Distinct Nostalgia

It was multi-Oscar nominated and its creator walked away with best screenplay. The Crying Game also won Best British Film at the Baftas. And it was ground breaking, tackling as it did race, gender, sexuality and nationality all with a background of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Full of surprises, it was an enthralling and exciting film which broke many taboos. And it had a fabulous soundtrack too. Ashley Byrne has been talking to prolific Irish film maker Neil Jordan about how it all...

Series 3 Think On! Florrie and Dotty are mixing again following the lifting of Covid restrictions. They're enjoying a cuppa in Dotty's kitchen but will they be hugging? Men are under scrutiny as usual and there's a surprise on the way. Florrie....Lindsay Eavis Dotty.......Janice Fryett Written by Janice Fryett A Spinney Audio Production A Distinct Comedy Presentation About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and present with their unique sense of humour and...

We’re usually celebrating the iconic shows of the past with the people who were there but very, very occasionally DistinctNostalgia will focus in on something contemporary we feel deserves some real attention and this is one of those rare occasions. TWO DOORS DOWN is the BBC’s hidden comedy gem. Here DistinctNostalgia celebrates a ‘current’ quality tv show starring among others, Alex Norton and Elaine C Smith. The series is written by Simon Carlyle and Gregor Sharp and centres around...

David Renwick is one of the real British comedy writing legends. He created the iconic Victor Meldrew. Over two parts Ashley talks to David about his early years and the plethora of comedies he's written. In this second programme David talks about his inspiration for Victor and how and why One Foot in the Grave endured for so long. Find episode 1 by scrolling through the Distinct Nostalgia feed wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget we've also an interview with Doreen Mantle who...

David Renwick is one of the real British comedy writing legends. He created the iconic Victor Meldrew. Over two parts Ashley talks to David about his early years and the plethora of comedies he's written. In this first programme David talks about penning sketches for The Two Ronnies and working with David Jason long before Open All Hours and Only Fools and Horses. In Part 2 the discussion turns to David's big sitcom and casting Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie for One Foot in The...

Series 2 Episode 3 Watch With Mother At last Florrie & Dotty can meet in Florrie's back yard and reminisce about great TV ads of the 70s, children's TV in the 60s, with its threesomes, and a ponder a modern meaning of Easter. Florrie....Lindsay Eavis Dotty.......Janice Fryett Written by Janice Fryett A Spinney Audio Production A Distinct Comedy Presentation About Florrie & Dotty are two ladies in their sixties who blend past and present with their unique sense of humour and way with...

Series 2 Episode 2 - Witches Don't Drown The 'girls' chat on the phone about exercise, Mother's Day and Yorkshire Tea. Then meet outside where they debate gender-based violence and wonder if we're all to blame. Florrie....Janice Fryett Dotty.......Lindsay Eavis Written by Janice Fryett A Spinney Audio Production A Distinct Comedy Presentation 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...

Back by popular demand, we've a new series of original sitcom shorts from northern gossips' Florrie and Dotty this Easter. Janice Fryett and Lindsay Eavis star as they get to grips with everything from 'permitted exercise', bending 'the rules' Bridgerton-inspired sexual experimentation, designer vaginas, Mother's Day and misogyny. Series 2 Episode 1 - Queen of Tarts Florrie and Dotty catch up in February with 'walk and talk' during permitted exercise. They chat about bending 'the rules',...

Back by popular demand, we've a new series of original sitcom shorts from northern gossips' Florrie and Dotty this Easter. Janice Fryett and Lindsay Eavis star as they get to grips with everything from 'permitted exercise', bending 'the rules' Bridgerton-inspired sexual experimentation, designer vaginas, Mother's Day and misogyny. Listen to the Tease here now. Music details "Marty Gots a Plan" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0...

