers pulled the plug on them. While they were all on stage in full flow because they had played beyond their curfew. Which did not go down to well with Bruce and other members of the band. Which is why I was surprised to say the least when it was announced that Bruce and the E- Street Band would be headlining the Hard Rock Calling event again at it’s new home the Olympic Stadium this year. Maybe he just wants to come back to finish what he couldn’t last time. Don’t be surprised if he starts that gig on stage with the former Beatle playing the song that was cut off last year. I think the atmosphere and sound will be better at the new venue. Hyde Park great though it is, is very vast and open. The stadium will add to the event. And if you didn’t get to experience it during the Olympics what better excuse than this to go and take a look at it. Also it is nice to see them getting some good use out of it.

About eighteen months ago I met a locally based singer called Nickita. When I booked her to perform at a large outdoor event I was organising. She came along and performed a couple of songs including one that she had written herself. She was great and went down brilliantly with the crowd. A few months later she entered an MTV new music competition. So I met up with her again and interviewed her about that and her other plans for the future. Since then she has since gone on to form her own band. Who have played big showcase events at a well known recording studio in London. Where Adele recorded her last two massive albums. In a well respected bar in Shoreditch and the famous Dublin Castle in Camden.  She is also very much in demand as a solo singer and is currently guest vocalist on Specimen A’s new single “Unforgettable” which has already received some good radio airplay and over sixty thousand listens online. It’s great to see someone I know doing really well and starting to make a mark in the music industry, so fingers crossed the single will be a massive hit.

Neil Quigley Interviewing Nickita

Have fun and I will speak to you soon, cheers Neil.

Neil Quigley Having A Water Break

I did make a special effort to sit down and watch every second of the Brit Awards as I do every single year. I was lucky enough to go to it a few years ago for the last one they held at Earls Court before they moved it to the O2.  It was first time James Corden hosted it alongside Matt Horne and Kylie Minogue.  I had a great night and really enjoyed it. Seeing brilliant live performances from U2, Coldplay. Take That, Girls Aloud, Duffy and the Pet Shop Boys to mention but a few. Not a bad line up by all accounts. Plus it was fun seeing the music stars celebrate their awards and party in style.

Back to the current one I thoroughly enjoyed watching this years Brits. I know it got quite a lot of stick for being boring and bland but I disagree with that. I think it was really well produced, very slick, which for a live TV Awards Show is not an easy feat. And James Corden did an excellent job holding it all together. He just kept it moving along nicely and injected some humour when it was required. I am a big fan of his work. James is also from Buckinghamshire and we are about the same age. So although I don’t think I have ever properly met him. There is a high chance we could have been at least in the same building on a few occassions over the years. And after reading his book I think there is a chance he could well have once served me a pizza in a Italian restaurant in High Wycombe.

The live acts were good, the winners were all deserving and I thought it was a good advert for and celebration of British music. It was probably less controversial than some years because there are less crazy bands around currently. Plus ITV would be hit with huge fines if anything went wrong,  so they make sure all the acts and guests are well behaved. And there were never that many big incidents in the past the really.  Maybe five or so that people can actually remember since they began back in 1977. Just enjoy it for what it is a celebration of our music and the perfromers who certain members of a committee or in some catergory’s the general public think deserved a little bit of recognition.

Neil Quigley Djing

One award’s ceremony that I take an interest in but then I really do nothing about is the Oscars. I always like to see who wins what. But I have not been to the cinema to see a film since “The Simpsons Movie” that was released in 2007 and have not actually watched a whole film for around two years now. But I always like to see what does well just incase I do end up having the motivation and the time to sit down and watch one. However I was delighted to see fellow Spurs fan Adele win a statue for the Bond theme Skyfall. That lady can do absolutely no wrong can she?

While we are on the subject of awards the brilliant Tringe Festival. Where I made my Stand Up Comedy debut last summer, is up for a Chortle Award for the Best Comedy Venue in the South of England. I performed on the first night of last year’s event with eleven other Roving Comedian’s plus Tony Law, Arthur Smith, Dominic Holland and Silky which was so much fun, the audiences were amazing and I had a smile on my face for days afterwards. Some of the other comedians who appeared during the festival included Mark Watson, Josh Widdicombe, Chris Ramsey, Sean Walsh, Lucy Porter, Russell Kane and Sean Hughes.

