Hello world! Welcome to my website. It's full of stuff. Take a look! Have a nosey! Like those little bowls where you keep single batteries and pencil sharpeners and small bits of broken plastic, there's tat and useful bits all mixed up together. Enjoy
Writing
Stormzy: Respect Me Like You Would Adele
Sunday 26th Feb 2017
Gang Signs & Prayers is set to be a massive album. Stormzy is massive in every way, this piece was a pleasure to write
Ewan McGregor: What if I'm not Scottish enough any more?
Sunday 26th Feb 2017
Trainspotting, middle age and heartbreak: Ewan McG knows all
Inside Tracks: Life Inside National Prison Radio
Sunday 26th Feb 2017
Prison is grim, especially at the moment. National Prison Radio makes prisoners' lives better
Late Night Radio DJs: "It's like a confession and I'm the priest"
Sunday 26th Feb 2017
It's a dying art, hosting the radio night-time slot
How Kano Turned My Son Into A Computer Programmer
Friday 27th Jun 2014
Not really. But it got him a little way there
Paul McCartney: Here, There and Everywhere
Wednesday 27th Nov 2013
I know this is uncool, but…... A BEATLE! An actual real life Beatle
The World's End: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost go to some pubs
Tuesday 9th Jul 2013
Simon and Nick are old friends of my husband, which made this interview odd to do. But I thought of you, dear reader, and stuck it out
All Families Are Psychotic
Friday 27th Jun 2014
THIS IS NOT A PIC OF MY FAMILY! This was a piece I wrote because of a talk I was hosting. You can read it on the Times website, if you subscribe, or here in blog version
What Music Can Do
Monday 8th Apr 2013
... it can change your life with its strange beauty, for a start. But you knew that
A Slice Of Raspberry Pi
Thursday 22nd Nov 2012
I loved finding out about the Pi, the amazing mini computer that could change the world. I didn't love Geneva though: a town run by bankers
Lady Gaga: behind the TV screen
Wednesday 27th Nov 2013
A piece about the telly interview over there >>>>>>>
'I have lived over half my life': Midlife and Me
Monday 10th Oct 2011
I was staggered by the response to this article: so many people got in touch to say they felt the same
Grace Jones: Watch Out World
Monday 5th Mar 2012
She doesn't disappoint. An interview as mad as you would expect
Political Correctness: Is It Mad?
Tuesday 10th Jan 2012
In the 80s, being right on was as vital as not shining your monkey boots. Is it still important now?
St Petersburg With My Mum
Wednesday 4th Jan 2012
My mum is called Jennifer. I forgot to mention this in the article, which seems a bit rude
I Will Run Run Run
Monday 8th Apr 2013
A piece about wanting to run and not being able to do it. Since then, I have started running. The rush makes me want to lick strangers' faces
Viva Forever! Review
Tuesday 19th Mar 2013
Viva Forever is the Spice Girls musical. When I went, Gloria Hunniford and Keith Lemon were in the audience (not together)
Madchester: Still Raving On
Friday 3rd Aug 2012
In honour of The Stone Roses' gigs at Heaton Park. And the wonder of Voodoo Ray. And everything else
Kathy Burke: Walking, Talking, Drinking Tea, Being Ace
Friday 3rd Aug 2012
Kathy Burke is a delight. I wish Waynetta Slob had been in the Olympics Opening Ceremony instead of Mr Bean
What's the Point of Woman's Hour?
Friday 4th Oct 2013
It's easy to be sniffy about WH. But if it disappeared, we'd miss it