June 24th, 2010
Nick Ross has spoken to the Sun about his experiences of being a have-a-go hero, and of his findings in making Walk on By, the Above the Title documentary about street violence for BBC Radio 4.
In the newspaper feature, he talks of how his initial assumptions about intervening in a violent situation: that the more people around to help, the more likely someone would intervene; were wrong.
Nick speaks to psychologists at the cutting edge of research into bystander theory using revolutionary techniques.
Walk on By is broadcast on BBC Radio 4, on Monday 28th June at 20.30.
The full Sun article can be found here
April 30th, 2010
The brand new BBC Radio 2 comedy show hosted by Alex Lowe (Barry from Watford on Steve Wright, Peter Serafinowicz Show, Phoenix Nights, The Late Edition, Clare In The Community) alongside a new double-act partner for the night, will be recorded next Tuesday, 5 May.
Expect characters, sketches and old-fashioned double-act banter between Alex and his new side-kick. The mystery guest for the first recording is top-secret but he is certain to make a Big Impression.
The Alex Lowe Double Act is produced by Ashley Blaker for BBC Radio 2.
April 7th, 2010
Clive Anderson is joined by Dinah Rose, Helen Mountfield and Aina Kahn to discuss the often controversial interface between English law and religious belief.
Disputes in which articles of faith clash with the law of the land have arisen over the carrying of sacred knives, employment law, adoption, gay rights and cremation.
One of the first acts of the new Supreme Court was to rule that one of Britain’s most successful faith schools had racially discriminated against a 12-year-old boy who was refused admission because the school did not recognise him as Jewish. When individuals choose to have their disputes resolved in religious courts, such as Sharia or Beth Din, what kind of oversight should the secular courts of the United Kingdom exercise?
This programme explores the extent to which secular law accommodates the “irrationality” of religious belief. Should it be more accommodating as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams has suggested?
Unreliable Evidence is produced by Brian King for Above the Title.
January 6th, 2010
Above the Title have been comissioned to bring pilot of Fare Trade to BBC Radio 2 this year.
Fare Trade is an audience sitcom starring Richard Wilson, chronicling the adventures of a suburban taxi driver with too much time on his hands.
After years of devoted service to middle management, Frank Ross (Richard Wilson) took his redundancy on the chin and, with his unquenchable desire to ‘do something useful’, is now driving for Town and Country Cars. And there’s nothing he likes more than meeting people and sharing his views - of which he has no shortage.
Fare Trade will come to BBC Radio 2 later this Spring.
October 28th, 2009
Kirsten O’Brien takes the tiller from Christian, for one week only, to bring an All-Women special edition of the Christian O’Connell Solution to Radio 5live this Sunday 1st November.
Joining Kirsten will be comedian Lucy Porter, journalist and presenter Vanessa Feltz, and Guardian Journalist Grace Dent.
Friend of the show, Vanessa, is a television and radio presenter who appeared alongside Russell Kane to help Germans become better lovers and help Gordon Brown win back The Sun. Comedian Lucy Porter (right) is a regular on television panel shows and brings her hilarious style to serious women’s issues.
Guardian columnist, Grace Dent (left), has made a career of writing about Soap Operas in her weekly World of Lather, as well as finding time to write 10 novels since 2003.
This week’s Christian O’Connell Solution’s agenda is still to be released, so check back for the latest news, or visit the Christian O’Connell Solution BBC page
Lucy, Grace and Vanessa join Kirsten in the studio from 11am on BBC Radio 5 Live.
October 9th, 2009
Top comedian and compere Stephen K. Amos joins host Clive Anderson in his Chat Room next week.
Stephen is a regular on the London comedy circuit and has just embarked on a UK tour of his show “Find the Funny”.
His Debut DVD will be released in November 2009 entitled ‘Find The Funny - Live’
Hear Stephen on Clive Anderson’s Chat Room next week. The programme will be broadcast on Thursday 15th October at 22.00 on BBC Radio 2.
Visit the BBC website to hear last week’s show.
October 5th, 2009
Joining Christian this week are three great guests; standing in for regular problem-solver, Bob Mills, is an outstanding comic, author and screenwriter, Dominic Holland, and keyboardist from Yes as well as being a king of wit, Rick Wakeman.
Dominic Holland has been doing stand up comedy since 1991 and has become one of the most regarded comedians of his generation. The Daily Telegraph noted that ‘he is a top notch stand up who everyone should see’. Dominic has made countless TV appearances, recorded an award winning series for BBC Radio 4, and has published two comic novels as well as writing umpteen articles and short stories.
Considered by many to be the greatest Rock keyboardist of all time, Rick Wakeman is also a wit - regularly appearing on panel shows including Clive Anderson’s Chat Room, and hosting his own show on Planet Rock.
Listen to The Christian O’Connell Solution on BBC Radio 5live every Sunday at 1100 or listen again at bbc.co.uk/5live
September 30th, 2009
This week Christian and Bob are joined by two stellar guest; the hardest working woman in radio and stalwart of BBC London, Vanessa Feltz, as well as Russell Kane, the writer, comedian, actor, sometime host Of Big Brother’s Little Brother and previously the face of digital channel ‘Five USA’ will be on air this Sunday at 1100 on Radio 5live.
This week the panel face an array of problems including how to get technical philistines to re-tune their digital TVs, how the PM can win back the Sun, ways to punish people whose mobiles go off in inappropriate places and how to beat bad classroom behaviour, as well as an exclusive online problem just for people checking out the Christian O’Connell 5live website.
2008 if.comedy nominee, Russell Kane has firmly established himself as one of most hotly tipped comics in the UK. Nominated for an if.comedy Best Newcomer Award - the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s highest accolade - He has also appeared on BBC One’s Live at the Apollo.
Vanessa Feltz made her name in the 90s writing for the Daily Mirror and hosting shows like Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast. She has gone on to present Cosmetic Surgery Live, appeared on the first ever Celebrity Big Brother and currently hosts the mid-morning show on BBC London.
Listen to The Christian O’Connell Solution on BBC Radio 5live every Sunday at 1100 or listen again at bbc.co.uk/5live
September 14th, 2009
Comedians Ed Byrne and Katy Brand joined Christian and Bob at the weekend for the Christian O’Connell Solution.
In the spirit of finding new and quirky solutions to the same old problems; the panel tackled issues big small and other.
To reduce the cost of Parliament by 25%, Katy suggested removing 25% of limbs from MPs who oer claimed for their expenses. To solve the endless cycle of “celebrities” marrying and divorcing, in the glare of the public spotlight, Ed called for a reappraisal of the meaning of the word ‘celebrity’ back to ‘people who are celebrated’, so at least we’d care if they got divorced.
With the news that sharing a bed
can be bad for your health, Ed Byrne suggested a cunning system of throwing a cuddly toy between single beds to communicate the desire for something more than sleep. Or if a toy wan’t available, Bob Mills suggests a hammer to be just as good.
We also came up with a new title for the ageing Rambo’s latest film, solved Sexism in the City, made the humble umbrella a bit more masculine, and solved the ailing global economy.
Listen again on the iPlayer (for up to 7 days), download the podcast, check out the Christian O’Connell Solution at 5live, or follow us on Twitter.
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In the hot seats this Sunday 25th October are two guests beset by problems. 8 out of 10 Cats comedian Jason Manford was called a “fat Northerner” by Piers Morgan and believes that Vimto and Jaffa Cakes make 2 of his ‘five a day”.