As promised I got my picture with one of this countries most treasured celebs - HURRAH!!!
Brian had plenty to chat about on arrival to our studio and never fails to impress with his gun ho attitude. He really is larger than life and a fountain of fascinating yarns.
This week he has a hot tip for anybody out there that has a thing for the film War and Peace. Brian says to forget all other versions and get on board with the Russian epic. On wandering over to our studio he took a quick pit stop at a shop on our corner and to his booming delight he found not one but two copies of the film he has been seeking for quite a while. Glad coming to A1 steered you on such a successful path Brian!
In relating Tolstoy's complex tale of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, Director Sergei Bondarchuk made some of the most graphic battle scenes ever seen, one of which runs nearly 45 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of Records, its cast of 120,000 people is a record.
Brian, much to our delight, re-enacted one of the war scenes, and got overly enthusiastic explaining that the sight of so many real soviet soldiers marching forth en masse, with no need for CGI special effects, is phenomenal. He also says that the acting is out of this world. Well you can't get a better recommendation than Blessed himself - Check it Out People.
Boisterous Brit Brian Blessed is known for his hearty, king-sized portrayals on film and TV. A giant of a man accompanied by an eloquent wit and booming, operatic voice. At a young age he displayed an acute talent for acting in school productions, but also had a penchant for boxing.
Luckily for us the boxing was taken out with one swift blow, and Brian, who managed to bag a spot at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic, was off and running. He has lent his musical talents to several productions - from playing Old Deuteronomy in Cats to The Baron in the more recent Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In the 1970s he began appearing more and more on-camera with both classical and contemporary performances.
What you may not realise is that Simon is the voice of Aleksandr the Meerkat, star of the series of ads for comparethemarket.com. His voice has helped increase hits on the site by 80 per cent since January. Nice work if you can get it – SIMPLES!
Boisterous Brit Brian Blessed is known for his hearty, king-sized portrayals on film and TV. A giant of a man accompanied by an eloquent wit and booming, operatic voice. At a young age he displayed an acute talent for acting in school productions, but also had a penchant for boxing.
Luckily for us the boxing was taken out with one swift blow, and Brian, who managed to bag a spot at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic, was off and running. He has lent his musical talents to several productions - from playing Old Deuteronomy in Cats to The Baron in the more recent Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In the 1970s he began appearing more and more on-camera with both classical and contemporary performances.
In costumed TV movies he has played Porthos in The Three Musketeers and The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers, Augustus in I Claudius, and Long John Silver in Treasure Island. He has also been a part of various TV re-enactments, including Catherine the Great, Lady Chatterley, The Hound of the Baskervilles and Kidnapped. On film he's appeared in robust support in several William Shakespeare adaptations including Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet and Macbeth. More recently he appeared in Oliver Stone's epic-scale Alexander and in Kenneth Branagh's film version of Shakespeare's As you Like it.
One of his famous, 'clean', quotes relates to Shakespeare: "The blue planet has had its author. It would be greedy to want another."
In much the same way I feel we have had the Booming Voice of the 20th Century and it would be greedy to hanker after another. Gawd Bless Blessed.
But not all is plain sailing for our Brian.
As a child he and his friends used to play at Flash Gordon, inspired by the Buster Crabbe TV serials. In these childhood games Brian would always play Vultan, leader of the Hawkmen. In the 1980 film Flash Gordon he played the same role as he had in childhood with his now infamous cry of “Gordon’s Alive”.
It seems to this day the film strikes a special chord into the heart of the big man and so it was that Brian Blessed allegedly 'throttled' a Savoy diner and stormed out of his speaking engagement after being told Flash Gordon was 'c**p'.
Don’t mess with the Vultan seems to be the message here and let’s be honest, Blessed is known for his straight talking. When asked whether he was looking forward to co-starring with Pamela Anderson in the pantomime Aladdin last year, he replied: ‘Pamela ****ing Anderson? I wouldn’t touch her with yours. I’ve starred alongside Sophia Loren.’
