The awards, which launched in 2014, offer new television writers based in the North of England unique and career-changing opportunities.

The ceremony featured speeches from the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, Head of Partnerships and Skills at Channel 4, Kevin Blacoe, and CEO of New Writing North, Claire Malcolm.

Funded by Channel 4’s 4Skills, the awards are part of the Northern Writers’ Awards – New Writing North’s flagship writer development programme – and form part of Channel 4 and New Writing North’s Talent Development Partnership. Launched in 2022, the Talent Development Partnership aims to identify and support new writers, particularly those from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the television industry. 

All three receive a package of support including a nine-month placement with either Bonafide Films (Mood; The Last Post), Red Production Company (It’s a Sin; Happy Valley) or Rollem Productions (Love Lies & Records; Girlfriends), alongside mentoring with an industry professional and a £3000 bursary.  

Winner Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock, from Newcastle Upon Tyne, won the placement with Red Productions. To date, her work has been commissioned and staged by Live Theatre, Freedom Studios, and the Alphabetti Theatre.

Rebecca said: “I feel so excited and privileged to have won the Channel 4 Writing for Television Award with Red Productions. The opportunity to work and collaborate with Red Productions and develop myself and my work is truly incredible. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”

Emily Low was awarded the placement with Rollem Productions. A performer, writer, and storyteller based in Tyne Valley; her first commission was staged at the Alphabetti Theatre this year, and she was selected to join the Live Playwriting community.

Emily said: “It means so much to me that New Writing North read my script and saw its potential as an original comedy drama. Before I won this award, I would watch brilliant shows on TV and daydream about what story I would tell if I ever got the chance. I feel very astonished and excited that I now have the opportunity to develop my own script with the wonderful Rollem Productions.”

Nana-Kofi Kufuor from Stockport was awarded the placement with Bonafide Films. A British-Ghanaian playwright and screenwriter, his work has featured at Leeds Playhouse and the Edinburgh Fringe. He has written for Hollyoaks, Waterloo Road and has been commissioned by Sky and the BBC to write original works, which lean towards social and political stories through a hyper surreal lens.

Nana-Kofi said: “Being able to work with Bonafide and Channel 4 will push my career to new heights. Having people there to help me focus and improve my craft is priceless. I am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to get started.”

Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships and Skills at Channel 4 said: “Congratulations to the incredible winners of this year’s Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards; they have all shown immense talent and creativity. 4Skills is proud to fund the awards and support new local talent. The placements and mentoring opportunities the winners have earned will undoubtedly open doors to set them on an exciting path in the world of television writing.”

Channel 4 and New Writing North have worked in partnership since 2014.

The awards have already launched the television careers of several writers, including Sharma Walfall, who has gone on to work on productions including Noughts and Crosses and A Town Called Malice, and Jayshree Patel, whose Hollyoaks episodes were submitted for a BAFTA.

Former winners of the award were also in attendance, including Taiba Ahmad, and mentors from the programme, such as the West Yorkshire actor and writer, Kat Rose Martin.

Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager (Talent Development) at New Writing North, said: “The partnership between Channel 4 and New Writing North provides pivotal opportunities for screenwriters in the North. We are delighted to reveal three such gifted talents as Emily, Rebecca and Nana-Kofi as this year’s awardees and look forward to seeing them thrive during the exciting year ahead of them.

“The winners of the Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards will now have chance to work with three of the UK’s leading TV companies in Rollem Productions, Bonafide Films and Red Production Company. The dedication, innovation and expertise of our production company partners lies at the heart of what makes this programme so special. We are enormously grateful to Channel 4 and the brilliant 4Skills team for their ongoing support.”

The Northern Talent Partnership also delivers a year-round programme of activities and opportunities for new and emerging television writers in the North of England. It operates a Channel 4 Northern Talent Network, which features script hubs in Newcastle, Bradford and online, screenwriting events delivered by industry professionals, and online masterclasses.

