Whitechapel - Episode Two Preview

ITV have a preview synopsis and clip of episode two on their website and it is worth a look.

Whitechapel - Episode 1

The first episode of Whitechapel was entertaining enough, if somewhat gory. Not a lot of Alex: the clip that I posted yesterday had pretty much all of his appearance in it, with a tiny part a little later on. A few screengrabs below.



Episode one is available on the ITV player for the next 29 days.

Whitechapel - Clip

As I'm snowed in today and have had time to peruse the wonders of the internet, I found a short clip of Whitechapel nestling at the top of an interview with Rupert Penry-Jones from the The Telegraph. No mention of Alex in the interview, but the video clip is more fruitful and can be found here.

Critics' Circle Awards

Alex attended the Critics' Circle Awards yesterday, and here he is with winner of the Best Actress Award, Margaret Tyzack.


More pictures are available at Whatsonstage.

Whitechapel

Whitechapel will be broadcast on ITV at 9pm from the 2nd of February for three weeks. Alex plays Commander Anderson.

"A series of bloody, tragic and impossible crimes suggest someone is carrying out copycat Jack the Ripper murders 120 years after the killer first struck..." So not one for the faint hearted then.

There are more details on the ITV minisite for the programme. The press release with details of the first two episodes can be found here.

Cry Babies

In the first post of the New Year, The Stage newspaper announces BBC radio's SciFi season and that Alex will be playing the part of Dr. Rossiter (a cryogenics expert) in a play by Kim Newman, called Cry Babies. There's no news on the date of transmission or which radio station will be airing it.

Full article can be found here.

The Thirty-Nine Steps - Pictures

The adaptation of "The Thirty-Nine Steps" was broadcast last night on BBC One. It wasn't a patch on the 1935 Hitchcock film, but nevertheless a perfectly entertaining 90 minutes on a Sunday evening.

Captain Kell is the head of the Secret Service Bureau, an organisation that is contactable via the operator apparently! A few screen grabs:


Alex doesn't feature in this too much; my best advice would be not to blink!

The film is available here on the iPlayer until the 4th of January.

Amusing Chatter in the Cocktail Party

The rehearsed reading of T.S. Eliot's "The Cocktail Party" was reviewed by Nicholas De Jongh in the Evening Standard:

"Adultery, favourite pastime in plays of the period, rears an indiscreet head when Alex Jennings’s Edward, absolutely superb in his shuttered anguish, after romancing Rosamund Pike’s Celia, and Chancellor’s Lavinia own up to sexual dallying. The play shifts with mesmerising stealth into terrain of suffering and death."

Full story: Evening Standard.

The Old Curiosity Shop

BBC Radio 7 are repeating the 25 part, 15 minute full-cast adapation, with Alex narrating, of "The Old Curiosity Shop" from the 29th of December at 10am every weekday morning, with an omnibus on Sunday mornings at 8am.

The Cocktail Party

There is to be a rehearsed reading of T.S. Eliot's "The Cocktail Party" at the Donmar on December 17th, as part of it's T.S. Eliot festival.

Alex will participate along with: Rosamund Pike, Anna Chancellor, Charlie Cox, Rosalie Craig, Nicky Henson, Paul Phys and Una Stubbs. Jamie Lloyd is directing. Tickets cost £10.

How To Be An Internee With No Previous Experience

Another week, another Afternoon Play; this time in the second of a two play PG Wodehouse special, Alex will play Malcolm Muggeridge. It will be broadcast on Tuesday, 16th December on Radio 4.

How To Be An Internee With No Previous Experience

By Colin Shindler

In 1944, Wodehouse was questioned by MI5 after broadcasting to America from a German internment camp. One of the interrogators was an up-and-coming journalist called Malcolm Muggeridge. The other was Major EJP Cussen, who later became a high court judge. The stakes were high: one of Britain’s best loved authors was facing the possibility of the death penalty.

Wodehouse .....Tim McInnerny
Muggeridge ...... Alex Jennings
Cussen ..... Anton Lesser
Connor ..... Stephen Critchlow
Flannery ..... Gunnar Cauthery

Producer/director Peter Leslie Wild.

It will be available on the BBC iPlayer until Tuesday, 23rd December.

The People's Princess

The afternoon play on Thursday 11th December on Radio 4, stars Alex as an earlier Prince of Wales, George the IV.

The People's Princess

By Shelagh Stephenson

Facing financial ruin George, Prince of Wales is obliged to marry his first cousin - Princess Caroline of Brunswick. But if he had been expecting a docile partner with whom he could maintain appearances, George has seriously underestimated his wife-to-be.

George IV ...... Alex Jennings,
Caroline of Brunswick ...... Rebecca Saire
Henry Brougham ...... Julian Rhind Tutt
Lord Sidmouth ...... Chris McHallem
Lord Liverpool ...... Richard Howard
Sir Robert Gifford ...... Mark Lambert
Lady Jersey ...... Jill Cardo
Mr Majoucci ...... Nial Cusack

Director Eoin O’Callaghan.

Available on the BBC iPlayer until Thursday 18th December.

Captain Kell

Alex will play a character called Captain Kell in the BBC's adaptation of "The 39 Steps". The episode is set to air on Sunday the 28th of December at 8pm.

For more information please see the BBC Presspack article.

Exmouth Community College

Alex will be at Exmouth Community College talking to the students of Filmclub. on Wednesday, December 3 between 2pm and 4pm to talk to its members about his role as Prince Charles in feature film The Queen.

See FilmClub.

Evening Standard Awards

Alex attended the Evening Standard Awards at the Royal Opera House today. Here he is with Kenneth Cranham. More pictures of the event at Whatsonstage

Cambridge Charity

Alex will be appearing in Cambridge on 10 December in a charity event to raise money for the Vet School's Hope Appeal. Tickets are £20 each and the evening starts at 6.30 pm.

The evening is described as follows:

“Hosted by Julia McKenzie (the new Miss Marple) and featuring Brian Kay, Alex Jennings, The Classic Buskers and the A-Cappella Company, this evening will be jolly, friendly and a nice event for a local good cause. Join us for a wonderful evening - singing and enjoying the music, readings and refreshments - to raise funds for The HOPE Appeal for Cambridge Veterinary School’s Cancer Therapy Unit,” says Meredith Lloyd-Evans, a Hope Appeal Trustee and local businessman.

Suitable for company outings, families and anyone who would like to have a good time and raise money at the same time!"

For more information check: Cambridge Network

Silent Planet

Alex will be reading C.S. Lewis sci-fi thriller "Out of the Silent Planet" on BBC Radio 7 starting Monday 24 November. There are 12 episodes. BBC Radio 7

My Year Off

The afternoon play last Thursday has Alex playing one of the characters:

My Year Off

By Robert McCrum

At the age of 42, Robert McCrum, the chief editor of Faber and Faber suffered a devastating stroke. This is a searingly honest account of his experience which includes extracts from his diary and that of his wife Sarah.

