CREEPING DEATH

As requested, readers of this site have contributed stories featuring supernatural phenomena. 60 year old Jeff Anderson from Washington, County Durham, talked of his experiences.

The paranormal equates to something or some activity that is unknown now but is likely to be known and possibly understood in the future. So, a good example of paranormal activity would include ghost sightings and other spiritual activity of that nature.

It’s the stuff of sixth sense, which we are all aware of in situations when somebody is staring at us from behind, we look around and sure enough someone is. And vice-versa when we stare at someone suddenly they become aware of our stare.

I have over the last few years been equally fortunate and unfortunate to have been exposed to very real paranormal activity.

It was the very height of the Covid-19 pandemic I had been to Lidl one Saturday morning, nothing unusual there. Bonnie my German Shepherd was eagerly awaiting my return to the car. No sooner had I done so when quite inexplicably the car radio started playing and this despite being most definitely being switched off. I had the presence of mind to video the occurrence for future reference.

It sounded like Metallica playing but I wasn’t sure of the song. It turned out to be Creeping Death. I learned later it’s a song about the Biblical pass over featuring the Angel of Death. Creepy right?

On my weekly visit to my elderly parents house I explained to them the car radio occurrence and showed them the video I made that day. I felt someone somewhere was trying to communicate something.

In an instant a powerful gust of wind blew in through the upstairs front bedroom window, it came down the stairs twisting and turning and blew into the living room with such force that it actually blasted open the living room doors. It then turned back on itself and blew out of a small living room window. I mentioned it to my parents but they didn’t want to discuss it.

Unfortunately, my mother suffered a stroke a few year later. One afternoon I visited her in hospital with my Auntie. My mother occupied a room with three other stroke patients. There were just the six of us in the room on this occasion with no medical staff in attendance.

Of the four stroke patients three were asleep including my mam. The other patient was awake lying on her back, staring at the ceiling and occasionally crying out for her mother every few minutes or so, even though she was in her 70s herself. She was unaware of anything going on around her due to a possible dementia diagnosis.

The next thing it started raining mixed with hail and with such force and intensity I thought the window nearest to her might be blown in. After a short while things settled down.

However, the woman in the bed nearest the window was like someone possessed, she no longer cried out for her mother and was now fully aware. She turned her head and looked directly at me in the eye, diverting her gaze away from the ceiling. She even attempted to get out of bed at one point and come over to me. It was then I decided it was a goodtime to leave.

Sadly, my mother died a few months later. Two nights before her funeral I had left my bedroom window open only to be awoken at 3am by a strong gust of wind, so powerful it took every ounce of my physical strength to slam the window shut. Before I managed to close it the wind blasted me directly in the face, at which point an image of mother’s face unexpectedly appeared in my mind’s eye.

More revelations of supernatural phenomena will feature on this site. If you want to share your experience don’t hesitate to get in touch.

October 2025

SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD

As requested, readers of this site have contributed stories featuring supernatural phenomena. Actor and theatre producer Alison Stanley talked of her experiences. Featured in this story is a medieval castle in Chillingham, Northumberland which is reported to be one of the UK’s most haunted castles.

In the past I’ve been a celebrant at funerals and enjoy doing it. I’ve always been interested in spiritualism. I believe in a next life. We’ve talked about what happens when you die and we’ve mentioned ghosts, spirituality and the like people believe different things explained Alison.

Some say when you die you just die and there is no afterlife. But how do they know for sure? And by the laws of science we are a ball of energy and by those laws it doesn’t die so where does that energy go? The physical body dies and is buried or cremated but what happens to the energy? It’s an interesting subject.

A few years ago we went to Chillingham Castle on a day trip. There was me, my mother, my youngest son and my step dad. It was a grey dark day lashing down with rain. We were driving along the country roads getting near the castle. We turned a corner and saw an old woman in a red coat standing at the side of the road. She wasn’t old as somebody from the 1800s but there was something about her that didn’t look right. We all remarked about this woman who was in the middle of nowhere really.

I looked in my rear view mirror and she was standing looking at the car. Where did she come from as there were no houses around maybe she has dementia? I just wasn’t sure I couldn’t put my finger on it. What really was wrong was she didn’t look wet she was bone dry. But it was lashing down?

We get in to Chillingham Castle and looked at all the artefacts and stuff it’s quite cluttered. On one of the clothes dummies was a lady with a red coat and she had a hat on. It was from one of the women who had worked there as a housekeeper. I swear it was the same coat we had seen.

