News Roundup: Colin Baker stuff, Sooty latest!

Please, Lord, don't ever let me moan about my job. It's an absolute pleasure and a dream! I realised this at the weekend, when I get a text message from Richard Cadell, talking 'Sooty' stuff. And the next day, I received an email from Colin Baker, (the sixth Doctor Who), talking 'Menston Green' stuff! I let these events pass by unnoticed, because my brain was in Work Mode. But looking back, it's just pure science fiction - it's craziness! I never thought I'd ever get to meet these heroes of mine, let alone work with them! I am living in a dream world. I am blessed, and eternally grateful.

So, hello again! Just a small preface... I write these blogs partly for myself, to help me process my bizarre life. They're partly for Skerratt Media fans, (both of you!) And they're partly shameless self-publicity, because if I don't ramble on about my business, nobody will know it exists! So please forgive the occasional wanderings into PR speak.

Menston Green... out now!

What's been happening at Skerratt Media HQ? Well - I released my first radio comedy on the 25th February. That's 'Menston Green,' and it's about a strange TV soap that gets rebooted and transformed into a sci-fi nightmare! You can hear the trailer, (and buy the thing!), here. Go on, you know you want to... ;)

Promoting a project such as this is always difficult. When you don't have a PR budget, how do you reach out to people and let them know you exist?! So a big thank you to the websites and blogs that have mentioned us so far. And if you, dear reader, feel the urge to tell the world about it, please do, and I'll love you forever! I can't do this job without the support of people like you.

Also, a big wave to our first international listeners! That was exciting...

Interestingly, 'Menston Green' also stars Wink Taylor, (with whom I write 'Sooty'), and Wendy Abrahams, (Sooty's make-up artist!) Which brings me onto the next topic... Sooty series 2!

For those of you who don't know me, I write 'Sooty' for CITV alongside Richard Cadell, (the presenter), and the aforementioned Wink. The series relaunched in 2011 to reviews I could have written myself, and the show was subsequently renewed for another run of 26 episodes. Aaaaaargh - 26?! We all had a bit of a wobble, but leaned heavily on each other, breathed deeply, and drank some tea. Then we cracked on. We've been chipping away at the scripts since last October, and I'm pleased to tell you that my contribution is officially over! Unless something goes drastically wrong and Richard disapproves of the episode I penned for Matt Smith! (That's a joke by the way...)

The new Sooty DVD! It's also got Paul Daniels in it,
(no pizzas though!) 

It's going to be an amazing series, though, and nobody pays me to say that. Seriously - I am excited. Because the great thing is, me and Richard are both huge fans of the programme, and now we actually get to write the thing! And some of the episodes, (so stupidly over-ambitious!), are lifted straight from my fanboy wishlist. I can't wait. I'm just grateful I don't have to film them!

As far as I know, series 2 will be hitting the small screen later in the year, but if you can't wait until then, I hear tell that a new DVD is coming your way! From Abbey Home Media, the disc is entitled 'Sooty - The Magic Show' and will be available nationwide, (in shops and everything!), as of Monday 4th March. It comprises titles from the 2011 series, namely The Magic Show, (no surprises there!), Sooty of the Seven Seas, (written by Wink Taylor, with some awesome visuals), Poorly Soo, The Alarm System, (guest starring John Shuttleworth!), The Sports Day, and A Drive in the Country, (which has a very catchy song... oh, and the Stig!) Find it on Amazon, or combine with your weekly shop at Asda or similar. Or maybe even get it at HMV, because I really don't want them to go out of business. I love HMV!

So there you are, chums, I think that's everything. I've got to crack on with a book now, and should it ever make onto the Blogosphere, you'll be the first to know.

Onwards!