I mentioned recently that I’d been to a couple of Wookalily TV recording events for a show that was inexplicably Not Allowed To Be Talked About. Now that the series in question has gone overground (advertising itself on BBC ticketing outlets), we can kick all that cloak and dagger guff into touch.
The wonderful Wookalily will be appearing on a forthcoming BBC4 series called ‘Britain’s Best Part-Time Band’. It seems to be some sort of competition, though not open to the public – all filmed in advance of broadcast. Comedian Rhod Gilbert and various music legends get to travel around the UK, see some bands, have a laugh and decide who they like best at a regional level and then, presumably, at a national level.
The Wookaladies are through from NI, and will be filmed again on January 15th at a live open-to-the-public thing in Belfast along with regional winners from the Celtic fringes. Tickets from the link herein.
Meanwhile, line up those mince pies and a steaming flagon of mulled wine, put your feet up and watch the Wookas on the considerably lower-budget NVTV performing six songs (some of their best, plus one real turkey). There are four chairs but five Wookas. How will they manage? Find out…
Not Allowed To Be Talked About. For Your Ears Only. Blimey! You’re becoming more like 007 with every posting Colin.
Where will this end?
Not that I’m complaining about a generous helping of Wooka.
Oh, it wasn’t me imposing all the ‘Don’t Talk About It’ stuff – it was all coming from the production people. The contracts, from what I hear, seem somewhat draconian. Absurdly, once the show has been broadcast they are Not Permitted To Say They Have Been In It to anyone in any professional capacity. Which means that either King Canute or a blithering imbecile unfamiliar with human nature, social media and common sense is running the BBC.
Control-freakery gone bananas by the sound of things.
Indeed. But now the genii is out of the bottle. A riotous assembly at The Limelight, Belfast, is surely now inevitable as all Wooka fans descend on Rhod Gilbert and tell him they ‘know where he lives’ (Wales, probably), in a desperate bid to get our heroes some national celebrity. Although, obviously, once they’ve won it we won’t be able to tell anyone about it.
I like them. I got sent their album a while back and it’s rather good. Hopefully this means they’ll be heading out on tour
I think they would if they could – if there were enough sheckles and opportunities in Wookaworld to do so. If anyone round the country was up for organising a gig, and two or three could be put together, I’m sure the Wookavan could cross the Irish Sea. Maybe a few opportunities will present themselves once the BBC4 show has aired – although, of course, they will have to deny any knowledge of the show or their involvement in it if any commercial opportunities do come along, as per the Soviet-style contract.