Another time was 10 years ago. We were sitting in a bar called the Pig & Whistle in Hollywood which is a very theatrical, grand sort of place. I went through a red velvet curtain to the toilet downstairs and after four steps I couldn’t go any further, I stopped because I froze and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. There was no way I could go any further down the stairs.

I came straight back up and told my husband we’re going to another bar for a drink because there is no way on God’s earth I’m going to the toilet here. Later we found out there had been a fire there and there was strong spiritual activity in the pub.

I think if someone is in the next life and they visit you I think it’s a bit of an honour really. They might have plenty to do and they have taken time out of their day to see you – so yes, it’s an honour.

More revelations of supernatural phenomena will feature on this site. If you want to share your experience don’t hesitate to get in touch.

October 2025

CLASS ACT in conversation with Newcastle actor, writer & theatre producer Leah Bell

We’re sitting in the Centurion bar at Newcastle’s Central Station where I first met Leah back in 2021 where she talked about learning her craft in North East workingmen’s clubs from the age of 15, working with Bobby Thompson, touring with Ken Dodd in the ‘70s and appearing in panto with David Jason.

Now, after nearly 60 years in the business I was interested to find out just how did you survive in the arts?

This industry has always been tough for working class. I do promotion and acting, I’ve been writing with Alison (Stanley who featured in previous post) I’m busy all the time. When you’ve asked me is there weeks when I have nothing on, well no, I’m always busy.

Like when I started a production company in Jersey about 30 year ago. We would do plays or musicals but if we went on tour I would always play a role in it keeping an eye on things making sure there were no issues. You take on a couple of roles. That’s how I survive.

You can never say I’ll be working 52 weeks a year. But there was a time you’d wonder where you’ll be for summer season. I remember going to Jersey in March and not coming back till October. Whereas now it’s I wonder if I’ll get a summer season.

Some people take shows out to Europe. My niece Hariet has her own production company and she does a lot of work abroad. Although you’ve got to be careful who you work for.

In the 1970s I took a contract for South Africa when apartheid was in full flight. When I look back, I didn’t understand what apartheid was all about then. You couldn’t pick your phone up and read about it.

It was a total culture shock at 19 year old – like wow here we are in Durban. Then I ended up working in Rhodesia – it’s not called that now. The agent asked me to drive from Rhodesia to Cape Town – a very long way and I did it by myself. My mother didn’t know. I look back and think how did I do that and why!

Comedy and singing musical theatre was what I was doing on the Crazy Horse saloon circuit. It was quite unique for a female to be performing on stage, plus there were plenty other English acts going out. I think some British guys had bought into the Crazy Horse clubs and subsequently tapped into the UK club market.

Back then there were hundreds of entertainers plus it was a real show it wasn’t just a few singers getting up we had all the costumes and gear for a proper show.But as I’ve said back then you couldn’t pick your phone up and read about apartheid. I mean, I lived in Benwell all me life.

I remember flying back home and me ma’ and da’ met me at Newcastle airport. ‘I’m home at last’ I said as I flung myself at them ‘You must be the only lass who’s happy to be in Benwell’ said me Da.

I travelled a fair bit. I went to Australia twice a year for six years in the 80s. I just loved their lifestyle. I also performed at the American military bases in Germany. I remember the agent John Rae from Spennymoor here in the North East organised one tour. There were a few of us and he drove us around in a mini bus. He had all the responsibility and the things we done he must have wanted to kill us sometimes.

All this experience of understanding an audience has helped when I’m putting a show together. You see the show differently from actors who only see it from their point of view.

I remember doing Catherine Cookson’s ‘The Cinder Path’. I had Nicky Cochrane in it who played Steve McDonalds brother in Coronation Street. He was playing Ginger Slater, essentially the baddie. I gave myself a character called the fishwife who kept the story going and throwing a few laughs in as it was heavy going.

One show we were doing a matinee at Billingham Forum. I was waiting with Nicky to go on stage for our scene when he turned to me ‘Leah, this is a tough crowd’. I replied ‘Farringdon Social Club was a tough crowd this is a walk over’.  A bunch of pensioners on the front row who might nod off would not present a problem.

Club audiences had a reputation for being tough but that was only because they weren’t there prepared to put up with anything. You had to be good. You had to know your stuff. That’s been a great backbone for work that I do now. How to read an audience. They’ve paid their money and tickets can be pricey for a whole family so you have a responsibility. That crowd need to be entertained.

