nearly there

So It's almost Panto time. This year is starting so much later, so I don't actually go up to Edinburgh till the 27th. Script all finished and I've (believe it or not) started learning it. I know most people think we make it up but we do actually have a script. You see..... you have to know it really well then you can start making it look like you don't know it......do you believe me.

My River City debut is on the 12th of December. Feeling a little anxious about it. Don't know what it looks like. So I'll be seeing on the night for the first time.

Had a great holiday in LA. Ross and I started playing the new sports craze in America, Pickle Ball. It's great but after playing for 2 minutes my back went out. That was the end of my pickle ball career. It has been going out more often recently so I'll have to be careful in panto.

I went with Jane to Dublin to the Robbie Williams concert. (Jane does the hospitality for his tour) He was brilliant. Better than I've ever seen him. Then the other night I took Grant Stott to Robbie's Royal Albert Hall show and he was even better. We wont forget that night for a long time.

Right that's about it. So I'll go back to my script....actually I wont.

Bye

Good bye summer

Well summer went on longer than usual and it was glorious. And...... we didn't die of the heat. So Media you got it wrong again. Been busy on off ships and then one day out of the blue I got a call from the producer of River City. He asked if would like to do a cameo part in the soap. Well, I have never contemplated acting on TV but I have to say I do enjoy a challenge. So, I chatted with the director and writers and they sent me the outline of the story. They then asked me to inject t some humour or comedy into it. Wow. They want me to write it as well. That's something I wouldn[t have expected. Anyway we had a few zoom calls and I went up this week and recorded my episode. Or Ep as we soap actors call it. The opening scene was just setting up my character, Gavin Newbond, (a comedian singer who has decided to become and actor and I'm moving back to Scotland to find an agent....sound familiar .... and the agent happens to be Sam Spiller ie Grant Stott). I wont go into it much more, but I audition for them and meet a lovely lady who takes my fancy......ooooh Matron. A love interest. Well the producers said they wanted to leave the door open for me to come back at some point. So lets see how it all goes. It's airing beginning of December.

In other news, the panto script is finished and we had a big press launch this week in Edinburgh. Great to see the new cast members and of course the old ones. I'm really looking forward to moving to the Festival theatre this year. It will feel so different after 27 years at the Kings. Next year with be my silver jubilee (25 years) of playing dame at the Kings.

The family are all well. I'm going out next week to LA for a couple of weeks to see ma boy David. Kate has been recording a video of her new songs ready for the release of her EP and Jane is busy busy with the Robbie Williams tour. So a busy family. We are so lucky.

Ok that's about it for now.

Bye

It's been so long

HI, yes I know I have not written for a very long time. Don't know why.....Anyway I'm here now.

I have been working quite a lot on Cunard ships. The Queen Elizabeth and Victoria. It was difficult at first, because of all the covid rules ie masks distancing etc. But at last the Q Victoria is back to normal and feels really good again. I have just come back from a trip up north to the Fjords. I was dreading the flight back as I only had half an hour to get my connecting flight. But I don't know how it happened, but I made it and my case did as well. So all the stressing was for nothing.

So here we are in the middle of a heatwave. I hate all the scaremongering that is going on in the media. In fact I hate the media. It is getting worse and worse. Every day they have you petrified about something. So will we all die with the heat ....who knows.

I had a bad week recently. I got a kidney stone and finished up in hospital for one night. My first hospital stay since I was 11. (Tonsils) Not bad record actually. I was rolling in pain when Jane came in and she took me to A and E at St Mary's. It was like a war zone. So we left there and my wonderful doctor (Myres ) got me into the Princess Grace hospital where they took great care of me. I passed it.....oya.... and felt much better. I was bit dodgy for a few days but fine now. The pain is pretty severe. My wonderful Jane was so organised. Great in an emergency....always has been. We are not going to LA this year. I might go later in the year, but with the whole travel situation we are going to stay in the Uk at our favourite hotels.

David has bought a house in LA so that will be something special to do next year. He is working so hard at the moment. In the studio with Ollie Muirs and has just finished his album. He also has finishes 7 tracks for a new group 'The OPera', remember that name they are going to be massive. They are the new Queen. I saw them perform in LA earlier this year and I believe I was watching the birth of a super group. They are managed my Scooter Braun.

Kate has a new single out this week. It's a cracker (although a little controversial) She wrote it with David. Great video as well.

I went to see some of Janes concerts in the park (BST) I saw Elton John, The Stones (twice) and Eagles. The Stones were particularly special.

So the summer rolls on and we are all basking in the sun........I"m not really as my skin cant take it anymore. Age is a terrible thing. Harry is wonderful and is almost back to 100%. Only took 2 years. Ok that was longer than I anticipated. But that should do for another 6 months......Sorry Gavin.

Bye