An additional ten shortlisted writers from the Channel 4 Writing for TV awards will be offered placements on the Script Development Group, with a bursary, peer-group sessions with agents, writers and producers, and in-depth script feedback.

“an inspiring and uplifting evening”

LPO Principal Conductor Edward Gardner – Photo: Jason Bell

The atmosphere in the packed Royal Festival Hall was electric. The orchestra assembled slowly but surely, taking their positions, warming up their instruments. Then, as if by magic, Edward Gardner appeared – and before he conducted the evening, he welcomed us like old friends.

First – Samuel Barber. A twentieth-century composer from America. Crossing the divide between classical and contemporary. His 14-minute piece Medea’s Dance of Vengeance from 1955 was originally for a Martha Graham ballet based on Euripedes’ classic story. It is the climactic moment of the ballet and features a xylophone akin to Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre. The piece itself reaches a climax that makes the spine tingle.

The buzz in the auditorium hadn’t quite died down when Gardner returned with the special guest of the evening: soprano Joyce DiDonato. She has performed on opera stages and with opera companies all around the world – and was gracing us with a performance of Hector Berlioz’s The Death of Cleopatra written in 1829. This 20-minute cantata is a soliloquy, the Egyptian Queen resolving to commit suicide on hearing about her consort Mark Antony’s defeat in battle. It is dramatic and powerful. Towards the end, she clearly acts out the snake biting her arm as the music envelops her. A child behind me whispered, ‘Is she going to die?’ As if to answer her, the double basses become her heartbeat and they grow in strength, then slow down. They recede in volume and pace until there is silence. Superb.

The second half of the evening was a performance in full of Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 in E flat major – or Eroica to lesser mortals. Written between 1803 and 1805, it was for and inspired by the young Napoleon Bonaparte. Once Bonaparte declared himself Emperor, Beethoven removed the man’s name from the head of the score as Napoleon’s actions didn’t chime with his libertarian stance.

Even though this was an inspiring and uplifting evening, it is only the start of the LPO’s 2024/25 Season. It also launches Moments Remembered, the theme running throughout the concerts and exploring the crossroads of music and memory. To come, a vast range of events at various venues around the country. Check out their website for details – https://lpo.org.uk/whats-on/

Concert Photography Mark Allen

Principal Conductor Edward Gardner

Artistic Director Elena Dubinets

Dates until Saturday 31st May 2025

Check with the LPO website for details

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Facebook @londonphilharmonicorchestra

Well it seems our Indian Summer has finally bid farewell, it’s October in a few days, Halloween next and before you know it, it’ll be Christmas again.

As one of those annoying neurotics who goes into melt down if they haven’t bought their Christmas presents at least three months in advance I’m now entering panic-mode. So, as always, I’m excited to check out Perfume Direct’s new recommendations and special offers. Frost Magazine love Perfume Direct – they’re a British company who really know their perfumes. Buying a new scent online can be tricky, modern technology not having perfected the art of transmitting fragrances through the ether, however Perfume Direct provide such full and accurate descriptions that you can choose with confidence. I’ve never been disappointed. And because they negotiate the best deals for their customers they offer very competitive prices on 100% genuine products.

Their on-line tools such as the Perfume Direct Guide to Fragrances are really useful for searching for and then confidently choosing a scent you will love. The perfume wheel explains the perfume buzz words (oriental, woody and so on) and what individual notes (fragrances) create them.

I’ve been looking for a rather special present for a lovely man who has been through a lot this year, and searching through the Perfume Direct website I discovered the Guerlain Habit Rouge EDT Gift which is just perfect. It’s a Men’s Eau de Toilette Gift Set consisting of an EDT Spray (100ml), 75ml Shower Gel and also a handy 10ml EDT for refreshes.

I think the scent is fabulous, but I’ll use Perfume Direct’s description, as it’s a tad more informative than my enthusiastic superlatives: an amber woody scent which opens with a burst of zesty citrus – lemon, orange, bergamot, lime, and tangerine – accentuated by earthy basil and Brazilian rosewood. The heart reveals a blend of rich florals, warming spices, and intense sandalwood, while the base offers a grounding mix of sweet vanilla, exotic leather, and amber, enhanced by resinous benzoin and oakmoss and subtly harmonized with the smoky allure of labdanum and its notes. (or in my words, masculine, exotic and packed with layers of fragrance). The gift box is rather special too with a gold and green Christmas theme.

