Friday 30 September 2011

Celebrity Silhouette 26 - 30 September 2011

After the brilliant night at Swansea Grand it was back to recording an ad for Trade Centre Wales

Yesterday I finished up another wacky ad and was soon in bed after having a delicious lamb curry that my wife Marie made, boy it was lovely. I had a good 5 hours sleep and the alarm went off at 3am and the car www.executivecarswales.co.uk picked me up at 4am, I had a flight to Amsterdam at 6am and another from there to Rome at 10am, I am on that flight now enjoying writing away on my brand new shiny Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch piece of beauty, I have always wanted one and now here it is and it’s fantastic, so loads to explore on it while I am away on Celebrity Silhouette. See you later onboard!

I landed on time and as I am only here for 3 days I didn’t bring a suitcase with me just hand luggage so I didn’t have to go to baggage reclaim, what a joy not to bother doing all that and hoping the case will be there. I walked straight out into the arrivals hall to meet the driver who’s taking me to the ship only he wasn’t there, oh the panic, well not really, I rang my agent in Surrey and they gave me the numbers to ring in Rome, all a mishap my driver was waiting for me in T3 and I was at T1. It’s a hot day here today 30°, there are a few ships in with us today, just across from us is the huge RCCL ship Adventure of the Seas.
It was soon time for emergency drills and after that I met with my old pal and best sound man at sea Steffen Edwards I am so happy he’s here, I also met the Production Manager Justin who gave me a big welcome, they are so good at that over here on Celebrity and RCCL, means allot to someone just joining the ship.

Tonight is a variety show, isn’t wonderful that variety is alive and well out here on cruise ships, Amen to that! My shows are on 29th September I have an 8.30pm & a 10.45pm show so until then I get to relax and enjoy this awesome ship Celebrity Silhouette that is 10 weeks old today.

I very much enjoyed the Welcome Show last night, the cruise director is a great entertainer himself, he sings, he’s funny and really connects with the crowd, his name is Neil Weir. They have changed quite allot on here in terms of design compared with the Eclipse. These ships are what they call Solstice Class ships, the first being the Celebrity Solstice then came the Equinox and the Eclipse and now of course the ship I’m on now the Celebrity Silhouette, they do have another coming out soon called the Celebrity Refection. The differences on here compared with the other Solstice Class ships are subtle in places but the big changes are at the Lawn


Club where they have taken away the Hot Glass Show and put in it’s place a grill bar-b-que style area which you cook yourself, it is awesome, also there is an other change where there was open grass area they have individual summer houses and a small restaurant called The Porch, great for breakfast or lunch. They have the ilounge which is an internet cafĂ© and an official Apple Store so loving that, above that is the most crazy place the Hideaway where you can chill and have a coffee, chat or sleep and there are three tree houses to escape to, this ship is just amazing. The Silhouette Theatre is the same as the one on Eclipse and is just amazing, it has 1300 seats and the sight lines are perfect.
Ok see you later.
I had a nice cold half and a lovely lunch at The Porch, what a lovely place to have lunch, the sun was shining and still is actually. I think it’s fab weather at home at the moment and about time, it has been another poor summer so some late September and October warm sunny weather will be most appreciated by us all, I cut the lawns before I came away so at least Sam can enjoy the garden.
I met with Jamie the Production manager and he tells me he only wants about 30 minutes from me tomorrow night for my show, as I am to be part of a variety show.
I’m having so much fun with my new MacBook Pro it really is the best computer I have ever had, the iPhoto application is brilliant.



I am staying in tonight and I’m going to watch some TV maybe a film on the in house hard drive from the telly, it is quite cool to be able to access films and documentary’s.
I have just watched Anthony Hopkins in an amazing film called “The Rite” a tad scary but brilliant, if you get the chance to see you really must, he is a great actor.

I have felt quite alone today, I don’t know anyone on here, it’s not like being on Eclipse where I know so many but because it’s the same style of ship it feels strange, I keep expecting to see my mate Mark Tomley walk around the corner or Dru the cruise director, I haven’t met this cruise director yet, he seems like a nice guy, I do hope so!

