Writes: stage, screen, print: theguardian.com/profile/nick… Talks: @BBCFrontRow @BBCLeeds Agent: @CulverAgency
UK City of Culture 2025
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Last night I told someone on here, who i also know in real life, that i really like her art.
She said she didn't even know I'd seen it.
She's great. So, if I remember, every day I'm going to shout out an artist I've come across in my career - @yorkshirepost Arts Editor 2004 -2014
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Imagine an industry that made billions for the treasury. Imagine an industry that made billions for the wider economy. An industry that literally existed to make us better humans, to create connections, to show us how to dream and remind us what dreaming looks and feels like.
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Born in Keighley. Schooled in Bradford. Came back to live here 20 years ago. Written about arts and culture in the city for @yorkshirepost that whole time. The city gave me my first chance as a playwright. It was the first place I saw theatre. Man alive. That's why I'm in bits.
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You might have seen this a few times and skipped past it. I did. Is shouldn't have. Watch it all...trust me. Enjoy the feeling in your chest.
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On the bus home through #Leeds
Sun's out, people all over, different races and types of people everywhere. Looks beautiful. This is my city. My beautiful multicultural city. Not the city of those scumbags marching here yesterday. This is my Leeds. Proud to be #Yorkshire again.
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The @yorkshirepost has turned the comments off on the Facebook post of the story about #Azeem #Rafiq
In case you were wondering.
And that's why he's doing what he's doing. Brave, brave man.
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I might have done my last show of 2020 @BBCLeeds but I'm not quite finished yet...
I'm back presenting Front Row @BBCRadio4 tonight at 7.15pm!
And I'm doing it from Big School!
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Oh Thank the Lord!!!! I can Finally stop worrying about being publicly biased.
YES!!! BRADFORD!!!!!!! #Bradford2025 #UKCityofCulture2025 !!!!
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SO excited to be able to finally share...I'm a writer on this series! Spent the last couple of years working with the Most incredibly talented team led by the generous, inspiring, genius creators Sam and Jon.
It's gonna be amazing!
And I've co-written one of the episodes!
🎬 BAFTA-nominated Leila Farzad and Andrew Buchan lead the cast of new BBC thriller Better. Filming has begun in Leeds on the story of a woman’s epic battle towards redemption, to reclaim the honour and honesty she handed over to a man many years ago
More: bbc.in/3rJisAR
ALT Leila Farzad rests her chin on her hand. She wears a dark top and her dark hair hangs loose.
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Hey team Bradford! I'm bigging up the city in today's Daily Telegraph with shout outs for @Common_WealthHQ @TiM_Bfd @bradford2025
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Theatre makes dreamers of us all. We need dreamers now to imagine a way to save them from the effects of Covid.
It's such an important industry, one we're going to lose.
We're going to have to stand and watch it disappear over a cliff edge if nothing is done - now.
#THEATRE
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I was thinking of quitting the Yorkshire Post this week.
My column @yorkshirepost
today.
yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opi…
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I'm the @yorkshirepost theatre correspondent and a playwright. Before I was that, i was a mixed race working class Northern boy. Theatre opened its doors and changed my life. It needs to be there to change the lives of others in future.
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Holy, gosh darn moly.
The news is out!
I am Unbelievably proud to be adapting this incredibly important story for the stage.
Rose Theatre announces spring 2024 season including The Boy at the Back of the Class world premiere whatsonstage.com/news/rose-t…
ALT Artwork for The Boy at the Back of the Class
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Bradford peeps - I recently found out you can edit your location on Twitter. Can I suggest you change it to what I've now got too! #CityofCulture2025 #Bradford2025
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This is announced today.
More than a little excited about this!!
Thank you to all the brilliant writers who entered this year's #RedPlanetPrize in partnership with @ITV Drama!
We are thrilled to announce @genevievebarr as this year’s winner & @NickAhad as runner-up. Congratulations!
Find out about the writers here: bit.ly/3gL0be4
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I was thinking about Andrew last night and realised that what's now been lost is not just Andrew The Presenter.
It's Andrew the Mentor and the future presenters he would have shaped and guided and to whom he would have been the very best example.
Just look at the replies and see
Happy Sunday and farewell! 👋
Looking forward with mixed emotions to Sunday breakfast 6-10am 📻
My 1st @BBCLeeds breakfast show was 12/10/93 🎙️
30 years later, 5/11/23, this guy is going out with a bang …💥
Thank YOU for listening 🙏
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Imagine an industry that made us famous across the world, that brought people from around the world to the UK. Imagine an industry that told young people that their stories, their voices, matter, whoever they are.
