Category Archives: Food

Happy New Year!

Acting, Actor, BBC, Christmas, Coronation St, Covid-19, Doctors BBC, Family, Food, friends, ITV, Radio, Sheffield, , , , , , , , , ,

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. 

Lockdown Log, Tiers, and Christmas…

Acting, Actor, Christmas, comedy, Computer, Covid-19, Dogs, Filmmaking, Food, friends, Mockdown, Sheffield, stage, theatre, , , , , , ,

Ey up!

I hope you’re all keeping well during these strange continuing times.

Last year I was in a play called The Sylvia Swing, a touching piece about loss and loneliness. Playwright Melanie Hopkins has adapted the stage version to be performed online, and it went live Friday night.

Take a look at the results below. A lovely piece – and feels apt for these times.

The Lockdown Log…

So, Lockdown 2 is over and we are now in Tier 3 (again) – or T3.2 as I think of it.

I spent Lockdown 1 doing a streaming chat show, Mockdown. The link takes you to a playlist of Mockdown episodes.

I passed the days of Lockdown 2 doing a daily log update with a max running time 2:20, so I could post to Twitter.

I’m keeping up with the Log now we’re in T3.2, hopefully through to Christmas at least. Link below is for the YouTube Playlist for the Nov/Dec videos… Take a look, I walk the dogs, eat breakfast, drink coffee and spend time at the computer…. Exciting times.

Stay safe – and call back again soon!

Dave X

 

The Memory of Fat

Acting, Actor, comedy, Filmmaking, Food, weight loss, , , , ,

New video uploaded today on my weight loss…. I have lost around 80lbs over the last two years, 60 of those in the last year.

To help me remember how good it is to have lost that weight, I still use my old belts on my jeans and trousers. With 14″ less waist to encircle, the spare belt reminds me how well I’ve done.

So if you spot something brown and leathery flopping from my trousers, you know what it is 😜

10 mores pounds to my next milestone…..

Wishing you all the very best!!!!

Acting, Actor, Celebrity, Christmas, comedy, Family, Film, Food, friends, Hendersons Relish, Humour, Music, Parody, The Yorkshire Teabaggers, TV, , , , ,

And so we wind down to Christmas and the final days of 2016. All the presents are bought and wrapped, the festive food and drink is in… time now to have some fun, feasting and family time.

I finished the year with a most wonderful job, a new drama series for BBC, written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Sean Bean. I play one of his brothers, along with amazing actors Steve Garti and Paul Copley.

newspaper snippet….
Bex and Sean Bean at the wrap party
Me working in Hollywood with Sean Bean…. along with Paul Copley and Steve Garti
Sean Bean with art by my mate Tommy Teabag
Dave McClelland, Steve Garti & Paul Copley

So, that’s something to look forward to in 2017!

Also expect new songs and live gigs by The Yorkshire Teabaggers! And check out the digital download of our EP!

Right, that’s it, let the festivities begin! Have a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you the very best for 2017! Be kind to each other – and to yourself.

Why don’t you give your love for Christmas?

D x

An update for July… Vote Corbyn!

Family, Food, Labour Party, Photography, Politics, Sheffield, , , , , , , ,

Hi folks! I hope summer is treating you well.

I don’t usually get political on my blog, it’s mostly work and life stuff. But the post-Brexit craziness and Labour Party internal struggles have led me to profess my support for a Jeremy Corbyn led Labour Party.

I’ve always been a Labour voter. I delivered leaflets with my Grandfather as a lad. But the honesty and passion displayed by Jeremy Corbyn had me signing up as a £3 supporter last year and becoming a full member shortly after Corbyn won.

At a time when we should be hitting the Tories, the Labour Party has chosen to rip itself apart. All I can say is that I hope Corbyn wins the leadership election and that the PLP will stand behind him. We need a Labour Government. I believe Jeremy Corbyn can deliver that.

In other news… we celebrated Bex’s birthday with a couple of nights away in a Yurt in Herefordshire. It was a glorious break, it was very, VERY, hot and we returned rested and refreshed.

Here are a few pics from the trip, along with a few other interesting images. I’m really enjoying Instagram these days and the image filters offered by the Prisma and Tadaa apps.

Until next time, stay hydrated and enjoy the summer!

Dave x

Come and see my shorts!

Acting, Actor, comedy, Food, Hendersons Relish, Humour, Music, Parody, Short Films, , , , , ,

Hi folks!

A big night for me, a couple of my short films get a public screening at the Showroom in Sheffield as part of The South Yorkshire Filmmakers Network Showroom Shorts evening.

Showing tonight will be What The Heck? Henderson’s Relish and The Yorkshire Teabaggers video for LARDY BUM.

It’s going to be a great experience for me to see them on a larger screen with a room full of strangers, so come along if you can, tonight, Tuesday 15 March 21:00, The Showroom Cinema, Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1, Main Bar, Length – 80 mins. And IT’S FREE!

If you can’t be there, then look up my shorts below on the largest screen you can!