I hope I sleep well tonight, sometimes when I have my show the next day I can’t sleep, Its my first time on this ship and once again I am the new boy and feel I have to prove myself again.

I can’t wait to go home, it is my birthday on Saturday 1st October and I shall be 51yrs old, I started in show business in 1975 and turned professional in 1980 and I’m still doing it so to speak, just like Elton John’s song “I’m Still Standing”. Good night!
Good Morning! Yes I slept well!!! Today we are in Mykonos and the sun is shining but it is blowing a gale out there, I can’t believe we actually docked this afternoon. My shows are tonight 8.30pm and 10.45pm and we sail at 10pm so please let there be a good house for the first show, lets hope they don’t go ashore tonight instead.

Today is also a tough day as someone I know very well is in hospital having heart surgery as we speak, I don’t want to say much more as this is a family matter and I pray that he will pull through.

See you later!
Just back from my rehearsal and what a band, they are a real good punchy band with a fab musical director Ian Brock and what with my favorite sound man on ships Steffen Edwards I’m in for a real treat on stage tonight, all I need now is 2 good houses and I’m your man.

Home tomorrow, I have a flight out of Athens at 1.30pm for London Heathrow, I should be home for 6.30pm. I cannot wait to see Sam and Marie. On Saturday is my birthday and Marie has booked a table at one of my favorite restaurants “Bar 46” on Broadlands so tapas for me.
2hrs to go before my first show, ha ha I can hear my old mate Tony Wright saying “ah but what a lovely 2hrs) and he’s right so it’s feet up until it’s time to get ready!

Both shows went great last night, not many British in mainly Americans and Canadians and they loved it, but some didn’t get a few jokes like “it’s so posh in Cardiff even the Fire Brigade is ex directory” and “have I done my De Je Vo gag?” but other than that it went great.

I am now at Athens airport now at the gate getting ready to board the plane for Heathrow. My next job is Grandeur of the Seas joining in Palma and then Independence of the Seas in which I’m taking my son Tom with me, thanks for checking in and see you soon.

On the plane now and I’m getting bored so my new MacBook Pro has helped out, there are still stuff I need to add to it and download but it really is a fab computer!
Landed at T1 Heathrow and my driver has been held up in traffic so just as I thought I would be straight out with no having to wait for my luggage I’m sat at Costa Coffee waiting, oh well no harm done, home soon.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Swansea Grand Theatre 24th September 2011

I think last night was one of the best nights I have ever had and thank you to everyone who came to see us, funniest moment for me was the cow with a sore throat oh yes and the sheep with no voice. Do drop me a line on the contact page and let me know what your favourite bit was, some liked the Wyn and his helicopter ride, some liked the same dress story. My band played brilliantly didn’t they, all great musicians, Michael Morwood musical director and piano, Paul Shepherd on drums, Jon Goode on Bass and Julian Tucker on woodwind and 2nd Keyboards. Rhian Griffith did an amazing job taking care of the first half and the audience loved her, she has a real likeability and an amazing voice. My sound is provided by Neath Music www.neathmusic.com Adrian and Ian Bamford who have been looking after our front of house and monitor mix for a good 7yrs now, they are simply the best. I know this is a pat on the back here for my team but do you know what, why not, they make my show come alive.
I had another reason to be proud last night as my son Tom designed the lighting for the show and operated the lighting board too, so well done Tom it looked awesome.
Mrs Doyle was there last night to, I sang “our” song and she loved it “The Way You Look Tonight” and she looked good too!


Thanks also to the hugely talented Lyn Mackay the Swansea girl who is making a splash on the cruise ships. Good friend and a great performer. check her out at http://www.lynmackaymusic.com/

I have a script day today for Trade Centre Wales for the next ads and tomorrow we go to the studios at Real Radio and record them as the next morning I fly to Rome from Cardiff via Amsterdam so a nice 3am wake up call on Tuesday for me, I’m joining the brand new luxurious Celebrity Silhouette which is only about 2 months old, it’s the same build as the Eclipse but with a few twists, photos will follow.