Neil Quigley doing Stand Up

If you went to any of the gigs  last year and would like to vote for the Tringe Festival please use this link http://www.chortle.co.uk/about/2013/02/26/17292/chortle_awards_2013%3A_venue_awards

This year’s Tringe Festival will run from the 30th June to 20th July with another top quality line up , keep an eye out for more details about this during the next couple of months.

I did enjoy catching up with the first episode in the new series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway the day after it was on obviously, as I was out partying. As I mentioned earlier. The cheeky Geordie chappies were on top form I thought. It was just a good fun entertainment variety show. With a member of the audience winning massive prizes. A musical ending featuring Robbie Williams and the boys themselves. They have brought back some old features and updated them expertly. The Apprentice spoof for the search for the new little Ant and Dec was spot on and Louis Walsh was an amazing sport in the hidden camera feature, really funny. The only thing is I am now worried about what I tweet in case I end up on the show. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. It’s perfect Saturday night viewing in my opinion. Well done to all involved.

Neil Quigley Fun With Mirrors in Leicester Square

I am still watching The Big Reunion where lots of 90′s bands have got back to togther for a one off gig in Hammersmith that has now already happened and also a UK arena tour which is still to take place. It’s a nice insight into what it is really like being in a boy or girl band.  The hard work, the pressure, the strain on relationships and the break ups which never appear to be pretty it would seem. It has been fascinating seeing them get back together. And at the same time finding out what some of them went on to do after the band, the fame and the money all stopped. I think all involved are coming out of it very well so far and I am looking forward to the episode that actually shows the gig.  All the bands involved had some decent hits. All of which I am pretty sure I have in my vast music collection. Plus I think I have seen most of them peform live at some point in the past to.

I will have some more stand up gigs to announce soon, plus updates on the sitcom and possibly a few DJ gigs to reveal but until next time have fun. Thanks Neil

Neil Quigley

If you did celebrate it, I hope you had a good Valentines Day with cards, flowers, chocolates and a nice meal. Don’t feel sorry for me but I did not receive any cards this year but then again I did not send any. So I guess that could simply be described as karma. When I was twenty I went out with a girl whose birthday was on the 14th February. She was my first serious gilfriend. So when her birthday arrived I decided to take her out for a nice meal in the evening, obviously that’s not the easiest day of the year to book a table at a restaurant but I managed it. We had only been together a few months and I wanted to impress her. So I decided to buy her a set of earings as a present. Which I thought I would give her during the meal, completely forgetting what day it was. So halfway through the meal I give her my present. She takes the wrapping paper off it to reveal a small jewelly box, at which point all the staff suddenly gather round and one of them goes off to grab a bottle of Champange.  They thought I was about to propose, so as she opened the box I was shouting out “no no it’s not that it’s just her birthday” to the waitresses. We spilt up a couple of months after that.

It has been another fun and busy couple of weeks for me. I was in London yesterday with my mate Andy Holmes to audition for a new TV quiz show called 5 Minutes to a Fortune, which took place in the rather fancy Sony Building in Golden Square. It consisted of taking a general knowledge quiz, playing a quick game of Articulate and then Andy and I had to do some pieces to camera together, which was a great laugh. And finally we got the chance to test out the game itself. I have to admit some of the rounds were pretty tough specially if you are rubbish at spot the difference like I am. It’s a new tea time show which will go out in Summer hosted by the lovely Davina McCall. We will know it the next couple of weeks if we will have any further involvement in the project, so as ever I will let you know when I do. Either way it will be worth a watch.

Neil Quigley On The Way to London

Talking of television shows I am looking forward to the return of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway next week. It’s the traditional type of Saturday night TV mayhem that I grew up watching and love. As they have a lot of input in the show, I believe they also produce it. It means they have more controll over what they do, so basically they can mess about more with each other and play to their many strengths. And from what I hear they have some pretty impressive guests lined up for the series infact I believe a certain Robbie Williams is lined up to appear on the first show.

In the past week the BBC celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the recording of the first Beatles Album Please Please Me. Which the group made on a day off from their national tour in just twelve hours at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Which I guess is why on the version of Twist and Shout that they recorded last John Lennon’s voice is pretty much shot and even more raspy, which actually makes it sound even better weirdly. The BBC replicated The Beatles work using a whole host of different artists to record the songs in the same order and at the same time that The Beatles did on that day. I own a copy of Please Please Me on CD and still reguary listen to it and love it.  It was made in just a day. Some artists take six months plus to make an album nowadays, mind you when you have the combined talent of The Beatles in one band, I guess you can’t be that surpised by it.

