BRAND NEW CBEEBIES Animated Series 'JoJo & Gran Gran' STARTS TODAY!! Hear me in the SUMMER!!

'JoJo & Gran Gran' starts on CBeebies on Monday 16th March 2020 ...

I am over the moon to announce my involvement in the BRAND NEW ANIMATED SERIES from CBEEBIES - 'JOJO & GRAN GRAN' which will starts airing TODAY - MONDAY 16th MARCH at 5.30pm-5.40pm on the CBEEBIES TV CHANNEL and streaming on the BBC iPLAYER ... 

Courtesy of the BBC MEDIA CENTRE; "JoJo & Gran Gran is based on characters created by LAURA HENRY-ALLAIN and the look of the series was defined by award-winning illustrator LEO ESPINOSA. Within each animated episode, there is a live action moment which features children talking about the themes covered." (continued below ...)

Gran Gran is voiced by Cathy Tyson, JoJo by Taiya Samuel; Great Gran Gran by Llewella Gideon; Jared, who works in the local shop, by Ashley Joseph; and Gran Gran’s friendly neighbour Cynthia by Teresa Gallagher oh ... and I play EZRA (a friend of Gran Gran's)! - however I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the SUMMER to hear my dulcet tones!! Watch the series anyway - it's going be REALLY SPECIAL!! 

Here's an overview of the first 11 EPISODES of 44 set against the background of SPRING ...

As we go through the year, the next 11 episodes will be aired in the SUMMER, followed by the another 11 episodes in the AUTUMN and the final 11 in the WINTER .. you might have guessed one of the themes with the series, yes IT'S THE SEASONS!!  

A little more about the series again from the BBC's MEDIA CENTRE; "They live close by to one another in a bustling London neighbourhood and Gran Gran always has something planned to do when JoJo comes to visit.

Throughout the series, the stories are inspired by the passing of time, covering topics such as life cycles, the passing of the seasons, growth or the sequencing involved in activities like baking a cake or catching a bus.

JoJo adores her grandma and the time they spend together. Gran Gran is very proud of her Saint Lucian heritage and is always happy when she has an opportunity to teach JoJo about the island’s culture."

Here's the trailer ...

ENJOY THE SERIES!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

DOUBLE BBC TELLY TROUBLE for SEAN ...'Doctors' & 'Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators' ...

I've had the great fortune to have appeared in TWO MIDLAND'S MADE BBC telly shows either side of Christmas .. firstly just before Christmas I was delighted to return to 'DOCTORS' and last week I popped up on the hugely popular afternoon crime drama 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS' ...

Firstly and rather belatedly my 'DOCTORS' episode 'HE WATCHES' was a pre-Christmas story, tying up a long storyline but also introducing my good self as Villa fan and pub landlord MARK ELWOOD who appears to be at the centre of a on-line conspiracy theory - here's the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000c6nl/doctors-series-21-27-he-watches (it's available for a year!) and few stills from the episode, no spoilers from me, have a watch ... director was NIALL FRASER.

Secondly and rather more recently was my dramatic cameo appearance in the second episode 'SEE THYSELF, DEVIL!' of SEASON 3 of 'SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY - PRIVATE INVESTGATORS' starring JOY JOYNER and MARK BENTON ... I play EARL ALBANY, ex-lead guitarist turned vicar of legendary heavy rock band 'CALIBAN'S CLAW' ... Back in their heyday the members of the band all signed a 'deal' with the devil in blood for success, as the lead singer (played by DAVID SCHOFIELD) plans a comeback it seems that the devil is back to call in that debt!! 

Here again is the direct link to the episode on the BBC's iPLAYER 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000f290/shakespeare-hathaway-private-investigators-series-3-2-see-thyself-devil (once again it's available for the whole of this year!) and a few well chosen 'spoiler-free' stills from the episode ... enjoy!! Director for this episode was JOHN GREENING ...

(OH ... IF YOU READ TO THE END OF THIS BLOGPOST, YOU'LL SEE AN EXCLUSIVE BAND PIC!)

It was great fun on the shoot ... you might recognise my church as The Collegiate Church of St Mary in lovely Warwick ... What a privilege it was to work in such beautiful surroundings. It was also lovely to reaquaint  with JO JOYNER after quite a hiatus ... we'd last worked together on the CHANNEL 4 series 'NO ANGELS' back in 2005(ish!) ...