I am feeling tired this morning I was downstairs at 7am, I woke with a bad headache but feeling good at the same time because of last night, thanks Sarra, Leslie, Meryl and Roy who hardly miss a show and also to my bank manager Sandy and her husband who kindly came along, I could hear Sandy laughing out loud!! And thanks to the "Duke" and "Duchess" who traveled over 200 miles to see the show from Kent, Wow!!!
A massive thanks to Ian Parsons and his lovely family for being there too, Ian takes care of my website and does so much hard work behind the scenes, I couldn’t do it without him.

Finally thank you to Nick Taggart of Nett UK for promoting the show at Swansea Grand we have come a long way since Saltdean in Brighton Nick…cheers!

Have a good day all what ever you are doing today.

Saturday 24 September 2011

Kings Church, Newport 23rd Sept 2011

Last night my band and I were at Kings Church in Newport, we were part of an amazing night called “Newport Night of Honour” awards were given out to people who had done pretty awesome things, it was quite a humbling night. Pastor Ray Bevan and his lovely wife Laila were the perfect hosts and the night went off brilliantly. I used to go to Kings quite allot many years ago and after being there last night I think I should start going back. It is an amazing church, they even have a full on rock band to sing along to, it really is a real uplifting experience. If you live nearby Kings and you are looking for a church to go to, try Kings Church Newport the place is truly alive!

Tonight I am at the Grand Theatre Swansea and the official start to out tour, although we have a few weeks off after tonight and start back up again in Theatre Harfen in Newtown on the 28th October.

I join Celebrity Silhouette in Civiteveccia near Rome on Tuesday 27th Sept only for four nights, it is almost the same as Eclipse so I know what I’m going to, and I will have the same sound man from Eclipse Steffan Edwards who is first class, so I am looking forward to that, but first its Swansea Grand which is always a joy to perform in, so many memories of panto and plays I have done with some wonderful people.

See you soon.

Saturday 17 September 2011

If I Could See The Rhondda

devastating news about the miners at the Gleision Mine my heart goes out to the families and the people of the valley, my grandfather was a miner. I dedicate this song to their memory.



Thursday 15 September 2011

Grandeur Of The Seas September 11-15 2011

Hello again. What a date to start writing my blog September 11th a date the whole world will remember, the day that changed the world as we know it. I just would like to say R.I.P.

I flew to Palma from Heathrow’s Terminal 1 via Frankfurt and arrived last night around 7pm. I stayed in a hotel which was “ok” but I did manage to find some nice places to go and have a drink and some food, I met a couple of guys in a bar they were Skippers on huge private boats and were great company, Ed and Stu I think, one from New York and the other from Sydney Australia, anyway great company.

Joined the ship with an old mate called Andy Leach he’s a very funny man with an equally funny act, you may have seen him on the telly. We got onboard around 11.30am and soon settled in to our rooms, we met for lunch. The weather by the way is ever so hot 35degs so I think it’s a bronzing afternoon for me, I may as well as the summer over at home, I know, what summer I hear you say, hasn’t it been awful this year, it seems we have our summer in April now?


We sailed at 4.30pm having done our emergency drill where we all go to our muster stations next to the life boat we would go to is the emergency signal should ever sound which is 7 short and 1 long in the ships horn.


It’s 7.30pm now and it’s a beautiful evening, have a look at the photos, we just sailed past Santa Ponca where Marie Sam and I had a holiday a couple of years ago, it is funny seeing from the ship!


My show is in the Palladium Theatre on Wednesday, I have 2 shows as is normal I have an 8.45pm and a 10.45pm to do, the guests seem to be mainly British but I have heard quite a few American and Spanish people around the ship.

Tomorrow we are in Barcelona.

Goodnight.

