Farewell to Albert Roux the chef who inspired Britain's taste for fine dining

We said a sad farewell to legendary Michelin starred chef Albert Roux who died last week leaving an extraordinary legacy. He was not only co-founder, with his late brother Michel, of the famous cooking dynasty behind...

Bishop Rose and the power of Ubuntu

It was encouraging to see that not only was Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin one of the guest editors for the Christmas/New Year editions of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme but she chose to focus on the huge benefits of practising South...

Explore the world of Queen Victoria with Lucy Worsley

Our highly successful series of online talks - Curtain Up - continues at the weekend with historian Lucy Worsley taking a revealing look at the world of Queen Victoria.Like most people you probably have a fairly good idea...

Gyles Brandreth: It's new year, what better time to keep a diary?

It’s January - a new year - and for many that is all the impetus required to start a diary. After the year we’ve just had there is a sense that we are living through an era that will leave its mark on history. It is well worth...

Looking towards life after the pandemic

With an effective vaccine on the way it looks as though we could soon be making the first steps towards returning to something approaching normal life. We are not being naive and fully realise there is a way to go yet but at...

Tutu named Human Rights Global Treasure for campaign against apartheid

Wonderful news that Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been named Human Rights Global Treasure by the American based NGO article3.org The award, given for his courageous campaign against the apartheid regime in South Africa, comes 36...

Lucy Worsley to present 80th anniversary documentary on the Blitz

Our good friend the historian Lucy Worsley has a series of shows waiting in the wings for Clive Conway Productions next year.First however she will be fronting a major BBC TV documentary marking the 80th anniversary of The Blitz....

Berkoff on theatre and his love of jive

Veteran actor, writer, photographer, director and sometime speaker with Clive Conway Productions Steven Berkoff is offering a free DVD with every December order of his acclaimed book A World Elsewhere. Described as ‘part analysis...

Soprano Lesley Garrett singing the praises of Strictly

So Christmas has gone, new year beckons and finally it is behind us. No I’m not talking panto here I’m referring to Strictly Come Dancing which surely has to have been one of the great success stories of lockdown ( or at least...

How nonagenarian vaccine pioneer Martin Kenyon helped the young Tutu

We were intrigued to discover that Martin Kenyon, the 91-year-old who made headlines when he organised his own coronavirus vaccination, becoming one of the first people in the UK to get the jab, was more than just a...

How the theatre world is facing up to the toughest of challenges

As the pandemic appears to tighten its grip our brutally challenged theatres face another desperate challenge.With London and great swathes of the rest of our beleaguered country more or less locked down under Tier 4 restrictions...

Brilliant Bill wins Strictly and raises the bar for dad dancers everywhere

Mega congratulations to the extraordinary talent that is comedian Bill Bailey. Winning Strictly Come Dancing at the age of 55 and thereby becoming the oldest celebrity to ever lift the famed glitterball, has given hope to dad...

Just A Minute to continue with guest presenters

Nearly a year on from the death of the inimitable Nicholas Parson BBC Radio 4 has finally decided to continue its long-running panel gamer Just a Minute with tried and tested players of the game in the host’s chair. Already lined...

Institutional racism rife within the Westway Trust

Community charity The Westway Trust in North Kensington, has been branded “institutionally racist” in an independent review by the Tutu Foundation UK.Its damning findings highlight a culture of bullying, indifference and...

A light goes out: we say farewell to Polly Orr (1969-2020)

It’s been a desperately sad week here at Conway Towers as we process the news that our dear colleague Polly Orr has died following a short illness.Polly was just 51 and leaves husband Matt and their son Isaac. Her death last...

Anton remembers dancing with Lesley Garrett

Spare a thought for Anton du Beke the nearly man of Strictly Come Dancing. The professional dancer has been with the show since it was launched in 2004. That year he partnered the opera singer and Clive Conway Productions regular...

Barbara Windsor's legacy: better knowledge and treatement of Alzheimer's

The death of Dame Barbara Windsor last Thursday at the age of 83 brought the nation together in an extraordinary way. Even though she had been ill, battling Alzheimer’s for several years, news that she had died eclipsed both the...

How the fight against AIDS might help the battle to end the Covid-19 pandemic

Last week’s World AIDS Day offered a timely reminder that the lessons learned during the long fight against HIV/AIDS may help the world battle to beat Covid-19.Few know this better than Professor Linda-Gil Baker, the deputy...

Explore the history of Soho with Dan Cruickshank

Our highly successful online talks - Curtain Up - continue this week with a fascinating look at the history, architecture and people of Soho accompanied by expert guide, historian Dan Cruickshank.Architectural historian and Tv...

Dame Jenni Murray promotes breast cancer awareness as she strips off for Full Monty on Ice

We salute journalist and broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray for finding the bravery to strip off on TV to raise awareness of the importance of checking for signs of breast cancer.The 70-year-old former Woman’s Hour presenter and...

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