Aardman's Christmas Double Whammy - UK TV Premiere of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' & repeat of EMMY AWARD-WINNING 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' ...

AARDMAN ANIMATIONS voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY and some of the characters he voiced in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' ...

Shaun is certainly the sheep that keeps on giving! This Christmas 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' get it's UK TV PREMIERE - if you haven't yet seen this Oscar, Golden Globe and TWICE BAFTA nominated classic then make sure you tune in to BBC ONE on BOXING DAY at 2.10PM. Still unbelievably proud to be a part of this wonderful film.

As well as the UK TV PREMIERE for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE', I'm also over the moon to announce that the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD-WINNING - 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will also get a couple of SEASONAL REPEATS. Tune in to BBC ONE on CHRISTMAS EVE at 1.45PM and FRIDAY DECEMBER 29th again on BBC ONE at 10.25AM - so no excuses for a spot of LLAMA DRAMA!! I play HECTOR THE LLAMA in this half hour of madness ....

AARDMAN ANIMATIONS voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY plays HECTOR the LLAMA in the award-winning 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' ...

SEAN CONNOLLY with Hector the Llama ...

Young Rose Bruford College actors chase top BBC Radio Drama prize!

Young radio actors from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE representing the college at the BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION 2018 ...  

I am delighted to reveal the students I will be coaching from ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE for next years BBC CARLETON HOBBS RADIO COMPETITION.

SAM BAKER-JONES (top left) - POPPY FARDELL (top right)

RACHEL BENSON (bottom left) - CHOMBA TAULO (bottom right)

The prize for the eventual winner of course is an amazing FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA ... If you are regular listener to BBC Radio Drama then you will probably have heard one of last years winners TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG in multiple dramas this year!! Tayla is also a graduate of Rose Bruford College and I had the great privilege to help coach him last year, so no pressure then Sam, Poppy, Rachel and Chomba!!

They really are super-talented foursome and I'm very much looking forward to working with them next year.

All change at BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) as it becomes the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting!!

Actor and Voice Artist Sean Connolly outside his old drama school, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting, formerly BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) starting another year of teaching Radio Drama ...

Blimey that went quickly! It seems like only yesterday that I had started my first academic year teaching Radio Drama at BSA (Birmingham School of Drama)! Well, just embarked on my second year with a whole new shiny batch of drama students at my alma mater. Exciting times ahead too, as BSA (Birmingham School of Acting) has joined forces with the (ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE) to become the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - Acting ... It makes complete sense to join these two esteemed training centres of excellence for music and acting. It is however tinged with a little sadness for me and probably all of my fellow BSA ex-students going all the way back to 1936, as of course the name change means no more 'Birmingham School of ...' Onwards and upwards!!

I really enjoyed my first year teaching at RBC - Acting, particularly seeing the progression of the students over the nearly six months I was with them. So massively looking forward to instilling my love for the dark art of radio drama with whole new group of Second Years!

Exciting too of course that the brand new £57 million facility of Birmingham Conservatoire also received its Royal Patronage earlier this year when HRH The Earl of Wessex became its first Royal Patron.

From the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire website: 

Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Birmingham Conservatoire said:

"I am delighted to announce that HRH The Earl of Wessex has accepted Birmingham Conservatoire's invitation to become its Royal Patron. This is an enormous accolade to receive from His Royal Highness and is a testimony to the wonderful achievements of our team at the Conservatoire."

The announcement not only acknowledges the artistic excellence of Birmingham Conservatoire, currently ranked top of all UK conservatoires for student satisfaction, but also further reinforces the City’s reputation as home to world-class music and performing arts.

Great to be part of it all ...

Flying in to the North Lakes for some Stage Radio Play Fun!!

Greatly looking forward to heading up to the North Lakes next week for a splendid time of fun and frolics! 'THE EARTH FROM THE AIR' by SHARON GOSLING, is a beautifully written, two-hander stage-radio play which I will be performing with my lovely wife BELLA HAMBLIN for TWO NIGHTS ONLY! on FRI 27th and SAT 28th OCTOBER in CROGLIN VILLAGE HALL. All proceeds from the two special performances will go towards the 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF CROGLIN HALL APPEAL, so a great cause!

'THE EARTH FROM THE AIR' is the story of what happens when GABE (played by Bella), a woman with a fear of flying, confronts her fears by trying to learn to fly out of Carlisle airport. I play HUW, her flying instructor. The play also skillfully weaves some history from the surrounding area into the narrative.

BELLA HAMBLIN and SEAN CONNOLLY photographed by IAN DAVIES for a project called #BrumCreatives ...