Robert McCrum ...... Alex Jennings
Sarah Lyall ...... Madeleine Potter
Doctor/Dentist/
Occupational Therapist ...... Richard Laing
Paramedic/Speech Therapist/Physiotherapist……Rachel Atkins

Sound design by David Thomas; producer Karen Rose.

You can listen on the BBC iPlayer until Wednesday!

iPlayer

Thanks to Penny!

Bond, James Bond

Next Monday Alex will start reading "Casino Royal" on BBC Radio 7 in five daily episodes.

Check: BBC Radio 7 for details.

Drama Queens Pictures

The Joseph Fiennes web has some pictures of the actors on stage with their characters at the Old Vic:

Joseph Fiennes Web

Swearing and Grumbling?

Just a couple of details of Alex's performance at:
Artinfo

Solid Granite

Louise Jury at the Evening Standard has reviewed Alex's performance as solid granite block:

"Bravo to the Old Vic for presenting one of the most weird and wonderful British premieres I've seen in quite some time.

Drama Queens, the brainchild of German artists Elmgreen and Dragset, presented five remote-controlled sculptures on stage with the actors providing a live voiceover from the sidelines.

Joseph Fiennes played an abstract, angular sculpture by Sol Lewitt flirting monstrously with a Barbara Hepworth sculpture played by Lesley Manville.

Spacey himself gave voice to an infuriatingly chatty silver rabbit based on the famous work by the American Jeff Koons. Jeremy Irons played Giacometti's tall thin walking man while Alex Jennings voiced a solid granite oh-so-Germanic untitled block inspired by the German artist Ulrick Ruckriem. [u umlaut]"

Full story at: Evening Standard

Sherlock Holmes

And there is more Alex on BBC Radio 7 this week. On Wednesday at 10.15 a.m. they will broadcast an episode from the Sherlock Holmes recordings, recorded in July 1993, called "The Dying Detective". Alex plays Savage. As usual, the show. can be listened to for a week after initial broadcast.

BBC Radio 7

Drama Queens

Alex is due to "appear" in a production of "Drama Queens" at the Old Vic on 12 October. This is a Gala event to raise money for The Old Vic Theatre Trust Creative Development Programme.

For more information see: Old Vic Theatre

Sentimental Education

Well, there's more Alex on BBC Radio over the next couple of weeks. He is reading the book at bedtime, Sentimental Education, by Gustave Flaubert. Readings are availabe for seven days after the original broadcast. The first episode was broadcast on 6 October.

Book at Bedtime

Thanks to Penny!

Miss Marple, Murder and Mirrors

Alex plays Inspector Curry in an episode of the Miss Marple mysteries. The episode is called "They Do It With Mirrors", Julia McKenzie plays Miss Marple, Joan Collins, Tom Payne and Penelope Wilton also appear. The episode is due to be broadcast in 2009 on ITV1.

39 Steps

Filming has started in Scotland on a new adaptation of John Buchan's "The 39 Steps". The IMDb has Alex in the cast list, but doesn't say which part he plays. The film is due to be broadcast by the BBC on Boxing Day this year.

Thanks to Lori!

Irish RM

On Sunday 5 October from 3.00 to 4.00 pm Alex can be heard in the classic serial "The Experiences of an Irish RM". The BBC gives the following description:

"When the affable, if somewhat foolish, Major Sinclair Yeates leaves the British Army and opts to become a Resident Magistrate in turn-of-the-century Ireland, he has no idea what adventures await him. As he tries to get on with his job, he finds the locals are out-thinking and out-manoeuvring him every step of the way. He plods on, trying his very best to do his job, but finds himself frustrated by a people whose every waking moment seems dedicated to thwarting the poor man.

The Experiences Of An Irish RM stars Alex Jennings as The Irish RM and Mark Lambert as Flurry Knox. Other cast members include Marion O'Dwyer, Cathy Belton, John Hewitt, Ingrid Craigie and Miche Doherty. The Experiences Of An Irish RM was dramatised by Christopher Fitz-Simon."

Radio 4

Thanks Penny!

Candide

This Saturday BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a recording of ENO's "Candide" with Alex playing the roles of Voltaire, dr. Pangloss and Martin. The BBC press release gives the following information:

"From the opening bars of the overture, the scintillating score and succession of brilliant and witty numbers, Leonard Bernstein's Candide is an enthralling, breathtaking, roller-coaster of a piece. With its affectionate parodies of operatic conventions and forms, it was a personal favourite of Bernstein's and, from its 1956 première, he tinkered with it, on and off, for three decades.

Candide is based on Voltaire's savage satire on 18th-century institutions and manners, whose ridiculously optimistic dictum "All's for the best in the best of all possible worlds" is relentlessly disproved by an unending sequence of misfortunes and disasters, death and destruction.

In this controversial production, recorded at the English National Opera in July, director Robert Carsen triumphantly updates the often surreal action from 18th-century Europe to Fifties America, and beyond, revealing the dystopian reality of the American Dream. Westphalia becomes West-Failure; the Spanish Inquisition is transformed into Senator Joe McCarthy and the Ku Klux Klan; Venice is Vegas; Eldorado, Texas. And, in a move that nearly caused the cancellation of the show in Milan, Voltaire's five deposed kings become Blair, Chirac, Bush, Putin and Berlusconi.

The acclaimed cast comes from the worlds of musical theatre and opera: the multi-talented Alex Jennings plays Voltaire, Pangloss and Martin; Beverly Klein is the Old Lady; Soprano Marnie Breckenridge is a sparkling Cunegonde; and the title role is taken by leading British tenor Toby Spence. Rumon Gamba conducts them and the Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera."


Opera On 3 – Candide
Saturday 4 October
6.00-9.30pm BBC RADIO 3

Radio 3 - Candide

Thanks again to Penny!

Wodehouse, Second Part

This Friday Alex will be reading the second part of "Without the Option" by P.G. Wodehouse. The programme can be heard on BBC7 from 17.00 to 17.30, and for seven days after the original broadcast through the Listen Again service. Part one is still available there, until Friday.

BBC7

Jeeves - Without the Option

This Friday Alex will be reading part one of one of P.G. Wodehouses stories, "Without the Option" on BBC Radio 7. The reading will be broadcast at 5 pm and 6.30 am. The story can be heard for a week after the original broadcast through the Listen Again option.

Listen at: BBC7

Frightfest

Alex's latest film, "The Disappeared", will be shown at the Frightfest Film Festival in London on 25 August at 3.40 p.m. The festival takes place at the Odeon West End.

For more information see the Frightfest website.

There is a picture gallery at the film's website now, which has some pictures of Alex. See: Disappeared Picture Gallery.

Return of Ashenden

Alex is back reading Ashenden, Gentleman Spy on BBC7: Alex Jennings reads Somerset Maugham's series of short stories, based on his own experiences during the First World War and featuring Ashenden, recruited by the British Secret Service as a spy. Abridged by Neville Teller the producer was Eoin O'Callaghan and it was an original BBC 7 commission.

