Episoder
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A graduate of the Arts Ed School of Acting, writer, actor and comedian Brendan Murphy burst onto the scene in 2008 when he was nominated for the Spotlight Prize for his debut show. As part of the Olivier Award nominated 'Potted Potter', he has toured extensively across the US and Canada before writing the critically acclaimed stage show Friend: The One With Gunther starring Joseph Maudsley. This was followed by his 2022 Edinburgh show Buffy Revamped. As a voice over artist, Brendan has voiced many popular TV adverts including Sky, Curry’s PC World and Christian Aid. I caught up with one of the brightest and most versatile performers on the circuit to talk heroes, acting and his hopes for the future. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Brendan Murphy.
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Join me and a host of famous friends including actor and comedian Jeff Stevenson, comedy writer Colin Edmonds, musical director Mike Dixon and many more as we pay tribute to the much missed writer and broadcaster John Hannam who passed away in 2021.
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Legendary actress, singer, songwriter and entertainer Su Pollard first tasted nationwide acclaim when she was cast as chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw in sitcom legends Jimmy Perry and David Croft’s third sitcom triumph Hi-de-Hi!: a role which she honoured until the programme's end in 1988, by which time she had already secured yet another role in Perry and Croft’s 1920’s farce You Rang M’Lord alongside Paul Shane and Jeffrey Holland. This led to a reunion with Jeffrey Holland and the late Paul Shane for the third and last installment of David Croft’s farcical trilogy in Oh Doctor Beeching where she played the part of downtrodden booking clerk Ethal Schuman. More recently, Su has become the doyen of the British panto appearing in everything from Dick Whittington to Cinderella and has even enjoyed a successful stint touring the country with the long running play The Vagina Monologues. I caught up with the sitcom legend to talk about laughter, chalet maids, singing and her recollections on an unparalleled career in British comedy. Ladies and gentlemen Ms Su Pollard.
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Media studies degrees have forever divided opinion amongst the broadcasting community when it comes to attaining a career in one of Britain’s biggest media establishments. For years, students were put off from enrolling in courses which contained the dreaded “M” word through fear of missing out on a career in their desired field. Yet for writer Danny Wallace, graduating with a degree in media studies from the University of Westminster, set himself on the path to success. Joining the BBC as a junior producer at the somewhat tender age of 22, Danny was in the perfect place to oversee the creation and development of BBC Three which sparked a revolution in comedy. This was the era which saw an unprecedented explosion of comedy talent and BBC Three provided the perfect platform to harness such a smorgasbord of talent.
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Iconic singer/songwriter turned podcaster Louise Wener shot to fame in 1995 as lead singer and guitarist of the soft rock band Sleeper alongside Jon Stewart, Andy Maclure and Kieron Pepper. Finding herself at the epicentre of Britpop, Louise became something of a female trailblazer in what was a heavily male dominated scene. With melancholic anthems including Sale Of The Century, Inbetweener and Statuesque, Sleeper perfectly encapsulated the naive positivity of Cool Britannia against the hopeful backdrop of Tony Blair’s New Labour. By the late nineties, music had changed and following Sleeper’s split in 1998 Wener turned her hand to literature, penning a repertoire of novels inspired by her love of music including Goodnight Steve McQueen and has even found the time to create her own podcast The Crisis Right where she chats with significant cultural figures about how they’re approaching midlife. I caught up with the Britpop icon to talk eras, heroes and her recollections on one of the most defining careers in British music. Ladies and gentlemen Louise Wener.
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In a career spanning four decades, award winning screenwriter and playwright Simon Nye has become one of Britain’s most enduring and prolific TV auteurs of his generation. Beginning his career as a translator, Nye then wrote his own novel entitled Men Behaving Badly and persuaded the legendary Beryl Vertue to take a look. The novel was adapted into an early evening ITV sitcom starring Harry Enfield and Martin Clunes which eventually became a massive hit for the BBC, spawning four more critically acclaimed series with Neil Morrisey as the loveable oaf Tony. Beyond sitcom, Nye has successfully penned the legendary ITV Christmas pantomime and wrote the screenplay for the 2006 movie Flushed Away. In 2000 he created the BBC sitcom Beast starring Alexander Armstrong and Doon Mackichan before being in charge of updating the classic sitcom Reggie Perrin for the 21st century audience. Turning his hand to period drama in 2010, Nye penned the long running ITV period comedy drama The Durrells starring Keeley Hawes. I caught up with one of the most prolific writers to ever grace British television to talk; comedy, drama and his recollections on an unprecedented career behind the camera. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Simon Nye.