He played Sinbad in Brookside for 16 years. 21 years after quitting as the loveable rogue, he’s still Sinbad to generations. Michael Starke takes questions from Ashley and NHS worker William Coughlin in a special soap edition of DistinctNostalgia. Enjoy! And don't forget Distinct Nostalgia has a plethora of soap treats in our archives. Trawl through the player where you will find a catalogue of interviews and hours of soap history from Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Brookside,...

Coming soon - in conversation with the stars of Magpie .. listen to teaser Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/distinctnostalgia)

Casualty and Heartbeat star Jonathan Kerrigan sits down for a fun chat with Ashley Byrne. The conversation ventures into his early years, his time on two of Britain's biggest drama series, being described as a heartthrob, working in the States and his musical talents. Jonathan remains one of the UK's most talented drama actors but is it time for him to try his hand at a bit of comedy? And don't forget there's dozens of interviews on DN with stars of British TV drama and film on...

Coming soon - in conversation with Jonathan Kerrigan .. listen to teaser Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/distinctnostalgia)

Alyson Spiro was no stranger to soap when she took on the role of Sarah Sugden in Emmerdale in 1994. She'd previously starred for a year in Brookside. But the role of Sarah was a special one for Alyson and here she tells Ashley all about the ups and downs of starring in a major UK tv serial. After listening to Alyson, why not catch up with other former Emmerdale actors?! - Ian Sharrock, Jean Rogers, Freddie Pyne, Deena Payne and Roberta Kerr can all be found chatting about their time in the...

Roberta Kerr has starred in most of the soaps - Corrie as Wendy Crozier, Brookside, EastEnders, The Archers - and of course as Jan Glover in Emmerdale. Roberta really enjoyed her time in the Dales because it gave her a character to really get her teeth into and explore all Jan's nuances. She's been remembering those four years in the mid 90s with Ashley. This episode of Distinct Nostalgia is part of an Emmerdale weekend double bill with our interview with Alyson Spiro being released on...

June Brown is 94 today. So to mark her birthday we're re-releasing our special drama 'Missing You' starring June Brown and Sam Barnard. And we're adding a bonus interview with the writer Richard Vergette after the show. Missing You was written specifically for June and Sam - and based on Richard's own personal experience of having a son with Down's Syndrome. Distinct Drama presents... MISSING YOU by Richard Vergette Starring June Brown MBE and Sam Barnard Produced by Ashley Byrne, Iain...

Annette Badland is a prolific character actor with an eclectic mix of fabulous credits to her name over many decades but she's probably best known (certainly in recent years) for her role as Aunt Babe in EastEnders. Here she tells Ashley about the challenges of playing such a manipulative character. Banished by the Carter family for her evil deeds but could Aunt Babe return one day to seek revenge in Albert Square? And don't forget Distinct Nostalgia has a plethora of soap treats in our...

She's one of the greats of British acting - and comedy! Felicity Kendal has been part of the fabric of British life for decades. She rose to fame in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life, alongside Richard Briers, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington. She's also well known for Rosemary and Thyme, the Carla Lane sitcom 'Solo' and a plethora of other parts over the years. Here she talks to Ashley Byrne about how it all began as well as great with memories of her co-stars. And don't forget there's loads...

Ian Sharrock played Jackie Merrick - Emmerdale Farm's early heartthrob and poster boy. He joined the cast in 1980, eight years into the show's run. Having some young blood in the show was something of a revolution and he quickly became popular with both fellow cast members and the public at large. In a special two part interview, Ian reflects on his Emmerdale days and working with some great actors including his close friend Stan Richards who played Seth. Across the two programmes we also...

Ian Sharrock played Jackie Merrick - Emmerdale Farm's early heartthrob and poster boy. He joined the cast in 1980, eight years into the show's run. Having some young blood in the show was something of a revolution and he quickly became popular with both fellow cast members and the public at large. In a special two part interview, Ian reflects on his Emmerdale days and working with some great actors including his close friend Stan Richards who played Seth. Across the two programmes we also...