Imagine an industry that made money and made hearts swell.
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What a privilege it's been to share the Radio Leeds airwaves with this - a word not used lightly - legend.
His leaving the building leaves a void that won't be filled. An exemplar of how to do it, with more integrity, honour & kindness than you'll ever find in this industry.
Happy Sunday and farewell! 👋
Looking forward with mixed emotions to Sunday breakfast 6-10am 📻
My 1st @BBCLeeds breakfast show was 12/10/93 🎙️
30 years later, 5/11/23, this guy is going out with a bang …💥
Thank YOU for listening 🙏
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Imagine an industry that made something that helped children and adults walk taller and believe in themselves. Imagine an industry that allowed you to "walk a mile in another person's shoes", the way Atticus Finch told us to.
Imagine that? It exists. It's dying. It's theatre.
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Walking through Bradford with my producer yesterday I said: "Want to see the most beautiful bookshop in the country?"
Her reaction was as expected and the welcome @WaterstonesBD1 was Yorkshire warm!
Also showed off this stand with Bradford talent @aadhand @SaimaMir @itsanitarani
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Can you imagine letting that industry just die? Just letting it go? Why would you do that? Let it die? In Manchester @rxtheatre is in immediate danger. Today it's Manchester. In recent weeks it's been Northampton, Plymouth, Newcastle - it's coming to a theatre near you.
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Hearing @LeedsPlayhouse name checked on @BBCBreakfast by Culture secretary making me cheer a little from the sofa! Still cautious and concerned about the industry...but just hearing a Yorkshire theatre mentioned sounds good.
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Well. I said it @BBCLeeds this morning. Build it and they will come and all that. #Bradford putting culture at its heart...and smashing it out of the (City) park. Even the weather couldn't ruin it! #BradfordIsLit
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Nine years ago today I presented a radio show for the first time ever @BBCLeeds!
Celebrating by presenting Front Row @BBCRadio4 tonight live from big school!
#Howitstarted
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Colleagues @BBCLeeds @BBCLookNorth @JayMitchinson @yorkshirepost
This is the train out of Leeds to Halifax, Bradford, New Pudsey at 17.42...This busy 12 minutes BEFORE it's due to leave. Three trains on that route cancelled in the last half hour @northernassist
#LevellingUp
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It doesn't have to die.
It doesn't make sense to let it die.
To let it disappear is an act of the most horrific, wanton neglect that will make us all so, so much poorer.
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On the train heading to That London for Day One of rehearsals for my stage adaptation #TheBoyAtTheBackOfTheClass
After spending two years on the script cannot wait to see the talented cast bring it to life!!
This Blackpool bus seems excited too.
Tickets: theboyatthebackoftheclass.co…
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I don't be sharing opinions so much here these days.
But.
People who've been on the receiving end of racism... get to comment on who and what is racist.
And guess what? We don't have to explain. If we say it is, it is.
Anyone else? In your box, trap shut, lugholes open.
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I once interview Brian Blessed for @yorkshirepost
I asked two questions in 28 minutes.
My first question came 19 minutes in. He spoke for 19 minutes before I asked my first question.
The most Brian Blessed person I've ever met. Nobody is more Brian Blessed than him.
WATCH: As England's Lionesses prepare for their World Cup semi final clash against Australia, actor Brian Blessed delivers a rousing - and LOUD - rendition of Three Lions to stir the squad into action
#Newsnight #ItsComingHome #England | bbc.in/2Ps915G
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It's always exciting to be able to share that I'm presenting Front Row on Radio 4 - which I am this Wednesday - but get this #Yorkshire and #Bradford folk - the programme will include my postcard from Bradford which we're recording today! So.. @bradford2025
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Just had a lovely chat with Shane Meadows and Michael Socha about #TheGallowsPole for tonight's Front Row.
Delighted to be able to share with them that the first 14 minutes of Ep2 are 14 of the funniest, most endearing minutes of British TV I've seen in ages.
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People don't queue in the rain to watch people work in "cyber". People don't hit refresh on a website over and over hoping to buy tickets to see a computer programmer.
Tourists from around the world don't come to the UK to witness people working in IT.
Dance, Fatima, dance.
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This is massive. There have been several - ignored - canaries in the mine so far. This is one of the most significant yet. Theatres are going to die unless the Government steps in and saves them, now.
A Statement from the Royal Exchange Theatre - July 2020
>> rxtheat.re/July20RET
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I got to work with them and discovered they're also inspiring, generous and as generally brilliant as their scripts would suggest.
