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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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