Monday to Friday at 9.30am 8.30pm and 1.30am

Saturday Review

BBC Radio 4's Saturday Review has an item on Candide. It was mentioned that BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a recording of the production in the autumn!

The review can be heard until 4 July on Radio 4.

More Candide

MusicalCriticism.com has a good review of Candide and seems happy with Alex: "Thank goodness for the sensational, suave Alex Jennings: he's perhaps the only person completely at home and relaxed with the material, which is miraculous given the challenge of the triple role he plays. As Voltaire, he draws the audience in with his ironic declamations; as Pangloss, he plays the bogus teacher to a tee; and his portrayal of Martin's deep cynicism is one of the most touching moments of the evening. His singing and diction are just right for the piece, and, in a way, it's worth going just to see him."

They also have the first picture!


Full review: Musical Criticism

More mixed feelings about the production from Edward Seckerson in The Independent, but again only praise for Alex: "It was Bernstein and Hellman’s idea that Candide’s tutor, the philosopher Dr. Pangloss, should, as a re-embodiment of Voltaire, become our master of ceremonies. Subsequent rewrites have made this more explicit and here we have the brilliant Alex Jennings slipping nonchalantly between the two – not to mention Pangloss’s alter ego, the cynic Martin, whose belief in “the worst of all possible worlds” achieves greater resonance in this production with his bitter laughing song “Words, Words, Words”. Jennings nails that."

Full review: The Independent

First Candide Reviews

The first reviews are in. Richard Morrison in the Times on line isn't happy about the production but puts brilliant and Alex Jennings in the same phrase: "a smartypants Rumsfeld-like Doctor Pangloss (the brilliant Alex Jennings, who is also Voltaire, a cynical dustman, and the night’s chief redeeming feature)".

Full review: Timesonline

Fiona Maddocks on Thisislondon.co.uk has mixed feelings about the production, but "We're tuned to Volt-Air TV with the French Enlightenment philosopher himself as the channel-flicking narrator - played superbly by Alex Jennings who, doubling as the perfectly flossed optimist Pangloss and the old tramp-pessimist Martin, stole the show."

Full review:This is London

Rupert Christiansen in the Telegraph calls Alex's performance "deliciously wry".

Full review: Telegraph

More From Toby Spence

Toby Spence has more to say about Alex in a preview in the Independent:

"In this production the actor Alex Jennings will play Pangloss. Can he sing? "Yes – he did My Fair Lady – but when you ask me a question like that, I have to ask you, what is singing?" OK, what is singing? "It's projecting words through music. Which is why actors often make fantastic singers." But has he a voice? "It's quite annoying – he can't read music, but he sings on pitch, and he's got a good ear. He's a really good Pangloss.""

The Independent

Toby Spence on Candide and Alex

The Times Online has an interview with Toby Spence on his part as Candide. He mentions Alex and the difference between actors and opera singers:

"Spence obviously can't wait. He thrives on Carsen's brand of aggressive theatricality, and is keen to work with stage actors (Alex Jennings plays Pangloss). “Every day I see him adding something, or taking something out. Whereas we opera singers arrive having made a lot of decisions, he's putty, and that's fascinating for me.”"

For the full interview see: Times Online

Candide Goodies

English National Opera has published more information on Candide on their website.

There is a short trailer on their weblog, which does not feature Alex but has information on the production. This is the first instalment. You can find it at English National Opera's Weblog.

Then there is a podcast with director Robert Carsen, conductor Rumon Gamba, Jamie Bernstein, Alex and Toby Spence discussing Candide. You can download it from: ENO podcasts.

Scarlet on Black

Alex is back on BBC Radio 7 this week, in Roger Danes' fast-moving thriller, "Scarlet on Black", set in Paris. David Calder stars as Commissaire Grosset, and the cast also features Peter Jeffrey and Jonathan Tafler. This production was fist heard in 1992. Saturday 31 May at midday and 1am on BBC7.

51

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Midwich Cuckoos

Alex's weekly appearance on BBC7 Radio will this week be on John Wyndham's sci-fi classic "Midwich Cuckoos". It was first broadcast on The World Service in 1982. It is about a mysterious force-field which descends upon a sleepy English rural village, but then vanishes. Later it emerges that all the female villagers have become pregnant and the resulting children appear to have strange powers.

This also stars Charles Kay, Pauline Yates, William Gaunt, Rosalind Adams, Ronald Baddiley and Peter Tuddenham. Wednesday – Friday at 6pm and Midnight, with a chance to "listen again" for 7 days after the original broadcast.

The Week on BBC Radio 7

A few chances to catch Alex again on BBC 7 this week.

First, on Saturday he can be heard in "Small Gods", which is part of the mini-season celebrating Terry Pratchett’s 60th birthday. Small Gods is dramatised in 4 parts by Robin Brooks and the cast features Anton Lesser, Patrick Barlow, Carl Prekopp, Alex and Michael Kilgarriff. It will be broadcast on Saturday at 6.30pm and 00.30am

Then, he can be heard in "Stolen" by Ray Jenkins. The short play is about a German archaeologist who gets involved in a race to steal Buddhist treasures from ancient lost towns along the Silk Road. With Siobhan Redmond, Sean Baker and David Tse, it was directed by Janet Whitaker and first heard in 1999. The programme will be broadcast on Monday at 10.15am, 9.15pm and 2.15am

As usual the programmes can be heard for seven days after the original broadcast on the "Listen Again" page at
BBC7.

Torture Team

On May 18 Alex will appear at the Tricycle Theatre in London in TORTURE TEAM: the people who brought cruelty and criminality to Guantanamo. Vanessa Redgrave, Philippe Sands, Joanna Lumley, Bill Hoyland, Clive Stafford-Smith and Paul Bhattarchargee will also appear. Proceeds from the event, which has been devised by Redgrave,Sands, and Nicholas Kent, will benefit the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture and Reprieve.

For more information see the Tricycle Theatre.

The Disappeared Website

Alex appears in a film called "The Disappeared". The website for the film is at: The Disappeared.

Apart from some background information you can see the trailer for the film there. The film is due to be released later this year.

Book at Bedtime

Alex is one of the readers of the Book At Bedtime from Monday 28 April to Friday 9 May from 10.45-11.00 pm on BBC RADIO 4. The book is The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. The BBC press release gives the following information:

"As she nears her 100th birthday, Roseanne McNulty faces an uncertain future, the Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, where she has spent the best part of her adult life, is soon to close. In the weeks leading up to this upheaval, Roseanne talks with her psychiatrist, Dr Grene, and their relationship intensifies and becomes increasingly complicated.

The story is told through Roseanne and Dr Grene's fictional journals, and it is at once both shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through a haze of memory and retelling, Roseanne's story becomes an alternative, secret history of Ireland's changing character and the story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, and yet marked still by love, passion and hope.

