Monthly Archives: September 2012

Friday 21st September 2012

Strictly 2012 Line Up

We’re talking Strictly today on the show – what do you think of the new line-up ?

Colin Salmon:  The 49-year-old actor has starred in a number of TV shows including Prime Suspect, Soldier, Soldier and Doctor Who. Movie lovers might also recognise him from the Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day in which he played the character Charles Robinson.

Dani Harmer 23, is best known for bringing the character Tracy Beaker to life on the big and small screen – a role which has won her a BAFTA nomination. Dani also appeared as an extra in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and has recently turned her hand to singing, recording the theme song to CBBC’s Dani’s House.

Denise Van Outen burst onto screens on The Big Breakfast alongside Johnny Vaughan in 1997, a role which catapulted on her TV fame. Since then, the 38-year-old actress has enjoyed the stage role of Roxie Hart in the hit musical Chicago and, acted as a judge on Any Dream Will Do. The mum-of-one also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in 2009 with fellow contestant Kimberley Walsh.

Fern Britton 55, is one of Britain’s favourite faces on TV, having worked on the likes of This Morning for 10 years, and Ready Steady Cook. Fern is also a novelist, having published her second novel Hidden Treasures in 2012. No stranger to Strictly, Fern has some previous dancing experience, having competed the 2010 Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing.

Johnny Ball is a veteran TV presenter and the father of former Strictly contestant Zoe Ball, so he’ll likely be getting a few pointers from her in preparation for his assault on the dance floor. As well as presenting shows including Play School, the 77-year-old has also written a number of children’s books on fun ways to learn which sell in over 30 countries, as well as producing educational stage musicals. He is also a prominent guest speaker.

Jerry Hall is an International supermodel. She has also acted in Tim Burton’s Batman movie and on stage, including a West End production of The Graduate. Jerry will likely know how to work her body to its maximum potential; so definitely one to watch out for!

Kimberley Walsh is a former Girls Aloud singer who may be hoping her time with the chart-topping band will help her with her moves on the dance floor. Sure to inject some glamour into this year’s series, Kimberley is no stranger to being on TV, having fronted her own music talk show Suck My Pop and acted as a judge on entertainment show Born to Shine. The 30-year-old has also appeared in Horrid Henry: The Movie and played Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, taking over from Amanda Holden.

Lisa Riley found fame playing feisty barmaid Mandy Dingle in popular soap Emmerdale. She also took over from Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of You’ve Been Framed in 1997 until 2002 and has had a number of stage and screen roles, including her part in the play The Naked Truth in 2009.

Louis Smith is an Olympic gymnast so will have no problem with flexibility issues or the tough training schedule a show like Strictly demands, having won two medals at this year’s 2012 Games.

Michael Vaughan is a retired cricketer. The 38-year-old has racked up 18 test centuries and championships at national and county level and will no doubt be hoping for as much success on the dance floor as he had on the pitch. Michael retired in 2009 and now works as a pundit and interview as well as a newspaper columnist.

Nicky Byrne was a member of Irish boy band Westlife before they spilt in 2011 to pursue their own projects. Having sold over 45 million records worldwide and accumulated 14 number-one UK alongside his band mates, he is no stranger to winning.

Richard Arnold is known as the ‘showbiz king’ so is more experienced at interviewing A-listers than doing the cha-cha. As well as acting as showbiz editor of Daybreak, Richard has also fronted shows including Soap Challenge, Loose Lips and The Planet’s Funniest Animals, as well as writing columns for Hello! magazine, Woman’s Own.

Sid Owen played hen pecked mechanic, Ricky Butcher for nearly 25 years until his exit from EastEnders in 2012, making him one of the most recognisable faces on TV. He’s also appeared in a number of other television dramas, including prison drama Bad Girls.

Victoria Pendleton is London 2012’s Olympic gold cyclist. Victoria might have retired from the sport recently, but she’s determined to put those powerful legs and honed muscles to use on the Strictly

International Sheepdog Trial competitors

One Man and His Guests..


International Sheepdog Trial competitors
The International Sheepdog trials are took place on 6th – 8th September in Wales.
 More than 20,000 visitors from around the world flocked to the Vale of Glamorgan to watch man’s best friend crowned the new supreme sheepdog trials champion.

