Woolleys Beat

One of the most successful groups to come out of the Eurovision Song Contest, Bucks Fizz had chart success throughout the 80's following that 1981 win in Dublin, and who can forget that skirt ripping performance by Cheryl Baker & Jay Aston? 

Cheryl chats about that win and also being part of Co-Co when they represented the UK three years earlier. Now part of the trio The Fizz (with Mike and Jay), she reveals insights into her successful singing career and the dreadful 1984 motorway crash on tour that almost ended their careers. She shares interesting anecdotes about working with Roy Castle on Record Breakers and with producer Mike Stock and their current album Smoke and Mirrors. 

A podcast for all 80's fans everywhere!

Series: 2 Episode: 12

If you want to know more about Cheryl, visit The Fizz's official website HERE.

Want to listen to more 80's legends?

TONY HADLEY

SHAKIN' STEVENS

LIMAHL

HAZEL O'CONNOR

EDDY GRANT

OWEN PAUL

MARK SHAW (THEN JERICO)

We chat with one of the most instantly recognisable voices in British comedy, actor John Challis aka 'Boycie' of Only Fools & Horses.

John talks about his almost 60 years in acting and reveals interesting anecdotes on many of the biggest shows on TV, including Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass and Benidorm. He speaks candidly of his admiration and respect for the late producer John Sullivan, who first used John in the comedy Citizen Smith before casting him as Aubrey Boyce in Only Fools. John also reveals how a surprise birthday party at his new countryside retreat sparked the producer's interest in using him (and Wigmore Abbey) to be the location of his spin-off The Green Green Grass. 

Talking candidly about co-stars David Jason and reveals who he'd like to see as a guest at the OFAH Conventions as well as some interesting anecdotes about his appearance as Monty in Derren Litten's masterpiece Benidorm. Also in the podcast, he talks about being an icon in Serbia and the making of his DVD 'Boycie in Belgrade', and how he has recently been recording live messages for people during the lockdown.

Find out how to get John's merchandise including his books, DVD and signed autographs by visiting www.john-challis.com

For personal messages from John, visit www.celebvm.com/johnchallis

In the year of the ox (not the cat!), an intimate podcast with one of the UK's finest singer-songwriters Al Stewart...

He reveals how his career began four decades ago when he bought one of his first guitars from Andy Summers (who went on to form The Police). From gigging with Tony Blackburn he began his incredible musical journey by dragging along his acoustic guitar up to London after hearing about Bob Dylan. As compere at the famous Bunjies Coffee House, he met them all - Van Morrison, Roy Harper, Bert Jansch, Cat Stevens, Ralph McTell, and of course Paul Simon (with whom he shared a flat). 

Some great anecdotes revealed from one of the original performers at the first-ever Glastonbury (1970) including the time as a young 17-year-old when he blagged getting backstage at a Beatles concert and getting to play John Lennon's guitar, working with Yoko Ono, and how he gets his inspiration for writing his delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history....songs with real meaning. 

He also reveals for the first time ever whom he would most like to write and record songs together with.

This podcast was recorded live on behalf of The Beat with Ian Woolley at Basingstoke's Anvil Theatre in 2019 with one of the greatest singer-songwriters Britain has ever produced...Al Stewart. 

SEASON 2 EPISODE 9

(For more information about Al Stewart, go to his website HERE )

Want to listen to other's 70's legends?

GORDON GILTRAP

BROTHERHOOD OF MAN'S NICKY STEVENS

SHAKIN' STEVENS

BAY CITY ROLLER'S LES McKEOWN

DEAN FRIEDMAN

JOEY MAOLLAND (BADFINGER)

TONY CHRISTIE

JOHN OTWAY

GILBERT O'SULLIVAN

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

LEO SAYER

Former Radio One and Luxembourg DJ and presenter Mike Read knows all there is to know about radio but there's more to his repertoire than just spinning discs....

In this interview for the Beat, Mike chats about his passion for songwriters and some of the well-known names who have recorded his own songs. As well as writing a book about the British Plaque Trust, of which he helped start, there's new stuff he's written including London's Tin Pan Alley...Denmark Street. 

He also reveals insights on what makes a good broadcaster, Top of the Pops, Pop Quiz and the truth about that Frankie Goes To Hollywood single. 

Want to listen to other DJ's podcasts?

WHISPERING BOB HARRIS

DAVID 'DIDDY' HAMILTON

Roag Best knows everything there is to know about the early days of the Beatles... 

