Category Archives: Doctors BBC

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. 

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

National Poetry Day, Oct 7 2021

Hi folks!!!

Long time no update, I can only apologise. Nothing too exciting has happened… then the last few weeks got busy, so there’s now stuff to share.

Today, Oct 7th, is NATIONAL POETRY DAY. And I am delighted to share a short film contribution that I was part of.

Simon James is a talented writer, director, and producer, and has released three short films for National Poetry Day, under the title Rhyme Down the Lens.

My Episode is titled Well-Behaved Webcam Girl.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Simon says… (on this page link)

“Each film is its own dramatic poem, performed by one talented actor down the camera lens. RDTL has a working-class flavour – poetry for anybody to enjoy. (I say ‘anybody’, but probably not kids – you’ve been warned…)

There are just two rules for a Rhyme Down the Lens production: It must rhyme, and it must be delivered (you guessed it), down the lens. This last point puts the viewer right in the middle of the action, being spoken to directly by the film’s lead. Whether they’re filling the shoes of a passenger on a bus, or taking the role of an online sex worker, the viewer is very much playing a character themselves. Tearing down the fourth wall brick by brick.

I hope Rhyme Down the Lens proves that anybody can follow (and enjoy) a poem. The amount of times you hear people say ‘I just don’t get poetry’… I’m not going to lie, a little part of me dies every time. If RDTL can change one person’s mind on this, I may have just written/directed something worthwhile…”

So, I hope you enjoy my piece, and the whole series, it’s great to be part of something that’s a very different sort of role for me.
Take a look at this  LINK TO ALL THREE EPISODES

OTHER NEWS…

I’m delighted to have worked on two TV projects over the last month – a daytime soap (a Christmas week episode), and 2 episodes of a new series to be released next year.
More on those next time.

Right then, that’s all for now. Remember, Covid is not over, despite our government moving on, so please stay safe.

Dave X

I’m in Doctors, BBC1 Nov 25th

Coming to your Telly next Monday….. I’m in Doctors, BBC1 1:45. Had a super time shooting this, it’s a bit of different role for me. Can’t wait to see it.

If you can’t see it live, or record to your TV device, you can catch up afterwards here….

Coming up…. some more telly to air in January. Can’t wait 🙂

And finally….Remember to vote.
Please, I beg, VOTE LABOUR! Check out that Manifesto

Dave x

On Stage and Screen

Hi folks! November already!
Time flies….

STAGE

Been a busy few weeks. This past weekend I was on stage at York Theatre Royal in the TakeOver Festival with the lovely short play, THE SYLVIA SWING, written by Melanie Hopkins. If you’d like to see it, the video is below…


In October, I returned as Undertaker Albert Holdings in the play TRUMPET, based on the novel by Jackie Kay. Directed by Amanda Huxtable and produced by Shirley Harris at Vanitas Arts.

We had an R&D session on TRUMPET earlier in the year. The latest session was Digital Testing; adding the multimedia layers that bring the show to life. Plans are for a full production next year.


SCREEN

Coming up on November 25th in your living room – I will be in DOCTORS on BBC1. Smashing part I filmed a couple of months ago. I can’t wait to see it 🙂


So kids, that’s it for this update, stay warm and safe, vote wisely, VOTE LABOUR, and I’ll be back soon

Dave

VOTE LABOUR 2019!

 

 

THIS IS MIDNIGHT – Audiobook

Hi folks!

I hope your summer is treating you well.
I’m having fun – family visits, BBQ’s…

And some interesting work projects…

AUDIOBOOK

I have a new Audiobook available on Audible.
Perfect Bedtime listening -if you enjoy a spooky short story 

Check it out here… https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B07V9J972N/…

THIS IS MIDNIGHT Stories, by Bernard Taylor. The complete short fiction of a master of modern horror fiction. The 13 stories collected here represent the complete short fiction of Bernard Taylor, one of the best-selling horror authors of the 1970s and 80s, author of The Godsend and Mother’s Boys, both adapted for film, and Sweetheart, Sweetheart, hailed by Charles L. Grant as the finest ghost story of all time. In these tales, which often feature an unexpectedly cruel or bizarre twist, Taylor offers a clever mixture of horror and black humor that will delight fans of the genre.

TV

I’ve also had a great visit to Birmingham to shoot an episode of DOCTORS.
Lot’s of fun and a very fast shoot. They really turn it around fast there.
Due to air in November. More details closer to the airdate.

RADIO

And I’ve just recorded some dramatised segments for a BBC Radio 4 Documentary on the PETERLOO MASSACRE. Airs in August.

So, lot’s of ways to see or hear me.
Stay tuned, more is in the pipeline 🙂

Dave x