Sharon says "Because the play was written for radio, that’s how it will be performed, as a ‘live radio play’, that means the actors will have their scripts with them and their performances will be augmented by sound effects and music that has been composed specially for this production. We’ve had great support from the local community as well Eden Arts, the council and several local businesses. All the proceeds will be going to the Village Hall, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, to help keep it going as an important centre of village life for another 80 years."

As mentioned above, there are just two performances of this hour-long ‘live radio play’, on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of October. Tickets are £12 each, and include dinner before the show: attendees, who should arrive for 7.30pm, will receive a Pie and a Pint, as well as the Play!

Tickets are available from WITHNAIL BOOKS, at the Brunswick Yard in Penrith (opposite Booths), or online at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-earth-from-the-air-tickets-38072940189

SHARON GOSLING is a successful author, her books include the trilogy 'The Diamond Thief' (which won the Redbridge Children’s Award in 2014), 'The Ruby Airship' and 'The Sapphire Cutlass', the teen horror novel 'FIR', and official TV tie-in titles for the popular CBBC series, 'Wolf Blood'. Sharon writes books and articles about television and film, and has written, produced and directed audio dramas. Sharon and I first met when we both worked for 'DOCTOR WHO' Audio specialists BIG FINISH ...

VOICING TWO - MITCHELLS & BUTLERS Apprenticeship VIDEO ADVERTS ...

I have recently found TWO video adverts extolling the virtues of an apprenticeship with MITCHELLS & BUTLERS (for which I did the VOICE OVER) on You Tube ... Since they've been posted they have attracted over SEVEN & HALF THOUSAND views, pretty impressive! Here they are ...

         

         

I remember the voice session being great fun and I think the final videos have a terrific fresh contemporary style ... MITCHELLS & BUTLERS offering some interesting options for students considering their POST 16 futures ... 

One last hurrah for ERNIE & HILDA MOORE in SEASON 11 of BBC RADIO 4's 'HOME FRONT' ...

If you've been following BBC Radio 4's First World War drama serial 'HOME FRONT' you will probably know (SPOILER ALERT!) ... that in SEASON 10 my character for over THREE YEARS - ERNIE MOORE and my wife HILDA MOORE (played by real-life wife BELLA HAMBLIN) were tragically killed in the historic BOMBING OF FOLKESTONE on 25th MAY 1917, leaving our daughter JESSIE MOORE parent-less!

Well, if you are keen reader of the RADIO TIMES you might have noticed that both ERNIE and HILDA appear in the cast list as SEASON 11 started it's run on 31st JULY!
If you'd like to know how this is possible, then click http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08yfhs7 to listen to yesterday's episode called '2nd August 1917 - Jessie Moore' with a description as follows;

"On this day in 1917, the heaviest rainfall in 30 years fell on Passchendaele, and in Folkestone, Jessie lives under a cloud."

Season 11 runs from July 31st through to September 22nd 2017 ...

                        

There's also a terrific new way to explore the series thus far on the BBC website called the HOME FRONT STORY EXPLORER you can find it here http://homefront.ch.bbc.co.uk/ ... There's some great content to explore and gives an excellent overview of the major themes of the series as well as some really terrific artwork on the mini-site including pictorial imaginings of ERNIE MOORE (above) and my wife HILDA (left).

If you haven't already listened to it yet or maybe you just missed it, there was a marvellous 45 minute one-off edition called  'HOME FRONT - A LIGHTENING' written by Sarah Daniels. The episode marks the centenary of Britain's first Gotha Air Raid, which devastated Folkestone on 25 May 1917. Weaving real historical figures and testimony with the stories and characters of Home Front. Here's the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08mjsvj

It's been a real privilege to be involved in such a ground-breaking radio series, made all the more special doing it alongside my wife HILDA, sorry ... Bella!! 

SEASON FINALE of PATHFINDER LEGENDS: Curse Of The Crimson Throne - Crown of Fangs ...OUT NOW!!

JUST RELEASED!! The cover of PATHFINDER LEGENDS: Curse Of The Crimson Throne - Crown of Fangs from BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS ...

The SEASON THREE FINALE of 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS - CURSE OF THE THE CRIMSON THRONE' has just been released from BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS ...

I am once again delighted to announce that I can be heard reprising my role of nobleman and expert swordsman VENCARLO ORSINI in the final adventure of this season called 'CROWN OF FANGS'.

Here's the trailer for 'CROWN OF FANGS' ...

  

Series 3 of 'PATHFINDERS LEGENDS' was directed by JOHN AINSWORTH and written by DAVID BRYHER and is produced by BIG FINISH for Paizo ...

Filming on BBC TV's 'DOCTORS' is a great tonic!!

