I’m playing a four song set this Easter Sunday (31st March) at All Star Lanes in Holborn.
It’s for the 15 Minute Club and it’s free! So, despite being only a short set, it’s in a cool place where you can eat, drink cocktails and bowl. Plus there’s no work for most the next day so what more excuse do you need? Facebook public event here.
Listen to some demos on Soundcloud now or head to this post for some embedded tracks and a bit more about my recent attempt to play more.
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Tagged 15 Minute Club, acoustic, All Star Lanes, frankie ward, get frank, gig, Holborn, live, music, Truth Fiction
Earlier this week I met up with comedian Bridget Christie to chat about feminism ahead of her new series, Bridget Christie Minds the Gap, which starts tonight at 23:00 on Radio 4.
We spoke about Mary Wollstonecraft, the British Enlightenment thinker who set up a school for girls in Newington Green and later authored A Vindictation of the Rights of Woman, widely seen as the text that started the modern feminist movement.
Please share if you can and spread the word!
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Tagged Bridget Christie, Bridget Christie Minds the Gap, feminism, Newington Green, Radio 4
Next week BBC Radio 4 is doing a bit about feminism, including the start of a new comedy series written and performed by stand-up Bridget Christie.
I’m doing a bit more on the website for it – so it’s not going to be the fairly plain space currently there, but I wanted to post some links here first – BBC Editorial Policy means I can’t publish all the links I want to because most feminist sites are campaign based, or (quite rightly) have a bias towards, well, you know, feminism!
So here’s some ace sites I think are worth checking out:
From their ‘reasons to be a feminist’ series, to an articles on women in pop culture and the freedom of cutting your hair not having to imply political or social beliefs, the Vagenda is one of the most prolific feminist blogs on the net, while remaining utterly accessible to all. It is edited by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett and Holly Baxter, who also write ‘The V Spot’ for The New Statesman.
Laura Bates set up this pioneering website to give women a platform to discuss their experiences of sexism – from derogatory comments to abuse. The stories now feature in weekly columns on the Huffington Post and the Independent newspaper and a book is on the horizon. Ultimately the project aims to dispel the myth that equality has been gained and ‘the fight is over’.
Founded in 2001 by Catherine Redfern, The F Word is a contemporary feminist site, featuring articles and interviews centred around feminist culture and politics. The site welcomes contributions from new writers and does not subscribe to one particular feminist viewpoint.
Leading the lobby for equality in Britain, The Fawcett Society is a charity named after peaceful suffragette Millicent Fawcett. The site features news on their latest campaigns – including equal pay and the impact of austerity measures on women – and how you can get involved.
PinkStinks is a social enterprise that aims to defeat the ‘culture of pink’ that determines the ‘acceptable’ appearance of girls and replace it with one that motivates children to achieve based on merits that don’t rely on beauty or attractiveness, such as educational ability and effort.
UK Feminista is a network of campaigners who want to see political, social and economic equality between women and men realised. As well as organising campaigns, they provide support and training to activist groups. It was founded by author Kat Banyard and men are encourage to get involved too.
This South London library houses an archive of Women’s Liberation Movement Literature, particularly from the ‘second wave feminism’ period between 1960 and 1990. They support feminist networks and research projects, host events and raise awareness of Women’s Studies as an educative subject.
Gender Agenda welcomes everyone to submit articles on the subject of ‘feminism, gender, sexuality and anything related’. They host discussions between feminist with the aim that people will work out what their ideas really are if they can share their thoughts with the rest of the feminist community. You can submit a post for publication on the site and, aside from formatting, it will be published unchanged and uncensored.
Bridget Christie Minds the Gap starts at 23:00 on Thursday 7th March. (And it’s really bloody funny.)
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Tagged Bridget Christie, Bridget Christie Minds the Gap, feminism, Radio 4
I’ve been hauling cameras around for the past months doing various bits in the name of BBC Radio Comedy.
Not all of the results are on Youtube. But here’s the ones that are:
This is from The Guns of Adam Riches, which is on Radio 4 for the next three Thursdays at 11pm. Adam won the Edinburgh Festival Comedy Award in 2011 and has since made various appearances on BBC Three shows, usually in some crazy guise.