Barcelona (lalalalalalalalal) Barcelona (lalalalalalalal)




Sorry that was meant to be Freddie Mercury’s Barcelona, well it was in my head! Good morning and what a lovely morning it is, the sun is shining and it is already 25degs at 9.50am, the weather at home is awful, I spoke to Marie first thing and she was rushing around getting Sam ready for school and she said it was ever so wet and windy, funny isn’t it Barcelona is not really that far from the UK and yet the difference in weather is vast, I can see how so many people consider moving to Spain or the South of France, I know the grass is always greener and all that but we are just having the worst summers aren’t we. I haven’t played much golf this year at all, I haven’t played one single game with my society the wedges www.wedges.org I have missed that very much especially the crack with the boys, oh well I am very grateful to have work and that is very important, I know my job takes me all over the world but it isn’t all glamorous let me tell you, some people take two flights a year to go on holiday I am doing around eight a month as it’s not very often I get direct flights and sometimes there isn’t much time in-between fights so it can be a mad dash to get to the next gate, I have missed connecting flights loads of times and I have missed the ship once, on boy that was serious stress, it was a long time ago now and Marie and I were sailing on Cunard Caronia and we docked in Montego Bay Jamaica, we got off the ship dressed in beach wear, I was wearing a vest, shorts and flip flops and Marie had shorts on with a t shirt and yes flip flops, we had $100 on us and headed for the beach and the bar, we asked some people on the shuttle bus to the beach what time the ship is sailing and they said confidently 6 o’ clock so we thought we would have a nice morning on the beach then have lunch in the beach bar, as we were enjoying a Red Stripe beer and listening to Bob Marley music pumping out of the bar Marie said to me “have you noticed there are no people here from our ship”, we knew this because we all take the ships pool towels with us when we go ashore to the beach, I decided we should go back to the ship as I had a bad feeling about this, the people by the way who told us it was a 6 o’ clock sail were on another ship that was docked around the corner, they weren’t on our ship at all. We got to the ship terminal and we could see the funnel of our ship and then thought everything was ok but it was actually sailing, we went into the shop to get some gifts for family and when we came out the ship had gone, Marie just looked at the empty space where the ship was docked and cried like a baby bless her, I had to take charge here and we ran to find the port agent and we were met with a laid back approach like you have never seen “Ah relax man, relax yourself, every ting is every ting man, no problem” well we were beside ourselves. We were put up in a cheap and dirty hotel in Montego Bay with now $25 to our names, no passports, no medication, no change of clothes and no toiletries, what were going to do? We stayed there for 5 days until the ship came back into Ochoa Reus (if that is how you spell it) I went to the ship and what I didn’t think about was what has happened to our personal things, they had people pack all our stuff and believe me they just threw it all in sat on the cases and that was it, I had a good telling off and quite rightly so, the good news after all this I was given my money for the cruise in CASH so we were ok from there on. We flew to Miami and had an 8hr wait in a que as we were on standby, we did get back home eventually but what a story and it happened to us.

Boy I went on then didn’t I...ok on with my day and time for a run!


I didn’t go for a run I went into town with Andy Leach and we must have walked miles and we power walked, we saw the beautiful cathedral and walked through some of the back streets of this mysterious city. I forgot to take the camera but I have some photos from the last time I was here only a few months ago. Tomorrow we are in Ibiza and I have never been there so it makes a change to go somewhere different so I am looking forward to that. It’s 10pm now and I’m about to go to bed, I met some people earlier from Scotland and they are playing golf tomorrow and they kindly invited me to play with them, so you never know, let’s see how I feel in the morning.

Goodnight.

It’s Ibiza day! I had a nice extra couple of hours in bed this morning until 10.20am lovely, once upon a time I could stay in bed until noon and go and have a curry for lunch, ha those days have long gone!

It is a beautiful sunny day, the weather is just stunning here. I took a walk around the ship this morning and the pool area was ram jam packed with people watching a load of overweight guys belly flopping into the pool, check the photos out. Talking about photos as I was taking a few pics of the beautiful 1000 seat Palladium Theatre the battery icon on my camera was flashing so I took as many pics as I could before it ran out, when I got back to my room I couldn’t find the charger, I have only left it at home haven’t I, I am gutted as I haven’t been to Ibiza before and we are now sailing into the harbour and it looks stunningly beautiful! AAAAhhhhrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well onwards and upwards at least I have the belly flop pics to show you, it was so funny and a tad old fashioned but as you can see people love it, fun in the sun!

