This week, we bring you the final episode of series 5 of The Lonely Arts Club and what a way to finish.It was such a treat to welcome star of stage and screen, David Morrissey, into the studio. This episode was recorded at the end of 2022 when David was back in Liverpool and we were delighted to have a chat with him.During his reflections, David spoke about his time growing up in Liverpool and what sparked his passion for performing. We hear about David's journey through the arts so far and what it means to him. It's been fantastic to bring you interviews with some amazing guests this series, from Jimmy McGovern to Lady Anne Dodd, to Maria Balshaw. It's been great! We look forward to coming back with another series of inspirational interviews.This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, we speak to the Director of Tate, Maria Balshaw. Named the undisputed queen of Britain’s gallery scene, Maria attended university in Liverpool for part of her studies and we chat about what brought her to the city in the first place, the highlights of her time as a student and how her path has taken her to being the Director of one of the country's best loved cultural establishments. Available to download now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many podcasting platforms. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

Earlier on in this series of The Lonely Arts Club, we heard from writing legend, Jimmy McGovern. We had a brilliant chat with Jimmy, and naturally the conversation moved onto talking about the work that he's done with the families of those killed in the Hillsborough disaster. At the time of releasing part two of our interview with Jimmy, we're approaching the 34th anniversary of the tragedy in which 97 fans lost their lives. Jimmy speaks openly and honestly about his thoughts on what caused the disaster and how he came to be the writer of the BAFTA winning drama. You can catch up on the first part of the interview by going back to the beginning of this series. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week, our conversation takes a slightly different turn to usual as we welcome Brian Seddon into the studio. Brian is what some may describe as a horse whisperer. Brian spent 30 years in the police force and 25 of those years were working with horses, either as a mounted officer, trainer or tactical advisor. Brian tells us all about how his connection with horses allowed him to make improvements to the force and the wider community.Going back to where it all began on a beach in Rhyl to near misses at pop concerts years later and everything in between we hear about life now as an internationally renowned horse trainer and rider instructor.This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, we're joined by Mickey Starke. Best known for playing the role of Sinbad on Liverpool soap opera, Brookside, Mickey is star of both stage and screen. Martin McQuillan finds out where Mickey's love of entertaining comes from, all the different paths that his career in acting has taken him and what it was like working on a filmset with Samuel L Jackson. These are just a few of the things Mickey talks about during this episode as he recounts tails of his journey so far.This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

As the saying goes, behind every great man, there's a great woman, and this was certainly the case for comedian, actor and all-round entertainer Sir Ken Dodd. Famous for his fast-paced one liners, Ken's comedy genius meant that he became a household name, performing all the way throughout his life. And the great lady always at his side, both on and off the stage? That would be Anne. In this very special episode of The Lonely Arts Club, we're joined by Lady  Dodd who shares with us the story of her and Ken; how they met, her love for performing also and what life was like being by the side of one of the nation's best loved comedians. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

Today, we bring you a special bonus episode of The Lonely Arts Club to celebrate International Women's Day. We're joined by Zainab Alema. Zainab, also known as "Bulldozer" is, amongst other things, a rugby player. Zainab has an inspirational story to tell and we're delighted to share her story with you. The rugby pitch is where Zainab comes to life and we hear where the passion for the sport came from and what challenges she has had to overcome since entering into the sporting world. Also a mum and a neonatal nurse, Zainab is a woman of many talents. This International Women's Day, we want to thank all of the fantastic female guests that we've welcome into The Lonely Arts Club and all that they've done and continue to do for the world of culture. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

