Category Archives: celebrities

Ian McKellan’s Voice!

A couple of weeks ago, whilst learning some song lyrics, I found myself speaking them in the voice of Sir Ian McKellan.

Now Sir Ian is trapped in my vocal chords. Along with Sir Patrick Stewart. And don’t even mention Brian Blessed…. Surely the work of a very powerful wizard!

I need voice work, NOW!

If anyone wants a personalised message in the style of Sir Ian, let me know!

Walkin’ Music… songs from my playlist…

Days getting warmer, sunshine on my back as I walk,
I feel the heat through my fleece, like a warm hug.

I don’t usually listen to music as I walk, I generally like to hear the sounds around me, but a couple of days ago I pressed play on my EarPods and these are just a few of the songs that joined me for the walk, all with memories and feelings attached…

VIDEO PLAYLIST – I’ve put it together for this update, it’s only 6 songs.

PERFECT DAY – Lou Reed
The song that started when I pressed play… What a brilliant song this is. That warm hug from the sun on my back, this song in my ears, but meanwhile the world is in conflict and far from perfect for so many. A reminder that little things can make perfection. And a hope that conflict soon ends, and that, for those in turmoil, Perfect is eventually restored.
Let this lead you to Satellite of Love and more from Transformer album.

PATIO LANTERNS – Kim Mitchell
Summers in Canada. I remember playing this in my Radio days at CHMA, Sackville, New Brunswick. A song about youthful years and young love. ALSO – Check out this video – an older, balder Kim Mitchell talking about the difficult recording of this song.

A NEW ENGLAND – Billy Bragg
Another song about young love, but with a different slant. That line, “I saw two shooting stars last night, I wished on them but they were only satellites, Is it wrong to wish on space hardware, I wish, I wish, I wish you’d care.” Brilliant.

5:15 – The Who
Quadrophenia is my favourite who album, this song always gets me singing along. And this video created for it is excellent.

PRIVATE DANCER – Tina Turner
When this started I could hear only one voice, my dear friend Charlie Rhindress, who used to sing it in the dressing room (and did a great Tina impersonation) when we worked at Live Bait Theatre. Wonderful memories.

OBJECTS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR MAY APPEAR CLOSER THAN THEY ARE – Meat Loaf
Sadly we’ve lost Meat Loaf recently, but this song, all about memories, seemed apt to my feelings when it started playing. And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car…

One final song – not on YouTube…
LET YOU GO – Alex RhindressSPOTIFY LINK
When this started playing, I couldn’t remember the artist, knew it must be someone famous… It’s Charlie’s daughter Alex. What a great song this is.

I think I’ll press PLAY whilst walking more often.

Have a super day!
Dave x

Busy few weeks… Christmas Charity Song online now…

Excuse my absence from the blog folks, I’ve let my daily Lockdown Logs do the talking for me of late, but I do want to share something with you.

Weeks ago, between Lockdowns, I got together with my mates, Paul BALLO Ballington, and my fellow Yorkshire Teabagger John Atherley, to start work on a Christmas song.

During this last lockdown we’ve recorded it, made a video, and now released it just in time for the Festive Season.  And we’re using it to raise funds for Yorkshire Children’s Trust. 100% of the funds raised will go straight those who need it and what’s more, it’s serving families in this region! – To donate, click here – https://bit.ly/36plAaE

The Video is below – The single can also be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon Music!

Here’s the Blurb for it..
The U.K’s favourite Singing Plumber, Paul BALLO Ballington always has an annual Christmas song available… But this year it’s something a bit special.
As the nation struggled through the Covid Pandemic, Paul joined up with his mates from “The Yorkshire Teabaggers,” John Atherley and Dave McClelland, to reassure families that Santa would still be calling on them this Christmas.
Recording a song, and shooting a video, isn’t easy when you can’t be in the same room as your bandmates, but the team used technology to put it all together remotely, and the final video is like joining a Zoom call with a bunch of Yorkshire mates. And even Santa himself joins in the call!
And it became a family affair with Paul’s daughter Lana, and John’s wife Maria joining in, along with a cameo from actor Andy Whitaker who plays Policeman PC Swirling on ITV Soap Emmerdale  (as Andy Moore) .
The lads wanted to help families who are struggling through the Covid Crisis – and the Yorkshire Children’s Trust seemed like the perfect partner to raise funds for. 100% of the funds raised will go straight those who need it and what’s more, it’s serving families in this region! – To donate, click here – https://bit.ly/36plAaE
The single can also be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon Music!

The Suicide Monologues. Online this weekend.

