My claim to fame
I want to be known worldwide but I don't think I'll ever be famous. I've done everything I can to be known but it's not always gone correctly haha
When I was 17 I got on to WOW on the Wireless (I think that was the name of the show) on 95.1 GMR taking part in a quiz-type thing. However, this was a disaster - it was the middle of May and the weather outside was knee deep in snow. I was so nervous, shaking like leaf when on the phone, Live on the radio. I got asked what I was doing later and my reply was "going playing in the snow". I felt so stupid lol. The words left my mouth and there was no turning back. They made a joke about a snowman and eventually, they ended the conversation. I can laugh about it now, but I was mortified. 🤣
GMR Logo
Well, my next attempt at fame was when I was in Higher Education (Uni). Bolton Institute advertised for students who wanted to appear in the next Prospectus. I jumped at it. Below are some of the photos which appeared in the prospectus, pamphlets, bus advertising (yes, my face was on the back of a bus), and the bolton.ac.uk web site. I was really chuffed and proud to be in their advertising.
Bolton Institute prospectus 2001
Bolton Institute prospectus 2002
Bolton Institute UCAS pamphlet
bolton.ac.uk from February 2001
Back in the 90s I became a huge fan of the TV series Red Dwarf and in 2003 I attended a fan convention - Dimension Jump X. Hattie Hayridge who plays the character Holly was there with a video camera filming various bits and bobs which were going to be included in a forthcoming Red Dwarf DVD as one of the extras. Anyway, to cut a long story short (if you're not bored already), I feature a few times in it. It actually gave me some Kudos in the fandom. I'd finally made it. Watching back, however, I find it a tad embarrassing as I sound and look weird. Although, I think we all sound bad to ourselves. Watch the video below.
Hattie's DJ Diary
I visited London towards the end of April 2018 to watch the Dubland Podcast being recorded Live at The Boogaloo. I really wanted to meet Suzanne and PJ; and of course Suzy's cousin, my hero, Chris Moyles.
Click for photos.
I gained fame and notoriety on the Dubland Podcast (Episode 100) when PJ Gallagher and Suzanne Kane mentioned me and my London Camping antics. I was really chuffed.
Skip to 6:30 for the bit about me.
I used to text into The Chris Moyles Show when it was on Radio 1 and had a few mentions, but when Chris came back on to Radio X I get mentioned on The Chris Moyles Show (on Radio X) quite a lot. That's because I tweet and text the show daily. I'm known on the show as "Regular Listener Paul." I love Chris and the team, and actually met Chris when I went to a Live recording of The Dubland Podcast. Chris did a bit on his show about me camping in London too which made my year.
Chris and me
Skip to 15:00 to 18:40 for the bit about me.
I stood as a Local Borough Council candidate for UKIP in 2019 and although I didn't win I garnered 283 votes from the electorate which isn't too bad for a first timer. I was certainly known locally. My name went far and wide and at least if nothing else, my name is higher up search engine rankings lol.
Click for photos.