Category Archives: ITV

Happy New Year!

So, here we are, it’s  almost New Year’s Eve as I write this on Thursday evening.

It’s been another odd year hasn’t it? Lockdowns, loss of people, loss of work.

Dad and Benjamin in Canada

New Year is always a time for reflection time for me anyway, my Dad died Dec 31, 2010, and I always feel his loss. This year it feels even more reflective.

So it’s back to New Year traditions to say farewell to the old and welcome the new. I’ve baked lots of tarts, jam and lemon curd. My Gran always cooked them for Christmas and New Year, and as a youngster I helped, cutting out the tarts, scooping the jam fillings. And making a jam turnover with the remaining pastry.

Tomorrow will be an evening at home with my Mum, a beer or two, nibbles…. some Pork Pie, Scotch Egg, Sausage Rolls, vol-au-vents… And this evening I’ve made Egg Nog for the first time, it’s now chilling ready to add to traditions tomorrow. I admit, my Brandy pouring hand may have been over zealous.

At midnight I’ll sing Auld Lang Syne, I’ll go out and come in again to First Foot, I’ll phone and message friends near and far, then to bed and 2022.

I’m hoping work continues next year as it ended in 2021. I ended up quite busy over the last couple of months. An episode of Doctors for BBC1, two episodes of an upcoming series, Compulsion, for Channel 5. And most recently I shot two episodes of Coronation St, airing mid-January on ITV.

To end the year tomorrow, you can hear me doing some radio. As I’ve mentioned before, I co-host the monthly Comedy Show on Write Radio on Sheffield Live. Tomorrow’s show is a year-end special, a murder mystery featuring all the hosts of Write Radio, put together by our amazing producer Andrew Tildesley. It’s fun, so listen in, either live, or catch up on the link later. Write Radio airs Friday afternoons, 1-3pm.

And remember, during January I will be taking part in the Run The Month Challenge for Prostate Cancer UK.

So my dears, I bid you all the very best for the coming year.
Be kind to yourself, spread the love, and stay safe and healthy during these dark days and testing times.
If you can find a test.

See you next year!
Dave X

 

Dad and friend Reg, New Year in Canada. 

2021. New Year. New Lockdown.

My first update of 2021, and we find ourselves in a situation even more dire than December.

New strains, more cases, sadly many more deaths,. No going out, no physical contact, no idea when any degree of normality will return. Not this year I fear.

On today’s No 10 Briefing, featuring the very evil, and the letter G incapable, Home Secretary,  Priti Patel, a reporter asked the question – as people must be desperate for a holiday after all we’ve been through, can they think about booking a summer holiday?

BOOK A F**KING SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!! Are you mad?
Be grateful to still be breathing.
It will end when it ends, it will be safe when it is safe.
Remember that DISASTROUS “Eat Out To Help Out” cheap meal/mass-killing scheme.
Too early Rishi!

One good thing in the world is that that Orange Trump Stain has been removed! I watched the Biden/Harris Inauguration yesterday, hated much of the schmaltz and flag adoration, but loved Amanda Gorman and her wonderful poem – here’s Barack Obama’s link to it
One can only imagine the Big Orange Baby sulking in Florida.

Obviously life is quiet here. Good news is my Mum has had both Vaccine injections, so let’s hope she is safe(r). I await my turn.

Just before Christmas, I was lucky enough to have a small role in a TV ad, which is apparently airing so often that people keep telling me they saw me on the telly!

Here it is….

I’m happy to be working on an Audiobook narration at the moment, and loving the book. It’s called CRONIES, by Robert Craft.  I’ll let you know when the audiobook version is finished and available.

If you fancy a bit of Audio Fun, I am co-host of Write Radio (Comedy edition) on Sheffield Live. The Christmas Day show was a special one, where yer old pal Dave goes full on Scrooge, so take a listen – Go to the SHEFFIELD LIVE site, and click on Dec 25, Hour 1 and Hour 2.

And that’s about it. I carry on with my Daily Lockdown logs, recording the dull monotony of Lockdown 3. Posted on my Twitter and Playlisted on YouTube (and below).

Stay safe you Beauties, I look forward to lifting a glass with you some time in the future! Contact me via form below if you fancy a video catchup!

Dave X

 

 

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! Live Chat Show Sun Aug 9th – Film night!

Hello chums!

I hope you’ve all survived another week of this Pandemic and you’re ready for a bit of entertainment.

