Artistes of the Month

Also featured: Craig Charles, Opera Tottie

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Anthony Hilton

Anthony Hilton - Author, Broadcaster, Journalist and Lecturer joined Fleet Street in 1968 as a Trainee on The Guardian.

He was City Editor of The Times, 1981 to 1983 and City Editor of The Evening Standard from 1984 to 1989 and in November 1989 became Managing Director of The Evening Standard, a post he held for six years before returning to the City Office as Editor in 1996.

He has worked for The Observer, The Daily Mail and The Sunday Express, was for five years Editor of Accountancy Age and has served in New York where for three years he was Business Correspondent for the London Sunday Times. He returned to Britain in 1981 to become City Editor of The Times.

He was seen regularly on television, filling the commentator's slot on Channel 4's "TV Business programme" for three years, and appearing as the expert panelist on "The Stocks and Shares Show". He is also heard frequently on radio.

In addition, he has written two acclaimed books:

"How to communicate financial information to employees" and "City within a state" - A study of how the city of London really works.

He has an MA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Aberdeen, lives in Suffolk, and has four children. He is a former parachutist but now less strenuously cruises on England's canals.

Anthony was the winner of the 2003 Wincott Prize for Business Journalism.

He has been a weekly columnist on Marketing, Investor relations, pensions and economics and is in great demand to speak at conferences and on the after dinner circuit.

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Craig Charles

Craig was born in Liverpool on 11th July 1964.

His career began at the age of 12 when he won the 'Guardian's Poetry Award', the runner up was thirty three years old!!!!!!

From the early days, starting out as the warm-up act for bands in his native Liverpool, to achieving international status through his role as Dave Lister, the curry devouring last remaining human in BBC's 'Red Dwarf, Craig's career has gone from strength to strength.

In 1991 Craig turned his hand to presenting and hosted a consumer show called 'Them and Us' for the BBC. Two years later he was in demand again, this time presenting 'The Big Breakfast' and guest presenting the 'Wogan show'.

Live performances has always been the backbone of Craig's career and his irreverent wit, keen observation and social comment have made him one of the most popular performance poets and stand-up comedians of his generation. Craig's one man stand-up show, 'Craig Charles - Live On Earth' began it's run in 1995 at the 'Duke of York Theatre' in London's West End, with four sell-out nights, and was followed by three sell-out national tours in the space of eighteen months.

1996 witnessed one of Craig's most powerful roles to date, when he played inmate Eugene Buffy in 'Lynda La Plante's The Governor'. A dramatic role which received wide critical acclaim. But in January 1997 Craig returned to his role as Dave Lister in the seventh series of 'Red Dwarf' avidly watched by audiences in the eight million range, and so successful that it ensured an eighth series for early 1998.

1997 saw Craig co-write and star in thirteen episodes of his late night ITV network chat show 'The Funky Bunker'. He also released two books published by Penguin: 'The Log- A Dwarfers Guide To Everything' and 'No Other Blue' a graphic book of poetry which sees the first ever publication of his wide ranging poetic skills.

1999 Craig was seen in the new series of 'Red Dwarf' and presenting the cult show 'Robot Wars' which were No.1 and No.2 in the BBC2's ratings with a combined viewing figure of over 14 million!!!!

2000 Craig presented "Jailbreak" for CH5, and "Ripley Believe it or Not" for Bravo.He released a live video "Sickbag" which is backed up with a full-scale national tour.

Craig has also sold out two national UK tours with a combined total of 117 shows in between he managed to sell out shows at 'The Norway Comedy Festival', 'The Melbourne Comedy Festival' and 'The Edinburgh Comedy Festival'.

In the corporate world Craig is in as much demand for award ceremonies and event hosting as ever.

" . . . ruthless social observations, emotive poetry and the best one liners in the business . . . a stunning performance from the top draw of comedy!"
Time Out

"Among the best live comedians in the country"
N.M.E

"A must for any admirer of stand- up as an art"
The Guardian

Opera Tottie

Opera Tottie are Paul Smith and Carolyn Allen. Carolyn is an actress and opera singer while Paul is a professional musician, conductor and musical director. Together as Opera Tottie, they perform non serious opera works, with the emphasis on fun and frivolity. If you like opera you'll appreciate them and if you hate opera you'll love them, as it's all very tongue in cheek!

They provide sophisticated musical cabaret, be it numbers from the American song book, or skits on well known Opera. From Tosca in 7 mins, to a specially written repertoire for your company, you can be sure of a highly polished, first class performance from Opera Tottie!

Carolyn Allen
Carolyn is an actress whose TV credits include playing Dennis Waterman's ex wife in the BBC series New Tricks.

Carolyn's concert, cabaret and corporate work has taken her all over the world, from Orlando to Prague via Amsterdam, Germany, Knebworth House, Hatfield House, Hampton Court Palace, The QE2, Canberra, The Hackney Empire, George's Club Mayfair, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Brewer's Hall City of London, The Hurlingham Club and The Bluebird Restaurant Kings Road where she performed her cabaret OperaTottie with Paul Smith.

Among her television appearances she most memorably played Vonny the sexy stripper and snake charmer in Only Fools and Horses and Carol in
The Upper Hand.

Carolyn's West End credits include Ray Cooney's famous farces,
Two Into One as Jenny Bristow and Ida in See How They Run.

Musical Theatre credits include Les Miserables as Madam Thenardier and Edith in Jo Papp's Pirates of Penzance at the Drury Lane Theatre.

She also appeared as Carole in the film Personal Services (Cynthia Payne's birthday present girl).

Paul Smith
Paul trained at Birmingham Conservertoire.
He has worked as musical director in the West End on Godspell, Stop the World I Want to Get Off, Oklahoma!, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at the National Theatre, Paint Your Wagon, The Tempest and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in Regents Park. Paul was musical director for Howard Goodall's new musical Days of Hope as well as for Danny La Rue, Ronnie Corbett and Anthony Newly on stage and on television.
His cabaret and concert work has taken him all over the world playing and conducting for Carolyn Allen, Pam Ayres, Sheila Steafel and Janie Dee.
He has a lifetimes experience in Victorian Music Hall and has played and arranged shows world wide. He was resident musical director at the Players Theatre for a number of years.
He is a guest conductor for the British Festival Concert Orchestra for their classical and contemporary concerts.
Paul is currently enjoying being part of OperaTottie with Carolyn Allen.

Click here to see Opera Tottie's onne video showreel

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Further Information

For further information or for a copy of our latest speaker booklet please phone one of our consultants whose expert advice will help you find the right personality for your event.