'Worse places to live: David Baddiel opens new show in Chester
"I am quite enjoying living in Chester, it's lovely," he said. "There are worse places to spend your time and I have spent my time in some of those worst places."I really like the theatre and I really like the atmosphere around it."
Baddiel said the family theatre was "trying to do really great things".He said the theatre was accessible and fun, "and the show is that too so it felt like a good place for it".The 60-year-old is known for his past comedy partnerships with Frank Skinner which saw him star on the football anthem "Three Lions", co-written and performed with The Lightning Seeds. His new musical, based on the first children's book he wrote, with music provided by Dan Gillespie Sells, centres around 11-year-old Barry Bennet who hates his name and wishes for better parents. The show follows his journey as he makes his wish and finds himself whisked away to an alternate universe.
Baddiel said the idea for the book came from his son, Ezra, who at the age of eight asked why Harry Potter did not run away from The Dursleys and try and find some better parents."I thought that's an interesting idea, a very child idea that if you're a bit frustrated and annoyed with your parents you can find someone else," Baddiel said."It suits a musical, there are points in that story where you can feel the characters have got no choice but to burst into song."
David Baddiel's Dream Dinner Party
He said as a children's writer he still "channels the 11-year-old" inside him."I think that's true of all adults. "I can remember when I was 11, my mate had nicer food, a slightly nicer house, his parents bought him more stuff, and I wanted to live there." Baddiel hopes the Parent Agency can one day reach global audiences as he joked "then London and Broadway, there I've said it, it started in Chester"."You always hope the stuff you do is going to be a success," he added.
Additional reporting by Roger Johnson
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Jill Scott picks out England 'difference maker' as Lionesses eye Euro 2025 glory
INTERVIEW: England legend Jill Scott has lavished Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses in praise as they seek to book their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2025 with victory over Wales on Sunday Lauren James has the class to make the difference for England this summer - but Leah Williamson and Hannah Hampton are also worth their weight in gold to Sarina Wiegman. That's the verdict of Lionesses legend Jill Scott as the Three Lions bid to book their place in the quarter-finals of the European Championships with victory against Wales on Sunday. Chelsea star James dazzled in the 4-0 demolition of the Netherlands, netting twice, and Scott is adamant the 23-year-old possesses the class to fire England to glory in Switzerland. She said: "Lauren has been brilliant. She's one of those players like Kelly Smith and Fran Kirby that can make something out of nothing. "As soon as she got half a yard on Wednesday, I was up off my seat because I knew it was flying in. Her technical ability is one of the best I've ever seen in the women's game. "She's grown so much since working under Emma Hayes at Chelsea, she can be the difference but in this team, the girls do their job roles to help her flourish." Scott, who was on set at Coronation Street yesterday for the FA's Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery, was not surprised to see England goalkeeper Hampton's stunning distribution on display against Holland. The 38-year-old also had huge praise for Lionesses captain Williamson as the Arsenal defender continues to showcase her quality. Scott continued: "Hannah's pass the other day reminded me of when I went on loan to Aston Villa. "At the time, I was totally in awe of her passing, it was the best I'd ever seen from a goalkeeper. "She almost has a sat nav on her foot, I was talking about it before the game and then to see that pass, wow! "We have to give her massive credit because she's come into the tournament with the weight of being England's No.1 which is the most pressurised position on the pitch, but she's taken it in her stride. "Leah is a massive player for both club and country, she has the ability to play in virtually any position on the pitch. "She always leads by example with her performances and it reflects throughout the team." Scott remains confident the defending champions can retain the trophy, adding: "Wales have done really well to qualify for their first tournament. "Their fans have also been superb but everyone expects England to win and I believe they can make the final. "You can't overlook Spain, they play amazing football but we've got results against them in the past. They wouldn't scare me but I think they deserve respect. "This is also one of the best French teams I've seen too, they would be the two nations I'd highlight but on their day, I think England can beat both of them." Scott, who won an incredible 161 caps for the Three Lions, spoke of her pride following her involvement in The National Lottery's Big Football Day. She concluded: "I don't think people realise that the National Lottery has invested £6billion into grassroots sport, something girl's football has benefited immensely from. "I'm a massive soap fan and to come down to Coronation Street, one of the most-iconic streets in the country, was something I had to come back from Switzerland for. "The growth of the women's game is really difficult to put into words, we've now built a fanbase that will be with the Lionesses through thick and thin."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Stendhal: Twelve-year-old DJ Fionn ready to mix it up at festival