Perfume Direct tell us that it has:

Top notes (initial fragrance) of Lemon, Brazilian Rosewood, Orange, Bergamot, Lime, Tangerine, Basil

Middle notes (the scent which appears next) of Rose, Carnation, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Patchouli, Jasmine, Cedar

Base notes (final lingering perfume) of Vanilla, Leather, Amber, Benzoin, Oakmoss, Labdanum

The Guerlain Habit Rouge EDT Gift Set is currently reduced to £73.99 so check out Perfume Direct for this and other fragrances.

Merry Christmas.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need

I know that it is only September, but for me it is never too early to be thinking about Christmas, so I was delighted to discover Hokan Bowls, which come in a range of sizes and colours. No stuffing into drawers or cupboards taking up valuable space, these bowls are beautiful enough and easily stacked to take their place on the work surface.

I have the cobalt blue which looks stunning, filled with lemons, until needed for more conventional cooking pot, when this comes into its own.

As beautiful as they are functional, the range, offered in Lemon Yellow, Sea Green, Cobalt Blue, Pitch Black and Antique White, is oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, sustainable, stackable stoneware bowls, complete with lids

Hokan Bowls, RRP £80 for a set of three or individually:

• Small: 400ml, RRP £24
• Medium: 600ml, RRP £27
• Large: 1000ml, RRP £30

Available from hokanbowls.com

The bowls heat evenly and retain heat efficiently. Cooking and baking with the lid on keeps moisture in and the temperature stable. Taking the lid off allows the top surface area to crust or brown – so just perfect for that Cauliflower Cheese.

Come Christmas (I know, I know still haven’t had Halloween yet, but it is good to be prepared, prep all the veggies and pop into the Hokan bowls on the festive table to keep warm until the centrespread is ready to make an appearance.

The volume of each bowl is determined by its height, which keeps all of the lids the same size for each bowl, so no need to search through the kitchen for the correct lid – they all work.

You can also use the lids as a side dish. Smart! Cook, serve and save all in one place.

Hokan was established by film producer Alistair Donald. As a father of two sons, it quickly became apparent that he needed to be more efficient in the kitchen to avoid unnecessary food waste. He swapped the leaning towers of cling-filmed bowls and tubs for a practical, plastic-free solution that was easily stackable and could be used to cook, bake and serve, and then store and save, food.

Say goodbye to plastic.

For a sustainable, BPA-free household, Hokan offers a unique alternative to storage solutions with potential harmful pollutants. Stoneware is dense pottery fired at high temperatures making it non-porous and, consequently, odour and stain free. Which can’t be said of plastic alternatives.

So, this Christmas, from my own experience, I will be just as happy to receive these bowls (Cobalt Blue please), as I will be to gift them to all the cooks in the family, also a great house-warming, or wedding gift.

Hokan Bowls, RRP £80 for a set of three or individually:

• Small: 400ml, RRP £24
• Medium: 600ml, RRP £27
• Large: 1000ml, RRP £30

hokanbowls.com

This absolute gem is a comprehensive journey of discovery, and it is a totally beguiling, fascinating insight into the lives and work of over 50 iconic artists, each one a giant of creativity.

If I must pick my favourite, it would be Van Gogh’s studio in Arles. Indeed, how could I not, when The National Gallery is exhibiting his magnificent and somehow poignant (to me) works at the moment? ‘I have one big worry less now that I have found the little white studio,‘ he told his brother Theo, though of course in a very short time he was … No, no, read this book, and trust me, you will see not just the studio but in some measure, the soul of the owner’s vision and genius.

