HAS CHRISTMAS LOST IT'S SPIRIT.
A light hearted look at life in the GREAT NORTH EAST with EDs James & Thompson.
This week we look at whether Christmas has lost its spirit.
Talking TALES; romance and rigmarole, laughs and tears, joy and pain,
The EDs are joined by guests Micky Cochrane, actor, singer and comedian and Ruth Lambert top North East's jazz singer. Together, we will decide, after all the dialogue, evidence, interludes and opinion, whether Christmas is a BELTA or a BELLY-FLOPPER.
  We look at Christmases past and present. The traditions of the North East region, as well as speculation on how it may have been from Saxon times, right through the Victorian era and onto today.
We look at how yuletide has changed. How communities support each other; the great initiatives to provide aid to the needy, shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, presents for little ones and company for the lonely.
We celebrate some of the great events and personalities, with links to the festive period.
Our account is spun with narrative, discussion, recital, songs and verse- leading up to THE VERDICT
 Most of all, the show is FUN, embracing life in our parts – from coast to coast: the Scottish borders to the Yorkshire dales, and from coast to coast.

Thank you for listening - we hope you will join us on our journey with an episode every month 

Ed James & Ed Thompson
 www.edsjamesandthompson.com

EDs & TALES Episode 2 - Are Northern Folk Tougher than Southern Softies?

Joining Eds James & Thompson are guests Jamie Brown, Richard Sirot, Heather Bell and Ruth Lambert. Together they meander to THE VERDICT

·        Is it a  Belta? 

·        Or was it a Belly-Flopper? 

Hear about the struggles of rowing champions of old. The stars of music-hall. A rigged football match between toffs and serfs. Bare knuckle, contests battling for supremacy, as well as the cultural and industrial development; north and south of the great North East divide.
 Tales from a Glasgow off licence and the strange goings on around London Bridge and the Bow Bells
- A fabulous rendition of Cockney Rhyming slang from international film and radio star Richard Sirot and memories of his films with Michael Caine and Michael Winner
- Three songs and a poem, from award winning actor and singer, Jamie Brown
- Two dedicated poems from Heather (the rhyme) Bell - Poet and raconteur
- A rendition of the Lambton Worm by Ruth Lambert, Jazz singer and recording artist
- A double obituary from Ed (Mr Cheerful) Thompson
 - Northern Muscle Blues - a song by Ed James
 
  The finale is a specially staged boxing match between AnthKnee Joshwah and The Bishop of Durrum, for the unified, Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World, with vignette's from James Brown and Mohamed Ali
Cameo's from Jason Stray-thumb, Vlad's Poo-tin and Klinch-co and Slyman Cowl
 
Join us to learn the panel's conclusions.

·        Is it a Belta? 

·        Or was it a Belly-Flopper? 

 Music from Ed James Music/ EDsJamesAndThomspon
- They Called it the Village -  This Sweet Life of Mine - Don't Throw This Away - The Great Geordie Song Smiths.
https://edjamesmusic.co.uk/about/
https://edsjamesandthompson.com/
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