It’s not often that I get asked to be a ‘guest’ on a show, it’s usually me presenting and asking the questions rather than being in the hotseat. So, when Graham and Malika, the hosts of The Conversation Podcast asked me to come on and have a chat with them about the arts industry and how it had been impacted by the pandemic then I jumped at the chance.
Yes, it felt a little odd being on the other side but actually I love a good chat and, when it comes to the arts, it is one of my favourite topics to discuss.
Podcasts have seen a huge rise in audiences over the last 12 months and I must admit I’m a huge fan of listening to them, whether it be whilst I’m out running, cleaning the house or having a relaxing bath.
For me, as a presenter and journalist I love hearing people talking and being interviewed. I adore the life stories and learnings that come from podcasts and I feel like I have gained knowledge from them whilst also being entertained.
I definitely recommend them as a way to switch off from life’s day to day stresses and, for anyone wanting to hone their interviewing skills, there’s no better way than to listen to as many different interviewers as you can to pick up tips along the way.
Podcasts I’m listening to at the moment include:
Keep Calm and Kerry On – West End star Kerry Ellis talks to stars of stage and screen about their careers and life in general.
The Midpoint with Gabby Logan – Gabby talks to a number of male and female celebrities about hitting midlife and how they feel about the changes as they get older.
Happy Place – Fearne Cotton’s in depth chats about health and mental wellbeing with numerous famous names.
Sam Walker’s Desert Diaries – Following the Walker family’s move from the rainy suburbs of Manchester to the scorched wilderness of Arizona, it makes you laugh and cry.
and of course…
The Conversation Podcast – Friends Graham and Malika host weekly conversations about causes they are passionate about and demonstrate how you can get involved or take action improve yourself.
Check out my guest appearance on The Conversation Podcast, filmed for YouTube via Zoom.
After a mini hiatus of being on the airwaves through lockdown, I’m back and loving it! Reunited this time with one of the nicest men in radio, Phil Trow. Phil’s been at BBC Radio Manchester for many years, entertaining listeners with his friendly banter and heartwarming personality. If you’ve never heard his show on BBC Radio Manchester then where have you been?!!!
Phil Trow
He’s on weekdays from 2-6pm and now, every Monday afternoon, I join him at 4.40pm with my list of ‘5 Things You Must Do This Week’. It’s the perfect slot for me as I love dreaming up something different to do or try, and now I get to share my ideas with the people of Greater Manchester and beyond.
First week in I decided to tell everyone my life hack of using marshmallows as a stopper for the drips off an ice lolly (you push the marshmallow up the stick to the base of the lolly and it absorbs the drips and proves a sweet treat at the end). The suggestions have been a hit and we are getting a great response…I even got stopped in the street last week by a listener who said I’d made them laugh with my ideas and they loved the VR pet I recommended in one of my chats (apparently they had got themselves a virtual dog)!
From watching the Northern Lights stream live online to trying a new snack like peanut butter spread on apple slices (trust me, it tastes great) – anything goes in my top 5.
Give me a listen and let me know what you think and if you have tried out some of my suggestions.
You’ll find me on BBC Radio Manchester’s airwaves 95.1 FM, Mondays 4.40pm
I’ve been a supporter of Prevent Breast Cancer for over 12 years now. It’s the only UK charity dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer and they do some incredible work, which is helping to save lives and working towards a future where 1 in 9 who get diagnosed with the disease become none.
When I first came onboard with the charity offering them my services and support in any way I could, I was lucky to say I had not been touched by cancer. In the past 5 years though it has dominated my life, seeing both close relatives and friends diagnosed with breast cancer and beating it but then being devastated when cancer took the lives of those I loved dearly, including my father in law Roy and sister in law Gayna.
Now, supporting this charity has taken on a more significant meaning and I am honored to be able to help them raise money with their exciting new project Sunday Night In with Prevent, a two hour entertainment show streamed live to people’s homes on August 23rd.
So, last week, after having a full 18 weeks of wearing very little make up and glam clothes due to lockdown, I put on some slap and one of my favourite frocks and turned up to Sterling Events Studios for what was a fun-filled day of filming.
My TV ‘husband’ for the show was non other than Scott Wright, you might remember him as being the rather dishy Sam from Coronation Street (he worked in Kev’s garage and was also a stripper!) Now I’ve known Scott for over 20 years…(yes really…we were clearly 10 at the time) it was fab to have him by my side and I knew we’d have some great banter, which we did!
Along with Scott we also had some other Coronation Street cast members and friends of the charity come say hello. The gorgeous Kym Marsh, currently presenting on the BBC and about to film a new drama series, treated us to a song. I won’t spoil the surprise for anyone watching but she wowed us with her voice and I couldn’t believe she said it had been 18 months since she had sung to an audience. It would be great to see her perform more in the future.
I also had the great pleasure of interviewing Sally Dynevor, Corrie’s Sally Metcalfe, who has been a long standing patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. Sally is an incredible woman who 10 years ago found herself dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer both for her soap character and in her real life. A decade on and she is thankfully fighting fit and has raised not only thousands for the charity but some much needed awareness. We chatted about some of her charity challenges and she also gave us some Corrie gossip you don’t want to miss!
To pick one highlight of the day just wouldn’t be possible as we crammed in so much entertainment, from singing, to an art challenge, dance workout and even had our own in house band courtesy of the uber talented singer Paul Pashley who gave us an exclusive of his latest track.
I must admit whilst it was a fun day it was a long one, and when everyone was saying to me at the end of the filming, ‘I can’t believe you are still smiling – where do you get your energy from?’ Well, that’s an easy answer for me, I buzz in that environment, chatting to people on screen, finding out about them for the viewer, witnessing their talents. It’s the time I come alive. I feel very blessed and lucky to be able to do a job I love .
For me though with this shoot it was much more than that, it was about filming with a team of people who have so much warmth and dedication to the charity. Executive Director of Prevent Nikki Barraclough, Phoebe Vickers from the Fundraising Team, TV production queen Linda Kelly and the wonderfully professional Saving Grace Events Director Rebecca Hartley, were all a joy to work with. I can honestly say if you watch it on Sunday 23rd August all that collective passion shines through – plus it’s a damn good night of entertainment!!!!
I know times are hard right now and we are still in a state of uncertainty with the pandemic but more than ever charities need our support right now in any way we can give it. They have been dealt a big blow over the past few months with fundraising events that they rely on being cancelled.
If you do want to support Prevent Breast Cancer and have a fun #SundayNightIn then tickets for the online event cost £20 per household and are available by clicking the link below.
Michelle Eagleton 