And tonight it comes to an end! (The show - hopefully not our working relationship).
#Better the final ep* BBC One, 9pm. See you there!
*..series 1.
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Last week I teased I'd have a story in this weekend @yorkshirepost that would lift the spirits.
Here it is. Do please Buy a Paper.
Barrie Rutter talking about the mighty @SlungLow
#buyapaper
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Match 2013 @RozieBreen @KatrinaBunker took a punt on a new presenter from Keighley who sounded like...a lad from Keighley.
A year later I had my own show on BBC Radio Leeds and, thanks to their punt, tonight I'm presenting Front Row on Radio 4. Huge big up to them!!
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Well this is amazing. Glory, my new play for @TheDukesTheatre @tamashatheatre @RedLadderTheatr is one of the BBC picks of 2019!!!!
bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment…
See it on tour @unitytheatre @TheAlbanySE8 @HullTruck @thesjt @BelgradeTheatre @ClwydTweets
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I'll tell you what.
When my train due into Shipley at midnight last night deposited me in Doncaster at 3.30am, I didn't expect to be staring down the barrel of this @BBCLeeds tinselly mic this morning.
But here we are.
Radio's Happiest Hour + 4 hours of radio, on 2 hours sleep.
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So I had a gig at the weekend. I got heckled.
A guy asked if I: "Came here on a raft."
I'm mixed race - so to this dude, I guess I looked "Ethnic".
The audience reaction was pretty nice.
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Exciting news! My play Partition broadcast by @BBCLeeds and staged @WYPlayhouse earlier this year is getting another run out at Christmas.
Dec 27 at 2pm. Mark your diaries! @BalvinderSopal
@MezMezula
@Darren_Kuppan
bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05b5q2…
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Been on a little break from my shows at BBC Radio Leeds, but if you're missing my dulcets you can hear me on Radio 4 tonight!
I'm presenting Front Row, tonight at 7.15pm. Talking Bryan Cranston's new series, plus loads more!
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5.30am walking to the station - wi' my little legs! Up to my ears it was.
Honestly, the dedication to bringing stories from the arts world to the airwaves/newspaper pages...
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Announced @WYPlayhouse tonight - a stonking new season... featuring my new play! A first collaboration between the theatre and @BBCLeeds
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The exceptional staff @LeedsPlayhouse doing a brilliant job and in good spirits. Temperature check. Socially distant queueing....almost as though the theatre is a really responsible safe place to be (I say that as a vulnerable person who has definitely not felt safe going out!)
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I've interviewed Patrick Stewart in front of a thousand people, had fish and chips with Ian McKellen, sat on stage with Dawn French, had Brian Blessed bellow in my face...but yesterday I did an interview I've waited my whole career for.
Hear it @BBCFrontRow @BBCRadio4 tonight!
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I know everyone's gonna be celebrating a female #DoctorWho
As they should.
But let's not lose sight of the real victory. #YorkshireDoctor
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I've got to know the M1, M69, M6 A46 pretty well the last few months..here's why.
Tonight I'm presenting a Front Row special following Greg Doran as he directs his final Shakespeare as Artistic Director Emeritus @TheRSC
Can't wait to share
@BBCRadio4 @BBCFrontRow 7.15pm tonight!
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In a turn of events that would be Very surprising to my secondary school teachers and university lecturers (though not Mrs Goodgridge from St Anne's who always believed in me)... I'm heading to York University today to be a guest lecturer for the next month.
Surprises me too tbf.
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It really did happen then.
See you on @BBCRadio4 at 7.15pm.
'It's the slow, quiet creep in the middle of the night.’
Julia Roberts tells Front Row's @nickahad it was tough filming new psychological thriller #LeavetheWorldBehind with director Sam Esmail, as she scares so easily. Listen tonight from 7.15pm on @bbcradio4 or @bbcsounds 📻🎧
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In a studio, headphones-ed up, Sunday morning, but I'm not on BBC Radio Leeds!
I'll be joining the lovely @drsarahwalker @BBCRadio3 to talk arts....very shortly. Expect shout outs @LeedsPlayhouse @testamentonline and others!
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Not making a big deal, but I did just mention @BBCLeeds that today is my last Sunday show!
I'm not disappearing - I'll be doing the regional Saturday morning show across Yorkshire soon, but this is my last Sunday show.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for Saturday breakfast.
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Well well well. I just had a chat with someone who told me something about someone @SlungLow
The story (exclusive, so can't go into detail now) will be in the @yorkshirepost a week on Saturday. It is a story of such beauty and passion and sums up why Yorkshire theatre will go on.