I was brought up in variety but now I only do one variety show a year that’s the Silver Bells Christmas variety show for three nights at the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth. Looking around there were a lot of young people coming up but their take on variety was different from mine. I was old school. I’m not saying it was better in my day just different. So, I thought to keep working I’d just change what I’m doing. I’m going to step up. I went and done panto as well that led me to acting which I really enjoyed.

For the Blyth variety show we do sketches and a few gags a typical show I really enjoy it. I use the pantomime cast so there’s a lot of us on stage and this year it’s with Tommy Cannon who is a good friend. The poster said Cannon & Bell but when it was done large the Bell looked like Ball!

Tommy and his wife were up recently and we got watching some of the old TV shows like Wheeltappers and Shunters Club and yes it was a laugh but we were saying we wouldn’t dare say that type of joke now. Time has moved on. And so it should.

What am I doing now? ‘Dirty Dusting’ written by Ed Waugh is on tour in October. We’ve got my good friend Chrissy Rock (Benidorm) in it with Vanessa Karon and Paul Dunn. Can you believe the show still sells out. It was originally performed over 20 years ago. First time I did it was 12 years ago and it’s been on tour at least twice a year every year.

From late November through December, we have ‘Sleeping Beauty’ panto at Consett Empire with Marcus Collins from X Factor then next year Alison Stanley and I have ‘Tit’s Up’ going out on tour. That play is about the relationship between three ladies as they wait in the Oncology department in hospital.

It’s sharp, it’s funny, we wrote it together. Some of the shows funnier bits are added on the spur of the moment and Alison tells me to write them down for the next show cos ‘you might forget it’. My character is nosey she wants to know everybody’s business, she thinks she’s gone for a day out.

We’ve just done a short tour and it’s done well at the box office. On the first performance me and Alison were nervous because some ladies from the Cancer Society were in the audience.

Mentally and physicaly I feel better now than when I was 40. I’m 72 now but I’ve always been energetic and kept busy and turn up early for work. I’m happy to have made the move from variety to acting. The world has moved on and so it should. Would I ever retire? No chance.

Alikivi   October 2025

Link to July 2021 interview >>>

TAKE A BOW – writer, actress & theatre producer, Leah Bell | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

THE WORD IS HALDANE

Former Shields Gazette graphic artist David Haldane established himself as one of the top cartoonists in the world. Blyth born David, now 70, worked for the Gazette from 1977 to 1983, he currently creates cartoons for The Observer and Private Eye and had his work regularly produced in Punch, The Express, Mirror, Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Sunday Times. He also contributed sketches to the original TV series Spitting Image.

However, it is for producing cartoons for The Times from 2005 until 2017 that David made his mark, transforming him into one of the best cartoonists in the world.

South Shields playwright Ed Waugh has been asked to host an evening in conversation with David at The Word in South Shields on Wednesday September 24th at 1pm. He said:  “I’ve known David for 20 years or so and he’s both very sharp and very funny. You have to be to create top-class satirical cartoons every day, often at very short notice, for national newspaper front pages.”

He added: “David’s career stories are both deep and hilarious. It will be a fantastic event for people who want a laugh and those who want to find out about some of the stories behind the many thousands of tremendous cartoons David has created and had published.”  

The event follows his sold-out illustrated talks at the prestigious Lit & Phil in Newcastle and Blyth Library. The talk on Wednesday, September 24 at 1pm is part of The Word’s WRITE Festival. 

Tickets for In Conversation With David Haldane at The Word cost only £3 and can be bought on line >>> https://theworduk.org/whats-on/top-cartoonist-david-haldane-in-conversation-with-ed-waugh/ or via (0191) 4271818.

Link to previous interview with David in June 2025 >>>

COMIC STRIP PRESENTS Northumberland cartoonist David Haldane | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE 

RISKY BUSINESS – in conversation with writer, actor & theatre producer Alison Stanley

Have you ever wondered how working class people survive in the arts and creative industry? From my own experience I can tell you it’s hard. Very hard.

In the early days of the 1990s I had a weekly diet of baked tatties. I’d go to me ma’s for me Sunda’ dinna. I got by.

It’s surprisingly full for a Tuesday morning in Newcastle’s Central Station bar The Centurion when I spot Alison. Looking resplendent in her beret while finishing off a bacon sarnie we find a quieter place to talk. She throws back her head and laugh’s out loud when I ask her have you ever had a proper job?

