Next generation of Voice Actors learn the tricks of the trade ...

Birmingham voice artist Sean Connolly with Year 12 Acting students from the Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) ...

Over the last week I have had the privilege of working with the very talented Year 12 Acting Pathway students at BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy). I was invited to deliver a workshop/masterclass on 'Acting to Microphone' as part of their BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Acting.

We got through a fair bit of theory but the focus was really on the 'doing' .. They all had the opportunity to work with scripts from two very different areas/styles of audio drama, firstly a scene featuring the Horrobin family from BBC Radio 4's 'The Archers' and a scene from the Audio Adventures of Doctor Who from Big Finish ... I was particularly impressed with the level of performances from the students.

BOA students performing to the microphone during the 'Acting to Microphone' workshop ...

It's been a terrific week working with these energetic, committed young performers exploring the joys and challenges of voice acting.

Going for Gold - Spiteful Puppet at the New York Radio Awards 2016 ...

I'm delighted to announce that SPITEFUL PUPPET have been nominated THREE TIMES in the NEW YORK FESTIVALS RADIO & AUDIO AWARDS which celebrate the world of radio programming on a global scale. Nominated programmes come from as far a field as Afghanistan to Australia and South Korea to the United Kingdom.

This year they have been nominated TWICE in the same category BEST AUDIO BOOK for the last two audio adventures of  the 'HOOD' series as well as picking up a nomination for BEST SPECIAL DRAMA for 'MAGNA CARTA: LEGACY', a one-off dramatisation recounting the origins of the Magna Carta which last year saw the 800th Anniversary of it's signing. 

I am very proud to be have in all three audio dramas with wonderful casts across them all ... The nomination for 'MAGNA CARTA:LEGACY' will be particularly poignant for us all with the recent sad loss of 'BLAKE'S 7' star GARETH THOMAS who voiced the lead role of Elias of Dereham in the drama. If 'MAGNA CARTA:LEGACY' was to win, it would be surely a fitting tribute to a fine actor in one of his last roles ... You can listen to it here for free ...

BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD Winners - SPITEFUL PUPPET came away with TWO BRONZE MEDALS last time at the 2015 Awards. I'm sure this time they'll be going for gold!!

Sean goes undercover at 'Gadget Show Live 2016' ...

Sean Connolly and The Gadget Show presenter Ortis Deley at this years Gadget Show Live at Birmingham's NEC ...

The secret is out! I can now reveal my undercover role at this years GADGET SHOW LIVE at Birmingham's NEC ...

Over 11 LIVE SHOWS seen by over 30,000 PEOPLE I took on the role of a pretend audience member for a magical 'Versus Challenge' with presenters JASON BRADBURY and ORTIS DELEY and last years BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT runner up, magician JAMIE RAVEN ... Other celebrities involved with the live show included Scottish singer-songwriter and musician NINA NESBIT who sang her new single 'Chewing Gum' ...

Sean Connolly with singer songwriter Nina Nesbitt and magician Jamie Raven part of the Gadget Show Live 2016 ...

If you're a regular viewer of THE GADGET SHOW then you'll know that a staple part of the show is the 'Versus Challenge', when the presenters pitch themselves against a 'professional' and try and beat then at their own game using tech to win the day ...

For the live show, presenters Jason and Ortis took on the not inconsiderable magical talents of BGT's JAMIE RAVEN ...

As part of the current series, all 11 shows were recorded and then compiled into a special programme which went out last Friday 6th May 2016 at 7pm. The episode features behind the scenes footage including the low-down on my part in the live show. To see exactly what my involvement was you can head on over to the Channel 5 television catch up service Demand 5 or on-line at My5 https://www.my5.tv/the-gadget-show/season-23/episode-11 The whole episode is great fun (as is the long running series itself), but if you are at all interested in seeing what I got up to then you should fast forward to 34 MINUTES onwards ...  

What a great fun week I had, The Gadget Show presenters Jason Bradbury, Ortis Deley, Amy Williams and John Bentley, in fact everyone at NORTH ONE TELEVISION really made me feel part of the team.

Actor Sean Connolly with The Gadget Show Live presenters Jason Bradbury, Ortis Deley, Amy Williams and John Bentley ...

Psychological Thriller 'BROKENHEAD' enters Phase Two of principal photography ...

