Distinct Nostalgia

In Part 2 of our interview, Mike Grady remembers the three legends of Last of the Summer Wine - Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Brian Wilde as well as other iconic regulars like Kathy Staff who played Nora Batty and Jean Alexander who played Auntie Wainwright. He also talks about what it was like to play Barry for so many years. Photo credit: Brandon Bishop If you'd like to suggest an interview (or reunion) with a past star/stars of any soap, comedy, drama. children's series, quiz show or...

A two part interview with Mike Grady who is well known for his roles in two classic British sitcoms - Citizen Smith by John Sullivan and Last of the Summer Wine by Roy Clarke. He talks to Ashley about his time in both shows as well as appearances in Coronation Street. Some great memories of the plethora of great actors he's worked with and an uncanny impression of Peter Sallis in Part2 coming soon. Photo credit: Brandon Bishop If you'd like to suggest an interview (or reunion) with a past...

She was in 3 series of Are You Being Served and is one of the few surviving members of the cast of the hit British sitcom which was popular all over the world. Ashley has been speaking to Vivienne Johnson who played Young Mr Grace's nurse. Take a trip down memory lane as Vivienne remembers her time in the show which ran for 13 years. If you'd like to suggest an interview (or reunion) with a past star/stars of any soap, comedy, drama. children's series, quiz show or film, then please drop us...

Murray Head was suddenly thrust into the limelight in 1971 as he played the love interest for Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson's characters in the film Sunday Bloody Sunday. He had the role of a young bisexual man involved in an open love triangle with a gay Jewish doctor and a middle aged divorcee. The film saw a kiss between two men, only a few years after male homosexuality had been decriminalized in England and Wales. The movie was ground breaking and is still one of the few that has ever...

Series 5 Episode 2 Pretty Polly It's February and Florrie has to deal with a Wordle-obsessed Dotty, but they manage to chat about puppy training and polyamory. There are updates on Dotty's grand-daughter and her two mums, and neighbours, Herbert and Sukkhon. Florrie Lindsay Eavis Dotty Janice Fryett Written by Janice Fryett Edited and produced by John Fryett A Spinney Audio Production for Distinct Nostalgia About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and...

Series 5 Episode 1 Three Little Ducks Florrie and Dotty bump into one another in the Co-Op in January and have a catch-up that takes in Bingo-Lingo, sick leave, epiphanies and babymoons. Florrie Lindsay Eavis Dotty Janice Fryett Written by Janice Fryett Edited and produced by John Fryett A Spinney Audio Production for Distinct Nostalgia About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and present with their unique sense of humour and way with words. They love a...

We're talking to an absolute legend of British TV. Many will remember him from Play School, others from Heads and Tails or even just his voice. His dulcet and distinctive tones have turned up everywhere - from Super Ted to Watership Down. In the 70s he was a presenter of the YTV science show Don't Ask Me alongside Magnus Pike and David Bellamy. He appeared in dozens of sitcoms and in more recent years even landed a year in Coronation Street. And he's still working....Enjoy nearly an hour in...

Julian Holloway starred in 8 Carry On Films including Khyber and Camping, His parts varied in importance but he has fond memories of the people he worked with. He's been chatting to Ashley about the significance of the films which are still hugely popular more than 60 years after they were first launched with Carry On Sergeant in the late 50s. And you can hear lots of other comedy interviews and reunions (including other Carry Ons stars) by trawling through the Distinct Nostalgia programme...

He was one of the Carry On series heartthrobs. Brought in as a replacement for Jim Dale in two of the films, Richard O’Callaghan was famously Lewis Boggs, Kenneth Williams’ son in Carry On at Your Convenience. But what did he think of the regular Carry On team? Here he gives a candid interview to Ashley together with memories of his famous mum Patricia Hayes. The two other interviews in the Carry On Season are with Jacki Piper (Loving, At Your Convenience, Jungle and Matron) and Julian...

Here we start a special season of interviews with surviving Carry On stars. First up star of Jungle, Loving, At Your Convenience and Matron Jacki Piper. Mark Burrows talks to Jacki about how she first got into acting and how she made her movie premiere with none other than Roger Moore. Jacki reveals what it was like to work with some of the Carry On icons and how she landed a rare contract. The two other interviews in the series - Richard O'Callaghan (Loving, At Your Convenience) and Julian...

