Tag Archives: chorley

Attila the Stockbroker – Foxtails, Chorley

Mick Pike, frontman of Preston post-punk outfit Pike and Lancashire alt world music faves Deadwood Dog, has a new venture on the go alongside his day-job. He tells me, ‘We haven’t a clue what we’re doing,’ in a ‘Blockbuster’ style, … Continue reading

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In praise of a ‘beautiful distraction’ – marking John Winstanley’s Lancashire Rocks archives exhibition launch

I can’t truly pinpoint when I first met John Winstanley, but in self-published 2014 memoir, Unsigned Unscene, he mentions a late summer 2002 news story I wrote in my Chorley Guardian newspaper days that created a spark, about a dozen … Continue reading

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Juggling life’s priorities, comedy style – the Steve Royle interview

It’s been quite a year for Steve Royle, appearances on prime-time ITV show Britain’s Got Talent attracting a whole new audience, his entertaining performances wowing celebrity judges and TV audiences alike, ensuring a top-three finish after a public vote. And … Continue reading

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Battling on amid the pandemic – Chorley Theatre’s inspirational survival story

“This was meant to be a big year for us. It marked the 110th anniversary of our building, plus 60 years since CADOS took control, 35 years of Chorley Youth Theatre, and 30 years since the Chorley Film Society started. … Continue reading

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Don’t worry ’bout a thing – back in conversation with Mark Steel

Have a chat with stand-up comic Mark Steel and it won’t be long before cricket, football or politics come up in conversation. And in my case all three, with geography and history thrown in. The 57-year-old Kentish comedian, broadcaster, writer … Continue reading

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Four-eyed handsome men – introducing Doug Perkins and the Spectaculars

  I wouldn’t expect the fervour of a 1950s audience when Doug Perkins and the Spectaculars make their latest return to Chorley Little Theatre this weekend. For the sake of the team at this Lancashire venue you’d hope those days of … Continue reading

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On the write wavelength – the Jenn Ashworth interview

Jenn Ashworth is part-way into a busy schedule of promotional visits, travelling to and from her North Lancashire base spreading the word about newly-published, critically-acclaimed novel Fell, a haunting, mysterious tale set on the edge of Morecambe Bay. Born in … Continue reading

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Behind the scenes at the Little Theatre

I don’t tend to plug successful local community ventures and thriving venues so much on this blog. But organisations like the Chorley Little Theatre – not far from my doorstep – deserve credit for surviving in these days of austerity … Continue reading

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Punchlines, headlines, good times and hard lines – the Dave Spikey interview

I go a few years back with Dave Spikey, first meeting this ever-entertaining Lancastrian when he dropped in at my old workplace, the Chorley Guardian, with fellow comedian Peter Kay in early 2000. At that point the pair had already … Continue reading

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Uninformed As I Am – the Jo Caulfield interview

Jo Caulfield is having a bit of a domestic crisis, and is pleased to be distracted by her gentleman caller. Let’s not panic though. These are First World problems. They involve the comedian and panel show regular’s cooker and its … Continue reading

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