For this video, he brought audience member Mark onstage and worked his magic – Adam is amazing at making feel comfortable, no matter what he’s asking them to do. Plus, and I know I say this a lot, but he’s a lovely person too – as are his fellow very talented cast members Cariad Lloyd (sadly not in the film) and Jim Johnson.
Not too long ago I found myself in front of the camera, rather than in my usual spot behind it, to film an interview with Tom Binns’ spiritual medium character, Ian D Montfort. Sadly we couldn’t include everything we shot, but it’s really rather fortunate thing as I was rendered helpless with giggles frequently.
The show is produced by the brilliant Julia McKenzie and it’s one of those things you listen to and wonder how it was done. So go and listen to it and wonder how it was done. Because I’m not telling you. (Sorry!)
Episode 1 is available on iPlayer Radio now. Episode 2 goes out at 21:30 on Radio 2 this Thursday.
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Tagged Adam Riches, Ian D Montfort, Radio 2, Radio 4, The Guns of Adam Riches
I’m playing a gig!
Tomorrow (24th Jan) from 7pm at The Arc, Angel.
It’s actually more of an open mic and I’ll be doing like, 4 songs, probably around 9.30pm, but it’d be lovely to see people there.
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When I was 18, the usual way of announcing to the world that you are suddenly single was to change your Facebook status.
Now, it’s far more acceptable to never publish any kind of status online (certainly preferable and less awkward in my opinion), but it does mean that now I have that strange reality of telling people – who should I tell, how do I make telling people when ‘how’s so-and-so’ comes up in discussion less embarassing for my co-conversers and should I mention this on Facebook, Twitter etc…
I don’t really know the answers to the above, but the kind of people who read my blog are probably more likely to ask than Twitter followers, Facebook friends and so on, so I thought I’d essentially break the news here and try and see if you’ll share your break-up experiences and tips. I’ve not been in this place for what must be a couple of years (having been single for over a year before meeting my latest ex).
These are the things I’ve thought of so far:
EXERCISE!
Suddenly you have your own routine to prioritise – I’m at my fittest when I’m solo.
CAKE!
I have some unsalted butter with ‘Radio Comedy cupcakes’ written all over it in the fridge. Although my ex was much better at making icing than me, I need to learn sometime.
Mmmm… chocolate
SHOES!
No more worrying about height, practicality, that slightly unsexy waddle from those ‘man-scaring’ snow lepoard boots etc…
Man-repellant shoes?
PANTS!
I’ve heard many an appreciative uology on the unparalleled joys of an M&S cotton five-pack. Maybe it’s time I join the fan club.
CLUELESS!
The film, not actually lacking logic (although surely that’s acceptable for me in the next few weeks). Although I need John Hughes in my life too – does anyone have a copy of the Breakfast Club they can lend me?
FLEECY JOGGING BOTTOMS (and other comfort clothes)
I think my wearing these on Saturday whilst still attached was a bad idea. But now I’m looking forward to seeing them tonight. This is not as sad as it sounds – next time I swap them for something socially acceptable, I’ll have a whole of exercise behind me…
It’s all about the comfort
I should finish by saying that this post is about me, not my relationship – something that can’t be replicated nor replaced by unflattering, comfy clothes and something I shall miss very much.
Here are four of the videos from Radio Comedy’s specials for Radio 1 in a handy Youtube playlist so you can watch in one go.
They feature Nick Helm serenading an audience member called Dexter, a beatboxer called Hobbit doing the ‘laughbox’, Doc Brown rapping about honest flirting and Roisin Conaty, Lloyd Langford, James Acaster and Sara Pascoe explaining their New Year’s resolutions.
Enjoy!
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Tagged beatbox, comedy, Doc Brown, Hobbit, James Acaster, Lloyd Langford, Nick Helm, radio 1, Roisin Conaty, Sara Pascoe
Happy New Year, everyone!