Yes, I was at the Inland Revenue for years. When I was there, I thought of myself as a resting writer, a resting actor but really found it soul destroying.

Sometimes you have to take jobs that you wouldn’t choose to do to survive in the creative industry. You have to get by. I’ve been lucky that my husband who doesn’t work in the arts, has a full time job and supports me fully as do all my family.

An opportunity to work as a library assistant in North Tyneside Council came up. I love the smell of books so the idea of being surrounded by them was great. I loved being involved when schools came in, I would read stories for the kids and put on various events.

The job was part time so it gave me more time to focus on what I should be doing – writing. I became busier in my creative work and was being offered jobs that I couldn’t turn down so had to decide if I was working in a library or an actor. You have to take the leap, you have to believe in what you are.

I’ve been acting now for about ten years. A freelance creative has always been my career choice that’s in all of my disciplines that I’ve worked in from actor to writer to theatre producer now film making.

I decided years ago to go out and make my own work rather than wait for someone to knock on the door and offer something – that doesn’t happen. You’ve got to get your name out there to increase your network. That would be my advice to anyone starting in this business. You’ve got to take chances. This is what I do. It’s a mind set.

I consider myself as a socio-economic playwrite. I write about subjects that are relatable to people, quite pertinent and pushing boundaries seeing how far you can go. If it makes people laugh, cry or squirm I’ve done my job. It’s important to me to be challenging and turn a spotlight on real issues.

I’ve got a few projects that I’m working on now. Lately we’ve been touring ‘Living the Life of Riley’ around the North East which was great and that is going out again in February 2026. ‘Life of Riley’ has been in the works since 2016.

And another short North East tour for ‘Tits Up’ co-written with Leah Bell. That’s planned for another tour next year. Really pleased with that as it’s sold out now.

That’s a play about three women who meet when they are diagnosed with cancer and how it impacts on them and how they deal with it. Unfortunately, we live through a time where if it’s not breast cancer it’s some form of cancer that lives are touched by. The play is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

In ‘Tits Up’ there is someone who is diagnosed with cancer and there is the carer who she couldn’t manage without. That is real stress. You’re worried about the situation and the endgame that might be coming.

Of course, we all fall off our seats laughing with the actor Leah Bell but there is a serious side which comes through. There is a balance we have to get right.

My ambition is to produce more plays outside the North East and tour nationally, which ‘Living the Life of Riley’ is already doing and we are working towards that with ‘Tits Up’. We have taken ‘Hard’ to London and it’s definitely something we want to pursue more.

Screenwriting is something else that I’m starting to do. I filmed a scene from ‘Hard’ over two days on a shoestring budget and I loved it plus it has been awarded three times in UK film festivals so that spurs you on.

I’m interested in using latest phone technology for film making and being creative with it, keeping it fresh. I roped in Leah Bell and Tony Hodge (Byker Grove) to be involved. Really looking forward to more. I’m excited about it.

Have I got time for anything else? Me mother Rose was a talented writer but didn’t have anything published. When she passed away last year, I started a writing competition for Working Class Women Over 35. The first winner is announced in October this year and next year the play is produced at Laurels in Whitley Bay.

Also, it’s early stages at the minute but I’m writing a few fictional stories about events that happen in a town. That’s maybe for a book. I’m really enjoying it there is no deadline so it’s sort of like a hobby but we’ll see where it goes. Owt really that stops me getting a proper job!

Alikivi   August 2025

Links to previous interviews >>>

DREAM CATCHER – in conversation with writer & performer Alison Stanley from Newcastle based theatre company, Life of Riley. | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

DREAM CATCHER #2 in conversation with Alison Stanley from Newcastle based theatre company, Life of Riley. | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

COME AGAIN in conversation with writer & actor, Alison Stanley part 1/2 | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

NOTHING LIKE SHOW BUSINESS in conversation with writer & actor Alison Stanley 2/2 | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

YOU NEED TO SAY SORRY – new play by writer & actor, Alison Stanley | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

COMIC STRIP PRESENTS Northumberland cartoonist David Haldane

A series of talks by cartoonist David Haldane have been booked into venues this September including the Civic Theatre, Gosforth and The Word in South Shields.

‘I started work at the Shields Gazette in 1977. It was a great job really enjoyed it. It was my first real wage packet. We used to get paid weekly. In cash!’ recalls David.

Born in Blyth in 1954 David last featured in April this year talking about his work at national newspapers including the Mirror, the Guardian and The Times (link below). In a recent phone call he looked back to his early days and what inspired him.