Roseanne's journal is read by Doreen Keogh and Dr Grene's by Alex Jennings."

A Dance to the Music of Time

Alex is appearing in the BBC Radio 4's classic serial "A Dance to the Music of Time", the first episode was broadcast on 6 April. You can listen to each episode for seven days after the original broadcast. To listen to the latest episode go to the Classic Serial webpage.

Thanks to Penny for all the radio news!

Archers

Alex appeared on the Archers all of last week, playing a barrister in the trial. The trial isn't over yet, so he might appear again this week. Last week's episodes can be downloaded as podcasts from the BBC Archers webpage.

Hancock and Joan - The Reviews

Robert Hanks in the Independent was not impressed by the play but he was impressed by Alex's performance: "Ken Stott and Alex Jennings played Hancock and Le Mesurier, neither of them looking remotely the part, but both managing at times to evoke them quite beautifully. I especially liked Jennings's impression of that self-depreciating wave of the hand Le Mesurier did: such a distinctive gesture, but so hard to pin down, a matter of angle and speed that you could never measure."

David Belcher in The Herald was less impressed by Alex: "John Le Mesurier was the good old boy whom Joan married but didn't truly fall for, unluckily for him. Unluckily for us, Alex Jennings didn't get very far beyond providing a pallid impersonation of the languid Dad's Army star, an innate gentleman who chose not to kick up a bally fuss about having his heart broken by his best pal's theft of his wife because he simply loved them both, don't you know."

Goldfish Girl

This Wednesday, 2 April, Alex appears with Juliet Stevenson in the play "Goldfish Girl" on BBC Radio 4. The Publicity Department gives the following synpsis:

"What if you couldn't remember a single minute of the 10 years you'd spent with the love of your life? Goldfish Girl, by Peter Souter, is a romantic and tender play. A husband slowly leads his amnesiac wife, who is lying in a hospital bed recovering from a brain injury, through the story of their passionate love affair and on to the terrible and tragic reason that they are no longer together.

The journey he takes her on, day after day, is to help her recover – but he knows that recovery will inevitably lead to his ultimate rejection."

Whitechapel

According to the IMDb Alex is working on a three-part thriller for ITV called "Whitechapel". He plays the part of Commander Anderson, other parts are played by Rupert Penry-Jones, Philip Davis, Johnny Harris, Steve Pemberton. The release date says 2008, other websites say it is part of ITV's autumn schedule. The series is about a modern day Jack the Ripper.

Candide Trailer

The ENO have posted a Candide trailer on their weblog. You can find it at the: ENO weblog. The trailer gives a sense of the production.

The ENO have also set up a website for the production. There is an image gallery with images from earlier productions and there is a competition to win tickets to the opening night.

Candide website.

Failure Is Not an Option

Tonight Alex plays the role of Vincent, the Commons Whip, in the BBC serial "10 Days to War".

Hancock and Joan

Alex plays the role of John Le Mesurier in a BBC4 drama on the relationship between Joan Le Mesurier and Tony Hancock. It's an episode in the series "The Curse of Comedy" called "Hancock and Joan". Broadcast date is Wednesday March 26, Ken Stott plays Hancock, Maxine Peake plays Joan. More information on:

BBC 4

Memory

Last Sunday 2 March Alex was one of the readers in the BBC Radio 3 broadcast "Memory", one in the "Words & Music" series. He reads works by D.H. Lawrence, Seamus Heaney, Billy Collins, Kenneth Grahame. Ted Hughes, Patrick Kavanagh and Philip Larkin.

The programme is available on the website for 7 days after the broadcast at Listen Again.

Rapunzel

BBC Northern Ireland has created a mini-site for the fairy tale 'Rapunzel', which was broadcast last January. It has this nice picture of Alex in his role as "smoothie" Roger Bateman.

The website: BBC Northern Ireland

10 Days to War

Alex will appear in an episode of a new series of short dramas to be broadcast on BBC2 over the next couple of weeks. The series starts on Monday 10 March, Alex appears in episode 7, "Failure Is Not an Option", on Tuesday March 18. The series deals with the run-up to the war in Iraq.

More information on:BBC website

Blinded By the Sun

From Saturday 8 March Alex stars with Harriet Walter in a new radio version in 4 parts of an award-winning play about scientific fraud by Stephen Poliakoff on BBC 4 at 14.30.

For more information check the BBC Press Release

Still Life

Owen from London went to see the reading of "Still Life" at the National Theatre in which Alex played/read Alec last January. His personal review is at:

Plastic Bag

Cranford - Behind the Scenes

A picture of Alex waiting to start his scene is at:

Judi Dench fansite

Cranford - Last episode

Penny has provided some more pictures, thanks again!

Alex Plays Voltaire

Alex will make his operatic debut this summer in English National Opera’s new version of Candide which runs at the London Coliseum for 13 performances only from 23June 2008.

For more information and tickets, check the ENO website.

Back

Well, I´m back from a long working holiday in the far south, and over the next few days I will try and add some old and new news to the blog. If you have more, let me know!

Cranford - part 4

Penny has added part 4 of Cranford to "Penny For Your Dreams".

She has also supplied some more pictures:

Rapunzel

The BBC have announced that "Rapunzel", one of a series of Fairy Tales to be shown on BBC1 will be broadcast on January 10 at 9 pm. The story has been transferred to the world of tennis and Alex plays an ex-tennis player turned pundit.

Cranford - part 3

Penny has put up episode three, so have a look at Penny For Your Dreams

And she's provided some more screen caps:

The Nine Tailors

After reading the Ashenden stories for BBC7 last week, Alex will be back reading the Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 from December 24. It's Dorothy L. Sayers this time, "The Nine Tailors". As far as I can gather there will be ten episodes. The programme is on at 22.45 on weeknights, and can be heard for a week after the original broadcast through the website.

Cranford - part 2

Penny has put the story of Cranford part 2 up on her weblog, and she has some pictures of Alex in there.

A few more from Penny here:




See Penny For Your Dreams

Cranford in the USA

"Cranford" is to be broadcast as a three-part miniseries early next year on PBS in the USA. It will be part of the Masterpiece Theatre Classic season to be broadcast in the winter and spring. More details will be given on a new PBS website in January.

Reverend Hutton

The Radio Times Website has a special section on Cranford, with a picture of the Reverend Hutton in there somewhere, as well as episode guides, video clips and pictures.

Radio Times Cranford section


Penny has the story of the first episode and a nice series of screen caps up on her weblog, including a couple of the reverend.

Penny for Your Dreams

Return to Ashenden

Alex will be reading five Ashenden stories on BBC7 radio next week. This is a new commission for BBC7, so different from the 1991 television adaptation. The stories can be heard Monday to Friday at 9.30am, 8.30pm and 1.30am, and will be available on "Listen Again" for a week after the initial broadcast.

BBC7

Coward Readings

The National Theatre will present readings of two short Coward plays in January: The Astonished Heart and Still Life. The plays were originally written by Noël Coward for himself and Gertrude Lawrence and performed in 1936 as part of Tonight at 8.30.