We were all tied up and docked at 2pm and I went down to the guest relations desk and met with a great guy called Davey who was organizing the golf that day, I had met him and his lovely wife a few months ago on the Celebrity Eclipse, anyway I then met the man who ever so kindly lent me his brand new Ping and Taylormade golf clubs, his name was George, unfortunately he couldn’t play as he was not feeling too good and he lent his clubs to me, what a nice man. Our four ball was Davey, Dave, Lucky Jerry and me. The golf club was a great set up and we even had buggies as it was far too hot to walk the course, we had a fantastic days golf and even better company, Davey won with a mighty 41 points, then Lucky Jerry with 36 points (you will never play with anyone as lucky as Jerry, I didn’t tell him I once played Lucky Eric in Bouncers) then Dave with 32 points and I got 30 points so what a day, thank you Davey for your kindness and one of the best days golf ever.

I had a quick night cap with my mate Andy Leach and off to bed around 11.45pm.

Good morning. It is a day at sea today as we sail for Malaga, it’s another sunny day here, Marie tells me it has been shocking weather at home so lucky me eh!

I have my show tonight in the 1000 seat Palladium Theatre check out these photos I took with the theatre empty and just before my battery died on me, isn’t it beautiful, I am so lucky to work in some of the best theatre’s in the world I really am.

OK, I have packing to do this morning, take another look at my act, sort the music out for the 9 piece band and I have my rehearsal and sound check at 4pm, show time is 9pm and 10.45pm tonight.

My rehearsal and sound check went great, I haven’t worked this theatre for nine years and it’s great to be back, the sound is not quite as good as Independence, Jewel or Eclipse but not bad at all, so I am now just waiting to go on tonight, I have 2hrs 45mins to wait and I’m almost packed and I am so looking forward to going home now, I should be back in my house around 5pm tomorrow, I can’t wait to see Marie and Sam.

I just looked out and we are now passing the South of Spain so I tried my mobile phone and got a signal so I rang home and spoke to Marie, she was in the middle of a concert by Sam in the living room, I so wish I was there to see it! I’m on stage myself in an hour so I had better get my skates on and get showered and dressed for the show, I am a little nervous as I haven’t worked this theatre for a while, but the guests are mainly British so all should be fine, I know here I go again! See you later after the show.

I have just come back from the 9pm show, what a crowd possibly the best ever on a ship, what a great time I had and they gave me a proper standing ovation and I over ran and the Cruise Director was happy...result! Let’s hope the 10.45pm goes as well!

All good and probably one of the best cruises ever!

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Mike Doyle Tour Rehearsal 2011



I had a great time rehearsing for the tour with my fabulous band, Michael Morwood, Jon Goode, Paul Shepherd and the best sound guys I have worked with, Adrian and Ian Bamford from Neath Music.
Some new songs and a new show. Hope to see you at one of the venues.


2011/12 tour details below


October 2011
28 Theatr Hafren -- Newtown 01686 625007 www.theatrhafren.co.uk
November 2011
2 Theatr Mwldan - Cardigan 01239 621200 www.mwldan.co.uk
4 - Congress Theatre - Cwmbran 01633 868239 www.congresstheatrecwmbran.co.uk
6 & 7 Torch Theatre - Milford Haven 01646 695267 www.torchtheatre.co.uk
9 Courtyard Theatre - Hereford 01432 340555 www.courtyard.org.uk
10 Memorial Hall - Barry 01446 738622 www.memorialhalltheatre.co.uk
11 Princess Royal Theatre - Port Talbot 01639 763214 www.npt.gov.uk
12 Theatr Elli - Llanelli 0845 2263510 www.carmarthenshiretheatres.co.uk
18 Theatr Colwyn - Colwyn Bay 01492 577888 www.theatrcolwyn.co.uk
19 Park and Dare Theatre - Treorchy 08000 147111 www.parkdare.rct-arts.org
25 Welfare Hall - Ystradgynlais 01639 843163 www.thewelfare.co.uk