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In 2023 as part of Beyond The Title’s Television Centre series, we were lucky enough to welcome the iconic TV presenter Sarah Greene to share her memories of what it was like to work in Britain’s original dream factory. Yet that’s only half the story of her remarkable career in entertainment. Fresh from hosting the BBC1 game show The Finish Line alongside Roman Kemp, in the last few years Sarah has guest presented ITV’s This Morning alongside Rylan Clark and appeared on the heavyweight BBC panel show Would I Lie To You. Yet her contribution to the history of British broadcasting proceeds her, predominantly presenting the seminal Saturday morning children’s show Going Live has earned her a significant spot within the pantheon of popular culture. As part of Beyond The Title’s women in entertainment series, we reunited with one of the most iconic and beloved female broadcasters to talk, live TV, heroes and more recollections on an unprecedented career in British television. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome back: Sarah Greene.
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Legendary star of stage and screen Dame Maureen Lipman made her début in the stage production of The Knack at the Palace Theatre, Watford followed by the cult 1968 social drama Up The Junction alongside Dennis Waterman and Susan George before joining Lawrence Olivier’s prestigious National Theatre Company at The Old Vic in 1971. Yet in 1979 Lipman was cast in the first of many career defining roles as Jane Lucas in ITV’s forward thinking sitcom Agony alongside Simon Williams, Peter Blake and a young Bill Nighy. A return to the theatre resulted in Lipman heading up an all star cast including Hugh Jackman for the big screen adaptation of Oklahoma in 1999 before turning up on the cobbles of the heavyweight Coronation Street. I caught up with one of the most versatile and enduring performers to ever grace British television to talk legends, cobbles and her recollections on an unparalleled career in the Arts. Ladies and gentlemen Dame Maureen Lipman
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Still in demand as an accomplished stage actor, Judy Buxton shows no signs of slowing down and her new play After All These Years alongside her real life husband; sitcom legend Jeffrey Holland. Forever proud of her extensive TV heritage, she is also the perfect booking for any TV festival and her anecdotes and insights from a lifetime on the box never fails to lighten any room. So whether it’s captivating a theatre audience with her powerful portrayal of strong women, playing the fool in a situation comedy or pontificating about the glory years of Light Entertainment, it’s reassuring to appreciate that there’s always something natural about her work. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the great Judy Buxton to Beyond The Title and I await the next chapter of her remarkable career.
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I caught up with one of the absolute icons of British television to talk legends, comedy and her recollections on an unparalleled career in the Arts. Ladies and gentlemen Dame Sheila Hancock.
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Beginning his musical journey in the post Hardcore rock group Million Dead, English punk and folk singer songwriter Frank Turner took the decision to go solo in 2005. To date he has released nine solo albums, four rarities compilation albums, one retrospective "best of" album, one split album and five EPs. Turner's first solo EP, Campfire Punkrock, was released in May 2006 on Xtra Mile Recordings before being the last ever live act to appear on the influential Lamacq Live on Radio 1. He’s supported some of the most internationally acclaimed artists including Biffy Clyro, Green Day and many more. In 2022 he released his ninth studio album Playtime with Christopher and Francis Volume 1 alongside his longtime friend and collaborator Chris Baker. I caught up with one of the most exciting artists in British music to talk heroes, hits and the secret to musical longevity. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Frank Turner.
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TV and Light Entertainment are genres that remain universally celebrated throughout the UK simply because for the past seventy years, they’ve formed the bedrock of modern popular culture. TV stars have a very unique relationship with the public, being constant, enduring faces in their living rooms without ever knowing them. Bob Monkhouse was a star for over fifty years and his career charted the very rise of the medium, making him one of Britain’s first ever household names and in turn creating the footprint for the television comedian hereafter. A constant face on British television since its very inception, he collaborated with just about every comedy star of the twentieth century from Bob Hope, Morecambe and Wise and Tommy Cooper to Jack Dee, Frank Skinner and Alan Davies. Yet his self deprecation and generosity for other performers forever made him both a student and master of comedy which surrounded his life and career.
In such a prolific career, Monkhouse’s flair for entertainment encouraged him to cross boundaries into other roles which was totally unprecedented for the conservative TV landscape of the 1950’s. A writer, comedian, presenter, actor, artist and producer are all known descriptions of this entertainment polymath who went from amateur cartoonist to becoming one of the most important figures in the evolution of British television. The 27th December 2003 shall forever be a dark day for comedy as the master of one million jokes lost a long and high profile battle with cancer. Twenty years after his untimely death, Monkhouse’s legacy is still felt throughout the annals of British comedy and remains universally recognised as a true pioneer of modern Light Entertainment.
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Making his television debut in Mikhail Bulgakov’s adaptation of The White Guard for the BBC Play of the Month in 1982 followed by a now cult appearance in the heavyweight Doctor Who writer, actor and presenter Martin Clunes went from supporting actor to becoming one of the most prominent figures in television drama in a career spanning five decades. Yet a chance meeting with the comedian Harry Enfield would result in the career defining role as the quintessential lout Gary Sprang on the backdrop of nineties Britain in Simon Nye’s seminal bedsit sitcom Men Behaving Badly alongside Leslie Ash and Caroline Quentin. In 2002 Clunes secured another career defining role as the socially awkward GP Martin Ellingham in the award winning ITV comedy drama Doc Martin alongside Caroline Catz, Joe Absolom and Stephanie Cole which has spawned an unprecedented ten critically acclaimed series over twenty years. Beyond drama, Clunes has also pioneered the personal perspective TV documentary series in ITV’s Islands Of The Pacific and his most recent series Explore Britain By The Book alongside the great Mel Giedroyc. I caught up with one of the most prolific and enduring TV stars ever to grace Beyond The Title to talk lads, ladies and his recollections on a truly remarkable career in entertainment. Ladies and gentlemen Martin Clunes.
