The Making of That’ll Be the Day and Stardust – Daily Mail, 28.2.23

The Making of That’ll Be the Day and Stardust – Daily Mail, 28.2.23

No-one sets out to write a film that half a century later is considered a cult movie. But I did, … read more

Burt Bacharach 1928-2023 (Daily Express 10.2.23)

Burt Bacharach 1928-2023 (Daily Express 10.2.23)

More than almost any other artists, songwriters define their moments. Burt Bacharach was such a songwriter. His most prolific period … read more

Devoted  – BBC Radio 4 (23.3.21)

Devoted – BBC Radio 4 (23.3.21)

Devoted

Writer Ray Connolly spent six months in hospital fighting Covid 19. This is the story of how he survived.

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Yoko Ono at 90 (Mail on Sunday January 1, 2023)

Yoko Ono at 90 (Mail on Sunday January 1, 2023)

Half a century ago Yoko Ono was probably the most vilified woman in the world. Believed by many to have … read more

Blue Christmas  a short story    (December 20, 2022)

Blue Christmas a short story (December 20, 2022)

Alan had never been a fan. Not like his mother. When she was 70, and still liked to go on … read more

Sam and the Monkey Suit

Sam and the Monkey Suit

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The Fancy Dress Party

 Sam had a problem. His friend Abbie was having a fancy dress birthday party on … read more

Who Killed Elvis?  (June  21, 2022)

Who Killed Elvis? (June 21, 2022)

Who killed Elvis Presley? In his new film ‘Elvis’, which goes on release this week, writer-director Baz Luhrmann makes a … read more

The Mole of Edge Hill, Liverpool – Williamson Tunnels (Daily Mail, November 1, 2021)

The Mole of Edge Hill, Liverpool – Williamson Tunnels (Daily Mail, November 1, 2021)

You can’t beat a bit of real mystery as the background for dramatic super-reality, can you? Well, that’s what the … read more

A Second Chance – The Moment That Changed My Life  (an edited version of this article appeared in The Guardian – November 17, 2021)

A Second Chance – The Moment That Changed My Life (an edited version of this article appeared in The Guardian – November 17, 2021)

A second chance – that’s what I was being given when, having skirted death during that first round of Covid, … read more

John, Me and the Lancashire Treasure (Sunday Times, April 1980)

I learned the real meaning of gold fever when I was 13 – although in my case the fever was … read more