Over lockdown I’ve been helping out with an amazing project looking at Suicide and mental health. Something that many have struggled with over the course of this Pandemic.

The Suicide Monologues are a series of thirteen short films which present the testimonies of people who have been affected by suicide and attempted suicide.

The films will be streamed this Saturday, and will be subsequently available to view online.

The project is a collaboration between Kathryn Littlewood, Penny Capper, Charlie Barnes, Brendan Stone, myself, and others. It was funded by the University of Sheffield, and supported by the mental health charity Sheffield Flourish.

The monologues are the true stories of a diverse group of people which are voiced in the films by a range of actors including Julian Richings, Cathy Shipton, Ian Reddington, Alice Barlow, Blue Merrick, Andy Whittaker, Janelle Thompson, Rachael McAllister, and Deepak Verma.

The aim of The Suicide Monologues is to challenge stigma around this complex subject, increase understanding, and create discussion.

You’ll be able to view the films at this link on Saturday 19th September at 19.00.  Please feel free to share this message, but please note that some viewers may find these films distressing.

If you need help you can talk to someone now by phoning Samaritans on 116 123.
You can also contact the 24/7 UK crisis service Shout simply by texting the word ‘Shout’ to 85258.
For more information please visit sheffieldsuicidesupport.co.uk and sheffieldflourish.co.uk

Festival of the Mind brings together University academics and professionals from Sheffield’s cultural, creative and digital industries to bring our research to life in exciting, entertaining and innovative ways.

Watch MOCKDOWN! for Sun Aug 30th…

Hi there fellow detainees!

Catch up on MOCKDOWN! for Sunday Aug 30th, as I chat with my guests about lockdown life – and coping with the new normal.

This week… Film Director Jack Spring, and Star Trek Yorkshire’s Joshua Note!!

JOSHUA NOTE – Actor, writer, presenter – formed a Star Trek Yorkshire fan group that’s now helping people struggling during this global pandemic through the Sick Bay…

JACK SPRING – Film director, former hot-tub salesman and part time international warlord. Made his directional debut aged just 19 with ‘Destination: Dewsbury (I was in it) – we’ll find out what he’s up to now…

[If above link not working, view video on my Actor Facebook Page]

GUEST INFO

JOSHUA NOTE

Actor, Extra, Model, Influencer, Writer / Director, Other Film & Stage Crew, TV Presenter, Radio Presenter.
Joshua Note has written children’s fiction since he was a child, and has finally decided to send his work out into the world with the help of his editor.
He used to work in tech, and still designs apps and new concepts for fun things.
He’s working on a video game design with his colleagues from Australia and The United States.
He also used to interview people across the whole spectrum of the arts on his podcast The Note Show, and has just relaunched it.
He is a mental health advocate, and supports Bipolar UK by fundraising and raising awareness of the condition.
He’s deeply interested in Psychology, Music and Games.
Formed Star Trek Yorkshire – an online fan group that is already helping people struggling through pandemic through the Sick Bay.

GUEST LINKS
Star Trek Yorkshire – https://www.facebook.com/StarTrekYorkshire
Star Trek Yorkshire Twitter – https://twitter.com/YorkshireTREK
Joshua Twitter – https://twitter.com/NoteBloom

JACK SPRING
Film director, former hot-tub salesman and part time international warlord.
Jack is one of the World’s most exciting feature emerging film directors. Having made his directional debut aged just 19 with ‘Destination: Dewsbury‘. After becoming one of WME’s youngest ever directorial signings, Spring is currently working on his second feature film; ‘Three Day Millionaire’, which is due to shoot in late 2020. He is also due to shoot his debut two TV projects throughout 2020. Spring is based in London, UK but is regularly floating in foreign bars.
An eccentric director known for his ‘big, hyper-real characters’ and ‘fast paced, all you can eat’ style, Spring’s work stands out as some of the most amusing in British Cinema.

Jack Spring represents the next generation of superstar British directors.
DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
The humour is crass and the jokes come faster than a pubescent teens first hand job.”
ALEX CLEMENT, CRITIC

 

Live long and prosper shipmates!
D x


SUPPORT ARTISTS:
Equity Benevolent Fund
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MOCKDOWN! streams live on Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel. There are also occasional Mockdown Confidential shows on Tuesday evenings.
Previous shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

SUPPORT MOCKDOWN:
My Ko-Fi Link –
Ko-fi.com/davemcclelland
PayPal – paypal.me/DaveyMcC


MOCKDOWN! sometimes features video clips which are not owned by myself, they are found on YouTube, etc, and are used during the show to demonstrate my guest’s work. No infringement is intended.

