Clare Teal: Week's whirlwind schedule will leave little time for writing
Huge apologies. I don't think I'm going to have time to write my column this week. I was going to write it on Wednesday but got a call at the 11th hour to take part in Celebrity Eggheads.
Radio 2 had entered a team comprising of Paul Gambaccini, Suzi Quatro, Richard Allinson, Alex Lester and now... me. I eagerly said yes, as I enjoy a good pub quiz, but as we were led onto the deathly quiet set (no studio audience) I got that horrible "I'm going to fail" feeling that first came over me during my cycling proficiency exam at the age of 11. Sadly, unlike a pub quiz, no beer is allowed on the premises. You'll have to wait 'til Christmas to see how we fared. From the TV studio, to a rehearsal with my MD to run through some brand new charts for a show on Sunday.
I couldn't scribble anything down on Thursday as we had training in the morning followed by another drive to London to perform at the Chelsea Festival – every spare minute is used to learn the new charts for Sunday. We arrived home in the early hours of the morning and grabbed a few hours' sleep before heading off again this time for Crawley to record Big Band Special. Our special guest this week was the lovely Leeds-born and bred Peter Grant. He's looking very well. At least the major roadworks on the journey home meant a bit more time to learn new charts for Sunday.
Saturday morning was a mad rush to get ready to travel to Glasgow. We'd planned to leave at 10am – we finally set off at 1.30pm. Had posh fish and chips at the hotel and an early night... didn't sleep, grrr. Sunday performance at the Glasgow Concert Hall as part of Johnny Mercer's centenary celebrations, a special concert presented by Sir Michael of Parkinson featuring Carol Kidd, yours truly and Todd Gordon. My accompanist for the evening was the lovely Laurie Holloway – originally from Oldham, Lancashire (poor fella). Monday drive from Glasgow to Birmingham to record two shows for Radio 2. London again on Tuesday before flying out to Germany on Wednesday. So I'm sorry to miss a week, but I'll be back next week with tales from Stuttgart and... Tunbridge Wells!
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