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When I started in journalism all I wanted to do was work for @yorkshirepost
Spending 10 years as arts editor there was a huge privilege.
Even though I do lots of other stuff I love still being the paper's theatre correspondent - one of very few regional papers to still have one.
Here’s today’s weekend package. Don’t worry, we ain’t going anywhere. There’s a bloody job to be done on behalf of 5.2m people.
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Looking forward to sharing the story of the pandemic and a theatre company @SlungLow tonight @BBCFrontRow
Hear about @slunglowalan and his book charting the story of a theatre company becoming a food bank during lockdown @BBCRadio4 with me at 7.15pm!
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I'm at the Alhambra @BradfordTheatre ...not for the first time...but the first time to see my own play here!!!
Quite excited.
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Sorry for crying on air @BBCLeeds this aft.
Narrator: "But he wasn't sorry, not one bit, not at all."
Beautiful.
Kevin Sinfield carried Rob Burrow over the finish line at the end of the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon 🥹
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There is a QUEUE AROUND THE BUILDING FOR AN ART EXHIBITION ON A MONDAY MORNING in Sheffield.
I've never seen anything like it.
More on @PeteMcKee and his exhibition at the Buffer's Rest @BBCFrontRow on Thursday...
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Right then.
Let's do this.
I've been presenting Saturday Morning Radio @BBCLeeds since 2014.
But not today.
For today...we go regional!
See you all over Yorkshire from 10am!
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I'm running a workshop for the lovely @bdproducinghub today on theatre reviewing and it's my first time properly working @assemblybd - what a space!
Us in the arts in Bradford have seen a lot of false dawns over the years, but i reckon the sun is ready to shine #Bradford
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So great to hear Craig David about being the victim of racist bullying - along with Mel B - by that talentless, appalling 'comedian' Leigh Francis on @BBCBreakfast
And calling out what Francis did as Blackfacing and questioning the sincerity of his 'apology'. Powerful, brave.
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In more positive news, I had the privilege yesterday of being in a room with some extraordinary professionals for the model box presentation of #TheBoyAtTheBackOfTheClass the play I'm adapting for the Rose at Kingston.
Man alive there's some incredible talent in British Theatre.
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I Fully appreciate how lucky I am to be able to tweet this: joyful to be in a workshop for a new project with the awesome @LeedsPlayhouse and some amazing actors this week!!
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After a bit of online bashing last night over an article I wrote in the Guardian, I was feeling pretty battered to be honest. Then i saw this on my way into work and it cheered me right up!
Partition @LeedsPlayhouse and @BradfordTheatre This November!
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I'm in That London for work and I'll never understand many things about these people. Why don't they just move to Yorkshire? Why do they pay that much for a pint?
But the thing I'll never fathom: why don't they sit in the best seat on the bus? I Awlays get this seat.
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I think my favourite thing is when you get on a train in Bradford to London at 8am. And the two blokes opposite open their first cans of Stella before the train sets off. Always bodes well for the journey that.
8am.
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This is super exciting to announce... and I finally get to work in my home town with the awesome @bdproducinghub!
I'm hosting a monthly "book club for theatre". Free to join, sign up now!
Spread the word friends @LeedsPlayhouse @BradfordTheatre @SaltsWorks @yorkshirepost!
Happy Monday everyone! The sun is shining and we've just launched a book club, but for theatre!
I KNOW! The thing you didn't even realise you were waiting for.
Oh, and it's hosted by the fabulous @NickAhad
...and it's FREE!
Check it out! bit.ly/3nittJT
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We're only at the top of the list of shows for families recommended by Time Out London!! @Rosetheatre @mons_about @OnjaliRauf
#TheBoyAtTheBackOfTheClass
timeout.com/london/theatre/t…
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Man my heart breaks for all our theatres. They have worked so hard to get us back in safely. We have to support them.
If you've booked tickets for a performance which may be affected by the PM’s latest lockdown announcement, we’ll be in touch. Please bear with us as we work through this. Thanks for your patience.
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Brilliant day on home turf recording something special for @BBCFrontRow....
Welcomed to @NorthernSchool by the inspirational @watson_dance caught up with @alanlydd @LeedsPlayhouse and @kullyLeeds2023 @BBCLeeds ...and the Poet Laureate left his shed to come to my studio!
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It's been announced while I'm on air @BBCLeeds that Madani Younis is leaving @bushtheatre to take over the Southbank Centre as Creative Director. I've followed his career since early days @yorkshirepost this is a proud moment for #Bradford #MadeInBradford
yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-o…
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Increasingly impressed with the calibre of new(er) directors we have springing out of Yorkshire at the minute. Sameena, @dermot_daly @kasharshad - and loads more. Theatre's future looking good. And as the saying goes, when Yorkshire's strong, England's strong.