"People always said that if you had Jimmy McGovern writing and Ken Horn directing, you were onto a winner". These were the words of actress Eithne Browne when she joined us in The Lonely Arts Club earlier this series. We've already had one half of this famous duo in the studio, so it's only right that we hear from the other. In The Lonely Arts Club this week, we welcome television producer and director, Ken Horn. Ken's career in TV spans decades and he's been instrumental in many of the dramas that have been on our TV screens over the years. Line of Duty, The Diplomat, Emmerdale and of course Brookside are just a few of the TV hits that have benefited from Ken's expertise. Martin McQuillan talks to Ken about his long and successful career in television and what advice he has for anyone looking to get into the industry. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Liverpool star of stage and screen, Eithne Browne. These days, many would think that Eithne has always been a natural performer, but that's not the case. We hear how Eithne went from being a child who shied away from the limelight to a West End superstar and soap opera queen. Although luck may have been on her side just in time for the big break, Eithne also talks about the importance of working hard for what you want. From playing Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, to being Chrissy Rogers on TV soap, Brookside, Eithne shares these experiences and everything in between. After decades in the industry, Eithne shares her expert advice on facing such a tough industry and what to expect when embarking on a career in performing.This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Geoff Beattie. A well known name and face in the world of psychology, many will recognise Geoff from primetime TV as one of the original psychologists on Channel 4's Big Brother. We go right back to the beginning with Geoff, as he delves into what his childhood was like growing up amidst the troubles in Belfast. Geoff recalls situations that many could only imagine and as he takes a trip down memory lane, we hear stories that are funny and some which are clearly difficult for Geoff to talk about. Now, a successful novelist and academic, Geoff is also a Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

Rewind to summer 2022 and Liverpool is about to welcome an exciting and unique addition to its cultural portfolio. Shakespeare North Playhouse is a brand new theatre that has opened on the outskirts of Liverpool in the town of Prescot.The new theatre has been in the making for many years but who is the driving force behind its development? Melanie Lewis is the CEO of Shakespeare North Playhouse and we're delighted to welcome Melanie to The Lonely Arts Club. This week, Martin McQuillan chats to the city's newest cultural mastermind, delving into her business background and how her career so far has prepared her for such a mammoth project. We hear about how the theatre is such a positive addition to the city and the local community. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

Kicking off this season, is screenwriting royalty, Jimmy McGovern, whose career in television began in the infamous writers' room of Brookside.From soap operas to hard-hitting dramas, McGovern shares the tale of how he has become one of the nation's best known screenwriters. The storyteller behind some of the deepest dramatisations to reach our screens, the BAFTA winning writer is best known for his work around the Hillsborough disaster and the murder of Anthony Walker.We go right back to Jimmy's school days where he was already showing promise of being a writer. We go through the many twists and turns of Jimmy's career and the tough times that he's faced along the way. This is part one of Jimmy's interview in The Lonely Arts Club. We'll speak to Jimmy again later in the series when we chat about Hillsborough and how Jimmy came to write the award winning drama. Available to download from Wednesday 8th February 2023, episode one with Jimmy McGovern will be available to download from Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all other podcasting platforms.This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

On 2nd November 1982 British television was about to change forever. Channel 4 had launched and its second ever programme to broadcast was Brookside; the soap opera that liked to push boundaries, and in more ways than one. Some may say that Brookside was revolutionary; there was a team of writers, flighting to get the grittiest storylines possible on pre-watershed TV. There was a crew of highly skilled filmmakers who were bringing in the latest equipment and shooting in new  and exciting ways. And there was a passion for training young creatives; something that was rare in the industry at the time.To commemorate the 40th anniversary of one of the country's most loved soaps, we'll be bringing you a special Brookside episode of The Lonely Arts Club where we'll be chatting with guests who were instrumental in the show's success. Listeners will hear from producers, Mal Young and Colin McKeown, director, Ken Horn, writers Jimmy McGovern and Joe Ainsworth and actress Eithne Browne.Throughout the four (soon to be five!) seasons of The Lonely Arts Club, listeners can also hear from other guests who were linked to the soap opera, including Les Dennis and Roger Shannon.You can also listen to all interviews in full from our four seasons, and subscribe to keep up to date on the release of series five, coming in the New Year.Music on this episode was taken from DJ Darkstar's techno remix of the Brookside theme tune: https://on.soundcloud.com/HxcAyThis podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

To commemorate Black History Month, we've released a bonus episode of The Lonely Arts Club podcast. This instalment, features conversations with some of our most inspirational guests. Listeners can recap on interviews with arts professionals such as actress, Cathy Tyson, music legend, Chris Amoo, and BBC radio host, Ngunan Adamu. Each guest, with their unique heritage, shares experiences of working in the cultural industry as a person of colour, how communities have changed over the years and where society still needs to improve. Followers of the podcast will be excited to learn that this episode comes just ahead of the launch of season five. Stay tuned for further information of its release date!This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

