Actor, comedian, writer, television presenter and political activist: that’s how many people know Sir Tony Robinson, famous for playing Baldrick in the BBC TV series Blackadder and hosting the archaeological investigation programme Time Team for 20 years. Millions more now know him for a completely different reason: travelling more than 100 miles from his west London flat to adopt a ...

Olivier Award winner Sheridan Smith is “thrilled” to work with him. Acclaimed actor Stephen Graham describes him as “brilliant” because he has “so much passion for what he’s doing”. Both are talking about Paul Whittington, director of a number of high-profile, prestigious television dramas whose recent work includes three episodes of Netflix behemoth The Crown. Not bad for a Nottingham ...

It’s not every day you get to talk to Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer. Few political correspondents with major news organisations can say they’ve done that – and to be truthful it’s not something I can claim. But I’ve spoken to the next best thing. Matt Forde, the Nottingham comedian who’s been fascinated by politics since he ...

The reviews are coming in for Chasing a Dream – the book which catalogues the history of basketball in Derby and outlines how Toronto Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse got his start in coaching. So far everyone who’s reviewed it has given it five stars! Here are the reviews: “I came across this book on the Internet and quickly ordered ...

Les Dawson, the Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, Ken Dodd, Roy Hudd: arguably the greatest comedy talent this country has produced. And all of them were grateful to a Derbyshire writer who penned some of their finest, funniest material. Terry Ravenscroft is the sort of person you can’t help but like. You can get to know what to expect simply ...

CHAPTER ONE: Bidding to keep the dream alive