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In the last four days I've relied on #NorthernRail trains.
Three were cancelled. Which meant.
1: a child in tears because I was late to collect them from nursery.
2: I almost missed my colleague's final radio show.
3: this morning I'm late for an interview.
Not okay is it?
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"You need to get your haircut, you look mad.
Alright...I like it long like this. But okay.
What have you done?
Had my hair cut.
Why?
You said...
Not short like that. I meant a trim."
Things I've learned today:
I need to ask more questions.
I need to listen.
A cut is not a trim.
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I'm in the presenter's chair @BBCFrontRow tonight.
Just had a lovely chat with @laurynredding for the programme (she's on stage when we're live) - and she sang The Most Beautiful song from her show @rxtheatre
Seriously, don't miss it! 7.15pm @BBCRadio4
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Very excited about this - my play #Partition is coming back to @LeedsPlayhouse this Autumn! Tickets available now!!
leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events…
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It's happening.
Guess I'll be spending the first three months of @bradford2025 at the Alhambra.
#abouttime
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Nah, anything i and my ethnic brothers and sisters in arms achieve is cos we're shit hot - also, we've learned how to work twice as hard as privileged gammons who are served careers on a plate.
Ethnic *and* working class?
My work ethic would bury your pale ass. nitter.app/toadmeister/status/100…
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I think I'm going to watch #strictly for the first time. Also, the Cat is going to win this year. Mark my words.
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What a handsome looking newspaper! And that Culture strapline looks good doesn't it! Have to get me a copy I reckon.
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Delivered with my @yorkshirepost the new season brochure for @BradfordTheatre this morning - the place where my amazing primary school teacher Mrs Goodridge took me to see theatre for the first time.
In the brochure: tickets now on sale for my play Partition.
Proper moment.
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Big day. Normally I look like I get dressed in the dark. Not today. Today I had to think carefully about what to wear. The perfect outfit came in a flash of inspiration.
#vaccinated
#getinmyarm
#sweetvaccine
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Heading to that London to interview a LEGEND of Hip Hop.
My research is basically listening to All the music that raised me as a teenager.
Tune in to Front Row tomorrow to find out if I can stay cool when meeting this icon.
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Big week for me...finally heard the special programme I've been working on for Front Row about the RSC and, for the first time in about 20 years... I'VE GONE BEARDLESS
My face got bald!
See how it looks this morning @BBCLeeds - putting in a full shift this morning through 'til 2!
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Belive it or not, this is my *quite* excited face.
Early train to That London to head, for the last time, to the rehearsal room for #TheBoyAtTheBackOfTheClass!
Next week the team goes into tech and the week after that... the show opens @Rosetheatre
Tix: theboyatthebackoftheclass.co…
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Tonight on Front Row we're looking at the arts funding announcement this week with the likes of @Kala_Sangam @bradford2025 getting good news...
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I've been writing profiles of theatres and arts companies in Yorkshire since we went into lockdown in March...and there's still plenty to come. Bit embarrassing to admit this level of ignorance of the arts in the North, no?
This is the finest example of unconscious bias towards northerners. It sums up Whitehall perfectly. They think Kes is a documentary. They think that donning a flat cap and uttering hackneyed tropes will placate us. Well, it won't. We're fed up of living downstairs.
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Got home from @BBCLeeds to discover Rainbow has learned a new trick/broken an ear. Both ears were standing up when I left this morning.
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So it wasn't a dream!
Tonight, Front Row, Radio 4, 7.15pm.
As the image says...Chuck D speaks to Nick Ahad.
!!
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Regardless of what happens later: everyone who booed our national team for taking a knee, right wing grifters and cynical bandwagon-jumping politicians, those who told the socially conscious footballer trying to feed kids to stay in his lane, Laurence Fox and all of his ilk...
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This morning I was talking on the radio about being the same height as Tom Hollander. Having read this, would that we had more in common.
This is, and I can't think of a better word to describe it, delightful. A truly delightful read.
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This is a bit special. I'm @UAK1 for the final performance of #Partition on the @LeedsPlayhouse schools tour.
This is the school in Keighley where my mum and dad met. It was called Greenhead Grammar then. A mixed race couple in 1960s Keighley. Now I'm here. Amazing.
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Not long until my interview with actual Julia Roberts on Front Row tonight!!
Life goal.
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001t32…
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