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Radio and television personality Greg James joined BBC Radio 1 in 2007 as the host of the early breakfast show before replacing the great Edith Bowman on weekday afternoons in 2009 where he remained for three years until a scheduling reshuffle which resulted in him securing the drive time slot. In 2017 he became the host of the 5Live cricketing podcast Tailenders alongside Felix White, Jimmy Anderson, renewed producer Mark 'Sharky' Sharman (AKA Sharknado the Movie) and regular input from Bristolian Matt ‘Mattchin’ Horan. This was followed by another BBC Sounds podcast Teach Me a Lesson alongside his wife Bella Mackie. In 2009, he presented a TV show for BBC Three called Sun, Sex and Holiday Madness, about British tourists in Magaluf and Young, Jobless and Living at Home, also for BBC Three. An unlikely union with the writer and comedian Russell Kane in 2012 resulted in the BBC Three entertainment series Britain Unzipped followed by the shortened chat show version Unzipped. Yet on 20th august 2018 James inherited one of the most coveted roles in daytime radio when he replaced Nick Grimshaw for the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show. I caught up with one of the leading figures iN broadcasting to talk sport, music and his recollections on his exciting career in the public eye. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Greg James.
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Formed in Hounslow in 1993, The Bluetones arrived on the British music scene just a year prior to the phenomenon of Britpop. Originally named The Bottlegarden, the band consisted of Mark Morriss on vocals, Adam Devlin on guitar, Mark's brother Scott on bass guitar, and Eds Chesters on drums. Released in February 1996, The Bluetones’ debut studio album Expecting To Fly featured the hit single Bluetonic and the soft rock anthem Slight Return. For the climax of Beyond The Title’s Britpop season, I caught up with The Bluetones’s Mark Morriss to talk eras, slight returns and his recollections on arguably one of the most potent decades in popular culture. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Mark Morriss.
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Frontman of English rock band Reef, singer songwriter Gary Stringer formed the English rock group in 1993 alongside Amy Newton on guitar, Jack Bessant on bass, and Luke Bullen on drums. Their 1994 debut single Good Feeling paved the way for "Naked", which was used in a TV advert for the Sony MiniDisc but it was their 1997 album Glow which catapulted Reef into the Britpop elite and spawned the nineties anthem Place Your Hands. As part of Beyond The Title’s Britpop season I caught up with the evergreen soft rock icon to talk heroes, eras and his recollections on one of the most defining musical revolutions in history. Ladies and gentlemen Mr Gary Stringer.
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Writer, producer and broadcaster Matt Everitt shot to fame in the mid nineties when he replaced Todd Parmenter as drummer of the Britpop group Menswear whose hits include the 1995 indie classics Daydreamer and Sleeping In which came to define the social liberation of the time. After leaving Menswear in 1996, Everitt later joined The Montrose Avenue, By the dawn of the new millennium the Britpop phenomenon was over and in 2002, for the first time in over thirty years, the BBC launched a brand new radio station which saw Matt turn his hand to broadcasting. In 2017 he launched the BBC podcast The First Time where some of the most famous and influential musicians in the world talk to him about the seminal first moments that changed their lives and careers. As part of Beyond The Title’s Britpop season, I caught up with the soft rock icon to talk dreams, sounds and his memories of the period that came to define modern pop culture. Ladies and gentlemen Mr. Matt Everitt
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Beyond the Title kicks off its celebration of Britpop with an intimate podcast with Mathew Priest from the iconic Britpop pioneering band Dodgy.
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Legendary comedian and actor Tommy Cannon reflects on over sixty years in showbusiness from singing working men’s clubs to topping the bill at the London Palladium. Of course through all this, he was never without his comedy partner and best friend Bobby Ball who sadly died of Covid in 2020. Yet since his death, Tommy has kept Cannon and Ball’s legacy alive with his amazing live comedy shows which are still delighting theatre audiences throughout Britain. So, come as we celebrate the life and legacy of this comedy legend.
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Just before the 2020 lockdown, I had the enormous pleasure to meet the writer and comedian Marcus Brigstocke in Central London where we discussed and celebrated his vast achievements in comedy. Like everyone, neither he nor I had any idea that in a matter of weeks, the whole world would change forever as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Since then he has had appearances on the Channel Four lunchtime show Steph’s Packed Lunch and had landed a role in the Magic Mike film. I caught up with a Beyond The Title favourite to talk food, packed lunches and life after lockdown. Ladies and gentlemen welcome back to Marcus Brigstocke.
- Se mer
