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It's Christmas!!!!!!!This years gone by in a heart beat! It's a little bit embarrassing but from September each year I start thinking about Christmas. It's my busiest and most lucrative time of the year, without it I'd be finished! 2009 has been a troubling year for so many people including freelance Broadcasters and Entertainers who are also affected by the downturn big time! The funniest thing I read this year was a press release from a Radio Station that boasted "Our amazing new DJ is excited to work for free!" - How the bleeding hell do you compete with that? I'm old fashioned you see, I actually enjoy getting paid for a days honest work! Anywho, this year I kept my head down and my arse in the air and just followed my mantra of 'keep on keeping on!' So many of my pals have left the business this year and it's heartbreaking to see great talent have to walk away. I'm very blessed to still be working in this climate. Here's Belfield's highlights from 2009;
'Christmas with the Stars' From September onwards I start recording around 50 hours of material for syndication including; 'Christmas with the Stars', 'Belfield on Broadway' & 'A Comedy Christmas'. This season has been a huge success with headliners including Chris Evans, Tito Jackson & Andy Williams! My Network Specials are incredibly expensive to produce and this year has been really tough to make sure everything is within budget. 5 hotels & 1st Class travel don't pay for themselves! lol With most stations slashing budgets, networking, voice-tracking and generally looking for an excuse to put the travel girl on the air, it's often hard to compete! Thanks so much for all of the incredible support from the Stations & PR's. I will once again be broadcast across the UK this Christmas. I'll also be Live on 'BBC in the Midlands' from 3-7pm on November 29th and December 6th & 28th. 2009 Christmas Guests Include; Chris Evans, Tito Jackson, Des O'Connor, Andy Williams, Omid Djalili, Alan Titchmarsh, Jason Donovan, Sheila Hancock, Mel B, Donny Osmond, Jerry Springer, Jack Dee, Jenny Eclair, Michelle Williams, Coleen Nolan, Julian Clary, Alison Moyet, Sandi Toksvig, Jason Manford, Jodie Prenger, Dara O'Briain, Brian Conley, Faryl, Jane McDonald, Ken Bruce, Ken Dodd, Dave Spikey, Only Men Aloud, Tim Minchin, Joe Pasquale, Richard O'Brian, Roy Hudd, Mica Paris, Gareth Hale, Ed Bryne, Hayley Westenra, Faryl, Ben Elton, Martine McCutcheon, Marco Pierre White and many more! You can hear all of my new interviews at www.celebrityradio.co.uk It's a blast meeting my hero's and I was so thrilled to meet so many great people this Autumn. A highlight this year was meeting Chris Evans who was so gracious, lovely and a true gentleman! I'd met him before several times at BBC Western House and he's always taken the time for a chat. To get him on the programme was a real thrill. I was also loved meeting Tito Jackson for very obvious reasons. Other highlights this year include Jerry Springer, Sheila Hancock and the gorgeous Jodie Prenger who I just adore! My network programmes have been broadcast on the following stations in 2009; BBC WM, BBC C&W, BBC Sussex, BBC Surrey, BBC North Yorkshire, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Humberside, BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Oxford, BBC Stoke BBC Shropshire, BBC Cumbria, Mansfield 103.2, BBC Bristol, BBC Gloucester, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Jersey, Radio City, BBC Kent, CityTalk 105.9 and many more - Check local press for details. Thanks so much to all of the Stars and PR's for the time, continued support and kindness. Lion King Gala I was so honoured to be invited to the Lion King 10th Anniversary performance in October at the Lyceum Theatre. So many amazing people and old pals were there including Sharon D Clarke who is one of the worlds most amazing Stars. I love that woman!!! I also got to talk to the shows creators Julie and Garth and Stars including Gok Wan, Fay Ripley, Beverley Knight and you can hear all of this at www.celebrityradio.co.uk 15 Years in Show Business 2009 was a momentous year as I celebrated 15 years in Live Entertainment and Radio in September. Yep, I was 14 when I performed my first Live gig at the 'Stanton Iron Works Club' in Derbyshire - what a load of old crap that show must have been, I really should give them a refund! LOL I've been so blessed to work all over the Midlands in venues like the Royal Concert Hall, Bonnington Theatre, Newark Palace to local pubs & clubs including Arnold Labour Club, JCB Club, Phoenix Pub, Grey Goose and many more! On the wireless I've worked all over the world from Capital FM Nairobi, Capital Gold, BFBS Germany, Mercia, Touch FM, Coastline FM Spain, Century 106, Mansfield 103.2 and endless BBC Locals. Belfield's Favourite Things over the last 30 years;
The local press including the Nottingham Evening Post have written some lovely things and there was a tremendous article in my local paper the 'Hucknall Dispatch'. You can read it here. I can't believe it's 10 years since the Nottingham Post crowned me 'Mr. Entertainment Nottingham' - what a life lol. On January 14th 2010 I turn 30 - For the Love of God where did it all go wrong???? LOL I'm celebrating my Birthday by taking the family and close friends to Claridges for Afternoon Tea and then to dinner in my favourite restaurant 'L'Atalier de Joel Robuchon' in London. I'll then have a couple of weeks in Egypt to get over the Christmas tour although this year I'm more excited than ever to have the honour of working so many gigs. Thanks for all of your support in 2009 and since I started in 1994. Have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you every joy and happiness for 2010! Lets hope it's an easier year than 2009 for everyone. Email me anytime at alex@alexbelfield.co.uk Checkout for weekly updates on my Facebook page; Hear all of my best callers, gags, material and celebrity interviews at www.celebrityradio.co.uk |
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