Brian Beacom

1 week ago | heraldscotland.com | Brian Beacom

David Potts in Celebrity Big Brother (Image: free) Celebrity Big Brother is back, offering the chance for another group of desperates, attention seekers and career plummeters to put their name in the frame for a supporting role in this year’s Hackney Empire panto. And once again, producers have reached into their bag of tricks, (ie.

2 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Brian Beacom

American playwright Neil Simon (Image: AP) A news story in theatre industry bible The Stage this week reads like a call to arms. The artistic director of London’s Yard Theatre warns that cuts to arts reporting are making it more difficult for theatres to get their work reviewed. Jay Miller added that, without good criticism, the quality of culture would suffer. Hang on, does this mean that I’m playing a part in the demise of theatre?

3 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Brian Beacom

Why in tarnation is Scotland so fascinated with country music? What makes Caledonian hearts seemingly beat in perfect four/four time on hearing songs about dead dogs and dead-eyed relationships? What in the name of Tammy or Travis do we have in common with simple three chord tunes with lyrics featuring blue moons, red necks and yellow roses? The fact is, we love country more than cowboys love campfire beans, dramatic sunsets and big bosomed ladies who own their own truck.

1 month ago | heraldscotland.com | Brian Beacom

Scarlett O'Hara (Sally Howitt), and Roisin McIntyre (Joyce Falconer) in the doomed soap River City (Image: BBC Studios/BBC Scotland) It was the worst kept secret in television soap history since Dirty Den climbed out of the Walford canal and back into Ange’s bed. In recent months River City key characters have been culled like Highland deer. Car crash stories piled up. Heart monitors flatlined so often we thought we were watching Casualty.

1 month ago | heraldscotland.com | Brian Beacom

Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan) Write what you know, runs the old maxim. And Stephen Christopher and Graeme Smith can certainly boast University of Life degrees in their knowledge of drug and alcohol addiction. The writers are about to see their new play Dancing Shoes staged, which is set in the world of drug recovery and features the surprising friendship developed by three men.