But it’s not just our exemplar ground breaking ‘artists’ that caught my fancy but do take a look at Posy Simmonds, the cartoonist and graphic artist. Having just reviewed Vincent: a graphic biography by Simon Elliott which I loved, I found I wanted a sense of where the graphic book is created by Posy. And also get a sense of how, because so often the place reflects the creative. James Oses illustrations encapsulates the studio and as I say, exposes to some extent – somehow – the working method.

Then Modigliani, the Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani who spent most of his working life in Paris, which of course, Vincent fled for Arles. Amedeo had several studios, reaching heights of mess. Yes, really. And strange candlesticks- You must buy and read this to learn more.

There are oodles of studios, oodles of revelations, each one adding to our understanding of the artist and the development of his works. But, and this probably sounds quite mad, but the book has that traditional smell to the pages. Yes, really. You pick it up, open it, and there it is, that scent of fine, heavy paper. So am I mad? Perhaps but I loved its content and its scent, in all its grandeur – so very there. (I write at the end of the dining room table, just saying, and my paperbacks do not have that odour of excellence and class.)

Christmas is coming. So bear this lovely book in mind. Studios of Their Own – Where Great Artists Work by Alex Johnson. Illustrations by James Oses. pub. Frances Lincoln. £19./99 Hardback and ebook/97807112293786

S

Marsden Mechanics (https://www.marsdenmechanics.co.uk/) announces ‘Tenterhooks’; a community arts project led by Marsden-born Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the band LYR and Marsden Mechanics – a large scale creative endeavour culminating in a day of celebratory performances and viewings to be held as part of ‘Cuckoo Day’ Saturday 26^th April 2025.

Following the huge success of recent events at the venue which looked to the building’s history and its legacy to inform its latest series of live performances – providing rural communities the opportunity to experience high-quality concerts without coming up against cost prohibitive travel and accommodation – this latest venture embraces the same ethos, but is stepping up its ambitions with the additional goal of helping people within this rural community near Huddersfield to be actively involved in the creation of the next generation’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage Photo credit. Paul Stuart Photography

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage was born in the rural Yorkshire village and, together with Marsden Mechanics, formed a plan to create the next phase in an ongoing endeavour to ensure that everybody should have the opportunity to access top calibre cultural and artistic events and experiences, no matter their location or financial status

Armitage will be working with the band LYR (of which Armitage is one of the three founder members) Marsden Mechanic’s Development Manager Jonny Kelly, and, vitally, the people of Marsden. The plan is to create a visionary project which invites the local community to take part in a series of creative storytelling events to uncover untold stories of Marsden and its rich heritage. Armitage will take these stories and develop a series of new poems. Then, alongside his bandmates Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson, will set poems to music.

These poems will then be returned to the community for interpretation, and local creatives will be supported by Marsden Mechanics in creating brand new art  – everything from songs to sculptures, literature to theatre; culminating in a day of celebratory performances and viewings to be held as part of  Cuckoo Day on Saturday 26th Apr 2025. The goal of which, is for Marsden’s collective voice to resonate in celebration of its past, present, and future.

“Marsden is in my blood and in my poems. It’s a modern village but one with a deep history, full of stories and myths, and the Tenterhooks project hopes to turn some of those memories, tales and legends of yesterday into the songs, tunes, paintings, writings and art works of today and
tomorrow.”  Simon Armitage

“For a village so small, Marsden’s influence on our national identity is nothing short of colossal. It’s a place that has always punched well above its weight. Tenterhooks is here to celebrate that past and look to its future. The desire to do this in such a collaborative way, was naturally driven by a collective desire to set the foundation for events and artistic endeavours that are inclusive for all community members. Connection and inclusion which encompasses the whole community are our core values and we are proud that we are continuing to help to contribute to this, not only to making our relatively rural location a more animated and vibrant place to live, but also a more compelling place to visit and to work in, which in turn strengthens and grows the community further.”  Marsden Mechanic’s Development Manager, Jonny Kelly

With torrential rain battering my window and temperatures sinking fast, my thoughts are switching from chilled Chablis in the sun to something warmer and cosier. The usual suspects are great but I’m seriously excited to discover Café Solo. The clue’s in the name, meaning Just Coffee in Spanish.

