Tag: Shows

Ed Christiano Ditches Hollywood for Blackpool

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Ed Christiano left Hollywood for Blackpool in 1988. He was born in Rochester, New York and moved with his family to Florida when he was 11. His mother worked in events and his father was a renowned electronic engineer who designed audio systems for US Navy warships and submarines. Ed got a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with honours, concentrating in Cinematography, from the University of South Florida. One of his first jobs in Hollywood was as a sound recordist on a film called Violet (1981), which won an Academy Award for Best Short Film. He worked on several feature… Read more »

Patrick Keiller, A Great Filmmaker Born in Blackpool

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Patrick Keiller is a filmmaker, writer, and lecturer, born in 1950 in Blackpool. He studied architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, before furthering his education at the Royal College of Art’s Department of Environmental Media as a postgraduate student in 1979. Over the years, he has combined academia with filmmaking, having taught architecture at the University of East London and fine art at Middlesex University. Keiller’s early films include Stonebridge Park (1981), Norwood (1983), The End (1986), Valtos (1987), and The Clouds (1989). These works are characterised by their use of subjective camera techniques and voice-over… Read more »

Aiden Grimshaw Gets into X-Factor

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Aiden Samuel Grimshaw (born 4 December 1991 in Blackpool) is an English singer, songwriter and actor who was formerly known by the stage name Butterjack. He studied at the Michael Hall Theatre School in North Shore, Blackpool. He played Tom Holmes in an episode of CBBC show Half Moon Investigations. He successfully made it to the live shows in the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010 and was the eighth contestant eliminated. After his elimination, Grimshaw was signed by RCA Records. On 3 June 2012, he released his debut single “Is This Love”, which debuted at number 35… Read more »

David Slattery-Christy – Ivor Novello Consultant for Gosford Park

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David Slattery-Christy, who writes both fiction and nonfiction, was born in 1959 and brought up in Oxford. His parents moved to Blackpool in the late 1960s to run hotel businesses so he has spent many years living in Blackpool. The house David lives in on Whitegate Drive has an ongoing connection with Hollywood and the theatre. The house was also home to Hollywood actress Janet Munro – her stepmother Lilias Munro, who owned the house at that time, was also the make up artist for the BBC TV series The Good Old Days. He graduated for London’s City University with… Read more »

Les Dennis Joins Dustin Gee at the North Pier

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In 1982, Les Dennis joined Russ Abbot’s Madhouse and The Russ Abbot Show before forming a comedy double act with fellow impressionist Dustin Gee. The duo launched their own television series, The Laughter Show, which first aired on 7 April 1984. For its third series, it was retitled Les & Dustin’s Laughter Show. On 24 May 1985, during the opening night of a summer season at Blackpool’s North Pier, Gee fell ill on stage but continued performing. After the show, he was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a minor heart attack and dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite… Read more »

Lennie Bennett Leaves the Gazette for the BBC

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Michael Berry, born on 26 September 1938 in Blackpool, was better known by his stage name, Lennie Bennett. An English comedian and game-show host, he became a familiar face on British television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. After attending Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool, Bennett began his career as a journalist for the West Lancashire Evening Gazette. He later transitioned into entertainment, initially working as a professional hypnotist before making his television debut on the BBC light entertainment programme The Good Old Days in 1969. His breakthrough came when he partnered with Jerry Stevens to create The Lennie and Jerry… Read more »

Anna Jobarteh Plays Star Pupil on Waterloo Road

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Anna Jobarteh was born on 3 April 1996 in Blackpool and is best known for her work in television, including Paradox (2009), In From the Cold (2022), and Coronation Street (1960). She made her on-screen debut at the age of 13 in BBC One’s Waterloo Road, portraying Ruth Kirby, a gifted but headstrong student in the school-based drama. A former pupil from Marton, Anna was thrilled to step onto the Waterloo Road set, where she swapped her Highfield school uniform for that of her on-screen counterpart. Her character made an immediate impact, running away on her first day and prompting… Read more »

Chris Wiggins Stars in Friday the 13th TV Series

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Chris Wiggins was born on 13 January 1931 in Blackpool. Before pursuing a career in acting, he initially worked as a banker in the UK. However, after emigrating to Canada in 1952, he transitioned into the entertainment industry and built a successful career in television, film, and radio. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Jack Marshak, the knowledgeable and kind-hearted expert on the occult, in the syndicated horror series Friday the 13th: The Series, which aired from 1987 to 1990. Another notable role was that of Johann Robinson (the father) in Swiss Family Robinson, appearing in all… Read more »

Keith Marsh Lands Love Thy Neighbour Role

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Keith Marsh (1926 – 28 January 2013) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades, during which he featured in numerous television productions. Originally from Blackpool, he is most widely recognised for his role as Jacko in the Thames Television sitcom Love Thy Neighbour (1972–76), where he became known for his signature catchphrase, “I’ll have half!” Marsh made several appearances in Coronation Street, playing a variety of roles over the years, including a foreman (1961), George Chippendale (1966), James Dawson (1972), George Marsden (1980), Harry Ashton (1988), and Uncle Mervin (1999). His television credits also included roles in… Read more »

Tim Barlow Appears with Jeff Goldblum in The Tall Guy

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Barlow was born on 18 January 1936 in Blackpool. His father, a solicitor, passed away when he was five, leaving him to be brought up by his mother. After completing his education at 18, he enlisted in the British Army, where he served for 15 years. In 1969, Barlow decided to leave the military and embark on a career in acting, encouraged by Trevor Nunn and Sir Laurence Olivier. He developed and performed a solo show reflecting on his choice to pursue acting. Prior to this, he had achieved considerable success with another one-man production, My Army, which recounted his… Read more »