December 2007 Archives

Remember when the Capital of Culture countdown clock said 1,000 days to go?
Then there was a big hullabaloo made when we got to 500.
Well hold on to your seats because we're now a mere 12 days from the year we've been planning for for what seems like ever.

It's only Wednesday in Capital of Culture land but already the week feels a whole deal longer than that.....
Sunday saw the city looking beautiful on national TV as the Liverpool nativity was acted out on the streets.
On Monday we published my exclusive chat with Ringo Starr who is due in the city in a matter of days now.
With Capital of Culture less than two weeks away it should be a time of celebration and anticipation.
Instead it's the depressing wrangles at the top which continue to take the spotlight.
And we all know that spotlight should now be firmly on the city - and the people - of Liverpool.

People have been asking me what songs were used in the Liverpool Nativity last night so here they are.
It would be interesting to see if people think there are any songs which should have been performed but weren't - someone has already suggested Frankie's Power of Love.
Of course there are quite a few Liverpool songs to chose from!
Anyway, keep reading for the play list.

Liverpool did itself proud on national TV last night when it hosted the reworked story of the Nativity.
I was one of the thousands who put on our thermals and stood in William Brown Street so I can't wait to watch it on the TV next weekend to see how it came out on the small screen.
One thing I know is that the crowds looked fanstastic and made a really good impression with their cheering, singing and of course booing Herod(ia).

I met Geoffrey Hughes at rehearsals for the Liverpool Nativity today.
"Hello," I said, shaking his hand. "I'm Catherine Jones from the Echo."
"We all have our crossed to bear," he said.
It wasn't the most promising of starts, I'll admit, but luckily it soon became clear he was actually joking.
Well, you never know.

Anyone feel festive yet?
It's always an uphill battle in the ECHO office - while most people are knocking back the mince pies and sherry and counting down the days until their festive break, we are trying to find extra news and stories to tide us over the Christmas slowdown.
But I did feel the glimmer of goodwill to all men and women last night after attending the Christmas Wishes concert at the Phil starring Carl Davis and Sir Willard White.

Saturday afternoon found me in Liverpool cathedral where I'd been invited to take part in the installation service for the new Dean Justin Welby.
The poor bloke - I interviewed him on Friday and he said to me "does it ever stop raining here?". He's been in Liverpool about 10 days and obviously it has been a bit damp.
"Oh yes," I replied. "Sometimes it's just windy."
Am I wrong?

I was invited to Lipa yesterday to attend a Q&A session with Sandi Thom.
Possibly one of the more high profile Lipa graduates, Thom is currently putting the finishing touches to her second album.
Apparently the first (which went to number one and has sold more than a million copies worldwide) was recorded in a barn in deepest Cheshire.

You can tell Christmas is on its way.
I went to see my first - and possibly only - nativity last night when I reviewed the Flint Street version at the Playhouse.
We were treated to carol singers, mulled wine and mince pies in the bar before the shoe which was a very convivial way to start the evening.

So Pete Postlethwaite has finally been confirmed as Capital of Culture year's King Lear.
The superstar from Warrington, who cut his acting teeth at the Everyman, says it's a "now or never" time to play the heavyweight role.
Which is good news for audiences in Liverpool next autumn.