Cheers! Dave

Present… Our Xmas Single! Call me Dave Teabag

Acting, Actor, Christmas, Family, Food, friends, Humour, Parody, , , , , , , , ,

In my second post of the Yuletide Season, I’ll share what’s happening in the present…..

I have joined up with a local bloke known as Tommy Teabag, changed my name to Dave Teabag, and we’ve done our first video release especially for Christmas.

Hairy Tale of New York(shire) Title Frame

Going under the name of The Yorkshire Teabaggers, we’ve recorded our take on the Christmas classic, Fairytale of New York, but given it a Yorkshire twist and renamed it Hairy Tale of New York(shire).

We’ve had a huge response on our Facebook Page and on YouTube as well… I share it with you now to spread the love from Yorkshire this Christmas.

All filmed locally at The Railway, Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield, just down the road from The Trafalgar Fisheries mentioned in the last post. Jean serves a fine pint, so get down there!

And finally, as a little Christmas gift to you, I’d like to share something I’ve recorded for family and friends, with a special Christmas wish for my children, Benjamin, Sophie and Joseph.

Merry Christmas to all! And to all, a good night!

love, Dave x

Past…. Just call me Mr P Fritter!

Acting, Actor, Celebrity, Coronation St, Family, Food, , ,

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

IMG_5012

 

Aren’t you Dave McClelland? and a return to Corrie….

Acting, Actor, Celebrity, Coronation St, Food, Hendersons Relish, Horror, King of the Dead, The Zombie King, TV, , , , , , , ,

I had an odd (for me) experience today…. delivering something to a stranger’s house, miles from home and to no-one I knew.

Knocked at the door and heard a youngster tell someone older to go to the door.

A nice teenage lad opened the door and I told him why I was there, making a delivery… and he said “I think I know you from somewhere…”

Okay, so what may he have seen? I start mentally reviewing my career….. Emmerdale, Corrie , an episode of Law & Order: UK that always seems to be on the box… various other telly, some cult sci-fi (Lexx; The Dark Zone). I’ve had a lead in The Zombie King (renamed King Of The Dead for upcoming UK release, 26/10/2015) and nice parts in other films. I’ve done various theatre, but surely nothing recent or local this lad would have seen?

“Aren’t you Dave McClelland?” he continues….

Bloody hell! Why yes I am, how did you know that? (expecting something from the above list or that I’d gone to school with his parents)….

Turns out he, his parents and friends watch my YouTube videos! He particularly mentioned the Henderson’s Relish mockumentary I made, What The Heck,” Episode 2 – Henderson’s Relish.

I was amazed and delighted that I was recognised for something that was all my own work…. You shout out in the wilderness and never know who will hear you… Thank you young man, you made my day!

Here’s the video that made me memorable…. to one person at least….

And some more news……

I was also able to tell this bright lad with superb taste that I am off to shoot an episode of Coronation St next week.

I cannot tell you more or I’d have to kill you 🙂 It will air in October.

Until next time dear reader, be kind and smile!

—–

P.S.  I’d also like to add that there is a superb REAL documentary about Henderson’s Relish, aptly named RELISH. Saw it at the Sheffield DocFest, well worth seeing if you have the chance!

Dire Summer Telly… Let’s BBQ a flock of sheep…..

celebrities, Celebrity, Food, Humour, Summer, TV, , , , , , , , , , ,

Summer TV viewing can be pretty poor at the best of times, but promo ads for 2015 summer ‘entertainment’ aren’t making me want to sit inside watching the telly….. (other than the ‘Summer Fate’ promo for  Emmerdale, but that’s another story..)

Flockstars – celebrities teamed up with a trained sheepdog to “compete in a series of sheepdog trials testing skill, technique and discipline in a bid to win the coveted Flockstars’ shield.” Coveted????? COVETED?????

flockstars
The Flockstars Photo from ITV.com

I admit to watching One Man and his Dog when I was a nipper, but this show leaves me uninspired. I expect they will have to introduce killing and cooking whatever the dogs round-up to keep viewers.

Which brings us neatly to B.B.Q. Champ – “A team of ten contenders from across the country will compete against each other to become the first BBQ Champ and while Myleene Klass hosts the series, Man vs Food star Adam Richman will judge, alongside British chef and restaurateur Mark Blatchford. ”

BBQ Champ hosts. Photo ITV.com
BBQ Champ hosts. Photo ITV.com

I love a BBQ myself… my ancient gas grill rusts happily in the garden awaiting it’s next outing, if the rain ever stops. But watching other people BBQ without the smells, camaraderie and a cold beer? Not for me I’m afraid. Perhaps it’s all a plan to make us turn off the TV and go outdoors.

I imagine this show will resort to Mylene Klass bikini shots like I’m a Celebrity to keep viewers interested.

Or here’s an idea….. maybe they’ll combine the shows and have bikini-clad celebs with sheepdogs catching food, which then they BBQ for Adam Richman to gorge on until he explodes.

Adam Richman eats Myleene Klass….

Now that’s worth watching! Crack open a beer and fire up the barby!