Watch MOCKDOWN! for Sun Aug 23

Greetings fellow earthlings!

Had a great MOCKDOWN show Sunday night, with three fantastic guests…

Emmerdale actor TONY AUDENSHAW, was here to chat about how his shed kept him busy during lockdown…

Actor, writer, singer, social media star, and Lockdown SitCom creator FANNI COMPTON

And we travelled to France to chat to my friend DOMINIC RAINFORD – he’s done panto, opera, Scooby-Doo and Shakespeare – now he’s entertaining the crowds at Disneyland Paris.

[Guest info below video]

IF THE VIDEO ABOVE IS NOT AVAILABLE – PLEASE WATCH ON FACEBOOK LINK BELOW…

Back next Sunday for more! Stay safe me hearties!
D x


GUEST INFO:

Tony Audenshaw attended Guildford School of Acting, Tony enjoyed a few years acting and directing T.I.E. and filling multiple roles at Thorpe Park, theme park in the summers.
A few pantos at Oldham Coliseum and a load of commercials for the likes of Barclays Bank, Quorn and Tetleys Beer led to bits on Brookside and parts in other popular telly and the films Going Off Big Time and Ken Loach’s Raining Stones. And he’s played Bob Hope in Emmerdale since 2000.
A lover of variety and light entertainment he was thrilled to do Stars in Their Eyes twice (Kenny Rogers and Roy Wood) and appear on the likes of Blankety Blank, Family Fortunes, Harry Hills TV Burp, The Chase and Celebrity Mastermind.
He’s been singing with the covers band White Van Man since 2001, contributing regularly as ‘Tony’s Trials’ to the Running Podcast Marathon Talk, is a keen birdwatcher and helps run a weekly community quiz in his hometown New Mills, Derbyshire.
Guest Links:
Tony Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonysTrials
Tony In The Shed YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTzmZ05_P-3yK6PGUbR-Lyg

Fanni Compton is an Actress, Writer, Social Media Creator & Recording Artist based in the North West.
Her dreams of becoming a prima ballerina were dashed when she was told that her ankles were too weak.
She then tried her hand at varying jobs, but it didn’t take long for her to realise that she was on the wrong path  – graduated Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2010.
Since then he’s done hundreds of sketches and monologues for Social Media, started her music career and  has a Television Comedy Pilot in post production entitled Nowhere Close. And she’s made full use of the 2020 Pandemic to develop an Online Sitcom called Lockdown Lifeline.
Guest Links:
Fanni Music website: www.fannicomptonmusic.com
Fanni YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJU6ZsSSC22CyM2hQ43B7Dw

Dominic Rainford – Raised in Blackpool, Dominic trained in Musical Theatre at LSMT (London School of Musical Theatre). Since then he’s had a varied career going from Panto to the English National Opera. Scooby-Doo to Shakespeare. Dungeon creature to Drag Queen and has now swapped one tower for another as he’s living and working in France at Disneyland Paris.
Guest Link:
Dominic Twitter: @DommyPoppins


SUPPORT ARTISTS:
Equity Benevolent Fund  
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MOCKDOWN! streams live on Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel. There are also occasional Mockdown Confidential shows on Tuesday evenings.
Previous shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

SUPPORT MOCKDOWN:
My Ko-Fi Link –
Ko-fi.com/davemcclelland
PayPal – paypal.me/DaveyMcC


MOCKDOWN contains video clips which are not owned by myself, they are found on YouTube, and used during the show to demonstrate my guest’s work.
No infringement is intended.

Coming up on MOCKDOWN! Sun Aug 23 @ 8PM

Coming up Sunday Aug 23 on Mockdown!

You need HOPE in this time of global pandemic – and this week I have Bob Hope, Emmerdale actor TONY AUDENSHAW, here to chat about how his shed kept him busy during lockdown…

I have actor, writer, singer, social media star, and Lockdown SitCom creator FANNI COMPTON

And we’ll travel to France to chat to my friend DOMINIC RAINFORD – he’s done panto, opera, Scooby-Doo and Shakespeare – now he’s entertaining the crowds at Disneyland Paris.

They’ll be here to chat about their lockdown experience – and what they have coming up next…

Join us on Sunday night at 8pm.