Lead actor Sean Connolly in a still from the feature film 'BROKENHEAD' currently in production ...

Nearly a week has passed since we entered PHASE TWO of Principal Photography on 'BROKENHEAD' .. It was a wonderfully intense shoot with the weather certainly playing it's part, thankfully in a good way!

Spurn Point Lighthouse, East Yorkshire viewed from the beach ...

Strictly no spoilers, but I can reveal that there was some bare feet on sand action during the shoot. I can report that the sand was beautiful warm between the old toes, not too bad for April! The same could not be said of the chilly North Sea, fortunately no lengthy contact with the sea was required this time, now PHASE FOUR will be a different matter, aargghh!! Below is a picture from the beach footage to 'whet' the appetite, sorry!!

Actor Sean Connolly in a scene from 'BROKENHEAD' at Spurn Point in the Humber Estuary ...

It was that warm that I was in danger of burning my little bald head, the sea breeze providing the perfect cover for what was really surprisingly hot weather. I did the sensible thing and covered up in between takes. otherwise the film might have to be renamed 'BALD-RED-HEAD'!

The film-makers obsession with catching 'magic hour' was certainly in evidence on the shoot ... Just in case you don't know what 'magic hour' is here's a definition "In photography, the golden hour (sometimes known as magic hour, especially in cinematography) is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky." It was certainly worth the wait, it seemed to go on forever, the light changed almost by the minute. Here's a shot from that time ...

Actor Sean Connolly plays Stefan one of the country's last lighthouse keepers in the film 'BROKENHEAD' ..

Looking forward now to the next block of filming, it's been quite a journey so far and not just geographically. Here's to PHASE THREE ... news to come!

A happy return to Big Finish for 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' Series 3 ...

I had the greatest of pleasures returning to the cast of 'PATHFINDER LEGENDS' on Monday at The Soundhouse Studios in London.

The majority of the cast are pictured here; Back row: Richard Katz, Kate Brown, Stewart Alexander, Imogen Church, John Green Front Row: Ian Brooker, Trevor Littledale, John Ainsworth, Kerry Skinner, Sean Connolly and David Bryher.

Series 3 of the adventures based on the Role Playing Game 'PATHFINDERS' is produced by BIG FINISH for Paizo ...

Release details have yet to be announced ...

British Animation Award WIN for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' ...

‘Shaun The Sheep’ Tops British Animation Awards | AWN https://t.co/MpMUholSHP BAAAAARILLIANT NEWES! Quite right too! pic.twitter.com/JNr6zWQY6p

— Sean Connolly (@Baldfinger) March 11, 2016   

I am delighted to report that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' won the Best Long Form Animation Award last night at the BRITISH ANIMATION AWARDS held at the BFI in London.

Here's the list of main winners:

Best long-form animation – 'Shaun The Sheep: The Movie'

Best voice – Martin Freeman as 'Stick Man'

Best children's series and children's choice award – 'The Amazing World Of Gumball: The Shell'

Best pre-school series – 'Lily's Driftwood Bay: Goodbye'

Best music video – James: 'Moving On'

All the team at Aardman Animations truly deserve this award for all their stunning work in bringing Shaun to the BIG SCREEN. Congratulations to everyone involved ...

British Animation Awards (BAA) held tonight at London's BFI ...

The rather appropriately named biennial BAA (British Animation Awards) are held tonight at London's BFI on the Southbank.

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' (Dirs: Richard Starzak & Mark Burton - Produced by Aardman Animations for Studio Canal.) is pitched against 'STICK MAN' (Dirs: Jeroen Jaspaert & Daniel Snaddon - Produced by Magic Light Pictures) and 'CHILDREN OF THE HOLOCAUST' (Dir: Zane Whittingham - Produced by Fettle Animation for BBC Learning).

BAA Director, Jayne Pilling says: “It’s 20 years since the British Animation Awards began and this is the first awards ceremony to take place since the industry reaped the benefit of the changes to the tax-break arrangements. With the animation industry in rude health, there has never been a better time to celebrate this wonderful, thriving, creative force and we hope to make this the best awards ceremony yet.”

Let's hope 'Team Shaun' can put away the disappointment from the Oscars, Golden Globes and the BAFTA's and come away with this prestigious award tonight. Previous winners include the likes of Tim Burton, Shaun's creator Nick Park, Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tofield, Harry Potter and the Gorillaz.