We start the New Year with a treat for the extended break - an interview with Sean Wilson who played Martin Platt in Coronation Street for 21 years. Sean has many strings to his bow as we'll find out - acting, art and cheese to name but three! Here he tells Ashley about his early acting credit in Crown Court, his professional working relationship with Jack P Shepherd, Sue Nichols and Helen Worth, supporting Warren Jackson and Adam Rickett, advice from Thelma Barlow - and a dangerous...

For the New Year break, we're playing out the latest in our Comedy Legends Series. This time it's a chat with Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais. They joined Ashley for a chat from their homes in LA during the first lockdown in 2020. Among the things up for discussion, the origins of The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. Plus Dick and Ian talk about their writing chemistry and what they felt about the Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen remakes. They elude to some new projects in 2021/22...

Distinct Drama on Distinct Nostalgia introduces a Special Comedy Drama trilogy by Carl Chetty for Christmas week. Third up Dark Centres by Carl Chetty Starring SIR DEREK JACOBI as Frankie and JUNE BROWN as Millicent with Helen Lederer and Christopher Ryan as Mr and Mrs Hamilton. And you can still hear Soft Centres and Hard Centres on Distinct Nostalgia. Trawl the Distinct Nostalgia feed wherever you get your podcasts to find the previous episodes. Dark Centres is a Carl Chetty...

Distinct Drama on Distinct Nostalgia introduces a Special Comedy Drama trilogy by Carl Chetty for Christmas week. Second up Hard Centres by Carl Chetty Starring SIR DEREK JACOBI as Frankie and IMELDA STAUNTON as Millicent Still to come - On Christmas Tuesday, Dark Centres with Sir Derek Jacobi and June Brown. Hard Centres is a Carl Chetty Production. Classic Conversations: Pop Culture Interviews Pop culture influencers, TV stars, film actors, comedians, and musicians share... Listen...

Distinct Drama on Distinct Nostalgia introduces a Special Comedy Drama trilogy by Carl Chetty for Christmas week. First Up.... Soft Centres by Carl Chetty Starring SIR DEREK JACOBI as Frankie and JOANNA LUMLEY as Millicent Soft Centres is set in a chocolate shop. It’s Valentine’s Day and there’s about as much love in this emporium as you might expect in a nest of vipers! Millicent and Frankie have been working together for more years than either of them care to remember. But in spite of...

Florrie and Dotty Series Four Episode 3 In a Flap Florrie and Dotty get a bit festive and chat all things advent-y and how women have always got the blame for things. With a sprinkling of fizzy wine and domestic uncertainty. Florrie Lindsay Eavis Dotty Janice Fryett Written by Janice Fryett Edited and produced by John Fryett A Spinney Audio Production for Distinct Nostalgia (Note: this episode contains adult themes) About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend...

He's one of the giants of Coronation Street of the past 30 years. He played Jim McDonald for 11 years and has been back around 7 times to reprise his role. But there's much more to Charlie Lawson than the Street. Here Ashley sits down for a lengthy chat with this fine actor whose career spans four decades and includes working with the legendary film maker Mike Leigh. Expect a very candid conversation as Charlie recalls his early years on Corrie working with Bev Callard, Nick Cochrane and...

Soft Centres, Hard Centres and Dark Centres will be broadcast on Distinct Nostalgia this Christmas. Cast includes Sir Derek Jacobi, Joanna Lumley, Imelda Staunton and June Brown. Written by the highly talented Carl Chetty. Listen to the preview now. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/distinctnostalgia)

Florrie and Dotty Series Four Episode 2 Hiding in Plain Sight Florrie and Dotty discuss podcasts, department stores and starting their own chat line. But what sort do they have in mind? A knock at Dotty's door changes everything. Florrie Lindsay Eavis Dotty Janice Fryett Matt Matthew Webb Nobby Billy Written by Janice Fryett Edited and produced by John Fryett A Spinney Audio Production for Distinct Nostalgia (Note: this episode contains adult themes) About Florrie & Dotty are...

Robert Gillespie starred in sitcom after sitcom in the 70s and 80s - and beyond. He's one of our most prolific comedy actors. He's worked with everyone - from Ronnie Barker and Leonard Rossiter to Tony Britton, Yootha Joyce and June Whitfield. And he has a story to tell about almost all of them. Robert was in Rising Damp, Porridge, Dad's Army, Robin's Nest and George and Mildred to name but a few. He also played the lead in the Thames TV hit Keep it in the Family which was never out of the...