WATCH HERE – LINKS TO LIVE STREAM ON SUNDAY 8pm:
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2696242707145898&extid=eEoemMEnPp4Ky5nH
YouTube  https://youtu.be/XwM7XDIsGHs

MOCKDOWN AUG 23 TRAILER:

GUEST LINKS:
Tony Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonysTrials
Tony In The Shed YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTzmZ05_P-3yK6PGUbR-Lyg
Fanni Music website: www.fannicomptonmusic.com
Fanni YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCJU6ZsSSC22CyM2hQ43B7Dw
Dominic Twitter: @DommyPoppins

SUPPORT ARTISTS:
Equity Benevolent Fund  
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MOCKDOWN! streams live on Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel. There are also occasional Mockdown Confidential shows on Tuesday evenings.
Previous shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

SUPPORT MOCKDOWN:
My Ko-Fi Link –
Ko-fi.com/davemcclelland
PayPal – paypal.me/DaveyMcC


MOCKDOWN contains video clips which are not owned by myself, they are found from YouTube and used during the show to demonstrate my guest’s work. No infringement is intended.

Watch the Mockdown! Chat show for Aug 16th…

Greetings campers!!!!!!

Had a great chat with two lovely people on Sunday night.
We talked Lockdown, theatre and telly stuff, poetry, and Tenby in Wales!

My guests were both actors, each with over 40 years experience in the business…. CHARLES DALE and KATE RUTTER… [Guest info below video]

GUESTS

CHARLES DALE, he’s done it all, English Shakespeare Company, West End, Broadway. Coronation Street (Dennis Stringer), Casualty (Big Mac) and many other bits of general TV shouting. Several films that have disappeared without trace… He’s now become a Lockdown Poet…
Charles Dale Twitter

KATE RUTTER, actor in Theatre, Film, TV and Radio.  Films include Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, Mike Leigh’s Peterloo and The Full Monty. She’s appeared in many television dramas including His Dark Materials, Scott and Bailey, Cold Feet, Affinity, Silent Witness, DCI Banks, Clocking Off, Fat Friends, Queer as Folk and many more. She’s appeared in all the major continuing dramas, most recently as Coronation Street‘s tough cop, D.S Sam Beckett.
Kate Rutter Twitter 

SUPPORT ARTISTS
Equity Benevolent Fund
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MOCKDOWN! streams live on Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel.
Previous shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

Stay safe you beauties!
D x

Mockdown Chat Show, Sunday Aug 16, 8pm (UK)

Hi Shipmates!!!

Coming up this weekend, join me and two special guests as we chat about the world of entertainment during these strange pandemic days…

This week, two actors, each with over 40 years experience in the business….

First up, CHARLES DALE, he’s done it all, English Shakespeare Company, West End, Broadway. Coronation Street (Dennis Stringer), Casualty (Big Mac) and many other bits of general TV shouting. Several films that have disappeared without trace… He’s now become a Lockdown Poet…

And KATE RUTTER, actor in Theatre, Film, TV and Radio.  Films include Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake, Mike Leigh’s Peterloo and The Full Monty. She’s appeared in many television dramas including His Dark Materials, Scott and Bailey, Cold Feet, Affinity, Silent Witness, DCI Banks, Clocking Off, Fat Friends, Queer as Folk and many more. She’s appeared in all the major continuing dramas, most recently as Coronation Street‘s tough cop, D.S Sam Beckett.

We’ll chat about the impact Lockdown has had on their lives and work, and what they’re up to now.

GUEST LINKS
Charles Dale Twitter
Kate Rutter Twitter 

SUPPORT ARTISTS
Equity Benevolent Fund
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MOCKDOWN! streams live on Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel.
Previous shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

Stay safe my darlings!
D x

Mockdown Confidential show Aug 11th, with Charlie Rhindress!

Hello Dahlinks!!!

Had my first special Mockdown Confidential show on Tuesday.
A spinoff from my Mockdown! Show, this is a more intimate one-to-one chat with a special guest…

This week, Canadian Actor, Writer, Theatre Guru, and family guy, Charlie Rhindress joined me to talk about Lockdown, The Canadian Bubble, his books on Canadian Musical Icons, his Lockdown Streaming show (The Charlie & Heather Show), his acting role in an upcoming TV series based on a Stephen King short story, and all the fun acting stuff we did together over many years.

GUEST LINKS
Charlie Rhindress Web SIte  • Charlie on Twitter 

SUPPORT ARTISTS
Equity Benevolent Fund
Equity Benevolent Fund YouTube Channel
My Ko-Fi link

MUSIC CREDIT
THE ELEVATOR BOSSA NOVA
– Composer: Benjamin Tissot
Royalty Free Music from Bensoundwww.bensound.com

MOCKDOWN! streams live Sunday evenings at 8pm (UK) on my Actor Facebook Page and on my YouTube Channel.
Past shows are on my Actor page, and are also available as a Playlist on YouTube

Stay safe lovelies!!!!
D x