Alan was joined on Wednesday 8th September by sheepdog trial competitor Emma Gray, trial judge Jonny Robinson and Ellie Harrison, Sheepdog trial presenter. Emma is the youngest shepherdess in the UK and has five years experience. ‘I needed a dog to do my work!’ Emma did compete in the National’s this year but did not make it to the International competition.

Ellie Harrison – Sheepdog Trial Presenter

Ellie is a presenter on Countryfile. Last year in Cumbria, Ellie attended the World Sheepdog trials and presented alongside Guy Martin. 240 handlers and their dogs from 26 nations attended the trials. 

Noah Stewart singing on The Alan Titchmarsh Show

The lovely Noah Stewart

Singing live on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Wednesday 12th September 2012

Noah Stewart singing on The Alan Titchmarsh Show

From humble beginnings on the streets of Harlem where he studied classical music at The Harlem School of the Arts, Noah has come a long way. At age 12, his choir teacher encouraged him to pursue a music career; he began doing voice-overs for Sesame Street and television school specials, and won first place in the New England Music Competition in Boston.

Stewart attended Fiorello LaGuardia High School, where he performed his first opera (La Costanza in amor vince l’inganno). He also sang back-up vocals for pop artists such as Hootie and the Blowfish, Mariah Carey, and Coolio. During this time, Stewart developed a passion for opera, languages, art song, oratorio, and concert repertoire, and committed himself to pursuing an operatic career. He was recommended by his mentor, the great soprano Leontyne Price, to attend The Juilliard School, where he was awarded a full scholarship.

Upcoming performances include his role debut of Don Jose in Carmen with Opera Africa, The Prince in John Adams’ A Flowering Tree with Cincinnati Opera and creating the role of Hassan in Judith Weir’s Achterbahn which will mark his forth world premiere by a modern composer at The Bregenzer Festspiel, A role he will further perform in his upcoming Covent Garden debut in 2012.

For more info on Noah, please visit his website at www.noahofficial.com or follow him on Twitter @noahsofficial 

Week 3 already ??

Not that we’re counting or anything, but we’re already into the third week of the new series.  Time flies by so fast when you’re in the studio – we do two shows a day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and by the time you’ve caught your breath you find a new week has started.

The weather is keeping a smile on all our faces though and most of the team have managed to top up their tans this weekend at some point or other.

Don’t miss Ross Kemp on today’s show, along with the lovely Simon Lycett talking royal flowers and lots of other fantastic gardening top tips. Later on in the week we’ve got Darcy Bussell, Olympians, Paralympians, John Craven and the first of our AT Team GB awards – for more info of how to nominate someone head on over to our Facebook page.

We spoil you, we really do!

All the best,

Alan

Join Myleene and Russell..

Monday 10th September

Join Myleene Klass and Russell Watson as they talk about the Classical Brit awards, which Myleene is presenting and in which Russell is nominated for an award.

For your chance to vote in the awards, visit the Classical Brit Awards website now – you can listen to excerpts from all the nominees and then cast your vote.

One lucky voter will also win two tickets to the awards, being held at The Royal Albert Hall in London on 2 October 2012.

The event will also be broadcast on ITV in October 2012.

 

Phew! What a scorcher..

Well that’s the first week over with Ladies and Gents – I hope you enjoyed it. Highlights for me were the wonderfully talented Beverly Knight, Ashley and Pudsey, the fascinating chat about the Queens diamond collection and all our song and dance numbers.

I’m looking forward to another great week ahead, in tomorrow on Monday’s show will be the very lovely Pam Ayres, talking about her book, ‘The Necessary Aptitude – A Memoir’ which has just been released in paperback. She’s always great fun – I hope I get time to catch up with her in the green room after the show. Pam’s had a fascinating life – having watched as three of her brothers were called up for National Service and sent off to exciting destinations, she felt desperate for travel and adventure. Pam joined the WRAF and soon found herself in the Far East. There she began to write in earnest, and develop the unique talent that would make her one of Britain’s best-loved comics. Don’t miss her on the show on Monday 10th September.

Well that’s it folks, I should get some shut eye or the bags under my eyes will be big enough for the weekly shop,

All the best,

Alan