Last night’s MOCKDOWN! show was Film themed…. and I had three super guests…

LINDSAY BENNETT-THOMPSON, Actor/Writer/Artist & Filmmaker on her latest project Enter Nirvana, and her recent appearance on Coronation Street…

Harry Potter Movie Death Eater, Actor/Model/Photographer, and mo-cap artist King Regis in Final Fantasy XV video-game, JON CAMPLING

And, finally, Film Director MATT ROUTLEDGE, his new movie Tribal-Get Out Alive premieres online on Monday…

We chat about the impact Lockdown has had on their lives and work, and what they’re up to now.
[Full Guest info below video]

GUEST INFO

Lindsay Bennett-Thompson
Lindsay is an Actress, Writer and Artist based in the North-West. Her expressive, idiosyncratic look and fearless approach has gained her recognition as a contemporary and bold actress. She began her career early and in her twenties joined and toured with a rock band for a number of years. Following the bands eventual breakup, Lindsay explored her interest in puppetry before returning to study;  graduating in 2014 with First Class Honours in Contemporary Theatre and Performance from the University of Central Lancashire. 2019 was a major turning point for Lindsay, after a near death experience and life saving surgery the experience propelled her to continue to push to make her own work and develop her career as a filmmaker an she currently has 2 films PUPPY and ENTER NIRVANA in the festival circuit with ambition to release them online next year.   Having gained positive reviews from PUPPY Lindsay is currently developing a feature length screenplay.
Guest Links
Enter Nirvana Trailer
Puppy Trailer
Actor Showreel
Twitter
Web

Jon Campling
Jon was born in Hull and gave up a job for Life with British aerospace to go to drama school in Brum for 3yrs in 89. He now has 97 IMDb acting credits, stopped the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter, and created the character KING REGIS in the global smash game Final Fantasy XV. As well as acting, Jon is also a model, photographer, wand maker, a runner & fitness freak and is currently training to be a singer. His latest film release is ‘Adventure Boyz’ available on all the usual platforms.
Guest Links
Adventure Boyz 
Twitter
Instagram
Twitch
Facebook
Web

Matt Routledge
Matt has been actively acting, directing and producing Martial Arts Media since his first ‘Nunchaku Instructional Video’ back in 1992. In 1997 he completed a three year degree course which saw him make two half hour martial arts films ‘Net Chaser’ and ‘Rush Hour’. After working in the industry for well-known companies such as ‘Mersey Television’, ‘Granada Television’ and ‘Sony Entertainment’, he returned to making martial arts films. These include the internationally acclaimed short film “The Car Wash” in 2000 and two TV movies, ‘Fist of Justice’ (2005) and ‘Crazy in Love’ (2004). By now an experienced stuntman/ choreographer and action director, Matt relocated to Thailand where he worked with Jackie Chan on ‘The Medallion’ and action director on Menahem Golan’s last ever martial arts film ‘Final Combat.’ Primarily working as a ‘Director of Photography’ since then, Matt has now moved back into the Director’s chair for the award winning martial arts short film ‘Fixer’ (2016) and most recently the multi-award winning crime caper drama ‘Manipulation’ (2018). A short film that has bagged over 17 awards globally so far in film festivals from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
He’s now releasing the action horror feature film ‘Tribal,’ starring Zara Phythian (Doctor Strange) and Ross O’Hennessey (Game of Thrones).
Guest Links
Tribal – Get Out Alive Premiere
Twitter
Instagram


SUPPORT ARTISTS –
https://www.equity.org.uk/about/benevolent-fund/
My Ko-Fi link – http://ko-fi.com/davemcclelland

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 you beauties!
D x

MOCKDOWN! Chat show, Episode 7, Aug 2, 2020

Hello dear followers!

We’ve just finished another wonderful episode of Mockdown!
I think we could have chatted for another hour!

This week, my guests are actors – with a musical side…. Jonathan Kydd and Andy Whitaker [more details on my guests below]

Due to copyright issues, Andy’s version of BLACK – WONDERFUL LIFE
cannot be shown above, Click here to see the full version of his song.
The full show is also available on my Actor Facebook Page

MY GUESTS

Jonathan Kydd
An actor. But also does voice stuff and makes films and videos and write songs. Written three musicals and a variety of hour long shows featuring comedy bands  and a number of video blogs, mostly about football. Also does cartoons. Was a dinosaur in Toy Story that time forgot, and all the voices in Bangers and Mash, and in Mr Bean, and Noddy, and Dennis the menace, and hilltop hospital, etc… He also made two comedy short films and a lot of videos. Podcasts about football as well.
His father, great British actor Sam Kydd, made over 280 films and thousands of tellies 1946 to his death in 1982. Sam played cockneys and Irishmen, despite being quite posh having gone to Dunstable Grammar. Jonathan found an unpublished autobiography of his dad’s career 1946 to 1970 in his mum’s loft and is editing it. It’s almost finished. He’s also going to make a documentary about his dad’s career. He has all the home videos, 300 stills, a mass of letters and scripts and diaries. As well as the book.
Official Web Site 
Twitter

