Category Archives: Coronation St

Fri 4th Feb – Live Comedy On Stage + Streaming!

Ey up Cupcakes!!!!

We’re almost finished January, and about to blast into February with a LIVE show!
That’s real LIVE people performing in front of a real LIVE audience!!!!
But Fear Not! There’s a LIVE STREAMING option those who aren’t yet ready to mingle.

Rachel E Thorn, SKETCH UP writer

The show is SKETCH UP! Written by the FABULOUS Rachel E Thorn, the Queen of Improv, and Witty Skit Writer Extraordinaire.
Playing Friday Feb 4 at the Leicester Comedy Festival.

Rachel’s comedy has been heard on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland and performed by impressionists including Rory Bremner, Alistair McGowan and Christina Bianco. Rachel also performs improvised comedy shows nationwide and is the winner of The Phoenix Remix Act Of The Year 2019.

Rachel has put together a group of fun professional performers for her Sketch Up Crew, and at her cry of “SKETCH UP ASSEMBLE!” we all fall into place. We’ve been recording and performing Rach’s sketches for a few years now (except the last two obvs) and its brilliant fun – mainly because they’re so well written and full of wonderful characters we’d never get asked to play otherwise!

On stage for this performance, besides our Wonder Woman Rachel, we have Melanie Crawley, Gerard Fletcher, and myself.

Melanie Crawley

Melanie Crawley

A fabulous voiceover artist, having narrated over 40 audiobooks including An Unknown Woman by Jane Davis and The River Through Rome by Nicholas Nicastro. She is Joy in The Age of Love, the podcast based on artist Pete McKee’s characters, and starred in the UK tour of Tannie & Tannie.

Gerard Fletcher

Gerard Fletcher

One of the best voiceover actors in the business. My favourite facts are that he presents Screwfix’s YouTube channel and he’s the on-hold voice of DPD, The National Trust and Halfords!

TV includes SherwoodGet Even (BBC/Netflix – 5 EPs), Emmerdale, Happy Valley” and Girlfriends, where he and I first worked together, sharing a scene with Zoë Wanamaker and Miranda Richardson.

He has performed in radio dramas for BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra. His voice can be heard in ads on TV and most independent commercial radio stations worldwide and he’s narrated audio books and documentaries for BBC, ITV, Channel 5 Paramount and History Channel.


LIVE SHOW / LIVESTREAM • THE DETAILS

Date: Friday 4th Feb
Time:  8pm
Venue: The Big Difference, Leicester
Price: £8
Website: Leicester Comedy Festival
LIVESTREAM DETAILS :

 

Sketch Up at Leicester Comedy Festival is being live-streamed by Next Up on Friday 4th February at 8pm. It should also be available to watch on demand afterwards.
To watch, you’ll need a Next Up account, which is either £7 a month with no long-term commitment or £24 for a whole year’s subscription. This gives you access to a bajillion live comedy shows from the UK’s most famous comedians – and us too!
As the artist, we take 50% of the revenue generated by people watching our show.

Anyone who signs up for Sketch Up can watch Rachel’s dark comedy Sex, Lies & Improvisation on Friday 18th February at 9pm for no extra cost! Here’s the Link to sign-up!


IN OTHER NEWS….

I loved my couple of Corrie episodes, Jan 12 & 14, what a treat to work on those famous cobbles. Here’s a clip of my scenes – NOTE ***SPOILER ALERT***

Here’s hoping Corrie ask Gordon back for more! Maybe send them a tweet if you want to see him return?

AND FINALLY….

I’ve walked a lot throughout January – as part of the RUN THE MONTH Fundraiser for PROSTATE CANCER UK.

I covered 52.67 extra miles of brisk walking for the challenge, a double marathon.
My knees didn’t enjoy running, so I walked as fast as my legs would carry me.
And the good news? I raised £300 for Prostate Cancer UK.
My Fundraiser Page is still live, so please take a look if you would like to add a donation. And special thanks to all who have already given.

Right, this blog update, like the month of January, is almost done – Stay safe, stay warm, and hope to see you LIVE in Leicester, or streaming the show online!

D x

I’m on Corrie Next Week! Jan 12 & 14.

Thank you Radio Times for printing Cast Lists for shows!
Great to see my name in the RT again for next week’s episodes of Coronation St, playing Gordon, Wednesday and Friday, 12th and 14th of January.
It was lovely to be on the cobbles again, my 4th time, and to work with the legend that is Barbara Knox, the wonderful Julia Goulding and Sally-Ann Matthews – and the fab crew of course! Amazing lovely place to work.