Alex will play Christian Faber in "The Astonished Heart" on Wednesday 16 January and Alec Harvey in "Still Life" on Wednesday 23 January. The readings start at 6 p.m. and will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre.

For more information and tickets check the National Theatre Website at: National Theatre

Thanks to Amber!

Dombey and Son

Alex is described as a "paternalistic Dickens" in the new adaptation of "Dombey and Son", being broadcast from today on BBC4's "Woman's Hour". It is a 20-part adaptation, and the episodes are available for a week after the original broadcast:

Woman's Hour

Cranford, Episode 1

The first episode of Cranford was shown on BBC1 last night. An interesting, and sometimes funny view of nineteenth century English village life. I quite enjoyed it, but I only caught a glimpse of Alex in a couple of scenes. I hope that he will play a larger part in the next episodes. The reviews of the series I've read so far were good, and a lot of people watched it as well. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Cranford Schedule

The first episode of Cranford will be broadcast this Sunday, 18 Nov, from 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm on BBC 1.

Penny's Review

Penny saw "Present Laughter" on Saturday, and her review is on her weblog "Penny For Your Dreams". She's also put up a few new pictures. I think she liked the production, and the lead actor....

"The energy level increased quite dramatically once Alex Jennings made his entrance as Garry. His huge stage filling presence really lifts the production and from that moment, you miss Garry when he's not on stage, because he is making the play tick and providing the intensity and dynamism that's required to make the play work."

...

"Sarah Woodward was great and of course Alex Jennings was utterly marvellous as Garry. He brought out the inherent comedy in lines that are barely comic in the text and is so charismatic that you forgive Garry his womanising, vanity and self importance. He shows you the human under the handsome veneer, the lonely man in his ivory tower (though it leaks a bit in the rain)."

To read Penny's full review: Penny For Your Dreams

Another PL Review

Ray Bennett for Reuters doesn't much like the production, but: "It's left to Jennings to carry the evening as Essendine, and he does it with great flair. Flouncing, sighing or raining down invective, he pays Coward the highest compliment of acting as if his slick and empty words really mean something."

BBC7, Yet Again

BBC7 is broadcasting a repeat of Midwich Cuckoos, John Wyndham's sci-fi classic about alien impregnation overturning the world of a sleepy English village, which was originally dramatised for radio in 3 parts by William Ingram in 1982. The production stars Charles Kay, Pauline Yates, William Gaunt, Rosalind Adams, Ronald Baddiley, Peter Tuddenham and Alex and was directed by Gordon House for the World Service.

The repeat will be broadcast this Wednesday - Friday at 6pm and midnight in the 7th dimension slot.

Cranford and Fairy Tales

The two series Alex has been filming this year, "Cranford" and "Fairy Tales" are due to start being broadcast in the week of 17-23 November. Alex appears in the episode "Rapunzel" of Fairy Tales. An exact date and time has not yet been given for either, but they will be broadcast on BBC1.

Fame and Fortune

Alex appears in "Fame and Fortune" on BBC Radio 4 today:

"Frederic Raphael's sequel to the television classic, The Glittering Prizes, returns to the group of friends who met at Cambridge University in the early 1950s. The series chronicles English social life and public and private values in the last quarter of the 20th century.

1/6. Adam Morris is now a successful writer, but still as ambivalent as ever about his Jewishness. In their middle years, have the friends fulfilled their promise or sold out?

Adam Morris ...... Tom Conti
Francesca ...... Poppy Miller
M Mike Clode ...... Mark Wing Davey
Alan Parks ...... Alistair McGowan
Ronnie Braithwaite ...... Roger Hammond
Gavin Pope ...... Alex Jennings
Fran Pope ...... Jilly Bond
Tim Dent ...... Stephen Critchlow
Tory Girl ...... Georgina Rich
Rachel Morris ...... Flora Montgomery
Jonty ...... Benedict Cumberbatch
Henrietta ...... Fiona Button
Jack ...... Nicholas Chambers
David ...... Simon Greenall
Denis Porson ...... Nigel Havers
Jill ...... Harriet Walters
Giancarlo ...... Jon Glover

The play is available for listening online for 7 days after the broadcast:
The Saturday Play

Dombey and Son

The BBC will be broadcasting an radio adaptation of Dombey and Son late November. The details:

"Woman's Hour Drama – Dombey And Son Ep 1/20 - Monday 19 to Friday 23 November
10.45-11.00am BBC RADIO 4

Alex Jennings stars as Charles Dickens, with Robert Glenister (Hustle) as Paul Dombey in a radio dramatisation of Charles Dickens's novel depicting the spectacular fall of a major London trading house, dramatised by Mike Walker.

Dombey's hopes for the family firm are centred on his infant son, Paul, and Florence, his devoted daughter. However, Paul dies, Dombey's second marriage ends in disaster and the firm is ruined, and only Florence has the strength and humanity to save her father.

The cast also includes Fenella Fielding, Geraldine James, Pam Ferris, Nicky Henson, Trevor Peacock, Helen Schlesinger, Adrian Lukis, Claire Rushbrook, Katy Cavanagh and Abigail Hollick."

Baldi Repeat

Alex will appear in a (repeat) episode of the radio detective drama "Baldi" on BBC 7 next Wednesday, October 31. The episode will be available online for a week after the broadcast.

"Shelter: The murder of a homeless man links a Dublin squat with the history of art. Starring David Threlfall. Episode 6 of 6."

BBC7 - What's On

Alchemist Promotion

From our correspondent in Florida:

The promotional trailer for The Alchemist is available on
YouTube

Lori's Review

As many of the critics note, the success of a production of Present Laughter depends on the strength of its Garry, and Alex is more than up to the challenge. At Friday night's performance (the stalls nearly full), everyone around me was thoroughly enjoying the show and Alex's performance, and signaled it with loud and enthusiastic laughter. In addition, a couple of women next to me were waxing poetic over his clarity of diction -- rightly so, I think!

Everyone else has touched on the greatnesses of Alex's performance, so I'll just include three more. I really enjoyed the subtlety and variety he brought to Garry, a part which could be tiresome in the wrong hands. The righteous anger with Roland Maule (or rather, the anger with the kind of bad theatre Maule stood for); the Act Two loneliness, listening to potent 'cheap music'; the emotional intimacy with Liz and (in a different way) Monica: all of these things anchored and humanised the character.

I appreciated a few touches which seemed like Noel Coward to me, even though Alex wasn't doing an impersonation at all -- for example, his habit of throwing his arms wide to make a point reminded me of one of Coward's characteristic stances in cabaret performances (or at least the clips I've seen).

However, I also appreciated that he wasn't playing Noel Coward -- something which some of the critics seemed to want -- but instead was playing Garry. The seduction scene at the end of Act One was all the more powerful because it wasn't the more effete Coward but a Garry set up by the text. (And it was very powerful indeed!)

