Gosh … this is a bit of a cock-up. radiotoday.co.uk/2026/05/radi...

As a very young man I tripped over legendary film critic Barry Norman’s briefcase as he was standing outside BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham. Mr Norman who was innocently smoking his pipe while waiting for a taxi graciously apologised for getting in my way.

Dennis was was of my favourite people to interview and we talked many times on the radio and we maintained a friendship afterwards. A lovely and very funny man. You asked him a question and he went on forever. RIP my friend. www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

Full interview: Andy Burnham on ‘Manchesterism’ and "a new politics" #Newsnight www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jojMbxj2Dk

A quick stop at Brough Castle in Cumbria. It was built on the site of a 1st-century Roman fort and was destroyed by a fire in 1521 following a "lavish Christmas feast".

The handsome husband enjoys the sunshine at Millport on the island of Great Cumbrae off the west coast of Scotland.

I reach my 65th birthday next month, and somehow, despite industry cutbacks and increased networking, I’m still working in professional radio. I’ll be back reading the national news on 40 BBC radio stations across England and the Channel Islands tonight from 7 p.m.

We’re back at Boscobel House, near Wolverhampton, on the Shropshire–Staffordshire border. It’s best known for its role in the escape of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Charles spent some time hiding in an oak tree before spending the night in one of Boscobel’s priest holes.

I’ve been on a pilgrimage to 267 Tettenhall Road in Wolverhampton. The building was home to Beacon Radio which went on the air 50 years ago today. The station blew my teenage mind and inspired me to work in radio. It was marvellous to meet many former Beacon staff at a reunion in the city yesterday.

We’ve had an excellent walk through the rolling countryside of Dumfries and Galloway ending up at the world’s oldest post office in Sanquhar. The business has been in continuous operation since 1712.

A relaxing day of reading in the library at our Scottish place at Maybole in South Ayrshire.

The handsome husband surveys the Scottish coast at Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire.

The impressive display of weapons in the entrance hall at Culzean Castle on the South Ayrshire coast. The collection features 716 flintlock pistols arranged in decorative patterns across the walls. There are over a thousand weapons in total, including hundreds of swords, cutlasses, and pikes.

It was marvellous to take John, our friend from the Californian Desert, to the magnificent Inn at Whitewell in the Forest of Bowland. The inn has excellent food, amazing service and a stunning location next to the River Hodder.

Blue skies at Carlisle Castle in Cumbria. The castle is widely regarded as the most besieged in England, having endured at least seven major incidents due to its location near the Scottish border.

We’re in the Downtown Park in Palm Springs and the handsome husband is preparing to bid a fond farewell to the desert after a month here in the Coachella Valley.

Lunch in Palm Springs with our friend Daniel who’s the town crier of Provincetown in Massachusetts.

There’s something magical about palm trees and snow in the same scene. The view from Cathedral City in California.

We’re staying with a friend at Cathedral City in California who has a large private collection of RCMP uniforms and memorabilia. I’ve always had something of a thing for Mounties and enjoyed the opportunity to play dress-up.

The 26-foot-tall 'Forever Marilyn' statue in Palm Springs seems even more remarkable by night.

The Joshua Tree is an iconic symbol of this part of Southern California. I’ve always been fascinated by their otherworldly appearance.

We seem to keep coming back to Skull Rock which is deep inside the vast Joshua Tree National Park in California.

The Brittlebush is blooming in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California.

It’s fair to say that I look neither stylish nor sexy while reclining on an artificial grass couch in downtown Palm Springs.

We’re starting the day at Dave’s favourite coffee shop in Palm Springs.

The extraordinary Mexican inspired Fountain of Life at Town Square Park in Cathedral City.

I’ve read Marvel’s Avengers since I was given issue #68 in 1969 and now have a complete run back to 1963. I was delighted to pick up the anniversary issue #800 from the legendary Sid Johnson at Desert Oasis Comics in Palm Desert. It really is the best comic book store in the Coachella Valley.

The waterfall at the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at Palm Desert which is part of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The four cherubs of Palm Springs.

It’s always a pleasure to visit the Palm Springs Art Museum to see one of my favourite exhibits. The 80" Great Rhombicosidodecahedron by artist Anthony James uses internal LED lights to create an infinity mirror of cascading and deeply recessed geometric shapes.

We’re back … and we’re here in the Coachella Valley till the end of the month. We’re looking forward to some extended downtime in the desert sunshine.🌵

After a day walking for miles around Dublin you invariably end up in Temple Bar at night.

It’s an Irish law that if you’re in Dublin you have to do the Supermac’s thing within 24 hours of arriving in the city.

I’m reading the news on BBC Radio Manchester tomorrow. I’ve not done a lot of work here over the years but I was first on the station back in 1997 which makes this my longest run on any outlet from first to most recent appearance.

We’ve been Avanti spotting on the Settle–Carlisle line in the Yorkshire Dales. Here’s one about to cross the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct on an extraordinarily cold day. The historic line is being used as a diversionary route while work is being carried out on the main line in Cumbria.

Dave waits for a train in sub-zero temperatures at Ribblehead railway station in the Yorkshire Dales.

Over the last year I’ve lost 10 stone 10 pounds (150 pounds) and gone down from 25 stone (350 pounds) to 14 stone 4 pounds (200 pounds). I can now wear my husband’s shirts which is an added bonus. There’s still a little way to go but it’s a pretty good situation to be in after 12 months.

Greetings from the Central News Service studio at MediaCityUK in Salford. I’ll be marking the new year by reading network news bulletins on 40 BBC radio stations across the evening. Have a marvellous night and I’ll catch you on the other side.

I always think there’s something terribly romantic about taking the train across southern Spain.

I always think there’s something terribly romantic about taking the train across southern Spain.

Greetings from Ronda in Andalusia where I’m delighted to discover that the locals have made a giant figure of me in the centre of the town.

The obligatory photo of the spectacular Puente Nuevo at Ronda in Andalusia. The bridge spans the 120-metre-deep chasm that carries the Guadalevín River and divides the 15th-century new town from the old town which dates back to Moorish rule.

The handsome husband relaxes on the roof of our luxury floating accommodation at Alcaidesa Marina at La Línea de la Concepción in southern Spain.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas under the rock at Casemates Square in Gibraltar.

My sister and my husband consider what to do for brunch at La Línea de la Concepción in southern Spain.