‘I noticed cartoons when I was young. At the age of 7 I got scarlet fever which then was quite serious, luckily there were anti biotics. I remember I was isolated in my bedroom at home and couldn’t touch any of my books or they would have to be destroyed’.

‘There was a guy who lived in the street who was a Merchant seaman, he brought back some papers like the Chicago Tribune. I had a pile of papers on my bed with loads of full colour comic strips inside like Popeye and Prince Valiant.’

‘Me mam bought me a jotter from Woolworths, I just sat and copied them when I was ill. From then on I drew regularly, in particular funny stuff.  When I was studying for my ‘O’ levels in Blyth library I noticed a whole series of Punch annuals which I started to read and from then on fell in love with the cartoons.’

‘People have heroes – rock stars, singers, guitarists, my heroes were cartoonists. I was 15 year old sitting in Blyth library thinking I wanna do this – never thinking I actually could or meet these people.’

‘There was a magazine called The North which featured walks and the like in places like Berwick. The art teacher put me in touch with the editor. That magazine is where I done my first published strip. I was still at school at the time and did it for a couple of years. Did I get paid? Put it this way I gave up my paper round for it.’

‘When I enrolled on a Design course at Newcastle Polytechnic I was doing a few cartoons on the side sending them in to magazines like Punch. When I got my first cartoon published in Punch it was when I was at the Gazette in 1977.’

‘The Shields Gazette were building up the art department working on advertising, editorial and illustration and four of us got a job at the same time. The newspaper then was absolutely thriving they used to do three or four editions a day. Other papers were published in the area – Whitley Bay, Chronicle and others it was a real Fleet Street on the Tyne.’

‘I remember local punk band the Angelic Upstarts came in to be interviewed by the editor, they were big, like the North East Sex Pistols. There were many wild rumours about them – the pigs head on stage was one!’

‘We were mainly advertising stuff like a pull out of Ocean Road which would feature all the shops. They would pay for adverts and we used to draw them up. This was before computers so it was all hand drawn. It was like a little factory in there we used to churn the stuff out on a daily basis.’

‘Working there was experienced journalists like Janis Blower, John Landells the waterfront reporter, his son Steve joined later. Mike Blackah was the editor. There was a huge room with a lot of sub-editors. It was a very busy, thriving newspaper office. When I started working at the real Fleet Street in London, I realised how similar they were.’

‘In the early 80s I worked on a short run of TV show Spitting Image. This was during the Thatcher years – the real hardcore political stuff. Ian Hislop and Nick Newman were writing short sketches which played before and after the commercial breaks. They wanted cartoonists to fill in the bits without puppets. Newman asked cartoonists who were working on Punch and Private Eye. Four or five of us worked on them and subsequently I got a few sketches on.’

‘I remember going to a script meeting in London. It was great meeting the scriptwriters who went on to produce a lot of shows. One of them told me to stick to drawing cartoons as you’ll make a lot more money. I took his advice. They still release box set DVDs of the show, I’m grateful to still receive the odd royalty payment.’

‘When I’m drawing I listen to film soundtracks – Japanese, Korean, quite niche, also Italian horror movies, spaghetti western, jazz sometimes. I have some Michael Nyman here as well, beautiful stuff. The music is on in the background but not when I’m thinking of ideas. I tend to sit in silence to work out ideas.’

To find out more of the life and work of David Haldane he will be appearing at ‘An Evening With’ at The Word, South Shields on September 24th & Gosforth Civic Theatre September 30th 2025.

Alikivi   May 2025

Link to previous post >>>

DRAWING NEWCASTLE’S LIT & PHIL – with Blyth born cartoonist David Haldane | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE

HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE? #6

Following on from the last post here’s another batch of North East stories this time featuring music, books, TV, boxing and the police. First up is former White Heat & Loud Guitars frontman Bob Smeaton.

‘If you asked me to list what gave me the biggest buzz I would say playing live top of the list, writing songs in second and recording in third. One thing I did learn is that playing songs live and recording them in a studio are two different animals’.

‘I love performing in front of an audience and felt that I was a much better frontman than I was a singer, so studio work for me back in the early days was not always an enjoyable experience. Also, the vocals were always done last, so the rest of the band were able to relax and the pressure was on me to deliver’.

What did I do after White Heat and Loud Guitars split? I pretty much stopped performing gigs as my career went down a different path’.