A great evening for Alex fans and for fans of Coward's work who don't require the baggage of the great man as well. (I say this, by the way, as a woman who proudly displays three small portraits of Noel in her study and who plays her boxed set of Coward CDs all the time.)
Fabulous stuff, wonderful Alex!

And More Reviews

David Benedict in Variety is full of praise for Alex:

Although not all the cast members are up to their sublime level, the frankly glorious Alex Jennings and Sarah Woodward sweep aside doubts about the play.

...

In a role he was born to play, Jennings makes ease look, well, easy. Despite peacocking about in a series of dressing gowns, Jennings never confuses charm and smarm; he sweeps about the stage like a cross between Rex Harrison and a well-bred wolf.

Exaggeration isn't Garry's mode of expression, it's his way of life. Leaping on top of the grand to observe himself in one of the full length mirrors lining Tim Hatley's boldly turquoise, sharply angled set, he cries "Oh God, I look 98." In fact, he's bordering on 42. Jennings, however, reveals both Garry's boyish bravado and, in the nighttime seduction scene, the mature intelligence usually hidden beneath his entertaining bombast.

Jennings' timing is so flawless he even finds space to stretch punctuation to delicious comic effect. Attempting to extricate himself from last night's love-struck ingenue, he trots out the line, "Don't love me too much, Daphne." But he halts momentarily on the comma to search for her name, indicating just how common an occurrence this is.

Full review:Variety



And Matt Wolf in the International Herald Tribune doesn't much like the play or the production:

But any "Present Laughter" stands or falls on its Garry, a role Jennings bats out of the park. Self-aware but never overly self-adoring, his aspish wit never so astringent so as to turn us off, Jennings gives us a Garry who exists within the confines of farce (Tim Hatley's set contains the requisite doors) only to realize, Feste-like, that life isn't necessarily a laughing matter.

Full review: IHT

Official Pictures

The National Theatre has put some pictures of the production up on the website:


See for more pictures: National Theatre

Live at the National

Yesterday I got to see Present Laughter for myself. After reading all the reviews a chance to make up my own mind. I had a wonderful time, laughed a great deal, and really enjoyed Alex's performance. After some of the slightly mixed reviews I was getting doubtful, but there was absolutely no need. Alex did take a slight fall towards the end of the performance and fell down the stairs. He hurt his foot in the process.

I got to meet him for a few minutes after the show and he was very friendly, taking time to talk to us in spite of his injury. It was very good to see him again! More news later.

The Stage - Review

The Stage has a favourable review of both the production and Alex:

"The part of Garry Essendine - a successful romantic comedy actor who attracts adoring young women and men in Noel Cowards’ 1942 play - could have been written for Alex Jennings. He gets the over-acting, outrage and moodiness, underpinned by the usual artistic angst, insecurity and querulousness, perfectly. The masterly Jennings can also get a laugh merely by lifting an eyebrow and turns quizzicality into an art form. Essendine is a huge Hamlet-sized role, rarely off-stage but, apparently inexhaustible, Jennings is as riveting in the final minutes as at his first appearance."

Full review: The Stage

BBC Radio Interview

There was an interview with Alex on BBC radio 4's front row on Monday, you can listen again for 1 week through the Front Row Homepage. Alex talks about "Present Laughter", "The Queen", "Stuff Happens", and about being the voice of BBC2's "The Restaurant".

Thanks Penny!

More Reviews

Michael Billington in the Guardian isnt very happy with the production, but is full of praise for Alex:

Ever since Coward played him in 1942, Garry has been seen as the ultimate matinee idol, whose impenetrable charm compensates for his narcissistic vanity. Alex Jennings, however, offers a superbly executed re-interpretation. Wrapping himself in a new dressing gown as if he were a Roman emperor, Jennings does not stint on Garry's self-esteem; at the same time he suggests he is the only truth-teller in a world of lies. He rounds on a talentless playwright, Roland Maule, with the moral fervour of Molière's Alceste. And, harassed by amorous intrigue on the eve of a tour to Africa, Jennings brutally exposes the sexual hypocrisy of his inner circle. It is a richly funny performance that confirms Coward's innate puritanism.

Full review: The Guardian



Nicolas de Jongh in the Evening Standard is less enthusiastic:

"Howard Davies, not a director whose productions have ever revealed himself to be on close terms with a sense of humour, and Alex Jennings, who clearly adores flouncing around in one dressing gown and several piques, take too old-fashioned, heterosexist and superficial a line.

The interpolation of news bulletins about war manoeuvres makes Present Laughter seem preposterously selfabsorbed. There are interesting psychological and sexual nuances that need exploring rather than concealing as Davies and Jennings contrive: Garry proves randomly bisexual rather than faithfully heterosexual, manifests dread of middle-age and loneliness.

He does break out in genuine erotic desire and anger when his business partner's adulterous wife, Lisa Dillon's vamping Joanna, attempts to seduce him and threatens his cocooned existence. He turns rattled when his male admirer, Pip Carter's unsuitably weird rather than gay Roland Maule, arrives to harass him.

Jennings, a bit mature to play Coward's forty-ish heartthrob, registers no such complexities. His comically pointed performance, like Tim Hatley's set, is sedately grand and imposing. The thin slither of the creaky plot,which shows up like an overdue limousine, does not reach climactic pandemonium."

Full review: Evening Standard



In The Times Benedict Nightingale has some doubts:

"Garry is Coward’s half-mocking, half-admiring portrait of his own sophisticated self, and we’re not in doubt of his narcissism from the moment Alex Jennings, who plays him at the National, leaps on to his piano to preen himself in the giant mirrors that line the odd, tapering, turquoise drawing room that Tim Hatley has designed for him. Nothing finally matters to him but his ego, his career and his impending African tour.

Jennings’s Garry is interestingly different from those we’ve seen in recent years: Ian McKellen, who emphasised the actor’s fear of ageing and self-regarding infantilism; Simon Callow, who suggested a surprising seriousness beneath the thespian extravagance and fruity vox; Peter Bowles, who caught a steely aloofness and an inner melancholy as well as a suave exterior; Tom Conti, who was, well, Tom Conti. For Jennings, Garry is a defensive, harassed man who comes alive when he decides it’s necessary to perform the role of the stricken lover saying farewell, or the much-abused victim of others’ cruelty, or anything that’s not the near-vacuum of himself.

Since the plot has Feydeauesque twists, with Garry using his spare room as a hiding-place for his lays – one a gurgling deb, the others respectively the wife and the lover of his two closest friends – Jennings gets plenty of opportunity to be the man who never knows when, or if, he’s acting.

Some of this is decidedly funny, but doubts intrude. For all the self-criticism, isn’t the portrait fundamentally self-serving, especially when this crypto-Coward is caricaturing and mocking Pip Carter’s Maule, a would-be dramatist of the kind the real Coward was to assail in the kitchen-sink era?"