December 2011
2 Borough Theatre - Abergavenny 01873 850805 www.boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk

February 2012
23 Theatre Severn - Shrewsbury 01743 281281 www.theatresevern.co.uk
24 Theatr Bryncheiniog - Brecon 01874 611622 www.brycheiniog.co.uk
25 Grand Pavilion - Porthcawl 01656 815995 www.grandpavilion.co.uk

Saturday 3 September 2011

Eclipse 27th Aug-2 Sep 2011

I flew into Heathrow from Norway and David Llewellyn from Executive Cars www.executivecarswales.com was there to pick me up and take me home, I only had 1 day to spend with Marie and Sam as the next day I had to go to Northop in North Wales to take part in a Festival called Gwyl Gobaith which means Festival of Hope, it was a big open air event in aid of Wales Air Ambulance and it was also filmed for Television by Avanti TV. Also on the bill was X Factor Star Rhydian and a female singing group called “allisium 3” who were amazing, I didn’t get to see Rhydian perform as I opened the show with my band who played brilliantly and I left straight after to travel back to Southampton as I was joining the Celebrity Eclipse once again for another cruise to the Med. I so enjoyed the being part of the TV show and it seemed to go very well, the producer Emyr Afan has asked me to ring him and arrange a meeting once I am back from this cruise, so you never know!

I am now on the Eclipse and have already been on stage, my 7pm show went great and I have my 9pm now to go. I do love this ship, it has the most amazing theatre and the sound in there is simply the best thanks to sound man Steffen Edwards, he is such a talent and gives me an outstanding sound onstage. I am so tired as I didn’t get much sleep last night so it will be straight to bed for me tonight after my show.

My 9pm show was packed and went just great, I LOVE this theatre and the band and the sound is absolutely fantastic, some people are against the “big ship” thing but do you what, it’s the future of cruising for many. After my show I stood with cruise director Dru Pavlov at the exit of the theatre and shook hands with a few guests then met with my old mate Food & Beverage Manager Mark Tomley for a night cap.

Good Morning! It’s a day at sea today and the weather is partly cloudy but the sea is calm, we are now in the Bay of Biscay heading south for the old Spanish port of Cadiz and this time I think I will get off and have a nice walk around, I love Cadiz, I remember once I went with a mate of mine from P&O Cruises Steve Beswick into Cadiz and we found the most fantastic place that had the best cured ham you will ever taste, most places sell the ham but my goodness this was first class. It’s a formal night tonight so I have decided to stay in and watch TV; I watched a vampire film which was also a love story, what a film to watch just before you want to go to sleep!

Good Morning! Another day at sea today and the sun is shining brightly through my window. I have my show to organise and then I am going for my walk around deck 12 with my heart monitor on and go over my new songs for the tour which is around the corner now, we open at the Swansea Grand Theatre on the 24th September, are you coming?

I have my 2nd show tonight in the Eclipse Theatre at 7pm and 9pm, it’s a strange one for me tonight because I have taken the first bit of my main show and put it in the Welcome Show the other night, so I must be pretty switched on tonight and think hard what I’m doing as I will be opening with a different song and going into gags that I usually do in another show, oh I’ll be fine it’ll just be slightly different that’s all, stop moaning Doyle! OK, have a nice day where ever you are and whatever you are doing, I’m off for my walk now!

