New direction

Back in the 80s, I used to do quite a bit of presenting. I co-presented BBC Radio Derby's weekly folk programme Derby Tup, as well as a Saturday morning show (only once or twice). They also got me to voice short stories, and a couple of serials (one or them was about the Pentrich Revolution). BBC Radio Nottingham asked to stand in for Roy Harris once on their folk music show, and then I had to read some extracts from D.H.Lawrence for a 4-programme documentary. I remember they had to get clearance from very high up for me so say "the F-Word" (hee hee).

1990 saw me writing the scripts and the teachers' notes for a 10-part BBC Schools Radio series called Folk Dance. I also got to put together the band (including John Kirkpatrick, Phil Langham, and a very young Guy Fletcher), arrange all the music and play keyboards. Wonderful time!

I also did a bit of "acting" -- well, that might be a bit grand. I was an extra (one of those actors who stand around in the background, or walking across ...) and got to appear in Crossroads and Shine on Harvey Moon (remember them?). One interesting gig was being a prisoner-of-war in the mini-series Jenny's War, starring Dian Cannon, Christopher Cazenove, and a small galaxy of other stars. I didn't enjoy having my hair cut for the job, but it was quite good fun over several days.

Anyway, I've decided I want to do more of that kind of stuff -- extra work, as well as presenting. I'd love to read audiobooks (especially if I get to make silly voices) and Talking Books for the Blind. You know the kind of thing.

So, last Tuesday I went down to Nottingham (not a city I know very well) to visit Kickstart Media. They arranged for me to have a couple of hours' voice coaching with an actress, Elaine Donnelly, and then I had to stand in front of a green screen and an autocue system while they video'd me presenting a handful of items (TV adverts, etc). I even got to mouth off like Jeremy Kyle for a couple of minutes (imagine that!). They're putting it all together for me, and I'll eventually get my own show reel on DVD, which I can hawk around the agencies.

The message here, of course, is "Watch your TV screens" and "listen to your local radio" -- one day I'll be on there!