The first edition of a new chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville. In this first edition Mike is joined by Northeast born singer, songwriter and standup comedian Richard Morton and noted Northumberland smallpipes and fiddle player Kathryn Tickell. Also, in the City Road Studio a special guest, Professor John Knapton who as well as being a Professor of Structural Engineering at Newcastle University is also the chief of a small village in Ghana. Title: The Mike...

The first edition of a new chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville. In this first edition Mike is joined by Northeast born singer, songwriter and standup comedian Richard Morton and noted Northumberland smallpipes and fiddle player Kathryn Tickell. Also, in the City Road Studio a special guest, Professor John Knapton who as well as being a Professor of Structural Engineering at Newcastle University is also the chief of a small village in Ghana. Title: The Mike Neville Show To the applause of the studio audience presenter Mike Neville comes out on to the stage and introduces this the first episode in a brand-new talk show that over the next twelve weeks will introduce a whole host of celebrity guests from the world of sports, cinema, television and music some of whom might be from this region while other are just ‘passing through.’ Tonight, in this first edition Mike explains he will be meeting ‘two old friends’ introducing first one of television’s most exciting comic talents North Shields born singer, songwriter and standup comedian Richard Morton. A clip of Richard performing a comic song about cleaning the bath changes to him coming out onto the stage and taking a seat beside Mike. Questions are asked about his television work, how he started initially in music before becoming a comedian and about his move to London. He talks about how southerner’s see those for Newcastle and the Northeast and about handling hecklers. They chat about his ‘traditional northern upbringing’ and writing songs about Geordie life and families. Taking the programme into a commercial break Mike provides details on his next guest Northumberland musician, smallpipes and fiddle player Kathryn Tickell as well as an additional special ‘mystery guest.’ Title: The Mike Neville Show Returning from the break Mike sits in the audience beside Professor John Knapton who as well as being a Professor of Structural Engineering at Newcastle University, is also the chief of a small village in Ghana called Ekumfi-Atakwa. Mike asks John about how he became the chief, the charitable work he has done for the village especially with regards the education of girls and about a new aid campaign he is the chair of entitled Jubilee 2000 Coalition that is looking to convince governments around the world to cancel third-world debt. Introducing her as one of the regions most acclaimed musicians Kathryn Tickell performs her Northumbrian smallpipes inside York Minster. Returning to the studio she comes out and joins both Mike and Richard Morton before talking briefly about playing inside the minster. She is asked about the of her musical career and learning the smallpipes aged nine. She talks about her family’s background in traditional music and how music came naturally to her. Mike reminds her about their first meeting when Kathryn was about thirteen performing at Geordierama inside Newcastle City Hall. She is asked about the highlights of her career and explains that while she did like performing inside Carnagie Hall in New York with fellow Northeast musician Sting, it was performing inside St Mungo’s Church at Simonburn in Northumberland where her mother came from that was a highlight for her. She goes onto provide details on the Young Musicians Fund she helped set up which gives young people the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Bringing in Richard Morton she and Kathryn talk about both living in the village of Wark and both attending Spring Garden school in North Shields. Details are then provided with regards her latest album The Northumberland Collection: Kathryn Tickell and Friends which features a number of non-professional musicians after which she and Richard talk about the importance of the support of their families. Bringing the programme to an end Mike thanks his guests as well as the studio audience and provides details on next week’s guest’s which include writer, photographer and broadcaster Lucinda Lambton and singing star Allan Clarke of The Hollies fame. Credit: Title Music Alan Clark VT Editor Edmund Quigley Floor Manager Herbie Newton Vision Mixer Peter Telford Cameras Simon Elphinstone Jimmy Jib Operator Ken Moulson Sound Mixer Charles Heath Lighting Director John Mason Production Co-ordinator Sarah Howie Production Manager Barbara Buglass Research Gaye Slater Designer Tim Trout Executive Producers Peter Mitchell, Malcolm Wright Producer / Director Keith Cheetham Title: A Zenith North production for Tyne Tees Television. © Tyne Tees Television MCMXCVIII End title: A Tyne Tees Television programme for Channel 3 North East