Margaret Thatcher, Dr Who, grief and good stories.

Longer version of my Journal column for 12/4/13 “We’re all stories in the end, just make it a good one, eh?” said Dr Who during his David Tennant incarnation. Though Continue reading →

Tribute to Lee Halpin-who died while making homeless film

  Some people are so alive it is particularly hard to believe they can die. I’ve written columns recently about how Newcastle’s future is in it’s young people. Often it Continue reading →

Sunderland FC’s Di Canio Own Goal

I don’t think they usually interview footballers for clubs, or issue job briefs. If they did then they could add “Being a bit of a tit is okay” to the Continue reading →

Saturday Live poem 2/3/13-Guests: Judy Finnegan & Adam of the Hearing Voices network

Distant Voices, Still Live I once wrote a poem about wanting Gordon Brown to be my Dad, but Richard and Judy were the parents I really wished that I had Continue reading →

Our Ends In The North-Saturday Live apocalypse poem

Our Ends In The North On the first day the world ended, I said “Least said soonest mended. “Sometimes these things are sent to try us.” Though in this case, Continue reading →

Voiceless Girls

Journal Column Kate Fox October 5th 2012 Jimmy It was uncomfortable viewing when one of Jimmy Savile’s friends was asked how he responded to the allegations about him. “First”, he Continue reading →

Burning Anger-The case of the charity and the crime writer

First of all, I’ll say, I wish Wearside Women in Need were not thinking of organising a Bonfire Night burning of “Fifty Shades of Grey”. I wish they’d gone for Continue reading →

Three Tiers for Stand up Comedy

The person of certainty will respond to any criticisms about the narrowness of the current stand up comedy field with pursed lips, folded arms and the statement intended to refute Continue reading →

Comedy which Kills women

From my column in Newcastle’s Journal newspaper, August 17th.   Stand up comedy needs darkness, visceral unpleasantness and naked bile and anger. And that’s just Frankie Boyle’s set. However, what Continue reading →

Gold medal for audiences

Column for Newcastle’s Journal newspaper-published Friday 10th August I am starting to get worried now. What if my newfound interest in sport carries on after the Olympics? What if I Continue reading →