For the final episode of this series of The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Neil Fitzmaurice. Neil is an actor, comedian and writer and is best known for his appearances in Peep Show and Phoenix Nights, which he also co-wrote alongside Peter Kay and Dave Spikey. The Liverpool suburb of Anfield -" just a stone's throw from the football ground" - is where Neil spent his youth and he was only a youngster when he had his first taste of performing. Enjoying the buzz that he got from being onstage, Neil knew it was something he wanted to pursue. Going from one success to another, Neil soon became a big name in the world of stand-up comedy and collaborated with like-minded peers such as Peter Kay. Forming a writing trio, Neil, Peter and Dave came up with some cracking work, and it wasn't long before the idea for Phoenix Nights was born. We chat to Neil about the crossover between being a comedian, an actor and a writer and the challenges that all three elements can bring. As the only actor to appear in Phoenix Nights, Peep Show and The Office, we hear what life was like for Neil as his career took off and what advice he has for aspiring actors, writers and comedians. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by author and screenwriter, Tony Schumacher, Tony, who grew up in Huyton, Liverpool, is the creator and writer of hit BBC drama, The Responder, starring Martin Freeman. The series took over our screens and had everyone talking earlier this year. Although admitting that learning was a huge challenge for him growing up, Tony always had ambitions of becoming a writer and although he often kept this aspiration to himself, the seed had been planted and it never left his mind.  After a run of poorly suited jobs, Tony surprised even himself when he landed a position in the police force. Thinking that was his career, pension and retirement years mapped out for him, a turbulent few years later and a serendipitous meeting in a taxi meant that the writing dream was still not over.We hear of the ups, the downs and all the gritty bits that have brought Tony to where he is now. Please note that some listeners may find it hard to hear about certain incidents that Tony found particularly hard to deal with, which also affected his mental health. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Mike Morris. Mike’s journey has taken him down many paths, mainly all routed in social justice and politics.The rural village of Rufford, Lancashire is where Mike’s story begins as he recalls growing up in the countryside. The only boy of the family, with five sisters, Mike laughs as he claims that he wasn’t spoiled by his siblings.Mike shares stories about his childhood, and his memories growing up in the countryside and then in Liverpool. Admitting that he went through a period of rebellion at school, Mike’s step into work and further education as an adult was a successful one never-the-less.During his teenage years, a strong interest in politics grew, which over time saw Mike become a political activist. We hear of his involvement in the Liverpool dockers’ strike and the anti-poll tax movement, and how his creative work became linked through writing and filmmaking.Now the Co-Director of Liverpool-based literary organisation, Writing on the Wall, Mike tells us how he came to be in such a position and what their annual festival, WoWfest has in store this year. For more information on the festival starting in May, visit writingonthewall.org.ukThis podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Johanne McAndrew. Johanne is a scriptwriter and series editor for many primetime TV shows. Johanne's impressive portfolio spans many years of working on dramas such as Holby City, Nice Guy Eddie and Hollyoaks - to name but a few. From humble beginnings, Johanne takes us through her journey of growing up in Toxteth, how she developed a successful career as a writer and becoming a Cambridge Masters graduate. Johanne shares her story of how she became to be a successful writer and what advice she has for others with similar aspirations. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, Martin McQuillan is joined by Les Dennis. Les is an actor and comedian and despite describing himself as a shy person, admits that once he caught the performing bug, there was no stopping him. Developing a successful career in entertainment has taken Les down many paths, including being one half of a comedy duo, spending fifteen years on primetime Saturday night TV and more recently finding a new love for opera. During this episode, we speak to Les about the motivation to keep developing his craft and the highs and lows of a life in showbiz. Listen to this episode now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more podcasting platforms. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill

This week on The Lonely Arts Club, we're joined by Liverpudlian actress, Cathy Tyson. Cathy's love for acting came from being in plays at school, which explains why she is still so passionate about the arts being a part of education. During this episode, we go back to the beginning where we learn about Cathy's life growing up, why her Mum was such a role model to her and how her love for the stage grew. Turning a hobby into a  successful acting career, Cathy got her big break when she was just eighteen. We hear of her journey from stage to screen and the reasons behind choosing to go back into education as an adult. Following on from her time with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cathy made her film debut in 1986 with Mona Lisa - a performance which brought her critical acclaim, giving her the opportunity to continue developing professionally in a variety of roles. Listen to the episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many more podcasting platforms. This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University. Making connections through culture. The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool. Music is by Joseph McDade.For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/iceFollow us on Twitter @edgehillice and Instagram @iceedgehill