IDEAL

Hi,

I've started filming the new series of IDEAL this week. This series is going to be one of the best so far. Graham Duff, who writes it, has come up with some great stories.

Nothing much has happened recently, it's always the quiet time of the year. I was lucky enough to be in the Caribbean again, which was a great place to read the IDEAL scripts. Flying back was interesting though. I had to fly from Aruba to Curacao, which only takes about half an hour. It was when I saw the plane! It was a small, propellor, plane. It only held about ten people, and it looked old, but I had no choice, I had to get on it or miss my flight back to Europe. I was very nervous, but it was absolutely fine. I surprised myself as I quite enjoyed the flight.

I'll blog again soon,

Mick

Christmas and beyond

Hi,

I had a great Christmas with the family. It's nice to see the faces on the kids on Christmas morning. Did any of you go to the pub on Christmas Day? There's always a strong smell of after shave!

I was working on New Years Day, so my New Years celebration was quite reserved. The show was at Warner's Littlecote House at Hungerford. I think that the audience had enjoyed their New Years break and I was expecting them to be a bit quiet after all their fun. But, I was wrong, they were totally up for a laugh. I was on with an old friend, Jeff Hooper and his band. He's a great entertainer with a fabulous bunch of quality musicians. We had a chat and caught up on things. I really enjoyed the evening, but had to travel straight back to Blackpool after the show.

Then, it was down to Southampton to join the Queen Victoria. We sailed to New York, and then I flew back.

This week was the "read through" for the new series of "IDEAL." It's a chance to catch up with all the cast before the work really begins. I have to say that this series looks fantastic. We start filming at the end of the month and carry on until April. I'm really looking forward to it.

Tomorrow, I fly to Barbados for a short cruise, returning in time to have a day off before filming.

For those of you in the BBC Lancashire region, I have agreed to be a guest on Ted Robbins Morning Show. The provisional date is Friday 5th Feb. but things sometimes change.

I'm going to pack my suitcase again, see you soon,

Mick

Hi Everyone,

firstly, sorry for not posting anything for a while, but I've been busy and just didn't get around to blogging.

As you can imagine, the run up to Christmas has been mad. We call it the "Silly Season" for obvious reasons. I've been up, down and back and forward across the UK. Every road/Motorway seems to be dug up. It also seems that the whole of the UK is drunk! But on a plus side, the Company Christmas Parties seem to be there, which means that businesses are starting to spend money again. Let's hope it's the start of the climb out of recession. We even had our Company Christmas Party, well, Steve and I had a few drinks after a gig the other night.

So, it just remains for me to wish you all a very merry christmas and happy and successful 2010.

Mick

Quiet week

It's been a quiet week, but it's a busy one this week. Wednesday is the last night at The North Pier, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone concerned for all their hard work throughout the summer and onwards. I can also tell you that I have agreed to do another "Comedians" show on the Central Pier, Blackpool on 7th November.

After the show on Wednesday, Myself, Tony Jo, Jonny Casson and Maurice Grumbleweed go straight to the airport and fly to Benidorm for a one off show. We then fly straight back on Friday morning and I go to Harrogate for a show with Johnny Casson and Stan Boardman. Then it's back home for a rest!

Mick

Strange Week

It's been a strange week. I was on a cruise ship, but for reasons which I won't go into detail, I didn't get back home until Friday. I missed the Wednesday night on the pier and a gig on Thursday, so to all those involved, sorry, but it was out of my hands.

I got back into Gatwick on Friday afternoon and went straight to the Isle of Wight. I was topping the bill on a comedy weekend at a holiday park near Bembridge. So it made sense to go there on Friday and travel straight back to Blackpool after the show. Thanks to Eloise and her team for looking after us and making us feel so welcome. The mad dash to catch the midnight ferry is something to behold, every act who has been working on the island is trying to catch it, because if you miss it, the next one isn't until 2.00am. Transit vans with bands in them all speed towards the port, it's funny to see.

Anyway, I'm absolutely Knackered, so I'm going to bed to catch up on lost sleep.

Take care,

Mick

Latest news

I can't believe it's almost October. It only seems like 5 minutes since we started the "Summer Season" show at The North Pier (Blackpool). I used to enjoy a leisurely stroll down the pier in the evening sunshine, but now I just get blown down there. It amazes me that people come down there to see a show, but they do. I always go into the Theatre bar after the show to meet the audience. I love chatting with everyone, and meet some really nice people. Everyone comments on how much they have enjoyed the show. I have to say, it's fun to do, and all the cast love doing it.

I missed one show this month due to a prior commitment. This was a cruise ship, which I joined in Talin. If nothing else, this job does help your knowledge of geography. I had a great cabin, and used my time on board to relax and catch up with some films. Then it was straight back to the pier, and then on to a "Civic' do at "Barnsley Metrodome." I did offer to put the Mayor's Gold Chain of Office into one of those bags, and send it off to get some "Cash for Gold!" I thought we could share it, but he wasn't having any of it. When times are hard, you've got to look for opportunities!

I have also recorded an interview with my mate, Johnny Vegas, for a Radio 4 documentry about comedy and the comedians who work in Benidorm. It goes out in November. On that note, I'm away on another cruise ship on Thursday, so I will have to Sky Plus the new series of Benidorm on Friday. This has to be the funniest thing on TV at the moment.

Take care,

Mick

Sad, but Happy Day

I hate going to funerals, I get so upset, especially when the person that has passed away was a close friend. On Friday, it was Neville King's funeral. I have sung his praises before. He was a wonderful man and a great entertainer, not to mention, a close friend.

I was asked to speak at his funeral, but felt that I wouldn't be able to do that, because I was too upset over his death. So I agreed to say a few words and do a bit of comedy for his family and friends at the Village Hall after the service.

The funeral turned out to be a wonderful celebration of his life, with everyone singing old songs and musicians playing his favorite tunes. Johnny Casson told a few stories about Neville, and Bernie Clifton made an emotional speech. Tributes from Ken Dodd, Norman Collier and Jimmy Tarbuck were read out. Neville was then buried in the village cemetery, beneath a beautiful tree.

Everyone then went to the Village Hall, where we could have a drink and talk about our memories of Neville. I then got up and did a short comedy set, which was requested by Neville's wife, Joanie. We all had a good laugh, just as he had wanted.

It was a sad, but wonderful day and a fitting tribute to a fantastic man. I, along with many people, will never forget him.

On a lighter note, I am flying to Italy today to do a show on board The "Legend of The Seas". I then get straight off and fly back to the UK. So I'm doing a cruise that doesn't go anywhere! You know me and my fear of flying, well it would have been better if the plane didn't move, but the ship did!!!!! I'm not that lucky though.

Take care,

Mick