The Rudy Vees

Andy Whitaker
You may know Andy by his professional name, Andy Moore, in his role as PC Mike Swirling in the BAFTA-winning soap Emmerdale… He has a vast musical history and is about to make his own film…
Having started out as a musician in The Sun and the Moon with The Chameleons front-man Mark Burgess and Chameleons Drummer John Lever, went into acting at the age of 35 in the 90’s telling himself it was a less age prejudice profession. After all, they always want granddads in films and TV shows.
After doing the rounds in rep and theatre in education, he got my first telly part as an Amnesiac who thinks that he is Kevin Keegan in the BBCs The Cops in 1998, was a series regular in Dream Team for Sky One, played the obligatory red herring in The Bill and the role of Sean Wakefield in Coronation Street under Alan Wareing’s direction – that lead to his current role as PC Mike Swirling under Alan Wareing’s direction.
Andy Moore Facebook Page
Twitter

More about Andy’s Music – 


SUPPORT ARTISTS –
https://www.equity.org.uk/about/benevolent-fund/
My Ko-Fi link – http://ko-fi.com/davemcclelland

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

Stay safe you darlings!
D x

Mockdown! Episode 2

Hi folks!

Hope you’ve all survived another week, well, let’s face if, if you’re reading this, you HAVE survived, but, of course, it may have been a bit of a shit week.

This Government-led Shitshow rolls on… excess deaths, the collapse of the economy, right wing thugs on the streets… but at least I found a socially appropriate way to unload with 3 mates over a chat.

Yes, it’s Episode 2 of MOCKDOWN!

My guests this week are:

Kurt Brookes – Head of Development at MIM Productions and the producer of the upcoming BBC Radio 4 comedy series “The Likely Dads“. He is also the creator and co-everything of the webseries “Barry Pigeon Protects“.

Marie Friend – a born & bred scouser who’s now dead posh and living in Chester. Marie has trained with many acting practitioners across Manchester over the last 6 years , she is a Broadcast Journalist , experienced in Voiceover and TV presenting… and was last seen at the Hope Mill Theatre in Welcome to Shangri La…. along with myself, and my final guest…

Robyn Moore – a London born, British actress of Belgium and Polish decent. She has over 30 years of experience in theatre, film and television… including “Family Affairs” and playing Shirley Benson in “East Enders”. She also has over 20 years of experience teaching actors and professionals in acting and performance techniques.

A few links for you…
GET SCENE
– the link that Marie mentioned.
Follow me, ROWE DAVID McCLELLAND on Facebook for future shows
Help arts freelancers through the EQUITY BENEVOLENT FUND
and if you want to help me, donations are appreciated at PayPal.me or Ko-fi

Thanks for checking in, thanks for watching the show, and stay safe!

D x

 

I’m Live Streaming – MOCKDOWN! a new weekly show!

Hi folks!

Hope you are all keeping well and retaining sanity during these strange, strange times.

I was delighted to help friends set up the technical side for a couple of Live Streaming shows over the last few weeks, so taught myself to use StreamYard, an amazing bit of free Chrome-based goodness that allows you to broadcast to the world.
And so decided that I too wanted to add to the self-broadcasting scene.

I hosted a lot of radio when I lived in Canada, so I love the buzz of hosting a live show, though this is all very different, clicking on the computer to add guests, sources and images…. I could do with a studio crew.

The first show went live last Sunday… there’s a link to view it on YouTube below. But if you’d like to keep up to date and receive notifications and links to future shows, please follow my actor page on Facebook, ROWE DAVID McCLELLAND. The show will air Sundays at 8pm  on Facebook, and I will put them on YouTube after the event.

Here’s the show from the weekend… three lovely guests, Jo Swain – Sheffield actor, known for the Full Monty, now running Hello Velo, a super B&B/Bike hire place in the wilds of France, TV Director Neil Alderton in Manchester – if you love a TV soap, chances are he’ll have had a hand in it – and Phil Yarrow, a Northumbrian exile now living in That London. Actor, Puppeteer, Improviser and dad, with a passion for Theatre For Young Audiences.

______

Many freelance artists are struggling during these Covid-19 days.
If you are able to donate a little to the EQUITY BENEVOLENT FUND, or any of the links mentioned in the show, please do.

Another streaming show you may enjoy is hosted by my lovely friend in Canada – actor, writer, director (and so much more) Charlie Rhindress.
The Charlie and Heather Show airs 8pm on Sundays in Canada (that’s midnight here in the UK), so if you’re a night person, please tune in, there’s a lovely mix of chat, stories and songs. I was a guest on the show May 31st/June 1st, so check it out on the show page or below….

 

And finally, I’ve taken some time to update my acting showreel…. Take a look…

Stay safe folks… and don’t trust the Tories….
D x