The Button Collector

I’m back with a new series of Collectors for BBC East Midlands Today. Last time I interviewed people with collections of valve radios, Roy Rogers memorabilia and badges. This time round I’ve met a man who collects saucy postcards, a cheque collector and I’ve sat amongst the world’s largest collection of Smurfs. The feature below […]

No speaking gigs till July

I’m not taking any more after dinner speaking gigs until the end of June, otherwise I’ll never get the book finished. Once it’s safely handed in to the publishers I’ll be back on the chicken dinner circuit. If your firm, golf club, sports organisation needs a speaker, please consider me. Details of my fees, subjects […]

The one eyed darts player

Here’s a feature I did with darts player Jamie ‘Jabba’ Caven. As a child he was stung by a bee and lost the sight in one eye. He still went onto become world youth darts champion. As an adult he’s overcome pancreatic cancer which has left him diabetic. Amazingly he’s risen against all those odds […]

Silent Movie

Here’s the latest in my And Finally TV reports. I met a group who compose and perform music for classic silent movies. They’re called the Southwell Collective and the movie featured is the 1928 French gothic horror, The Fall of the House of Usher, based on the novel by Edgar Allen Poe. In the story […]

Lowering my Fees

In 2010 I lowered my speaking fees by ten percent. As a result I trebled my bookings. Back of the net! Result. Jobs a good ‘un. Etc. I also made the decision to put details of my (new, all improved, now with added value, even more sparkly than before) fees onto my website. My friends […]

Our Sporting Life

Today I went to Curve in Leicester to film an exhibition of sporting history. There’s some cracking pictures from the Leicester Mercury in the display. The above shot of me in front of a picture of Sven was taken by the Mercury’s Andy Baker, who kindly sent it to me.

The Shooting Nurse

This nurse comes with added firepower. Her patients have to behave themselves, because she’s a crack shot. Sharon Lee has two Commonwealth Games silver medals and now she’s aiming for Olympic gold at London 2012.

The Marathon Man

Richard Whitehead is a double amputee marathon runner. He holds the world record for any kind of amputee in a marathon. He ran 2 hours 42 in Chicago last year, an amazing time considering he has both legs amputated above the knee. The guy is phenomenal. He’s dreaming of winning a paralympic gold in the […]

Victory eclipsed by Mr Moon

I’m never one to moan about a fellow West Ham fan, but there’s one chap who is getting on my nerves. This Mr Moon fellow has been arriving and leaving the stadium during games for as long as I can remember. There’s nothing more annoying than people arriving midway through games is there? You’re in […]

The Rocking Piano

I filmed a very interesting feature today with the designer of the world’s first rocking piano. Sarah Davenport created it from a 1900s piano once owned by the Hong Kong ambassador. It rocks back and forwards as you play it. I should point out that there is some camera trickery at the start of the […]