HERE'S THAT PIC!!! 

CALIBAN'S CLAW at the height of their success, Earl is on the left!!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Bringing in 2020 with SHAUN THE SHEEP and friends!!

Yet again both the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD winning 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' AND the OSCAR NOMINATED 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' from AARDMAN ANIMATIONS will be aired this festive season ... This time, rather than a Christmas screening, 'FARMER'S LLAMAS' can be seen on NEW YEARS EVE morning at 10.50AM on BBC 1 and the 'MOVIE' can be seen this year on NEW YEARS DAY at 9.30AM also on BBC 1 ... It's become a Christmas tradition to show both SHAUN's on the telly - long may this tradition continue - LOVELY!!!!

Always so proud to have been a part of both animations - if you haven't seen them before (where have you been?!) then you're in for a real treat!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAVE A GREAT 2020!!

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING: Masters Students complete a weeks intensive training in RADIO DRAMA ...

Actor, voice artist and radio drama Lecturer/Director SEAN CONNOLLY with Masters Students from the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING after completing a week's intensive training on RADIO DRAMA ...  

I've just spent a terrific week at the ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING working with their MASTERS ACTING STUDENTS exploring the world of RADIO DRAMA ...

Masters Acting Students working on a group scene in the rather spendid state-of-the-art ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE - ACTING recording studios ...

There was a lot of talent on show from a truly international group of students who really threw themselves in, quite literally at times!! It'll be interesting to see how they all progress as they continue their training ...

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Birmingham Film Festival Gala Awards Dinner 2019 ...

Cast, crew and friends of 'POTATOES' at the Birmingham Film Festival Gala Dinner (left to right) BELLA HAMBLIN (my lovely actress wife), SEAN CONNOLLY (Lead Actor), ROY PALMER (writer and director), LOUISE OSBOURNE (Lead Actress) and PAUL WITHERS (Sound) ...

A splendid evening was had last Saturday at the Gala Awards Dinner for the 2019 BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL held at the rather swanky MacDonald Burlington Hotel in unsurprisingly ... Birmingham.

A couple of films I appeared in were nominated 5 times in total ...

Firstly, writer and director ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' concerning male domestic violence was nominated in the BEST SHORT FILM and BEST LOCAL FILM categories ...

The second film I was lucky enough to be in, received THREE NOMINATIONS this year ... JON PEGG'S second installment 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' ... was nominated for BEST ENSEMBLE, BEST LOCAL FILM and BEST PILOT ...

Some of the cast of 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' at this years Birmingham Film Festival (left to right) KEIR POUNTNEY (Actor), LOUISE OSBOURNE (Actress - AGAIN!), JON PEGG (Writer and Drector), KIA PEGG (Actress), SEAN CONNOLLY (Actor) and RICHIE WOODHALL (Actor) ...

An early arrival shot from the Gala Awards Dinner with one of the festival organisers DEAN WILLIAM'S (left) who makes a memorable cameo appearance in the 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' with KEIR POUNTNEY, KIA PEGG, SEAN CONNOLLY and LOUISE OSBOURNE ...

It was a truly great evening but ultimately both films came away empty-handed - the standard was very high so we were in good company ... here's to next year!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

A HAT-TRICK of films at the Birmingham Film Festival 2019 ...

LOUISE OSBOURNE and SEAN CONNOLLY in a scene from ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' ...

As the saying goes "You wait for ages for a bus - then three come at once!" ... I'm delighted to share the news that in much the same way, I've never been in anything screened at the BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL (1st-10th November) but at this years festival I am in THREE FILMS!!!

The image above and below are from one of those films 'POTATOES' ... a powerful short film written and directed by ROY PALMER on the subject of MALE DOMESTIC ABUSE ... Roy assembled a great team including my lovely co-star LOUISE OSBOURNE, can't wait to share it with everyone. 

SEAN CONNOLLY in another scene from ROY PALMER'S short film 'POTATOES' ...

'POTATOES' has also been nominated for TWO AWARDS at the festival - BEST SHORT FILM and BEST LOCAL FILM ...