Please Please Me – The Beatles

The sitcom project is still moving along very nicely currently but these things do take a lot of time to come to fruition sometimes. Therefore I have more meetings and conversations lined up over the next couple of weeks but so far I am very happy with the way things are shaping up. I am in the process of writing some new material for my next run of stand up comedy performances, the first of which I will be able to confirm in the next couple of weeks I hope.

Neil Quigley in the Studio at Mix 96

I am looking forward to watching the Brits on Wednesday night. I got to go to the event a few years ago and had a great time. It is a nice celebration of British Music and always an intersting night, remember Adele being cut off it full flow last year. Anyway take care and have fun and I will see you in a couple weeks. Thanks Neil.

Beer

As part of my New Year health kick, if you can call it that. I am still not drinking any alcohol until the 9th February at the earliest for no real reason other than I figure a break from it will not do me any harm plus January is generally a quiet month socially so it seemed like a good time to do it, while not really missing out on anything. The reason my detox goes into February is because I had a day off it when I went to see “Let It Be” in London last month, well it’s illegal to see a West End show without at least a couple of drinks right? So I had to restart it the day after.

I do like watching Award’s Ceremony’s on TV, so I did watch all of the National Television Awards the other week, I thought Dermot O’Learly did a good job hosting the event. Never an easy thing to do when you have to try to keep it moving along and to time with no real control over how long the acceptance speeches are. However the inclusion of live musical performances and Dermot dancing with Darcey Bussell meant that the show was really over running, so the last half hour was very rushed. And we were unable to see any clips of the nominees, which if nothing else does at least build the tension a little. It’s an awards show, so just give out the awards. I thought there were a lot of worthy winners on the night but I have to admit I was very pleased for the Mrs Brown’s Boys’ team, great to see them getting recognition for what is in my opinion a very funny show. And to get rewarded for the years they have been working on it long before it ever got anywhere near even being close to a studio. Their years of hard work finally paying off.

Neil Quigley Drawing

I have finished reading Lee Mack’s autobiography “Mack the Life” which as someone who is doing stand up comedy and writing their first sitcom I found really interesting and useful. Most importantly though it was fun to read and made me laugh a lot. While we are on about comedians I saw Al Murray’s latest stand up DVD last weekend very clever and really funny a master at what he does.  He is an expert at talking to and having fun with the audience in an inclusive and friendly way, as even if he insults them they are very much in on the joke which makes for a great atmosphere.

I am still working on my first sitcom and I am in the process and talking to a few production companies to try to move it on to the next stage. I have had a couple of good meetings with various people over the last ten days. I can’t say anymore at this stage but obviously when I can rest assured I very much will. As I have said previuosly I do not expect much to happen before the summer but things are moving in the right direction.

Neil Quigley

I had a very brief exchange on Twitter with the hugely talented Charlie Higson in the week. While I was out on my morning run I suddenly had an idea for a comedy sketch that I thought would be perfect for the Fast Show because of the nature of it and the fact that it was a running gag that could run from episode to episode. So I took to the social networking site to tell him about it and he sent me a very nice reply. Then a few days later he announced that they were making a new series of The Fast Show coincidence? Yes I think it definitely was and they planned to do this a long time ago but I will however be watching with interest, just incase my idea appears in the show.

Did you see The Big Reunion on ITV2 in the week?  The idea behind it is to bring back a lot of nineties pop bands for a one off performance. While looking back at their success the first time around and finding out why and how it all ended. Which if the first episode is anything to go by was in some instances brutal and in some pretty tragic. It also follows the band’s as they get back together and speak to people they may not of spoken to for years who they possibly fell out with. The first show focused on Liberty X and Five. I have to confess althought the two men in Liberty X were very prominant I had forgotten their names but they all came across really well as nice, decent normal people who just followed their dream. Five were by all accounts a bit of a nightmare during their time in the limelight. I had completely forgotten that Simon Cowell was the man who had put them together. It also reminded me that I went to see them live at the Birmingham NEC once. It was a good gig and as me and my mates were pretty much the only people over 18 there getting to the bar was very easy that night. I am looking forward to the rest of the series and I think the gig at the end of it will be good fun.

Neil Quigley

See you in a couple of weeks, have fun Neil.