Behind the Scenes with Colin Edmonds

In this 2-hour Special Edition, former ITV Controller of Entertainment Mark Wells, along with actress, comedy writer and performer Jayne Tunnicliffe share their personal Behind the Scenes memories of one of Britain’s greatest entertainers and biggest personalities – a true Man of the People and comic genius - Paul O’Grady.

Mark, the Executive Producer who oversaw Paul’s golden entertainment years at ITV and Jayne, a close friend from those early days of Lily Savage who worked extensively with the great man, recall their remarkable times on stage and screen with the nation’s best-loved and now, sadly, much missed headliners.

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Colin Edmonds socials

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Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

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Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

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This time on Behind the Scenes our guest is one of British television’s most experienced Executive Producers who, for the last 3 decades, has overseen the nation’s best-loved and longest-running intellectual quiz programme University Challenge along with, more recently, Channel 4’s perennially popular word challenge hit, Countdown. Peter began his career on glitzy light entertainment at the BBC and Granada starring Cilla Black, Lily Savage and Bob Monkhouse. Along the way he was also involved in putting together Coronation Street Anniversary Specials and that spectacular singing talent series Stars In Their Eyes. Peter’s fascinating, laid back and dryly hilarious memories are a listening must.

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS⁠⁠⁠

Colin Edmonds socials

⁠⁠⁠Facebook: colin.edmonds.73⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram: colinedmondsssm⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/⁠⁠⁠

Listen to all episodes of the podcast available on;

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠Amazon Music⁠

⁠Audible⁠

⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

BOOKS

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

⁠⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠⁠

⁠⁠Available at Amazon⁠⁠

⁠⁠Available on Audible⁠⁠

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

⁠⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠⁠

⁠⁠Available at Amazon⁠⁠

⁠⁠Available on Audible⁠⁠

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

⁠⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠⁠

⁠⁠Available at Amazon

For decades Paul’s been at the helm of the U.K.’s sharpest, long-running comedy shows “Live at the Apollo” and “Have I Got News For You?”. And if you look at the credits at the end of giant specials with Lee Mack, Dara O'Briain, Jason Manford, John Bishop, Frank Skinner and Russell Brand – you’ll see this gentleman has worked with every major comic of the past 30 years. Prepare to be surprised and uplifted when you listen to the versatile, spiritual Paul Wheeler.

http://paulpremnadama.com/

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Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS⁠⁠

Colin Edmonds socials

⁠⁠Facebook: colin.edmonds.73⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram: colinedmondsssm⁠⁠

⁠⁠Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM⁠⁠

⁠⁠Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/⁠⁠

Listen to all episodes of the podcast available on;

Spotify

Amazon Music

Audible

Apple Podcasts

BOOKS

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠

⁠Available at Amazon⁠

⁠Available on Audible⁠

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠

⁠Available at Amazon⁠

⁠Available on Audible⁠

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

⁠Available at Caffeine Nights⁠

⁠Available at Amazon

This time we go Behind the Scenes with a television Floor Manager turned Production Manager Keith Lascelles, who shares his recollections of a 40-year non-stop career at ATV, BBC and LWT working on innumerable Royal Variety Performances along with An Audience With…, Tiswas, Bullseye, Spitting Image and The Golden Shot.  He also tells how his close friendship with soap superstar and national favorite Noele Gordon was so much more than we see in the new 3-part series ITVX drama “Nolly”.

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music was composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

In mid-November of 2020 we lost one of the best-loved, most versatile and talented entertainers the U.K. has ever produced – Des O’Connor.

Des was one of the biggest names in British show business. With his variety and quiz series and ratings-topping chat shows, he was a permanent face on British television screens for more than 50 years. As a solo artiste, Des gave more than a thousand performances at The London Palladium. As a singer, he released 36 albums and scored 2 number-one hits.

His final long-running hit entertainment series “Today with Des & Mel” redefined lunchtime TV. He even hosted the great British television quiz show “Countdown”. During that time, the one man who knew Des best was his great friend and personal assistant Nick Fox. Now, for the first time and to mark the second anniversary of Des’s passing, in this specially extended Celebration Edition of Behind the Scenes, Nick shares with us his happy memories of travelling the world and working closely in theatres and TV studios with a true all-round master of entertainment and one of the greatest names in British show business – Des O’Connor CBE!