I had a great walk/run this morning, its great what I do is I warm up using my heart monitor and get my heart up to 120 beats per minute then once there I run until it gets to 130 beats per minute then walk again until it goes back down to 120 beats sometime’s it goes up to 147 beats but that is too much so I try and keep it between 120 and 130 and do this for 45 minutes then cool down for 10 minutes, sorry it’s a bit boring all this jargon but it works for me and I get to listen to my iPod and get learning the new songs. Breakfast followed I had smoked salmon and an omelette and a pint of freshly squeezed orange juice. After a nice hot shower I went to the beautiful library onboard and sat there with a pad and pen and started to work out how the show is going to work out on the tour, I am so pleased my dear friend Rhian Griffith is on the show with me, she has a voice to die for and is one of the nicest persons you will ever meet, also joining us on the tour is my son Tom, he is going to be our Production Manager so I am very excited about that and once he finishes on the tour he shoots to London for his rehearsals for Pantomime with Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi, they will at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton, he goes there as DSM (Deputy Stage Manager) he did so well at the Royal Welsh Collage of Music and Drama in Cardiff so looks like he’s on his way now, ha I am so proud of him, check him out on YouTube and facebook, he also has his own production company called Nos Da Productions.

I have my rehearsal at 4.30pm this afternoon and my shows are at 7pm & 9pm.

It’s now 4.15pm and I am just about to go to rehearsal, it has been a fabulous day onboard the sun has been shining all day so that makes happy people and a theatre full of happy, tanned smiley people will do me nicely thank you very much!

I had a very quick rehearsal and sound check as we have all done the show loads of times.

I have 45mins now to “ShowTime” and I feel good about it, maybe doing the Welcome show on the first night has done me a favour as all the guests know who I am now so I am hoping for two full houses and a great night ahead. I have Christopher Cross playing loudly on my iPod as I’m getting ready, he has an amazing voice and I have always loved his music.

Great news I got two full houses last night and both went great, more than great really, I think that’s the best the show has gone on here, and I really enjoyed it.

Today we are in Cadiz and the sun is shining again and with a high of 28degs it’s going to be a great day for everyone, people smile more when the weather is good don’t they. We set sail at 4pm only to turn back to Cadiz an hour later because we had to unfortunately medically disembark one of the guests, I am not sure of what was wrong with him but it was necessary to land him and get him to a hospital right away. We have a medical facility here onboard but it wasn’t enough for this poor chap, I wish him well and a speedy recovery!

On a lighter note, last night at midnight there was a show for the crew and it featured an amazing talent, a hypnotist called Christopher Caress, well I have never seen anything like it, he had about thirty people on stage with him and literally put them to sleep and then had them doing the most funniest things from milking a cow to crying their eyes out over a sad film to wait for it, wiping their bums on a clean piece of stage as they had a very hot curry the night before, I laughed my head off it was so funny, he is also a very nice man.

I’m going to stay in again tonight and watch some TV a film maybe, I should give Jonathan Clarke a call, he got on today he is a very good impressionist and I haven’t seen him for 21years, we used to be on the summer park seasons together way back in the day, I am so looking forward to seeing him again.

There is allot of talent on this ship like Jeff Stevenson who you may remember from ITV he had a game show called “Jumble” a top bloke and a good friend, then there’s me old mate Pete Mathews who I have known since 1991 we were on the Cannon & Ball Summer Show at the North Pier Blackpool and again the next year at the Britannia Pier in Gt. Yarmouth, Pete’s a great act he does a comedy juggling act and is very funny, then we have Jonathan Clark who I mentioned earlier who is probably one of the finest impressionists in the world and Chris Caress the Hypnotist who is just amazing, there’s also Adam Westcott who is a Spanish flamenco guitarist and he is world class let me tell you, there’s a classical trio of strings who are also right up there with the best, an acapella group that sing the Jersey Boys songs better than the Jersey Boys, also another guitar player Owen who also sings and has the most beautiful voice, then the bands on the ship are tip top fantastic, this really is an amazing place to be entertained.


My son Sam starts school on Thursday and I won’t be there so poor Marie has to take him on her own, I do hope he goes into school again, I remember my other son Tom starting and little face was like a false smile and horror at the same time, here’s some photos of Sam in his new school uniform.


Today is a sea day and unfortunately its overcast and it’s trying to rain, mind you that could be good for me as I am back in the Eclipse Theatre at 3pm giving a talk on my life in show business and well anything really including my family! I found out this morning that Jonathan Clarke has been on since Southampton and we haven’t even seen each other, I can’t believe it he has been in his cabin all this time, I hope he’s ok, I haven’t seen him in ages!