Full interview > ANOTHER JOURNEY UP THE RIVER – New album from ex White Heat frontman Bob Smeaton | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

In August award-winning author & freelance journalist Terry Wilkinson talked about his new book…

‘At midnight on 3 May 1941, the factory and Head Office of Wilkinson’s Mineral Water Manufacturers in North Shields was hit by a single German bomb. It went through the roof, descending through all three floors, taking all the heavy bottling machinery and chemicals down to the basement – which was in use as a public air raid shelter. 107 died, 43 of which were children. Whole families were wiped out.’

‘Nothing is known of the identity of the plane which dropped the bomb – type, squadron, mission etc – as German records were mostly destroyed in the closing stages of the war’.

‘I wanted to write a story that answered all these questions and create a fictional alternative. Having said that, nobody could say with any conviction this is not what happened’.

Full interview > STORIES OF WAR – with award-winning author & freelance journalist Terry Wilkinson | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

Also in August former boxer Terry Patterson remembers his time boxing in the North East…

‘Over the years I fought a few Sunderland lads. Derek Nelson was a classy boxer who turned pro. I fought two ABA finalists in Gordon Pedro Philips and Willie Neil. I fought Pedro in the North Eastern Counties final but lost. Both lads were well schooled’.

‘Willie Neil’s coach asked if I’d fight him because his opponent hadn’t turned up. I weighed in at 10st 6lbs (welterweight), he was heavier than me by 6lbs. I knew his reputation for knocking people out. £50 was slipped into my hand for taking the fight’.

‘Willie could bang a bit – so could I – but he had me down three times during our bout. We set about each other unleashing all hell for three fierce rounds. I had him going at one point after landing a good left hook but the bell sounded and my chance to finish him had gone’.

‘Gordon and Willie are still good to this day – it’s been 36 years since we shared a ring but I see them at boxing dinners and club reunions’.

Full interview > KNOCKOUT with former boxer Terry Patterson | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

Former police detective & writer Arthur McKenzie talked about his work…

‘There was a police section house near Newcastle’s Exhibition Park, in it was a bait room, just a pokey little room with a table to play cards on. If you’re on night shift you’d take sandwiches and a flask of tea in. That’s where you gathered around 1am where the events of the night would unfold’.

‘You would get advice on how to deal with someone, it was a good place to sort things out like the older cops would tell you how to deal with a death, how to deliver a death message to the unfortunate family. It was a sort of meeting of minds over a game of cards. Aye the bait room was a good place to vent your spleen so to speak’.

‘So, I went away and wrote about the bait room. Tom Hadaway (writer for episodes When the Boat Comes In) read the play and was laughing at it ‘Yeah, you know how to write dialogue son’. He gave me pointers, when I finished it landed on two desks. One was the BBC in Manchester where it ended up on the Saturday Night Theatre radio show, which was a big thing’.

‘The other was the script reader for David Puttnam (producer Chariots of Fire, Local Hero, Midnight Express) who hated it at first but won her round in the end. She said she couldn’t do anything with it but put me in touch with an agent who was looking for writers for a tv show called The Bill. That’s where the writing started’.

Full interview > COP ON THE TYNE – in conversation with ex police detective & writer Arthur McKenzie | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

TV actor & musician Michael McNally got in touch and talked about his time in ground breaking BBC TV drama The Cops…

‘I’d watched the first two series and it was my favourite programme on TV. When I started watching it, I thought it was a fly on the wall documentary it took me 10 minutes before I realised it was a drama. I was totally hooked’.

‘One of my first scenes was I was sat in a police van at 11pm on a Friday night on Bolton High Street. The general public were walking up and down the street they knew nothing of this, it wasn’t a closed set like on some programmes and we had to go and arrest someone’.

‘Two actors were having a fight then we got the message to go, so on with the blue flashing lights, we pulled up and jumped out of the van. Some people were trying to defend the actors and some were encouraging us to get in there and sort it out’.

‘We didn’t know where the cameras were we just heard someone say stop. We got back in the van, re-set and done the scene about four or five times’.

‘Same happened when responding to a fight in a bar, we had to pull people out and the general public in the bar didn’t know what was going on. There was an element of choreography for the fight, we didn’t want anyone to get hurt’.

‘After that first night the cast got together afterwards for some pub grub and a karaoke. Most of us were unknown actors so mixed in with the general public without any hassle. Every member of the cast got up and sang, mine was Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash – it was a really good night’.

Full interview > THE COPS with TV actor & musician Michael McNally | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE

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Alikivi   November 2024