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

This time we go Behind the Scenes with the fearless, highly talented singer Gilly Hamilton, whose career spanned 3 decades and encompassed the halcyon days of show business and variety. As a key member of the pop-music close-harmony trio The Kaye Sisters she appeared alongside most of the major entertainment stars of the 1970s through to the 1990s. Supporting Max Bygraves, the Kayes appeared in the 1978 Royal Variety, shared a long-running residency in London’s West End and performed regularly on many of Max’s top-rated television series

With recollections of ATV’s live ‘Saturday Variety’ with Larry Grayson, not forgetting Bernard Manning on Granada’s ‘The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club’, plus the travails of working cabaret all across Britain and the Middle East, Gilly’s career is a remarkable eye-witness account of what it was really like to be treading the boards during the Golden Age of entertainment. 

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Taking us Behind the Scenes this time is one of the most experienced, versatile and senior international sports executives in television. For the past 13 years he has held various senior roles at IMG Productions the globe’s leading sports and events company and he now is their advisor on special projects.

Beginning his career at the BBC, he rose to the role of Senior Producer on Grandstand, Sportsnight and Match of the Day, while also covering every major sporting occasion including Grand Nationals, football, athletics and rugby World Cups, along with Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Even if you have but a passing interest in sport you’ll still find this gentleman’s remarkable career story is as fascinating as it is phenomenal.   

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

This time on Behind the Scenes we meet one of the most experienced and versatile Script Supervisors in British television, the legendary Annie McDougall. In a non-stop career at the top that has spanned more than 40 years, she has worked on quiz, entertainment, variety, game and air shows, not to mention TVam. But I just have. Nowadays, Annie’s the go-to Script Supervisor for any major live show, Royal event or State occasion. She’s just finished working on the Commonwealth Games and right now she’s gearing up for her 12 series of the biggest, most glamorous show on British television - Strictly Come Dancing.

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Our guest this time is Kathryn Randall (latterly Edmonds) who, for the past 40 years, was one of television’s busiest Vision Mixers, specialising in the U.K.’s most popular music and light entertainment shows. At the BBC she was trained to cover all manner of genres: sport, news programmes, drama, sitcoms and children’s output along with national occasions and world-wide events including the funeral of Princess Diana. For the past 10 years she has also been training the next generation of Vision Mixers at the internationally renowned NFTS The National Film and Television School.

And that wasn’t enough, before moving to TV, she was also the youngest female producer in BBC Radio Entertainment, rubbing shoulders with Douglas Adams, Griff Rhys Jones, Jimmy Mulville and Alan Nixon.

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Our Behind the Scenes guest this time is a composer, pianist and music director who has enjoyed a 40 year award winning career working with the most famous performers and conducting some of the biggest orchestras in the world.

Mike Dixon has helped launch many of the great modern productions in the West End and on Broadway. He is the go-to-guy for Dame Shirley Bassey, Lionel Richie, Sir Tom Jones, in fact it’s probably quicker to list those who don't have him on speed dial. He’s also worked with a raft of high-profile comic names including Bradley Walsh, Dirk Maggs, Joe Pasquale, Ben Elton and Paul O’Grady.

On TV he regularly appears in front of a global audience of billions and he’s just written his eagerly awaited autobiography, a fascinating look behind the scenes of the music industry, published on 28 June 2022, “Turn Around and Take a Bow!”.

https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/autobiography/turn-around-and-take-a-bow-hb/

https://www.mikedixonmusic.com/

Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Theme music composed by John Orchard and arranged by Ian English

Support the podcast by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/BEHINDTHESCENESWITHCOLINEDMONDS

Facebook: colin.edmonds.73

Instagram: colinedmondsssm

Twitter:@ColinEdmondsSSM

Website: https://www.steamsmokeandmirrors.com/

Buy Steam, Smoke and Mirrors

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Lazarus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 2

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon

Available on Audible

Buy The Nostradamus Curiosity: Steam, Smoke and Mirrors 3

Available at Caffeine Nights

Available at Amazon