I didn’t want to come out and do a ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ post, although that’s pretty much what the rest of this going to be, as I think you can be resolved to change at any time of the year. All you really need to ‘make a change’ (and no, I’m not deliberately quoting Michael Jackson there, although I’m aware that I have now) is a catalyst that spurs you into action.
For example, when I was 18 and in my first year at uni, a bit of heartbreak (and the sudden – thankfully temporary – withdrawal of the student radio station Burnfm.com spurred me onto go beyond Selly Oak and Edgebaston and get involved in the local music and creative communities, gaining a career in the process.
However, it doesn’t always have to be such a massive change – and this refers to both your motivation or your resolution. My move from Shoreditch to Willesden Green (a result of a job change from Channel 4 to BSkyB) meant that I spent more time inside so I used this as a source of self-encouragement to start exercising, which I’ve done fairly regularly for the past year with the help of Davina McCall’s excellent workout DVDs (I have the Superbody, Target and Intense videos – no gyms for me) and the intense street dancing undertaken whilst rehearsing for the London 2012 Opening Ceremony. I’m not super-skinny, but I feel better (and even slightly proud) for it.
So without further ado, here’s what I’d like to attempt to achieve in 2013…
So what about you – what’s inspired you to do a ‘Man in the Mirror’ and start something afresh? Have you got a 2013 to-do list?
Here’s the first of a festival handful of videos I’ve produced to accompany the Radio 1′s Christmas Comedy specials broadcasting on the 26th, 27th December and 2nd, 3rd January.
Obviously, as someone who’s most memorable moments for listening to Radio pretty much all come from listening to Radio 1 in my bedroom, taping the songs I wanted from the Official Chart Show, this is quite a big moment for me - despite being insignificant to the rest of the world. And anyone who has followed my blog or been friends with me for a while, will probably understand this even more!
As well as this video, they’ll be another of Nick Helm performing a song about Boxing Day, plus videos from Dong Comedy, featuring the-scary-one-that-didn’t-die-in-Hunted, Doc Brown (aka the ridiculously multi-talented musician, actor and comedian Ben Smith) and Roisin Conaty: What If?, also featuring Lloyd Langford, Sara Pascoe and James Acaster. I’ll be tweeting when this content is live, so follow me for updates if you’re not already doing so (thanks)!
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Tagged Christmas, comedy, Nick Helm, Nick Helm's Christmas Spectacular, radio 1
I did a careers talk at work the other day for a group of sixth formers about how I got started in my career and what my job actually entails.
I probably got a tad too carried away with the self-depreciation (at one point joking about how I ‘looked 40’, despite leaving sixth form less than six years ago.
As part of the chat, one thing I was really keen to discuss was the topic of going to university: is getting into debt worth it? Will you actually gain anything from your study? Could you gain experience elsewhere?
It appears quite timely to me – given my recent experience, the timing of a new James Bond film and the end of my guilty pleasure, the BBC spy series Hunted – that I’ve been just approached with news of an Apprenticeships scheme with British Intelligence.
(I now realise I could have said ‘I’ve been approached by MI5’, but let’s not get too carried away here, I regularly get confused by our office printers so it’s a role that is perhaps not best suited to me.)
Essentially this is a chance for tech-savvy teens and mathematically-minded young people to help MI5 and MI6 keep Britain safe, whilst gaining a Two year Technical programme in IT, Software, Internet, Telecoms and earning £17,000 to do it. The first year is based in GCHQ
(that’s Cheltenham and Gloucester to you and me) and the second will feature placements that may find apprentices working in London.
As with any course or job, there are a few application requirements:
“You will have, or be expected to gain by September 2013, three A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications), two of which must be at Grade C or above in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) related subject.”
You have to be British, but they’re looking for applicants from all backgrounds.
To find out more you can register for their open days in Manchester, London or Cheltenham by heading to their website: www.careersinbritishintelligence.co.uk, but be quick – applications close on November 30.
If I was considering my options, and I happened to be more scientifically minded, this would be it for me – £17,000 is more than my salary for my first job outside of Uni for a start! Plus, after two years you can use your skills elsewhere or even save that salary up for taking another course.
(I’m a bit jealous now!)
Would you consider giving it a go?
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