Welcome To Lockdown Island and the thoughts of … Brookside, Emmerdale, Merseybeat and Prime Suspect 5 star, JOHN McARDLE.

 

Occupation and Brief Resume:  Actor/ writer. I’ve been an actor for over 40 years. Theatre work includes: The Crucible, Our Countries Good, Two, The Red. Lion, Bouncers, Rise and Fall of Little Voice. TV major roles in Brookside, Emmerdale, The Bill, Prime Suspect 5, Merseybeat, Out of Hours, The Cazalets, Seaforth, Cracker. Written and directed award winning short film The Duke.

 

FILMS:

Good film I’ve watched recently:  Joker, wonderful script and a great performance by Jaquin Phoenix.

One of the best films I’ve ever watched: Apocalypse Now. A brilliant film on the horrors of war, set in Vietnam.

Got to be good if he’s in it: Robert Di Nero. He can play anything.

Got to be good if she’s in it: Francis McDormand. Love her in all the Coen brothers films.

TV Series not to be missed and why: The Killing – Scandy drama at its very best.

Best ever comedy series and why: Frazier. Comedy writing at its best, with a brilliant cast.

Funniest Stand Up Comedian: Eddie Izzard. Love his surreal sense of humour.

 

MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS!!!!

3 great albums you must listen to:   Sgt Pepper. The fabulous Beatles. Blue Valentine by Tom Waits. Led Zeppelin 1.

3 songs you must listen to:  For Free,  Joni Mitchell. Kentucky Avenue, Tom Waits. All Along the Watchtower Jimmy Hendrix.

A great band/artist you need to check out and why: Anderson Pak. My son introduced me to this artiste, he’s such a great songwriter and performer.

Best artist/band you’ve seen live and why:  Led Zeppelin. Watched them at a concert in Perth Western Australia in the 1970s I was young and these guys could play!

READING MATTERS!!!!

Best Novel: Birdsong.

Best Biography:  Evil Spirits. Oliver Reed.

Best Autobiography: Brando, Songs my Mother Taught Me. By Marlon Brando.

A Single Poem to Inspire: Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.

FOOD!!!!

Your Signature Dish: Chicken thighs stuffed with mozzarella and wrapped in bacon.

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT YOU CAN’T WAIT TO BOOK A TABLE IN: The Inn at Whitewell, located in the Trough of Bowland: wonderful food and fantastic location.

DRINK!!!!!

A good recommendation to chill out with would be … Mojito because it’s a refreshing and cool drink in the summer.

ACTIVITY SUGGESTION FOR FILLING IN THE DAY WITH KIDS OR NOT (Family Audience remember): Hill walking in Lancashire.

YOUR GREATEST DIY ACHIEVEMENT THAT HAS SURVIVED THE TEST OF TIME and what made you attempt it: I made a breakfast bar in the very first house I bought in 1982: made from bricks and timber. It was still standing until they knocked the house down in 1998 (NB: this is isn’t it – CHR).

SOMETHING THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU ABOUT ME IS: I dodged the military draft in Australia during the 1970s.

HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME – when this is all over –Large villa in the South of France with a pool and my entire family.

3 LUXURIES YOU’D TAKE WITH YOU TO A DESERT ISLAND AND WHY (Nothing that might aid an escape, messaging or making contact with civilisation allowed): iPod with all my favourite music. Case of fine wine. King size bed with mosquito net.

A PIECE OF WISDOM TO PASS ON: Help others less fortunate than yourself.

ONE THING YOU HOPE COMES OUT OF ALL OF THIS : Love Peace and happiness for all.

John McArdle’s autobiography,You Never Said Goodbye,is available at Amazon online ,in paperback and on kindle.