Full review: Times


David Benedict in Variety is full of praise for Alex:

"In a role he was born to play, Jennings makes ease look, well, easy. Despite peacocking about in a series of dressing gowns, Jennings never confuses charm and smarm; he sweeps about the stage like a cross between Rex Harrison and a well-bred wolf.

Exaggeration isn't Garry's mode of expression, it's his way of life. Leaping on top of the grand to observe himself in one of the full length mirrors lining Tim Hatley's boldly turquoise, sharply angled set, he cries "Oh God, I look 98." In fact, he's bordering on 42. Jennings, however, reveals both Garry's boyish bravado and, in the nighttime seduction scene, the mature intelligence usually hidden beneath his entertaining bombast.

Jennings' timing is so flawless he even finds space to stretch punctuation to delicious comic effect. Attempting to extricate himself from last night's love-struck ingenue, he trots out the line, "Don't love me too much, Daphne." But he halts momentarily on the comma to search for her name, indicating just how common an occurrence this is."

Full review: Variety

"Present Laughter" video

The What's On Stage website has some footage shot after the opening night, with some short Alex interviews:

What's On Stage

Linda's Review

I went to see a preview of Present Laughter last night and it was wonderful. Alex Jennings was born to play this role--he was an absolute triumph. The Noel Coward play had a terrific cast--the story is that he's famous actor and a serial philanderer whose wife left him years ago, but with whom he still works along with his agent and business manager. He is unable to say no to any of the beautiful woman who parade through his life and his ex-wife and colleagues think it is time for him to change. There are always people coming and going through his studio (wonderful set) at all hours.

Liz, the wife, is gorgeous, very witty and deadpan which makes her even more funny. He has a wonderful Miss Moneypenny-type secretary who manages every bit of his life with firm efficiency--she was excellent. Women and men desire him and fall in love with him all the time, and he's actually quite a bit in love with himself but despairing that his looks are going as he reaches middle age (40). He wears wonderful clothes including the most fabulous flowing silk shawl-collared dressing gowns, worn over regular clothes (like long smoking jackets, I guess). He was droll, pouting, selfish, debonair, witty, angry, despairing, howling, laughing--he was on the stage almost the entire time in the best role of his life. His comic timing was impeccable and there were so many subtle moments of understated comedy that you would miss if you weren't watching him so closely (as I was), because the rest of the cast was also so good. He commanded the stage with the ease of a man in his prime as an actor and had the audience in the palm of his hand. It is un-missable--his best role to date.

What a treat is in store for those of you who will be seeing this play. I hope he wins an Olivier for it--I don't see how he could not!

The First Review: The Telegraph - "Impossible to like – or laugh at"

Charles Spencer doesn't like "Present Laughter", the play or the production, but he likes Alex's performance:

"Alex Jennings undoubtedly gives a virtuoso performance, delivering Essendine's great arias of self-pity with aplomb, climbing on top of the grand piano the better to examine how he looks in the mirror, and launching into testy tirades of disapproval and unearned grandeur with palpable relish. Because he is such an attractive and charismatic actor, Jennings almost pulls off the trick of making you like the character, as Coward intended, but even this actor's prodigious charm isn't quite up to that impossible task."

"Too many of the performances lack the precision and panache that Coward demands, and a couple of them are so poor that it is hard to believe this is a National Theatre production rather than the work of a struggling regional rep.

Sarah Woodward shows how it should be done, with her superbly comic performance as the actor's gruff, disapproving secretary, finding laughs that don't seem to exist on the page, and Sara Stewart has exactly the right steely glamour as the wife who finally reclaims the errant Essendine.

Despite their endeavours, the impression remains that this is a botched shot at an overrated play."


For the full review

Olivier

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Laurence Olivier a statue of him as Hamlet was unveiled on the South Bank just outside the National Theatre on 23 September. Alex took part in the celebration as one of the actors narrating the life of Olivier.

'I wanted to be Fred Astaire'

The Guardian has published an interview with Alex online, before the opening of "Present Laughter". Just a few bits and pieces:

Everything about him, from his buoyant curls to his crisp jeans, exudes youthfulness. No wonder, turning 50, he went into "a big sulk. I just don't feel it - none of us do. My kids are doing GCSEs and A-levels this year. Where did it go?"
...

Even so, Hytner is unstinting in his praise. "There are actors," says the director, "who are immediately accessible and attractive because they show you everything, and actors who are fascinating because they have secrets. Alex can do both." That's what Jennings is like in interview, too: charming, amusing, yet a touch evasive. There always seems to be something more, hidden behind his penetrating blue eyes.

...

Unfortunately, the thing he covets more than anything is a world that no longer exists: the debonair glamour of cinema's romantic/screwball comedy heyday. "Growing up, I loved golden-age Hollywood. British films of that period, too. Those are my desert island movies. You can still learn from those actors: James Stewart, the passion of his acting, never stops astonishing me. I wanted that. I wanted to be Fred Astaire, that's what I wanted."

...

Jennings recognises that he can be "a bit of a nightmare" when he's building up to a press night or chasing screen work, though his family are no longer so willing to humour him. They won't help with learning lines, for instance: "They're bored to sobs." And they won't tolerate any hint of false modesty. Flicking channels on TV recently, he came across The Queen and "put my head in my hands - and my family just
thought that was pathetic".

...


The full interview in the Guardian

The Disappeared

Alex plays Adrian Ballan in a film called "The Disappeared", due to be released in the UK in 2008. Johnny Kevorkian and Neil Murphy's low-budget film is an edgy horror-chiller shot in London. The film, recently wrapped and just gone into post-production, tells the tale of a missing boy and a father/son relationship, and is described by Murphy as compelling drama with the power of classic horror. The film also stars Greg Wise and Harry Treadaway.

Thanks to Lori!

Stolen

And Alex will be appearing on BBC 7 again next Friday, 24 August:

"When Buddhist treasures from ancient lost towns along the Silk Road are discovered, a German archaeologist becomes involved in deception and intrigue. Starring Siobhan Redmond, Alex Jennings, Sean Baker, David Tse, Ioan Meredith and Stephen Critchlow, and first heard in 1999, the play is written by Ray Jenkins and directed by Janet Whitaker."
Friday at 10.15am, 9.15pm and 2.15am

The Old Curiosity Shop

Alex is the narrator in The Old Curiosity Shop on BBC7. The first five episodes can be listened to again in the Sunday omnibus edition until Sunday 19 August. The following episodes are in the schedule.

bbc7

Double Take

The Daily Mail has some more picture of Alex meeting Prince Charles last June.

Daily Mail

Noel Coward Society AGM

The Noel Coward Society have announced that their Annual General Meeting will be held this year on Saturday 15th December. The event includes a flower-laying ceremony at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and a lunch. From their announcement:

"Alex Jennings, who will be starring in ‘Present Laughter’, has agreed, in principle, to perform the flower-laying ceremony for us this year, at 12 noon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Lunch will be held at The Ivy, attended by Alex Jennings and his wife, and will be followed by a special Coward cabaret performance by Guest of Honour, Steve Ross."

