This week I had the pleasure of interviewing British award-winning actor, writer and director (and fellow Northerner) Mike Jibson. You may have seen him in the true crime BBC production ‘Four Lives’ released in January this year, where he played the distasteful character of DC Slaymaker. This interview gave a real insight into how he got where he is today. Despite Mike’s on-screen successes, his career started off in musical theatre, and during the interview it was fascinating to learn…

How did you set about preparing to portray such an iconic figure that is Gloria Estefan? Yeah, yeah, well, we had the absolute luxury and blessing to have Gloria with us during rehearsals back in April. So I was able to, and as she was so open, to sit down with her and talk. We also talked about the role, spoke about the story and talked about how the songs come in and out of the journey. So that was,…

How impressive is the list of nominee’s for this year’s BAFTA Cymru? We are pleased because we have had the highest number of entries to date, so it means that it’s not all about BAFTA Cymru, it’s about the people that we celebrate and it shows that the industry seems to be in a really good place. We also worked out that there are (more than) 60 productions that have been recognised, yet last year there were only 40 something….

Carl Marsh: You are both working together again (Hanna – airs on Amazon Prime March 29th), in an indirect sort of way but who got the part first? Mireille Enos: I happened to be working over in Oxford, and David Farr (the writer of the show) was able to drive out. We sat down and talked about the part, and then I started reading it. He let me know that Joel was his greatest wish for Erik and that couldn’t…

Carl Marsh: We all know of your character Lee Nelson, even some might actually think he is a real person but what sort of experience do you want the audience leave with after seeing the show? Simon: Good question, funnier is what they will leave with. It’s part of the mini-tour, which I’m sure you know, that’s part of the Lee Nelson tour. The Serious Joker tour. I think this is something like the fourth leg of the tour. The…

Carl Marsh: The opening night of your new tour is here in Cardiff, will it all be new material or are you going to throw some of the old stuff in? Ben Haenow: Yes, I think you’ve got to do some of the older stuff, but I’ve had another album out since. I’m on my second album now and I’m also doing my third, so it’s going to be a lot of the new material and a lot of that…

  Carl Marsh: What is your go-to food? James Martin: Fish and chips. Without a shadow of a doubt. That’s my nemesis, fish and chips. Carl: What? From a chippy or home-cooked? James: A chippy. A chip shop, yes. You can’t get fish and chips cooked at home like you can do in a fish and chip shop. Carl: I know, but don’t you live down South (England) as I always was told they tasted nicer up North? James: Well,…

LOOKING for the perfect family fun to keep your tiny tots entertained over the Easter holidays? Well, look no further than beloved children’s story Zog, which comes live to the stage at St David’s Hall for six shows from Friday 26 – Sunday 28 April! Best known for her popular rhyming stories for children – especially those illustrated by Axel Scheffler – Julia Donaldson is the multi award-winning author of some of the world’s best-loved children’s books including The Gruffalo…

Whitchurch High School’s very own Elinor Crawley, has appeared in many screen productions such as Vikings and The White Queen since her debut in the Welsh made film Submarine. Carl Marsh got to talk about her latest movie Burning Men. Your latest film has a POV (point of view) camera angle to it, and it took me a little while to get used to it, but once I did, I really did get to experience a film like no other…

Appearing just outside Cardiff on the 9th February at Blackwood Miners Institute are The Searchers who celebrate their 60th year, Carl Marsh speaks with John McNally, and he chose to chat about the early days when he used to swap music with a fellow Merseybeat band called The Beatles, and Carl got to learn some unknown facts! When you were performing in the late 1950s, did you save anything such as posters, flyers, tickets of yourselves or even from the…