Had a great day filming on BBC One's long-running medical soap opera 'DOCTORS' on Friday ... Of course there will be no spoilers from me to the nature of my role, let's just say in the words of SIR IAN MCKELLEN in 'EXTRAS' ...

"How did I know what to say? They had my lines written down on a script. How did I know where to stand? People showed me." ...

I can tell you that the episode will go out later this year and I think it could be a really special one! Stayed tuned and I'll update you nearer the time ...

'The War Doctor' poem 'THE MAN IN THE BANDOLIER' is released. Read by SEAN CONNOLLY with WINK TAYLOR and written by BARNABY EATON-JONES ...

  

'The Man In The Bandolier' | Written by Barnaby Eaton-Jones | Performed by Sean Connolly | Featuring Wink Taylor as The War Doctor | Sound Design by Iain Meadows.

I am more than delighted to share a little something I've recorded for BARNABY EATON-JONES at CHINBEARD BOOKS ... 'THE MAN IN THE BANDOLIER' was a poem written by Barnaby for the charity 'SEASON'S OF WAR' Doctor Who anthology featuring the late, great JOHN HURT'S portrayal of The War Doctor. This audio version is a thank you to everyone who supported the charitable project ... what better way than to breathe life into Barnaby's words!! 

I narrate the poem with the spectacular DOCTOR WHO IMPRESSIONIST WINK TAYLOR voicing THE WAR DOCTOR ... Check out all of Wink's Doctor Who impressions on his YOU TUBE CHANNEL, they really are quite extraordinarily accurate!!

'SEASONS OF WAR – TALES FROM A TIME WAR' edited by Declan May was initially released as an e-book raising money for the charity CAUDWELL CHILDREN. The e-book raised £8000 for the charity, a limited edition paperback, published by CHINBEARD BOOKS, was also made available to purchase earlier this year. Again, all the money raised from the purchase of the paperback went to Caudwell Children. This limited edition paperback SOLD OUT within days!!

With wonderful SOUND DESIGN by IAIN MEADOWS, it's been a fabulous project to be part of ... LISTEN & ENJOY!!!

“Great men are forged in fire. 'Tis the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.” - The War Doctor.

'Real-life' husband & wife return to play a 'fictional' married couple in BBC Radio 4's 'HOME FRONT' ...

Real-life husband and wife; Sean Connolly & Bella Hamblin also play fictional married couple, Ernie & Hilda Moore in BBC Radio 4's wartime series 'HOME FRONT' ...

It has been a privilege as ever to be involved in BBC Radio 4's flagship wartime radio drama series 'HOME FRONT' ... but doubly so, as I was lucky enough to be once again, sharing the microphone with my lovely real 'and' radio wife BELLA HAMBLIN. We play ERNIE & HILDA MOORE, who run MOORE BAKERY in Folkestone, 'helped' by our daughter JESSIE, played by LUCY HUTCHINSON.

SEASON 10 of 'HOME FRONT' starts this coming Monday, EASTER MONDAY - 17th APRIL 2017 at 12.04PM on BBC RADIO 4 ... Of course we're not at liberty to divulge any storyline information, NO SPOILERS FROM US!! You'll just have to TUNE IN on the 17th ...

A reminder that the whole series, since it started in 2014, is available to listen to via the BBC's iPlayer.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Llamatastic News as 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' wins an International Emmy Award ...

After the disappointments of 'SHAUN'S' multiple nominations for his MOVIE comes the AMAZING NEWS that his very first CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' has been awarded one of the biggest prizes out there for a TV show .. an INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD!

At the awards ceremony in CANNES on Wednesday night, those very naughty Llamas walked away the top prize for BEST ANIMATION for AARDMAN ANIMATIONS.

Receiving the award last night were (left to right); PAUL KEWLEY (Producer), JAY GRACE (Director), JOHN WOOLLEY (Producer) and ALIX WISEMAN (Executive Producer) ...

Those of you who follow my News Blog will know that I played HECTOR THE LLAMA (below) ...

Congratulations to everyone involved in the making of this terrific festive special for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' ...

Very proud! - TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG wins Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 ...

Outside BBC Broadcasting House - Rose Bruford College's Carleton Hobbs Award team for 2017 was (from left to right) Daisy Adams, Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, Jake Lampert and Henry Rundle ...

I can now announce the wonderful news that one of the students I helped coach from Rose Bruford College, has only gone and won one of this years CARLETON HOBBS BURSARY AWARDS ... MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to TAYLA KOVACEVIC-EBONG!! 

Alongside the wonderfully talented (Theatre Director, Radio Drama Producer, Acting Coach and Author) MARINA CALDERONE, I had the absolute pleasure of helping coach this year's competition entrants.