Thanks to Lori in Maine.

Bristol Old Vic

Alex was one of a group of well-known theatre actors to sign a letter to the Times expressing concern for the future of the Bristol Old Vic Company. Other actors to sign are Roger Allam, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Nicholas Farrell, Deborah Findlay, Edward Fox, Stella Gonet, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Martin Shaw, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Stewart and many more.

The letter to the Times

Perelandra

Alex is reading Perelandra on BBC 7 at the moment. The series started last Monday 23 July and there are 18 episodes. Each episode can be listened to for a week after initial broadcast.


Perelandra on BBC7

Thanks again to Penny!

Present Laughter

The National Theatre has announced more details of "Present Laughter". It begins previewing in the Lyttelton on 25 September before opening on 2 October. Howard Davies is to direct, the cast includes Lisa Dillon, Sara Stewart and Sarah Woodward.

Priority Members booking opens 27 July, Advance Members booking opens 4 August, Public booking opens 15 August

National Theatre Website

Rapunzel

Alex is to appear in BBC One's modern version of Rapunzel later this year. The adaptation is to be set in the competitive world of tennis, and Alex will play an ex-tennis player turned pundit.

For more information: Easier

Doubles?

Alex met Prince Charles yesterday during a lunch reception at Clarence House. Charles hosted the event for the Actors' Benevolent Fund, of which Alex is a trustee.

For a full report:
Metro

Thanks to Lori in Maine!

Ideal Husband

"An Ideal Husband" will be broadcast Sunday 17 June 2007 from 20:15-22:15 on BBC Radio 3. Alex will play Sir Robert Chiltern.

Radio 3

The play will be available for a week after initial broadcast.

Thanks again to Penny!

Baldi

Alex appeared in a (repeat) episode of the radio detective drama "Baldi" on BBC 7 last Tuesday. The episode is available online until Tuesday 29 May:

Shelter: The murder of a homeless man links a Dublin squat with the history of art. Starring David Threlfall. Episode 6 of 6.

BBC 7 Listen Again

Death at the Bar

In 1993 Alex appeared in an episode of the Inspector Alleyn mysteries called "Death at the Bar". I just received some pictures from that episode from Lori in Maine. So, some early Alex today.

Happy Birthday!

Alex turns 50 today. So, Happy Birthday, Alex!

An Ideal Husband

According to The Stage Alex is to appear in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband on BBC Radio 3. The production will be part of the summer season of drama and will also star Geoffrey Palmer.

Cranford Chronicles - Continued

Filming on the Cranford Chronicles started last April. David H. Betteridge took photographs when outdoor scenes were filmed in Lacock from 23 April. Alex doesn't seem to be there, he isn't in any of the pictures, but other actors, like Greg Wise, Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Barbare Flynn and Deborah Findlay are. The many pictures here do give a good first impression of the series. Lacock is a village in Wiltshire, which has been used for films and tv series before. Filming in Lacock has finished now.

See:   David H. Betteridge

The BBC itself also has some pictures of filming in Lacock on its Wiltshire site. This site also has a short video fragment of filming.

See:   BBC Wiltshire

Filming will also take place at the Shepperton studios in London until September.

And the series apparently already has an "Unofficial Fan Site" at Cranford Chronicles

Cranford Chronicles

Alex is to play the Rev Hutton in a new five-part period drama created for BBC 1 called Cranford Chronicles. The cast includes Francesca Annis, Eileen Atkins, Michael Gambon, Philip Glenister, Lesley Manville, Julia McKenzie, Imelda Staunton, Greg Wise and Judi Dench. The drama is based on three Elizabeth Gaskell novels: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr Harrison's Confessions.

The BBC press release doesn't give a broadcast date yet.

See:   BBC Press Release

Thanks again to Penny!

Nicholas Nickleby

Alex is taking part in a radio adaptation of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby on BBC 7 at the moment. He plays the narrator, or Charles Dickens, in the dramatization. The first episode was broadcast on Monday 23 April, the episodes can be heard on the website for a week after initial broadcast. There are 30 episodes.

BBC7

Thanks again to Penny.

On Chesil Beach

Alex is reading "On Chesil Beach" By Ian McEwan, the Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 this week Mon-Fri at 10.45pm. Episodes are availabe on the website for a week.

Book at Bedtime: On Chesil Beach

Thanks to Penny.

Expand This

Alex played the lead in Mark Lawson's play "Expand This" on BBC Radio 4 Last Monday. The broadcast is available on the Radio 4 website for a week, so that is until April 2.

Expand This

Radio 3

Alex recently appeared on two Radio 3 shows. On Private Passions, Sunday 4 March 2007 12:00-13:00, he chose his own music:

Sig M. Berkeley: The Wakeful Poet (from Music from Chaucer) (pub. OUP) - Beaux-Arts Brass Quintet

Bart Howard: Fly me to the moon - Frank Sinatra/Count Basie Orchestra

Bach: Schlummert ein (from Ich habe genug, BWV 82) (opening) - Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo)/The Orchestra of Emmanuel Music/Craig Smith

Marvin Gaye: Mercy, Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye

Walton: This Day is called the Feast of Crispian (from Henry V) - Sir Laurence Olivier/Philharmonia Orchestra/Sir William Walton (rec. 1946)

Britten: The Piano (from The Turn of the Screw, Act II) - Jennifer Vyvyan (Governess)/Joan Cross (Mrs Grose)/Olive Dyer (Flora)/English Opera Group Orchestra/Benjamin Britten

Stravinsky: Contento forse vivere - Con queste paroline (from Pulcinella) - Anna Caterina Antonacci (soprano)/

William Shimell (baritone)/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly

Ellington: Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue (exc.) - Duke Ellington Orchestra (rec. live at Newport, 1956)

Arnold: Concerto for two pianos (2nd mvt - Andante con moto) - Cyril Smith, Phyllis Sellick (pianos)/CBSO/Sir Malcolm Arnold

The full list of Alex's choices can be found at:
Private Passions

And Alex appeared as one of the readers on: By the Sea on Sunday 18 March 2007 22:30-0:00. Fiona Shaw and Alex read a selection of poetry and prose on a sea theme from Elizabeth Bishop, Michael Longley, Charles Dickens, John Masefield and Hugo Williams, with music inspired by the sea by Charles Trenet, Benjamin Britten, Mozart and Mendelssohn.

Alex read the following pieces:

HUGO WILLIAMS The Sea
OGDEN NASH Pretty Halcyon Days
JOHN KEATS On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer
CHARLES CAUSLEY Morwenstow
TOM PAULIN Sea Wind
CHARLES DICKENS David Copperfield
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE The Tempest (with Fiona Shaw)
JOHN MASEFIELD Sea Fever
MATTHEW ARNOLD Dover Beach

The broadcast is available for seven days after the original broadcast on:
Words and Music

Thanks to Lori!