As an amateur coffee aficionada I’m thrilled that this UK company majors on the quality of the cold brew coffee in this fabulous liquor. Consisting of 100% arabica beans and 80 plus speciality grade, it’s directly traded from Brazil and Colombia. You can also buy the coffee as a concentrate – cleverly combining high quality coffee with convenience.

Café Solo liqueur combines this fabulous coffee with premium vodka and natural sugar – that’s it. It’s described as a bold, rich flavour profile with hints of dark fruit acidity, chocolate, and vanilla notes, culminating in a subtle sweet finish. I can’t better this description and I can confirm it’s totally delicious. Warm, powerful, comforting, perfect for a cold dark winter evening, which will be with us only too soon. With an ABV of 25% the vodka packs a punch and the delicate sweetness blends perfectly with the rich coffee flavour. And this isn’t just my opinion, Café Solo Original achieved both Gold and Country Winner at the World Liqueur Awards 2024.

However there’s more. Café Solo recently launched their ready-to-drink Espresso Martini in a can. Usually I’m wary of canned alcoholic combinations but Café Solo Espresso Martini is pure joy. Made using Café Solo Original Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Premium British Vodka and SOLO Coffee Espresso Strength Cold Brew, you simply shake the chilled black-and-white can and pour, then enjoy a bar-quality 15% ABV martini – shaken not stirred and beautifully frothy. Such a clever idea.

So if you’re as excited as I am about these great new bevvies, give them a try.

Café Solo Original Coffee Liqueur RRP: From around £30 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 25%. Available from Amazon and Drink Supermarket.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

It’s always a pleasure to visit Wilton’s Music Hall. Both decaying and salubrious in equal measure, the place reeks of history.

And none more so, when, early on in Frank’s Closet, Marie Lloyd springs out and sings The Boys of London Town – appearing on the same stage she actually performed on many years ago. This time it was Luke Farrugia as the Diva, in his first incarnation portraying Lloyd.

Luke Farrugia – the Diva – as Marie Lloyd

The eponymous Frank, played by Andy Moss, is about to get married to the man of his dreams, but he’s getting cold feet. First, he must rid himself of some iconic costumes from his life. These costumes represent the gay icons of his youth: Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, Agnetha Fältskog and more. Each character pops up, all played by the fantastic Farrugia. Frank mentally battles them all, more than ably assisted by his very own Greek Chorus of brilliant burlesque dancers – Patrick Cook, Taylor Watson-Braithwaite, Olivia McBride and Daniel Walford are the Gaiety Girls and they not only dance and sing, they look superb, too!

As the story unfolds, the songs – all by Stuart Wood – create vibes of other musicals. I bounced from Little Shop of Horrors, to Betty Blue Eyes, to Copacabana, to Avenue Q. The live band creates a genuine Music Hall feel and keeps the whole thing rolling along. The costumes are stunning, the set compact and neat.

Andy Moss – as Frank – with his Gaiety Girls

Director Sasha Regan has created a tightly-knit company who perform to exceptional standards. Andy Moss almost gets lost in the crowd as the colours and vibrancy of the show threaten to overwhelm him. My one question, though, is The Sailor… why is the character there? Has he got anything to do with Frank’s story?

Frank’s Closet has been around for quite a few years. It doesn’t appear to have found a natural home where it can settle down and become the cult it so promises to be. After all, it is an example of crowd-pleasing quality theatre.

Paul Vates.

Presented by Labdon MacLeod Barnes Union Theatre

Director Sasha Regan Choreographer Jo McShane Writer / Composer Stuart Wood

Images Mark Senior.

Musical Director Anto Buckley Designer Catherine Phelps Head of Wardrobe David Furnell

Running Time 2 hours – with an interval Dates until Saturday 14th September 2024 Ages 13+

Check with the theatre for show times Venue Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB

Instagram @franksclosetshow X @frankscloset24

Box Office Tickets are available from: https://www.wiltons.org.uk