WC SEPTEMBER 13.
Thankfully, interviews are now coming in again. I was out running on a farm track when I had a ‘phone call to say one of my all time rock ‘n’ roll heroes could well be up for an interview. It has been my ambition for nearly 40 years to interview this guy. I still can’t quite believe it.
One of my favourite comics, who broke through in the 70s to score huge success on TV and in live shows, has also agreed to do JH Meets later in the year.
I have drawn up the final list of the interviews for my next Gone But Not Forgotten CD. With the help of the young and talented IW Radio broadcaster, Tom Stroud, these are being prepared and cleaned up for release. Many of the interviews are from rare tapes. The likely list of 12 Islanders will be announced shortly. Paul Shutler, who made his designing debut with my first two releases, is again doing the artwork for the cover.
One of my all-time favourite actors of the past 30 years, with so many huge TV series behind him, is also likely to be a future guest.
I have obtained an unexpected hat-trick with another world famous singer agreeing to appear on the show, with an in-person recording, within the next two weeks.
If any John Hannam Meets listeners were unable to hear the recent Matt and Cat interview, for reasons that may have included the temporary breakdown of our IW Radio internet listening service, which has now been rectified, Matt and Cat have now put this on their own website. This will not include the music or adverts. Their website is mattandcat.co.uk
The week ended with Chris Browning, my young producer, making an unexpected appearance on John Hannam Meets. After working with me for the past three years he is now off to Cardiff University with the dream of a career in the media industry. He will be studying history.
It was a complete surprise to him. We pretended a live guest was going to join us late in the show. He was concerned with a couple of minutes to go that my secret guest had not arrived. I told him that Michael Coombes, our popular head of news, would be the stand-in, just in case. Then during an Ellie Goulding record, one of Chris’ favourites, I told him to sit down as he was the mystery guest. I think it worked well – and he is such a natural broadcaster with a great future ahead of him. He has made such tremendous strides over the past three years. So it’s good luck to ‘Ted.’