And that just about sums up this meaty, mouthy, mountain explorer who’s best friend is Patrick Stewart and thinks Ben Kingsley is a ....well I can’t repeat that particular fact I’m afraid!
A very tanned and sickeningly healthy looking Simon Greenall visited us at VOX Towers this week.
Comedy actor Simon, is probably best known for starring as Alan Partridge's Geordie friend Michael in I’m Alan Partridge.
Greenall, played a handyman working in Partridge's roadside hotel in series one and as the server in the local petrol station in the second. Alan takes a liking to Michael even though he..... canny understand a word he says like!
Simon has appeared in a wide variety of roles in television, film, radio and the theatre, and is probably best known, not only for his role as Michael, but also as the voice of headmaster Iqbal in Bromwell High.
He has also appeared in the TV series The Bill, Holby City,Harry Enfield and Chums, Monkey Dust (voice only), People Like Us, Doc Martin, and Time Gentlemen Please. His film credits include Wimbledon. He wrote for and appeared in Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show. He has also contributed his voice to the video games Dragon Quest VIII and Tomb Raider II, among several others.
In much the same way I feel we have had the Booming Voice of the 20th Century and it would be greedy to hanker after another. Gawd Bless Blessed.
But not all is plain sailing for our Brian.
As a child he and his friends used to play at Flash Gordon, inspired by the Buster Crabbe TV serials. In these childhood games Brian would always play Vultan, leader of the Hawkmen. In the 1980 film Flash Gordon he played the same role as he had in childhood with his now infamous cry of “Gordon’s Alive”.
It seems to this day the film strikes a special chord into the heart of the big man and so it was that Brian Blessed allegedly 'throttled' a Savoy diner and stormed out of his speaking engagement after being told Flash Gordon was 'c**p'.
Don’t mess with the Vultan seems to be the message here and let’s be honest, Blessed is known for his straight talking. When asked whether he was looking forward to co-starring with Pamela Anderson in the pantomime Aladdin last year, he replied: ‘Pamela ****ing Anderson? I wouldn’t touch her with yours. I’ve starred alongside Sophia Loren.’
And that just about sums up this meaty, mouthy, mountain explorer who’s best friend is Patrick Stewart and thinks Ben Kingsley is a ....well I can’t repeat that particular fact I’m afraid!
A very tanned and sickeningly healthy looking Simon Greenall visited us at VOX Towers this week.
Comedy actor Simon, is probably best known for starring as Alan Partridge's Geordie friend Michael in I’m Alan Partridge.
Greenall, played a handyman working in Partridge's roadside hotel in series one and as the server in the local petrol station in the second. Alan takes a liking to Michael even though he..... canny understand a word he says like!
Simon has appeared in a wide variety of roles in television, film, radio and the theatre, and is probably best known, not only for his role as Michael, but also as the voice of headmaster Iqbal in Bromwell High.
He has also appeared in the TV series The Bill, Holby City,Harry Enfield and Chums, Monkey Dust (voice only), People Like Us, Doc Martin, and Time Gentlemen Please. His film credits include Wimbledon. He wrote for and appeared in Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show. He has also contributed his voice to the video games Dragon Quest VIII and Tomb Raider II, among several others.
What you may not realise is that Simon is the voice of Aleksandr the Meerkat, star of the series of ads for comparethemarket.com. His voice has helped increase hits on the site by 80 per cent since January. Nice work if you can get it – SIMPLES!
Next bounding her way up the stairs was the vivacious Natalie Casey. She is as bouncy and lively as her barnet of brunette curls. She wasn’t shy about coming forward and started throwing rude boy shapes around the studio when we asked for a picture. She is a live wire and let there be no mistaking!
Natalie Casey is an English actress, television presenter and singer. She is best known for her long running roles in the TV series Hollyoaks and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. She has also appeared on stage and worked as a television presenter for MTV, Channel 4 and the BBC.