At just 12 years old, DJ Fionn says he is more than ready to perform at one of Northern Ireland's biggest independent music and arts O'Kane's passion for DJing began at just two years old after his dad gave him his first set of young musician has already turned heads with his talent on the turntables in his hometown of Limavady, and is now preparing for his biggest gig to is on the line-up at this year's Stendhal Festival in County Londonderry, joining The Lightning Seeds, Brit Award–winning singer-songwriter Kate Nash, Joshua Burnside, and one of Fionn's DJ idols, Mark McCabe. From school halls to Stendhal "My dad has always done a bit of DJing, so I grew up with it, and I used to watch YouTube videos of DJs when I was younger, and that's where it just started for me," Fionn told BBC News NI."Like my dad, I like all sorts of music, a bit of everything, but mostly I like to listen to things like house and techno and that's the genre of music I play."Fionn said one of his first "official gigs" was at Termoncanice Primary School when he performed at his school assembly hall as part of a Christmas event in front of all his classmates and teachers. He said performing at Stendhal will be his biggest performance yet and he cannot wait to take to the stage in front of a large crowd. "I have most of the set finished already, I am just tweaking the last few things for it," he said with a big smile. Fionn said that he and his family always loved going to Stendhal, and being on the billing was a real "pinch yourself" moment. Parents only told after application sent After coming across an advert on social media, the 12-year-old put his name forward to be a part of the festival line-up "I applied more in hope than anything else," he admitted. And he only told his parents, Andy and Kerry O'Kane, after he had submitted the application. Fionn said they are incredibly supportive of his DJing, provided it doesn't interfere with his schoolwork. As well as being very excited to perform his own set, he is also really looking forward to seeing Irish DJ and producer Mark McCabe take to the Stendahl stage."I really like his music, especially Maniac 2000, it's a massive tune." What is Stendhal? Now in its 15th year, Stendhal Festival, is an annual event featuring music, comedy, dance, poetry, workshops and family-friendly name is a reference to Stendhal syndrome - a psychological condition resulting in dizziness experienced by people exposed to things of great festival, which runs from 4 to 6 July, is taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm in Roe Valley, outside festival bill this year also includes comedian Ed Byrne, country singer Lisa McHugh, and electronic group The Orb .DJ Fionn will be performing on Friday 4 July on the Woolly Woodland stage, and you can see a full line-up of all the acts performing at this year's Stendhal Festival here. A number of BBC Radio Ulster programmes will be broadcasting from the festival, including a special programme with Vinny and Cate, Your Place and Mine with Eve Blair, and Sunday with Anna Curran.
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘I think he's copied me' – Stuart Broad reveals excruciating handshake with David Beckham in Wimbledon Royal Box
STUART BROAD has detailed his "awkward" Wimbledon interaction with Sir David Beckham. The former England cricket and football captains were both in attendance for Day One of Wimbledon this week and wore remarkably similar outfits. Advertisement 4 Stuart Broad was in attendance at Day One of Wimbledon Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK 4 The former England cricketer was sitting in the Royal Box Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK 4 Broad had a similar get-up to former England football skipper Sir David Beckham Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK Broad was spotted sitting behind Beckham and former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate in the coveted Royal Box. Tennis fans couldn't help but point out the similarities between the pair's respective light-tan get-ups. Broad was ribbed over the outfit clash during the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, with Sky Sports commentator and ex-England captain Nasser Hussain laughing as he said: "You copied him, haven't you?" Broad replied with a grin on his face: "I actually think he has copied me." Advertisement READ MORE SPORTS NEWS WIMBO AWAY BBC facing fight to retain Wimbledon rights with two rivals targeting deal Broad then revealed he and the newly knighted Beckham had the most "awkward" of handshakes during the lunch break. He recalled: 'When he walked into lunch, he put his hand out to shake hands. "And he's had some surgery, big sort of plaster cast or something on his hand, and it was a bit awkward." Broad was wary of having a firm handshake with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man as he recently had surgery to remove a 23-year-old screw in his arm. Advertisement JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Stuart Broad had an awkward handshake with Becks, who recently went under the knife Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK He continued: "I was sort of like, 'How firm a handshake do I go here?' 'So I ended up sort of just doing like a bit of a tappy handshake with him, which was a little bit awkward. Advertisement Stuart Broad and Cliff Richard arrive at Wimbledon "But no, it was a lovely day."
