The way I put together my shows has always been inspired by the radio DJs I enjoy listening to. An avid Radio 2 listener since the age of about 9 or 10, Johnnie Walker and Terry Wogan were my favourite broadcasters, back in the day. Continue reading
The main races – of which there were 6 – started shortly after. I enjoyed watching the horses in the paddock where I could pick which horse I would back. Not being an expert in racing, I chose a horse based on which one I liked the look of, or which name appealed to me. Continue reading
The audience were clearly full of Yes, Minister fans – lots of knowing laughs throughout, especially at the classic Sir Humphrey-style exchanges. Plenty of people the same side of 40 years of age as I am – it wasn’t all people old enough to have watched the originals on TV! Continue reading
At the end of 2025 I started experimenting using AI to help shape and build my shows. Whether we like it or not, AI is growing and is here to stay – and knowing how to use it effectively is becoming more and more important. Continue reading
I found the recipe not in one of my recipe books, but by asking AI (ChatGTP) for a recipe. This bake is the result of that. It wasn’t perfect….At one point it did go slightly wrong. I poured all the milk & lemon juice in at once – but, just as when adding water to a dough normally – that’s not the way to do it. I had a very wet, sticky dough – which resembled a cake mix. Certainly wasn’t something I chould shape in to a bread dough. Continue reading
As we reach the end of March – and the end of Q1 2026 – I am starting something new on this blog. Each month, I will be writing about what has been happening on my radio shows, giving a bit of insight into what I’ve been playing, how the shows have come together, and whatโs coming up next. Continue reading
I drove up to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property near Droitwich in Worcestershire. The house is a real country retreat, offering a glimpse of life in rural Worcestershire in the 18th century. As always, I loved seeing all the different rooms, choosing which rooms were my favourite – which ones I’d use for radio, living room, and my bedroom, if I were to live in such a big house! Continue reading
One of the things I really enjoy about C2C is discovering new artists. Katie Rigby and Julia Cole were two that really stood out to me this year. Both are independent artists, without major record label backing, which makes their success even more impressive. To be performing at a major festival like C2C on their own terms is a real achievement. Take notice of them! Continue reading
First impressions? Flat. Remarkably flat. (A notable observation when you live in the Cotswolds). The landscape opens up in a completely different way – vast stretches of arable farmland, long horizons, big skies. In places, the fields arenโt edged with hedgerows at all, but simply separated from the road by a drainage ditch. It almost reminded me of the Gers in southern France ๐ซ๐ท – It has that same agricultural openness and understated rural beauty. Continue reading
I last went to Newark Park in April 2022….This time it was noticeably colder than back then: Proper cold February air! It was still worth the trip. The snowdrops were out lining parts of the grounds. Itโs that in-between time of year: not quite spring, but full of promise. Continue reading