As I write this I am in a ground floor BBC dressing room, chuckling to myself because a couple of weeks ago I watched the BBC programme Watchdog. On that particular episode they really criticised the decor and quality of the rooms in holiday camps. The paint was scraped and chipped, the wallpaper was torn, […] → Continue Reading Thoughts from a Dressing Room

After the mayhem of the past few weeks today, Sunday, was a wonderful relief from trying to force my brain to learn dance steps. Sadly Debbie had to go to work so I dragged myself out of the bed and went off to Homebase. I have had some weird things to design in life as […] → Continue Reading A Great Day Off Work

There is a famous quote, albeit horrible fact, made by a doctor at the end of a TV discussion about obesity and weight loss: ‘Nobody came out of Belsen fat’ This observation has always stuck in my mind as being an obvious fact; if you don’t put it into your mouth and swallow food, you […] → Continue Reading Strictly Slimming

Well, as they say, the proverbial poop hit the proverbial fan thanks to the ignorance of our ‘news’papers and their desperate need to drag everything down to their level. I made a crack back at Craig (who by the way is a really nice guy) about his daytime job tasting sausages. The press said I […] → Continue Reading Strictly and the Press

Well, the show is finally on the screens and love it or hate it, it will be on until December. I don’t expect to be in it for the full run because I believe there are FAR better dancers than me out there. I also seem to have missed the point of the show a […] → Continue Reading Strictly Come Dancing is under way

It is Friday morning as I write this. I have an enforced quiet time because Debbie has gone off to pick some crates of champagne and I was going to prepare myself for the day. Doorbells rang and there was the first of the trucks with generators and heaters. I know nothing about this party […] → Continue Reading The Calm before the Strictly Storm

Debbie is drying her hair so I have a minute or three to jot down an update. Life has been unbelievably busy and I do mean busy. The Best of British Variety shows are now drawing to a close with only two more to do. One tonight in Huddersfield and one in Buxton. For the […] → Continue Reading Strictly Come Dancing and The Best of British

Oh dear oh dear, in the midst of all this dancing training and touring the live show at night the media are now coming at me from all sides because the BBC are launching a ‘Strictly Come Magic’ competition on Saturday nights. Everyone is after me for opinions and comments but how can I do […] → Continue Reading The Magicians on BBC TV

Well, the 8th September came and went in a blur of activity. The studio setting, which now seats more people, was packed and staff and dancers were whizzing around everywhere. As I write this tonight the nation will watch the Launch of the new season of shows, not even thinking that behind the scenes a […] → Continue Reading The Strictly Come Dancing Saga, cont…

The Strictly Come Dancing Diary 22nd July Blimey, the agent has just phoned and told me that I am going to be contracted to do Strictly Come Dancing. I am boggled. I told them the truth – I have never danced, never had any dance lessons, I never listen to music. I have got the […] → Continue Reading Strictly Come Dancing on BBC TV

Indeed…. the best laid plans and also never put off ’til the morrow…. Has Daniels been drinking? Is he going doolally? No, all will become plain and simple… For the last couple of years I have been trying to devise ways of clearing my silted creek out that would not break the bank and about […] → Continue Reading The Best Laid Plans

I have had quite a few messages of various thoughts asking why I haven’t been writing blogs. The truth is that I haven’t been doing anything that I thought was of interest to you. Actually that is not quite true. Both Debbie and I have been getting involved in stuff that, for contractual reasons, we […] → Continue Reading Pakistan

Yesterday wasn’t the best day in the beginning. I had decided to head up to Wigan to do a bit in the shop we have in Mesnes Street. The wife, ‘er indoors, smiled sweetly, said she would come along and would I mind dropping off a hat ‘on the way’, in Wallingford. Of course I […] → Continue Reading Electronic Keys

I know, I know… it’s over, but it is still being discussed everywhere I go. As regular readers of this stuff will know, I’m not a raving fan. I am one of those people who think it is only a game BUT there are things in all the hype that no one seems to have […] → Continue Reading Football and Capello

Tomorrow it will be Friday, again, so that means we will have been back a week. For me that has been a week of erratic sleep hours, crashing out completely at about 9p.m. and waking up at anywhere between 1230 and 0300 in the night. I have tried to force myself to stay in bed […] → Continue Reading Bits and Bobs