Ep 28: “We had a laugh ….” with James Dreyfus from Gimme Gimme Gimme

Ep 28: “We had a laugh ….” with James Dreyfus from Gimme Gimme Gimme

Actor James Dreyfus has just finished a 5 year run in the series “Mount Pleasant”. Gearoid visited him at his home in London to chat about his career which has included some iconic british comedies. He recalls his first professional job in Panto with Graham Norton. A star turn in in Jennifer Saunders’ hit series “Absolutely Fabulous” led to his casting opposite Rowan Atkinson in Ben Elton’s “The Thin Blue Line”. 

Following that he starred opposite Kathy Burke in the series “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”.  While the series was a massive ratings hit, it was panned by critics. The gay press attacked James viciously. When accepting a British Comedy Award Kathy Burke defended her friend and co-star and called out the gay press for their treatment of him. 

After the second season of “Gimme Gimme Gimme” the show transferred to BBC1 and James was approached to star opposite Bette Midler in her US sitcom as the Divine Ms. M was a big fan. 

He talks about the influence the roles he has played have had on his career and recalls the night someone in a theatre audience got the wrong end of the stick. 

James is an extraordinarily talented lovely and a very lovely man.

Ep 27: Something Positive & Hopeful with Chely Wright

Ep 27: Something Positive & Hopeful with Chely Wright

In 2010 Chely Wright became the first major country music star to come out as gay.

In this episode Gearoid talks to Chely Wright about the struggle to be authentic and the price you pay when you are not. Since the age of 4 Chely has wanted to be a country music star. At 18 she moved to Nashville to follow her dream. Her dreams came true and she achieved more success than she had ever dreamed. But in her personal life Chely was struggling. She was secretly gay and this was at odds with her profession and her religion. 

In 2007 she almost paid the ultimate price but instead decided to honestly tell her story. A secret three year plan was put in place for Chely to come out to the world. The process was documented in her multi award winning documentary “Wish Me Away”. 

Bonus Episode: #MARREF

Bonus Episode: #MARREF

Its two years since Ireland voted in favour of a constitutional change to allow gay people to marry.  It was a monumental step for gay rights. But the run up to referendum was a difficult time for gay people when even simply watching a youtube video meant you had to endure an anti-gay marriage message. 

This episode contains clips of interviews with three people you won’t have heard of who each campaigned in different ways from different perspectives. 

These interviews were recorded in May 2015.  

Ep 26: Deep Dive with Olympic Diver Oliver Dingley

Ep 26: Deep Dive with Olympic Diver Oliver Dingley

Gearóid meets athlete Oliver Dingley the olympic diver who changed nations to become the first diver in sixty eight years to represent Ireland in the Olympic games. He then made history by becoming the first Irish diver to make it to the final finishing a very respectable eighth position.

In order to compete for Ireland Oliver had to make big sacrifices.  He moved to Ireland with his coach and he lives on campus in the national sports centre.  He is by his own admission a bit of a hermit. 

We chat about the psychology of staying focussed when the world is watching, free food at the olympics and meeting his idols.  

Oliver Dingley came to prominence when in 2008 at the age of 15 he became the youngest ever British Men’s one meter springboard champion. He won the title again in 2009, 2011, 2013. In 2010 he won gold at the British cup for the three meter springboard.

Despite his success he wasn’t selected for a world cup or world championships. In Olympic trials for London 2012 he finished second. The divers that finished first and third were selected for team GB instead.

When he won bronze commonwealth games in 2014 he decided to change nations and dive for Ireland.Oliver’s commitment to his training is very impressive. He trains for 25 hours a week and has never been on a diet.  

Ep 25: The Road To A Dream with Carol Decker from T’Pau

Ep 25: The Road To A Dream with Carol Decker from T’Pau

In this episode Gearoid travels to Henley on Thames to pay a visit T’pau singer and 80s rock queen Carol Decker. We take a nostalgic look back at her glory days and chat about everything from fridges to “The Killing”.

In the 80s Carol Decker and her former partner Ronnie Rogers shared a damp flat in which they wrote songs chasing their dream of superstardom which remained elusive for six years. They endured the heartache of publishing deals falling through but always believed in their songs.

