Review: Alfie Joey’s Chat Show Thing – Newcastle Stand
Alfie Joey took over hosting duties from the normally eponymous Steffen Peddie – who is in pre-production for the second series of Hebburn – for an entertaining evening of songs, jokes, and backstage gossip at The Stand.
First guest, comic Barry Dodds, talked about his adoration of Erasure, encounter with the paranormal at Beamish Hall, and his brilliant antagonism of psychic Derek Acorah at Newcastle City Hall.
The highlight of the evening, especially for geeks like me, was acclaimed TV director Geoff Wonfor, whose list of credits include seminal 80s music show The Tube, The Beatles Anthology, and the videos to Mel & Kim’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Band Aid 20.
He explained how he rose through the ranks at Tyne Tees Television, eventually, with the union’s help, earning more than £20 per week.
When shows promise juicy backstage gossip, they normally only give sanitised, PR guff. But, if Wonfor’s tales have been censored for a public audience, I’d love to take him for a pint.
Tonight, he let rip with some hilarious and genuinely fascinating accounts of exuberance and arrogance from some of the well-known names he has worked with.
It would be inappropriate, and unfair on Wonfor, to repeat the stories here. Needless to say, he confirmed a few suspicions about a particular local celebrity.
Entertainment during the two intervals came courtesy of The Sage Academy’s Alex Scott, who showed off her cracking singing voice with song after song.
It seemed a shame that her part in proceedings was when people were nipping to the bar or to the loo.
That was the deal, of course, but I reckon she deserved to have a spot in the show proper with the entire audience’s full attention. We hope and expect to hear more of her vocal talents in the future.
Each show will be different, of course, with different guests bringing their own things to the leather couch. But, if Chat Show Thing always contains this mix of humour, talent, and honest anecdotes, then count me in!
Steffen Peddie’s Chat Chow Thing is at the Newcastle Stand on the first Monday of every month.