His father was Neil Aspinall, friend and business associate of the band, and whose brother Pete was the original drummer. Now the owner of the Beatles Magical History Museum in Liverpool's famous Mathew Street. It's here we talk to him about where the Beatles began their road to World domination, the history 

He talks about his mother Mona, an ordinary wife and mother who believed in her own destiny when she pawned all her jewelry to bet on a horse to buy the house of her dreams....and won! That house played a huge role in the history of pop music when in 1959 she converted it (along with her resident band The Quarrymen) into the Casbah Coffee Club.  As we know today, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison got their start at The Casbah before moving on to Hamburg and returning to be resident house band in the Cavern but many years later Roag was determined that their left-overs be on show to the public. Eventually securing a place on Mathew Street, the museum is filled with original artefacts. 

In part 1 of our exclusive podcast, Roag tells the story of the Beatles history. A must-listen for every music fan!

To find out more about the author, go to Lesley-Ann Jones official website HERE.

Want to hear other 60's related podcasts?

MARTY WILDE (pt.1)

DION

AL JARDINE (BEACH BOYS)

MARK WYNTER Pt.1

CRAIG DOUGLAS

In a long and successful career, we talk to singer Shakin' Stevens about his early life growing up in Wales, playing Elvis in the West End plus his appearance in Peter Kay's 2005 Comic Relief video 'Is This The Way To Amarillo?' where he reveals that one of his early hits was a contender.

Shaky has the distinction of being the most successful UK singles chart performer of the 1980s, as confirmed by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles and Albums. His success was mirrored throughout Europe and Internationally, earning Platinum and Double Platinum, and Gold awards for his albums and singles.

Now with the launch of a new 19 disc, 266 track complete collection anthology 'Fire In The Blood', 3 cd singles box set released, and the previously unreleased gospel song 'I Need You Now' which will please all his fans, it seems this boy from Cardiff isn't yet ready to take off his blue suede shoes!

Series: 1 Episode: 6

Interested in more 70's and 80's legends?

CHERYL BAKER (BUCKS FIZZ)

LIMAHL (KAJAGOOGOO)

AL STEWART

LES McKEOWN (BAY CITY ROLLERS)

NICKY STEVENS (BROTHERHOOD OF MAN)

TONY HADLEY (Spandau Ballet)

HAZEL O'CONNOR

EDDY GRANT

GORDON GILTRAP

OWEN PAUL

TONY CHRISTIE

PAUL YOUNG

JOHN OTWAY

GILBERT O'SULLIVAN

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

LEO SAYER

MARK SHAW (THEN JERICO)

Now celebrating 50 years in radio, we chat with the broadcasting legend 'Whispering' Bob Harris OBE about his career working with the music greats. Through his time on Radio One and presenting the Old Grey Whistle Test we find out some revealing anecdotes. 

Now with his Whispering Bob's All-Stars, his new 2020 charity single will be helping raise money for Struggling Musicians UK. The song 'Stand By Me' which was first recorded by Ben E.King, is now re-recorded exactly 60 years after it's first release. #woolleysbeat

For more info on this, go to www.bobharris.org/press/whisperingbobs-allstars

Want to listen to other DJ's podcasts?

MIKE READ

DAVID 'DIDDY' HAMILTON

In one of Les's last public interviews, we caught up with Les backstage during his last UK tour and asked him all about the Bay City Rollers...

Yes, earlier in 2020 the Bay City Rollers lead singer Les McKeown was in town (Christchurch in Dorset actually!) and took time out to chat about his band's history, sharing a few funny anecdotes along the way like horse riding with a monkey and reveals an exciting future project that Roller fans will love!!! Complete with backstage door slams and his love of shang-a-langs, Les reveals an insight into his must-see tour.

So don your tartan and listen in to the leader of the most popular boy band to come out of Scotland!

NOTE: Sadly Les passed away suddenly in 2021 and we send our condolences to all his family and friends at this sad time.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

Want to listen to more 70's legends?

SHAKIN' STEVENS

GORDON GILTRAP

NICKY STEVENS (Brotherhood of Man)

AL STEWART

DEAN FRIEDMAN

JOEY MOLLAND (Badfinger)

TONY CHRISTIE

JOHN OTWAY

GILBERT O'SULLIVAN

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

LEO SAYER

We will shortly be chatting with stars of the music and small screen in Woolleys Beat podcasts

Chatting with music biographer Lesley-Ann Jones on her new book Who Killed John Lennon? on the life of the Beatle from his early days and life with the band. Forty years after his untimely death which shocked the World, Lesley-Ann also reveals what inspired her to write the book in the first place and the many people in John's life she interviewed to get her story of what made him the cracked genius he was. Published to coincide with Lennon's 8oth birthday, the book is out now by John Blake Publishing (an imprint of Bonner Books UK) and is an essential read for any Beatles fan. 

For more information on the author, go to her official website HERE

Want to listen to more 60's related podcasts?

MARTY WILDE

ROAG BEST TALKS EARLY BEATLES

DION

Want to hear more author-related podcasts?

⁠CHRIS GREGORY⁠ on Bob Dylan

SUZAN HOLDER on Shake It Up Beverley