Coronation St Cast List, Radio Times

The Coronation St Blog and  Weatherfield Gazette have a spoiler previews for the episodes next week, check the Friday episode preview if you wonder what I’m up to.

Otherwise, just set your timers and alarms and tune in next Wednesday and Friday! Jan 12 and 14th. 

I hope the New Year is treating you all well. I started the Prostate Cancer UK “RUN THE MONTH” Challenge to cover a marathon distance over the month of January.
All is going well so far, I’ve done just over 10 miles of brisk walking as of today, Jan 4th, and raised £215 so far.
If you’d like to chip in a few quid, it would be much appreciated, the Fundraiser Page is here. I’m doing it for a mate who was recently diagnosed.

Back from today’s walk…

Keep walking, stay safe – and watch Corrie next week!

Love ya!
Dave x

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. 

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Eve 2021

Greetings from Plague Island this Christmas Eve.
I hope you are well, and stay well, as you celebrate the season with those you hold dear.

Here is my 2021 version of A Visit from St. Nicholas (‘Twas the night before Christmas), by Clement Clarke Moore.

Watch for me on your telly in January… some Coronation St coming up 🙂
And here’s the link to my recent episode of Doctors.

Wishing you love, health and happiness.
And the tories out in 2022.

Dave x

Coming up – DOCTORS, Weds Dec 15, BBC1

Hi folks! I hope you’re keeping safe and well as we head into a higher alert level and possible restrictions as we head towards Christmas. It goes on and on doesn’t it?
I’m glad to have had my Booster, please get yours.

Some good news for me though – I’m going to be on your Telly! So, if you’re stuck working from home again, why not give this a watch this week?

On Wednesday Dec 15th, 1:45pm, I’m on DOCTORS, BBC 1.

A lovely episode titled “Christmas Cheer.” My scenes are with the Legend that is Shaun Prendergast. We also share a scene with Nurse Luca McIntyre (Ross McLaren) & Dr Zara Carmichael  (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh). Directed by the amazing Niall Fraser.
Luca finds himself chasing after a patient who is struggling with his demons at Christmas.” – I may be one of those demons……

Dave and Shaun
Dave with Shaun Prendergast, DOCTORS.

So, pop an E-180 in the VCR and set your timer! Hope you enjoy it!

And special thanks to my agent, CiekaBailey Associates, for making it happen!

WHAT’S NEXT? Coming up in January…

A couple of episodes of CORONATION ST!!!!

Very excited to play a lovely character on the cobbles with some of your favourite Weatherfield residents. More on that after Christmas.

I wish you all peace and love, and may your Christmas dreams come true.

Dave XXX

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! 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

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

 

Past…. Just call me Mr P Fritter!

Greetings of the season to you all!

My apologies for being a bad blogger of late, I haven’t updated in ages, and now, like buses, three will come at once, so keep your eyes peeled and stick your hand out if you want me to stop. Correct change please!

In the spirit of A Christmas Carol, I will break these down into Past, Present and Future. This, as the title suggests, is a post about the past…

As you will know, I had a brief appearance on Coronation St in October – for those who missed it, here it is again….

IMG_4941
That’s me on the telly!

Always nice to have a bit on the telly and funny the reactions you get afterwards.

I have the best Fish & Chips shop in Sheffield just down the road from me, Trafalgar Fisheries….

IMG_5050
Trafalgar Fisheries. Tell them Mr P Fritter sent you!!!!

I love the staff in there, all very friendly, and they serve all the fish and chip shop fare – with the exception of Pea Fritters. Pea What??? you ask? Pea Fritters – Mushy peas rolled into a ball, fried in batter….. Bex introduced me to Pea Fritters – as a vegetarian, fish isn’t an option for her. I asked if they had them the first time I went in and I tease them constantly in the hope they will start cooking them.

So, shortly after my Corrie appearance I went in and the lovely woman behind the counter was very excited to have seen me on her telly, she was doing her hair and her mum shouted “The Pea Fritter man is on!!!!”

You can call me Mr P Fritter any time, just don’t call me late for dinner!

Whilst looking at the past, I would also like to share this photo of my Dad, taken as a publicity shot when he was a furniture store manager.

As Christmas comes around again and we miss him being with us, this reminds us all what a lovely handsome chap he was. And a Father I can only aspire to be. He’ll never be forgotten x

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