When success came it was worth the wait and their band T’Pau (named after a Star Trek character became huge all over the world) with hits like “Heart and Soul”, “China in your Hand” and “Valentine”. 

When it all ended Carol mourned her fame for a long time until she met a new manager, a new man and embraced her past.  She is now the mother of two teenagers and has forged a solo career. She reunited with Ronnie for a 25th anniversary T’pau tour and they made another critically acclaimed T’pau album. 

Carol tours regularly and has released her autobiography “Heart & Soul”.  

If you enjoy this episode please share it and leave a review on iTunes and while you are there why not treat yourself to some T’Pau! 

Ep 24: The Joy We Found Last Spring with Kelle Bryan from Eternal

Ep 24: The Joy We Found Last Spring with Kelle Bryan from Eternal

Kelle Bryan’s fascinating story is one of eternal resilience.

In 1992 Kelle Bryan went underage clubbing with her friend Louise and dramatically changed the course of both their lives. At the time they both were studying at the famed Italia Conti stage school. Louise was spotted by a record producer who was putting together an R&B band. She roped in her friend Kelle and Eternal was born. Within three years they were in the Guinness book of records with the biggest selling debut album for a UK girlband.

Shortly after that Louise left the group. Kelle remained with sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett and they were relaunched as a three-piece. The group completed 4 world tours and sold in excess of 15 million records. Eternal continued to go from strength to strength. The girls became hugely successful.

But success was bittersweet. Relations within the band were very strained and Kelle was fired by fax after the release of their Greatest Hits album. She immediately signed to a solo deal and straight away began work on an album. However recording halted when Kelle was struck down with Lupus.

Kelle has worked as an agent for the past 17 years and is CEO of her own Entertainment Agency. She continues to battle Lupus and is a patron of St. Thomas Lupus Trust. You can help her by donating at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/IGaveToKelsCoz

Ep 23: Musical Voyager with Shelly Poole (Alisha’s Attic, Red Sky July)

Ep 23: Musical Voyager with Shelly Poole (Alisha’s Attic, Red Sky July)

Shelly Poole and her sister Karen work independently of each other as much sought-after hit-writers for today’s pop acts. But their success began jointly as hit makers themselves; lining up the soldiers and shooting them all down from 1996 to 2001.

Their career began in their friends attic where their band Alisha’s Attic was born. They racked up hit after hit before consciously uncoupling after their third album.

I met Shelly in London a few months back and we talked for hours. In fact we were thrown out of the rented meeting room for massively outstaying out allotted time-slot. Shelly talked about her ferocious work ethic and the difficulty she faces in separating her life into her writing day-job and her night time passion project Red Sky July. The americana band with her husband Ally McErlaine (Texas) and Charity Hair (The Alice Band) which she describes as her heart.

She also reflects on her time in Alisha’s Attic and we struggle to come to terms with their debut being released 20 years ago today.

Whether you were tragically unaware of Alisha’s Attic or you were a die-hard Dangel-wearing FAN-ATTIC you will find Shelly a wonderfully inspiring person.  Die-hard fans can be content we did address (and perhaps put to bed) the Attic Vaults 2 debacle and we also discover the most famous Fan-Attic.

So grab a coffee and tune in to a time when it felt like Alisha really did rule the world.

Ep 22: Live From Cork Comedy Festival With Gina London (CNN White House Correspondent) & Lilly Higgins (Irish Bake-Off)

Ep 22: Live From Cork Comedy Festival With Gina London (CNN White House Correspondent) & Lilly Higgins (Irish Bake-Off)

In this special episode, food-writer Lilly Higgins and former White-House correspondent Gina London join Gearoid for the first “Fascinated – Live”. This show was recorded in front of an audience in the green room of the Cork Opera House as part of the Cork Comedy festival. Gina tells Gearoid about reporting live from the White House, fleeing Egypt and the danger of hot microphones. Lilly and Gearoid chat about (and try to start) bake-off rumours, cook-books and non-compulsory marriage.

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