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Welcome to Spare Times' Big Brother Special

Big Bro

Spare Times is, for the next 13 weeks, dedicating itself to all things Big Brother. If it goes on in the house, it goes into this blog, together with all the gossip, the latest BB news, who's been kicked out and who's kicked off. Our crack team of Big Brother writers, who will be spending far too much time in front of the box, will give you their views of the housemates and who they think should face eviction. And you can share your BB opinions too. So get watching, and get blogging!

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May 2007 Archives

Jazzing it Up

Posted by Jamie on May 31, 2007 4:31 PM

As you will notice in tomorrow (Friday)'s Visiter, jazz fans were out in force in Town Centre Gardens today to see the Tom Sykes Quartet get the 2007 Southport International Jazz Festival up and running.

What Saturdays (and Tellies) Were Made For

Posted by Jamie on May 27, 2007 12:14 AM

I have been a Doctor Who fan since I was about 10, and for some reason, I am compelled to commit to blogdom that tonight's episode (Human Nature) was the best by far since the series was brought back in 2005.

And there was even a gag for us anoraks. John Smith's parents, Sydney and Verity, are named after Sydney Newman and Verity Lambert, respectively the creator and first producer of the programme back in 1963.

After offering that nugget, I'm just off into my mum's cellar now to re-label my mould specimens...

Courtney's Loves

Posted by Jamie on May 25, 2007 10:58 AM

Courtney.jpg

IN TODAY'S Southport Visiter (May 25) we printed an interview with Courtney Pine, who headlines this year's Southport International Jazz Festival.

Courtney had so many interesting things to say, we couldn't possibly fit everything on to the space the printed page allows, so you'll find the whole kit and caboodle right here.

Greece (isn't) the Word

Posted by Jamie on May 24, 2007 8:24 AM

Wednesday, May 23, 2007, 7.45pm: Elated.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007, 9.45pm: Deflated.

Reservoir Blogs

Posted by Jamie on May 22, 2007 9:14 AM

Friends from Belgium came to visit at the weekend (they're not Belgian) and were keen to scour Formby for red squirrels and sandy beaches.

It's amazing how six people squinting from the sand in their eyes can inadvertently recreate the title sequence of a notorious heist flick.

Dogs.jpg

Edith Bowman Speaks!

Posted by Jamie on May 17, 2007 4:34 PM

Edith.jpg

Radio 1 were in Southport today (Thursday) broadcasting from the Marine Lake Cafe on the last stop of their Road to Preston for the big Weekender.

I was lucky enough to bag a telephone interview with presenter Edith Bowman an hour before the programme started.

Touch of the Tartan

Posted by Jamie on May 16, 2007 9:00 AM

Brigadoon.jpg

I was at Southport Little Theatre last night (Tuesday) reviewing Birkdale Orpheus Operatic Society's production of Brigadoon.

There was more tartan on stage than you could shake a spurtle at, and a sterling performance from piper Colin Hughes. Good to see the younger members of the Society getting some plum roles too.

Look out for the full review in Friday's Southport Visiter, and if you have seen this production yourself, please add your own thoughts on the show here.

It's not ZZ being a Hamster

Posted by Jamie on May 16, 2007 8:44 AM

We did say this was a blog for everyone, and by jimminy, we weren't wrong. Newsroom colleague Robert Alcock paid a visit to Southport Arts Centre on Saturday night (shouldn't he have been at a Eurovision party..?) to see ZZ Top and Jimi Hendrix tributeers The Hamsters.

Were you there? Do you agree with Rob's words?

Allow us to see Frank

Posted by Jamie on May 14, 2007 10:46 AM

This announcement just sneaked past the deadline for the Visiter leisure section, so allow me to introduce the very first Spare Times exclusive.

Frank

Comic Frank Skinner has announced a surprise date at Southport Theatre - Monday, November 26 - as part of his UK tour.

David Baddiel isn't listed at part of the fun, so there won't be any Unplanned antics with a sofa and whiteboard, but he is sure to be a big draw.

What with the Chuckle House at the Bold Hotel and the Comedy Week which lasts longer than seven days, Southport is quickly becoming the place to go for a good chortle.

Frank Skinner tickets are £20 from 0870 607 7560.

Eurobash 2007

Posted by Jamie on May 10, 2007 1:34 PM

Whatever you may think of Scooch and their airline-centric antics on behalf of Blighty at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, they have proved heaven sent for this little blogger.

It can't be long before having a themed party with your favourite chums to watch the Song Contest goes through Parliament to become law. In order to escape any possible fine, we have been doing just that over the past three years.

The whole world wide web is a stage

Posted by Jamie on May 10, 2007 1:32 PM

I am staring at a blank computer screen wondering what on earth to write as the first ever entry on my Spare Times blog.
After all, if it turns me into the digital version of Samuel Pepys (highly unlikely), it will always exist somewhere, on some hard drive, and can be recalled at the click of a mouse to embarrass me. But I shall soldier on, ignorant of future history.
You may wonder what a leisure-type reporter does. Do I don leisure wear to work - a lemon jumper, faun slacks and comfortable shoes ensemble? ('No' is the answer.)
Do I report the news in a leisurely fashion, slouched in my chair and firing off half-finished reports before catching the early bus home? ('Gracious me, no' is the answer there.)
Or do I report on the throbbing leisure scene of Merseyside and West Lancs? The big musicals at the Empire (although I still wonder why Caractacus Potts broke into jaunty song down a sewer after his kids had been kidnapped in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), the am-dram productions in Southport (and there's a lot of 'em), the audience with Ken Barlow at Crosby Civic Hall (his wife played the judge who sent Tracy 'dahn') and the bands and soloists who play and sing their hearts out across the area. ('Ooh, yes', is the answer there.)
As the weeks progress I'll tell you about the tasty arts treats coming your way, and more importantly, finding out what you think about them.
I'm only one person, after all, and lots of opinions from excited readers are far more interesting to read than just one half-asleep reporter in faun slacks leaning back too far in his chair. So, for the sake of everyone else's sanity, here's to a two-way relationship with my potential online chums.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Spare Times in the May 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

June 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.