It's was a very successful competition for the whole team from ROSE BRUFORD, in particular of course for one the FIVE WINNERS - Tayla ... Not forgetting that HENRY RUNDLE also received a special commendation for one of his Solo Pieces, as well as being picked out for his noteworthy contribution across the whole competition. In addition TAYLA and JAKE LAMPERT also received special commendations for their Duologue piece. And finally TAYLA also received another commendation for one his Solo Pieces ... Well you can probably see a pattern developing here, no surprise then 'how' Tayla came by his terrific win ..!!

It's been a really enjoyable time helping the students take the first steps into the wonderful world of radio drama. Good luck to them all as they enter this crazy profession!! Listen out for Talya in the Autumn on your radios as he starts his FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA ... 

Drama students take to the mic at the BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award Competition 2017 ...

Third year students representing Rose Bruford College at this years BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 competition (from left to right) are Tayla Ebong, Henry Rundle, Jake Lampert and Daisy Adams with coach Sean Connolly ... 

I've had the great privilege helping coach this years BBC Radio Drama - Carelton Hobbs Bursary Award 2017 competition entrants from top drama school ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE. Representing the school are the very talented foursome of; Tayla Ebong, Henry Rundle, Jake Lampert and Daisy Adams ... The competition takes place in London from today Monday 6th through to Thursday 9th March 2017.

What's the BBC Radio Carelton Hobbs Bursary competition I hear you ask ..? Well here's the official description from the BBC website:

"Named after one of Radio’s most distinguished actors, the Awards have been run by BBC Radio Drama for over 60 years. The bursary is aimed at students graduating from accredited UK drama schools and aims to create a cohort of distinctive and versatile radio voices for the BBC Radio Drama Company. Winning a Bursary offers a great opportunity for students to extending their training in a unique acting environment - one where they’ll work with the best actors and writers in the country on a wide range of contemporary and classic plays."

Rather wonderfully the winners of the competition land a FIVE MONTH CONTRACT with BBC RADIO DRAMA! What a great way to kick-start their career ...

Good luck to all the drama school students taking part in this years competition but especially those I've been working with at Rose Bruford.

"There's a green light coming!"

Saying goodbye to my first batch of Radio Drama students from BSA ... COMING SOON to a studio near you!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) Group 1 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2016-2017.

It's been a very rewarding 5 months working with the Year 2 BA (Hons) Acting students at the BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OF ACTING (BSA) exploring the joys and challenges of working in RADIO DRAMA.

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY with students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) Group 2 - Year 2 BA (Hons) Radio Drama class 2016-2017.

As mentioned in previous posts my time with the students has been particularly special being an ex-student of BSA myself , some THIRTY YEARS AGO!! Hopefully I've prepared them a little for the potential RADIO DRAMA part of their career ... Here's a montage of shots during a 'wild track' session (crowd scenes etc), great fun was had!!

I wish them all well, as they head for their third and final year, then into this 'crazy' business!!

Actor and Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY rehearsing students from the Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) in a RADIO DRAMA session ...

What does The Grim Reaper do in his spare time, it's NOT what you'd expect?

Grim from Dan Ebery on Vimeo.

A documentary filmmaker reveals the inner secrets of the fabled The Grim Reaper ...

WARNING! - THIS FILM CONTAINS SCENES INVOLVING MATURE LANGUAGE AND CONTENT - WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, HE IS 'DEATH' AFTER ALL!!

Does he like his job?

Who does 'Grim' listen to on his iPod?

What is he afraid of?

Who or what is Bonnie?

Is he really an Aussie?

Find out the answers to these questions and much more by watching 'GRIM', a film by DAN EBERY ...

OUT NOW! PATHFINDER LEGENDS: Curse Of The Crimson Throne - Edge Of Anarchy ...

The cover of PATHFINDER LEGENDS: Curse Of The Crimson Throne - Edge Of Anarchy from BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS ...

SEASON THREE of 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' has just been released from BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS ...

I'm thrilled to announce that I can be heard playing nobleman and expert swordsman VENCARLO ORSINI (left) in EPISODE ONE in the SEASON of SIX adventures called 'CURSE OF THE CRIMSON THRONE: EDGE OF ANARCHY'.

As you may know Pathfinder Legends is based on the role playing game (RPG) from PAIZO INC and is set in a fantasy world of magic and monsters much in the vein of 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Game of Thrones'. They are terrific adventures which really take you on quite a journey ...

Series 3 of 'PATHFINDERS LEGENDS' was directed by JOHN AINSWORTH and written by DAVID BRYHER and is produced by BIG FINISH for Paizo ...

EPISODE THREE entitled 'CURSE OF THE CRIMSON THRONE: ESCAPE FROM OLD KOVOSA' also features Vencarlo and is released NEXT MONTH ...