This Monday morning we had the loveable cheeky rogue Arthur Smith in. The London born alternative writer describes himself as a “semi-professional” comedian. He currently resides in Balham characterizing himself as the "Night Mayor of Balham — I don't do days". Well he made an exception for us Monday morning by making it in bang on time for his 10am session at VOX Towers. Always charming, Arthur is never one to mince his words and will often ask us ‘where’s the sh****r’ on arrival to the studio. Good to have you back Arthur!
This Sunday saw a momentous occasion in the A1 calendar as our very own Dame Joan Walker celebrated a significant birthday. ‘Our Joan’ is a versatile, exciting actress with an excellent ear for accents including her native Derbyshire. She has extensive TV, theatre and musical credits including her recent turn as Tanya in “Mamma Mia!”
This lovely warm voice pitched to precision with soft and sultry tones can be heard on many a jaunt including the narration of audiobooks and audiodescriptions for film. Her Audioguides include the Louvre; Monet; Picasso Museum and the Palace of Westminster.
But her talent doesn’t end there for she is making sure that the next generation know everything from their Acute Angles to their Significant Figures – (both of which Joan possesses I may add). We think she is utterly marvellous and always brings a ray of sunshine to the studio whenever she’s in so here’s to you, Joanie, may your mathematic and pro dramatics remain and prosper – HOORAH!!!
Towards the end of the last week Mr Nove took his turn in the booth and it may mean that you will be hearing his resonant tones echoing from the walls of many a bingo hall. Yes that’s right ladies and gentlemen Charles who can sometimes be heard voicing the National Lottery balls for BBC 1 will now scale new and heady heights announcing the Bingo numbers in clubs around the country. How does it go? “Two Fat Ladies! Oh, I beg your pardon, madam….”
This week saw our Cambridge boy Mr Trevor Nichols voicing for a motor trading conference. He had to voice a medley of negative and positive one liners in a range of accents which he pulled off in his own signature style – Good Work Trev!
One of our ‘top notch and very Scotch’ FVO’s Miss Jane MacFarlane has just completed the voice over for a six episode documentary ‘Love, Life and Prison’. This thought-provoking new series examines how relationships and family life are affected when a loved one is sent down. Dark, disturbing stuff which Jane sympathetically delivers in her natural warm tones – Tough text well read Jane.
This coming Friday sees the brief departure of our A1 VOX captain Mr Charles Nove who will be jumping ship and landing on the elegant and luxurious decks of Cunard’s liner ‘The Queen Victoria’.
Charles will be joining his esteemed friend and colleague, BBC Radio 2 host and television presenter Sir Terry Wogan. Together they will be hitting the high seas once more with Terry’s band of beloved TOGs (that's Terry's old geezers and gals to us!) to raise money for U.K. charity Children in Need.
Sailing the Mediterranean from Southampton onboard Queen Victoria for the second time, Terry and his gang will hold receptions and functions, a pub quiz and lots of other fundraising events. Charles will be the subject of a no-holds-barred Audience With session in the ship’s theatre, so who knows what secrets may be revealed. We will update you on the entire goings on and any inside gossip we are permitted to divulge as Charles undertakes this arduous voyage. Watch this space, people.
You will all be pleased to know that Joanna Lumley left VOX Towers exactly as she arrived – intact and untouched! She was off to host a charity bash later that day and certainly looked the ticket. I managed to get a picture of her before she left the studio and have to point out that I’m sporting gym hair which did nothing for me as I posed alongside Joanna who is infinitely more comfortable in front of a camera lens than me.
A true professional and downright nice person to boot she had us giggling throughout her visit. Her recent exploits have seen her involved within the political world, charity work and travel documentaries but we will always have a soft spot for her as alter ego Patsy who would have probably lapped up any male attention and drawled ‘Sin is in, Sweetie’ – Love it.
Soho News:
The last few days have seen London transformed into an urban jungle with 250 life-size baby elephants standing on street corners, parks and buildings around the capital. No…….. it isn’t David Attenborough gone mad in an African revival of ‘Jurassic Park’ but a very special one off art expo.
Us folk at A1 were lucky enough to have not one but two of the colourful fella's in our neighbouring Soho Square.
Each elephant is a unique creation by an artist, fashion designer, organisation or celebrity including Alice Temperley, Dian von Furstenberg, Matthew Williamson and lots more. ‘The Elephant Parade’ has been called London’s biggest outdoor art event on record. Not only is it creative but it’s for a good cause: Conservation of the Asian Elephant.
The jungle guys will be with us in the city until the end of July when they will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s. Check them out – you can’t help but smile when you come across one of these gorgeous creatures loitering in some obscure London location.
So therein ends another whirlwind weekly tour of A1 VOX. Tune in next week to hear more tales of Soho excitement and of course all news from Charles’ tour on the Queen Vic – Till then……………Anchors Aweigh!
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