At the age of three her single "Chick Chick Chicken" reached number 72 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984. This made her the youngest person ever to have a recording in the UK chart. At this time, she appeared on the BBC's Saturday Superstore and asked Boy George to take her to the toilet. Cheeky little Manchester tyke.
In the summer of 2007, Casey played "Serena Katz" in a hit run of the musical, Fame, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and in February 2008 she began playing the role "Julia" in the pre-West End UK tour of The Wedding Singer. Her other stage credits include The Vagina Monologues, Hobson's Choice (Watermill Theatre opposite her sister Anna-Jane Casey),Flint Street Nativity, Well at the Trafalgar Studios, and the Apollo Theatre, opposite Sarah Miles and most recently "Ado Annie" in Oklahoma! at the Chichester Festival Theatre where the Telegraph reviewed her performance as a wonderfully skittish, perkily contrary Ado Annie who shines brightest and best. I guess our Natalie has the X Factor!
Natalie Casey is an English actress, television presenter and singer. She is best known for her long running roles in the TV series Hollyoaks and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. She has also appeared on stage and worked as a television presenter for MTV, Channel 4 and the BBC.
At the age of three her single "Chick Chick Chicken" reached number 72 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984. This made her the youngest person ever to have a recording in the UK chart. At this time, she appeared on the BBC's Saturday Superstore and asked Boy George to take her to the toilet. Cheeky little Manchester tyke.
In the summer of 2007, Casey played "Serena Katz" in a hit run of the musical, Fame, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and in February 2008 she began playing the role "Julia" in the pre-West End UK tour of The Wedding Singer. Her other stage credits include The Vagina Monologues, Hobson's Choice (Watermill Theatre opposite her sister Anna-Jane Casey),Flint Street Nativity, Well at the Trafalgar Studios, and the Apollo Theatre, opposite Sarah Miles and most recently "Ado Annie" in Oklahoma! at the Chichester Festival Theatre where the Telegraph reviewed her performance as a wonderfully skittish, perkily contrary Ado Annie who shines brightest and best. I guess our Natalie has the X Factor!
Natalie , is sometimes more commonly known as 'Chatty Natty', and boy can we see why, but she was lost for words as Huey Morgan, front man for the Fun Lovin' Criminals, pounced on her unannounced with a long lingering kiss in the middle of an interview on air.
Never fear for Natalie was soon back up on her MTV feet brandishing a Cheshire sized grin and completing the interview with much-a-gusto and fresh fire in her loins – OO ER!
Never fear for Natalie was soon back up on her MTV feet brandishing a Cheshire sized grin and completing the interview with much-a-gusto and fresh fire in her loins – OO ER!
SOHO/LONDON NEWS
SANYO PULL THE PLUG AND CHANGE LONDONS SKYLINE FOREVER!!!!
SANYO PULL THE PLUG AND CHANGE LONDONS SKYLINE FOREVER!!!!
Yes it is a sad day folks, Piccadilly Circus is to get a new advertiser on its famous brightly-lit hoardings after Sanyo decided to quit.
Land Securities, are now on the look out for a big name brand to fill the gap soon to be left by the Japanese electronics giant.
Any would-be buyer is likely to have to shell out tens of millions a year to secure the spot, especially as top London tourists sites are soon likely to get more exposure than usual thanks to the London Olympics in 2012.
"This really is a very rare opportunity for a brand to become part of the London landscape," said Tim Allibone, asset manager for the London Portfolio at Land Securities.
Sanyo has been one of the main brand names on Piccadilly Circus since 1978. It is the last of the major advertisers at the Circus to stay loyal to neon as other brands have switched to LED in recent years.
Sanyo has been one of the main brand names on Piccadilly Circus since 1978. It is the last of the major advertisers at the Circus to stay loyal to neon as other brands have switched to LED in recent years.
So long San Friend, It will be strange not to see those famous four letters as a shining beacon but life and advertising opportunity must go on and in the words of the one and only ‘Vultan’ Blessed – who wants to live forever – DIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Till next week intrepid A1 Blog followers.
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