I found him, Jonathan Clark; he was in his cabin he says he hasn’t come out since we left Southampton? He is on tonight and I can’t wait to see his act, he was always a great singer impressionist.

I have just come back from my talk in the theatre and it was another full house and it went better than ever, I was approached by a lovely lady after my talk and she is a journalist for the papers, she wants to do an article on me for the Scottish Mail On Sunday, what a shame it’s not for Wales I could do with some more publicity for my tour, having said that my publicist Katie Vokes of MSI Creative is doing a fab job.

I spent some time catching up with Jonathan Clark last night, he did a fantastic job, his act is new and fresh with up to date impressions and he is doing so well in the USA too, we had a good chat and a laugh over old times we spent in the summer parks back in 1989, a top man is he and I wish him well.

I’m now at my gate at Palermo Airport and my first flight is to Milan, Marie and I had our honeymoon in Milan, then onto Heathrow where Executive Cars will be there to take me home www.executivecarswales.com I can’t wait to get home and hear all Sam’s news about starting school, I am so gutted I wasn’t there to mark that day. Never mind I am taking him to school on Monday morning. Tonight my friends Chris and Megan Stuart are having a party to say thank you to all who worked with them at Presentable www.presentable.com they were responsible for filming all my TV shows for BBC One Wales, I do hope I can make it, trouble is I don’t get into Heathrow until 6.30pm and by the time I get out of Heathrow it will be gone 7pm so I would be lucky to get home by 9.45pm so it may be too late to go to the Presentable bash in Llandaff, I owe so much to them for giving my career a massive boost back in 2001, so if I don’t make the party THANK YOU CHRIS and MEGAN STUART so very much.

I’m now on the plane and left Palermo late so I do hope I get my next flight to Heathrow ok! I had a text from my PA Ian Parsons and he tells me the Swansea Grand is selling fast so if you haven’t got a ticket yet and you would like to join me there get your ticket now.


It has been another successful cruise and I can’t wait to come back to the Celebrity Eclipse and do it all again, lucky for me I am doing the brand spanking new Celebrity Silhouette at the end of September so I’m excited about that too. I have the RCI Grandeur of the Seas to do next week, I haven’t been on there for years so that will be nice to go back there, oh did I tell you the Oriana sailed past us in the Med and she looked lovely, I miss that ship, I owe allot to her as I worked on her for many years working on my show, my heart skipped a beat when she sailed past, silly aren’t I!

Oh well it’s time now for an in-flight culinary delight of a cheese sandwich the smallest coke on planet earth. Bon Appetite!

It was a mad dash to the next flight but I made it, now all I just need to see that my luggage made it too. Another paste sarnie and an apple juice slips down nicely as I think to myself “look at you Doylie living the dream” hah I wish, I can see the business class lot down there having their meals served on proper plates and with real knives and forks, oh boy they having soup as well, once upon a time I was flown business class I even went first class once or twice but not anymore, cutbacks you see. It doesn’t look like I will make the Presentable party in Llandaff tonight, I won’t be home until at least 10pm now due to being delayed at Milan, it is a shame as there will be loads of people there I would love to see again like David Firman who was my musical director during all my TV shows, a great man who was so much fun to be around, I’d love to do it all again one day.


I have a busy week ahead, I have radio interviews Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and probably some ads to record for Trade Centre Wales too, Thursday evening I have a after dinner speech to deliver then Friday I have a concert at the Llangenech Hall near Llanelli, I played it last year and it is a lovely little place, we are going to rehearse there to for the upcoming tour, then Saturday I fly from Heathrow once again this time to Palma Mallorca via Frankfurt and I join the beautiful Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas for a week in the Med, then home, then the Celebrity Silhouette, then my birthday (1st October) then back on Grandeur, then over to the Independence of the Seas also taking my son Tom on that one, then back for my final cruise for this year on Celebrity Eclipse, then THE TOUR!