BLOCK H - SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 12.00PM TICKETS AVALABLE here ...

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Whilst I don't APPEAR in the next film I do provide LOTS of VOICE OVER CHARACTERS for it ...

SEAN CONNOLLY provides multiple VOICE OVER CHARACTERS for producer and director GARETH KNOWLES' exciting short film 'SAVING GRACE' ...

A little over a year ago I announced my involvement in truly extraordinary short film called 'SAVING GRACE' by GARETH KNOWLES at QUIRKY CAMERA PRODUCTIONS. Director and producer Gareth has secured the talents of some of the UK's biggest screen stars including SUE JOHNSTON perhaps best known as BARBARA ROYLE in the classic BBC comedy 'THE ROYLE FAMILY' but is also very well known for 'WAKING THE DEAD' and 'DOWNTON ABBEY', BAFTA AWARD-WINNING actor JASON WATKINS known for roles in the BBC satirical comedy 'W1A', Channel 4's comedy 'TROLLIED' and on the big screen the 'NATIVITY' series of Christmas-based films. Completing the hat-trick of high profile names in the film is HARRY POTTER star DAVID BRADLEY, David is of course instantly recognisable as Hogwarts's Caretaker ARGUS FILCH as well as playing WALDER FREY in 'GAME OF THRONES', he is also well known for playing William Harnell's FIRST DOCTOR in a number of episodes of 'DOCTOR WHO'. The film also introduces young actress ERIN KNOWLES ... 

'SAVING GRACE' written by FELICE KNOWLES has already garnered impressive attention and awards from the L.A. INDEPENDENT SHORTS AWARDS and it's selection for the BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL further emphasises it's quality.

BLOCK A - SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 10:00AM - TICKETS AVALABLE here ...

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The third and final film I am involved in is JON PEGG'S dystopian 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' the follow up to the wildly successful 'MFATWE' ...

As previously mentioned in an earlier blogpost, 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS', set in a post-apocalyptic Birmingham follows a group of survivors as they navigate the uncertainty of 'OUTSIDE' ... When forced to leave their safe-haven in Part 2, they are caught by well ... ME and MY LOT!! More than that I cannot divulge, why not come along and see for yourself! I might, 'possibly' do nasty things to British former WBC Super-Middleweight Boxing Champion - RICHIE WOODHALL, 'possibly'??!!

SEAN CONNOLLY (Little Tim) and MILTON ROWE (Big Tim) and their gang in a scene from 'MAKING FRIENDS AS THE WORLD ENDS - PART 2' ...

'MFATWE - PART 2' is up for THREE AWARDS at this years festival; BEST LOCAL FILM, BEST ENSEMBLE and BEST PILOT ...

BLOCK M - MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 6.00PM - TICKETS AVAILABLE here ...

There lots to enjoy at this years festival - come on down to the BIG SCREEN at MILLENIUM POINT ...

EXCITING VOICE OVERS for TURNER PRIZE-WINNING artist MARK LECKEY's NEW 2019 EXHIBITION at LONDON'S TATE BRITAIN ...

Turner Prize-winning Artist MARK LECKEY, SEAN CONNOLLY, JASPER WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT and SALLY DAVEY just after recording VOICE OVERS for Mark's BRAND NEW installation ...

What a splendid time was had in a hot recording studio last week in London ... The occasion was recording audio elements for the TURNER PRIZE-WINNING ARTIST MARK LECKEY'S new installation for LONDON'S TATE BRITAIN with fellow VO Artists JASPER WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT and SALLY DAVEY ...

The overall exhibition, comprised of new and existing works is called 'O' MAGIC PIECE OF BLEAKNESS' which runs at TATE BRITAIN from SEPTEMBER 24th 2019 through to JANUARY 5th 2020 ... We were recording audio elements for one of Mark's new pieces for the exhibition called 'BALLAD OF THE BRIDGE' which promises to be quite extraordinary, if the VOICE OVER SESSION was anything to go by!

Here's a link to the TATE BRITAIN website describing a little of what to 'expect' from the exhibition - basically ... EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!

'O' MAGIC PIECE OF BLEAKNESS' - https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/mark-leckey

Make sure you get down to the wonderful TATE BRITAIN and catch what promises to be an unmissable exhibition ...