How I launched the story of the Skipping Sikh

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , , , , , ,

When 74-year-old Rajinder Singh released a video of himself skipping during lockdown, his daughter Minreet Kaur, a newly-qualified journalist, knew he had a story that people needed to hear. She dubbed him Skipping Sikh and battled to get his story out there. Despite an initial rejection, her perseverance saw Rajinder’s inspirational tale take on a life of its own. He went on to raise thousands of pounds for the NHS and inspired many to dust off their skipping ropes and get fit during those first weeks of the pandemic. Rajinder is now planning to mark his 75th birthday by taking …

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Jean on BGT

Me, Dame Vera Lynn and the day I used the Queen’s toilet: BGT star Jean Martyn recalls a decade in the limelight

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , ,

Jean Martyn’s life changed just before her 60th birthday when an appearance on Britain’s Got Talent launched her journey from humble music teacher to global superstar with fame at her fingertips. Now 70, she looks back on a decade of stardom that began when she wowed the BGT judges and captured the hearts of the nation with her joyous and enthusiastic performances. She has gone on to perform across the world, rubbing shoulders with the stars and royalty, once accompanying the late, great Dame Vera Lynn and once even using the Queen’s toilet! The past 10 years have been a …

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Suzy Evans: How I learned to embrace the media

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , , ,

When Suzy Evans and her son Owen found themselves in the full glare of a worldwide media spotlight after three of their loved ones were killed in a terrorist attack in Tunisia, inevitably they were unprepared for such intense, agonising attention. Six years on, they now say they’ve learned how the media can be a force for good. That’s because of their mission since – raising awareness of Smile For Joel, the charity they launched in memory of Joel, Patrick and Adrian to help other families torn apart by murder and violence. Here Suzy talks about that steep and emotional learning …

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Victoria Hanson of Hampers for Heroes

How my lockdown venture changed my life

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , , , ,

Victoria Hanson, a working mum-of-four, set up Hampers for Heroes during the first lockdown when her work diary emptied. She wanted to show her appreciation to the key workers who were doing so much to keep us safe and began delivering wellbeing hampers to say thanks. Here she talks about how Hampers for Heroes has grown to become a community interest company with an army of volunteers, reaching tens of thousands of key workers. She also tells how she has had to adapt to becoming the public face of the organisation, raising awareness through local, national and international media. Even …

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Dicky Dodd: Radio isn’t a job – it’s a way of life

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , , ,

In this episode of The Media & Me, radio presenter and event host Dicky Dodd talks about his journey to becoming a household name in the Black Country. He talks about the high points, such as meeting Lionel Richie and appearing in panto – where he was unusually struck dumb by an attack of nerves – and the lows, like being made redundant in 2020. Find out how he bounced back with a new home on the airwaves and why you might see him at the wheel of a West Midlands bus. Listen to the podcast here. It can also be …

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The media and me

Exes and eyebrow trolls – how my lockdown experiment put me in the spotlight

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , ,

Rebecca Lockwood, a student and journalist, decided to use her free time during the first lockdown to contact all her exes and ask them ‘what went wrong?’. Her story attracted interest from the national media and she was even offered a slot on This Morning – only to be usurped by Prince Charles. Here she reveals how she felt about being on the other side of the news. Download the podcast here. Listen on Google podcasts here and on Spotify here.

Anne Alexander: How I covered the pandemic in the face of a government boycott

The Media and Me Podcast / By / , ,

Anne Alexander is senior political producer at Good Morning Britain. In this podcast, she reveals how she overcame the challenge of covering the Covid-19 crisis when government ministers boycotted her programme, and recalls the highlights of her career in journalism so far, from landing a job on her local paper to flying with Theresa May to meet Donald Trump. Download this episode. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify