People We Love Working With
Arthur Smith
I spent 13 years working as a radio presenter for the UKRD group (Stray FM, Yorkshire Coast Radio and Minster FM) and Freelance Radio Presenter for KCFM, Lincs FM and Radio Yorkshire. I am currently the Breakfast presenter on Trax FM based in Doncaster and loving every minute of working with this great company. If you already know me, you will know I am passionate about the industry in which I work.
My main strength is being able to communicate effectively using various methods to suit the target audience (verbal, in writing, in person and digitally). I set up Cann Communications to be able to expand and develop and to continue to help the community in which I live and work using media, radio and online channels.
I'd love to help you with voiceover work, event hosting and DJing. Let's have a cuppa and a chat.
Graeme Park
Arthur Smith is a BBC regular, well-known for his appearances on TV’s ‘Grumpy Old Men’, ‘Q.I.’, ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘The One Show’, Radio 4’s ‘Loose Ends’, ‘Balham Bash’, and host of Radio 4 Extra’s Comedy Club, and Radio 2’s ‘Smith Lectures’. Arthur is a ‘Spirit of The Fringe’ award-winning Edinburgh Festival stalwart and Olivier nominated playwright for ‘An Evening With Gary Lineker’.
Arthur is simply one of our funniest and most original comic performers and is guaranteed to bring you a night of hilarity, mirth and scandal...with a touch of rudeness thrown in for good measure.
Comedian Arthur Smith is a national treasure! Find him on Twitter @ArfurSmith
TV/Radio agent: Troika
Stage tour agent: Sofia Cann
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Chris Hawkins presents the daily Early Breakfast show (5 - 7.30am) on BBC Radio 6 Music (5-7.30am) and has interviewed some of music’s biggest stars, including Calvin Harris; The Killers; Florence Welch; Dave Grohl and Jack White. He is a notable champion of 2019 Brits Critics Choice Winner, Sam Fender.
Chris is also a Radio 4 documentary presenter, most recently presenting an in depth programme investigating the links between contemporary music and politics. He is among a select number of presenters to host the prestigious Radio 4 programme, Pick of the Week. He is also regular voice on BBC Radio 5 live. On screen, Chris appears on BBC Breakfast TV, BBC News and has presented films on BBC Inside Out.
He is an experienced festival, awards and conference host as well as a successful voice over artist. He writes blogs for the BBC website and has written for the Huffington Post, Music Week and UK Music.
Chris recently appeared on Pointless Celebrities and captained the victorious Nottingham University team on Celebrity University Challenge. He is also a Celebrity Mastermind runner-up...his specialist subject? Coronation Street.
In 2018 Chris made cameo appearances in the BBC 1 daytime drama Doctors and played Dylan Thomas at the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea.
Chris is proud to chair the Nordoff Robbins Manchester Network and to be an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.
Sunday Times (Gillian Reynolds), “Chris Hawkins, the great of tomorrow”
The Telegraph, “A thoughtful, intellectually supple presenter”
The Guardian, “lovely music, sense of humour, and warm interaction with listeners.”
Matt Haig, “Chris is a master interviewer”
Brian Blessed, “An excellent host and interviewer”
If you're looking for the perfect person to host your 'In conversation' and Q&A events, then look no further! For DJ/event hosting opportunities & media interviews, contact Sofia Cann.
Listen back to Chris on BBC Radio 5 Live
Here's another chance to hear Chris chatting to author Matt Haig on
Twitter: @ChrisHawkinsUK
Publicist: Sofia Cann
CONTACT US
Graeme Park is an original Hacienda DJ who sells out at venues across the globe! He's spent 30 years on the decks and 20 years on the radio and is still going strong. Find him on Twitter @graemepark
The story of DJ Graeme Park really mirrors the story of the evolution of dance music and club culture itself. Graeme found himself working in a Nottingham record shop called Selectadisc in the early 1980s, when the very first house records began to filter through from Chicago, Detroit and New York. When the shop’s owner opened a nightclub, it was only natural he should turn to Graeme to select the discs. Determined to showcase this new style of music, his reputation as a house pioneer soon brought him to the attention of The Haçienda in Manchester, who asked him to cover for Mike Pickering while he went on holiday in 1988. Simply put, there was no-one else in the country who could do the job. The Summer of Love followed and Parky quickly became one of the biggest names on the emerging dance scene. Aside from his nine year residency at The Haç, he was one of the first British DJs to play places like Australia, South America, the USA, Asiaand beyond as well as producing and remixing tracks for the dancefloor, including The Brand New Heavies, Inner City, Eric B & Rakim, New Order, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and others
For a list of where you can see Graeme DJ, visit www.thisisgraemepark.com
Now Taking bookings for Q&A and DJ gigs with Graeme Park.
For bookings and media interviews, contact Sofia Cann.
Actor and Television Director Reece Dinsdale has performed extensively in theatres across the country including his role as Walter Harrison in This House at The National Theatre, George Jones in The Absence of War for Headlong Theatre Company and the title roles in Richard III and The Master Builder Builder at Leeds Playhouse. He won a Yorkshire Award for his contribution to Arts and Entertainment after playing Alan Bennett in Untold Stories (also Leeds Playhouse).
Dinsdale won the Special Jury Prize at the Geneva Film Festival for his portrayal of John Brandon in the feature film I.D. and played Guildenstern (to Tim Spall’s Rosencrantz) in Kenneth Branagh’s highly acclaimed feature film Hamlet.
As well as his stage and big screen performances, Reece has starred in many high- profile TV dramas ranging from leading roles in the BAFTA award winning Threads and Jim Henson’s Storyteller, through Spooks, Life on Mars, to Joe McIntyre in Coronation Street and the hugely popular comedy series Home to Roost opposite the late John Thaw.
Reece has also directed the Royal Television Society Award-winning drama ‘Eighteen’ in the ‘Moving On’ series for LA Productions and BBC1.
Reece is Associate Artist of Leeds Playhouse and Patron of Square Chapel Arts Centre, The Old Courts in Wigan, Harrogate Theatre and The Piece Hall. Follow Reece on Twitter: @reece_dinsdale
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Photo credit: Ant Robling
Now Taking bookings for actor training sessions, Q&A and in conversations, contact Sofia Cann
Jack Carroll came to fame as runner up in the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent with his stand-up comedy act which left the nation belly laughing on each show. He quickly showed himself to be a talented comedian, actor, and podcaster along with possessing writing talents. The nation fell in love with his relaxed and humorous observations on living with Cerebral Palsy and his career has gone from strength to strength.
Jack has been busy writing and performing in, stand up, films, BBC drama’s, panel shows and television shows such as Trollied, Minister of Curious Stuff with Vic Reeves, Eaten by Lions, Sunday Night at the Palladium with Jason Manford, Live at the Apollo, Pointless and Qi to name just a few. The list is endless which has proved his versatility in both children’s and mainstream entertainment in which he flourishes. In 2023, Jack will appear as the lead at the Liverpool Royal Court Theatre for the hilarious play ‘Cured’ where he plays the lead as a disabled atheist who joins a church group on a visit to Lourdes just because he’s attracted to a girl in the group!
Jack is about to start his 3rd season of video Podcasts with two friends called ‘Impaired’
Jack is available for stand-up performances, film, TV and Theatre.
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Ian Puleston-Davies
Ian Puleston-Davies is an actor, writer and voice over artist. A familiar face on stage and screen, you will probably recognise him from Tin Star on Channel 4 and Sky Atlantic, Vera, Coronation Street, Marcella, Being Human and Silent Witness to name a few.
Ian is an advocate for mental health support and is Patron of OCD UK. Follow Ian on Twitter: @PulestonDavies
Agent: Curtis Brown
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Photo credit: Neilson Reeves Photography
Now Taking bookings for Q&A and in conversation events with Ian Puleston-Davies.
For bookings and press & media interviews, contact Sofia Cann
Natalie Gavin was born in West Yorkshire and studied at Leeds Intake Performing Arts College following a Bachelor of the arts degree in Drama and Theatre studies with an outstanding achievement award at Huddersfield University.
Natalie has worked professionally in the industry for 14+ years with many Television, Film and Theatre credits under her belt.
Natalie’s film career started with Clio Barnard’s first film The Arbor as young Andrea Dunbar; and is in Barnards latest film Ali & Ava. Natalie also starred alongside Peter Mullen in Jake Gavin’s film Hector.
Nat’s television credits include Paul Abbott s critically acclaimed TV series Shameless; Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge; ITV’s The Syndicate by Kay Mellor; BBC one’s Prisoners wives; Ged Mercurio’s award winning Line of Duty; and Sally Wainwright's Gentleman jack. Natalie also landed the lead role playing Alma Capstick in Jericho.
Natalie Gavin’s theatre credits include Shared Experience Bracken Moor & Mermaid; The Old Vic’s The Crucible playing Mary warren; Andrea Dunbar’s Shirley at Hope Mill and Square Chapel Arts Centre; Headlongs Theatre’s Pygmalion as a northern Eliza Doolittle; and Charley Miles new play There Are No Beginnings at the Leeds Playhouse.
You can find Natalie next in Julian Fellowes up and coming Netflix series The English Games.
Natalie is Square Chapel Art Centre’s youngest patron and is also a patron of Harrogate Theatre.
Showreel: vimeo.com/383810444
Twitter: @NatalieGavin
Talent agent Curtis Brown
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Karen Henthorn is an experienced stage and screen actor and voice over artist. She starred in the national staging of War Horse and played the mother in 'Shirley', the last play by Andrea Dunbar.
Karen's screen work has included The Teacher, Dark Heart, In The Flesh, Homefront, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Doctors and much more.
As well as her stage and screen work, Karen also runs acting workshops for all abilities from starting out to professionals.
Follow the brilliant Karen on Twitter: @Karenhenthorna1
Agent: Revolution Talent
Voice agent: QVoice Limited
Publicist: Sofia Cann
Photo credit: Neilson Reeves Photography
For press & media interviews, contact Sofia Cann
Stuart Antony is an actor, writer and voice over artist and a familiar face screens in the UK.
He is best known for his roles as Shifter in Cockney & Scouse, Matthew Dawson in The Bar, Simon White in Eastenders, PC Ben Smith in The Bill and Harry Wood in Light the Lights.
Stuart is currently writing and will be starring in a 10 part law drama called Iris which follows the life and career of barrister Iris Stone KC.
Stuart is an advocate for sexual abuse victims and campaigns on a nationwide level. He can often be seen on TV and heard on radio discussing this.
Follow Stuart on Social Media
Twitter: @STU_ACTOR
Instagram: @STU_ACTOR_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/actorstuie
For press & media interviews, contact Sofia Cann
Eva Pope was born in the countryside near Wigan to her landscape - gardener Father and her Mother, a teacher. She and her four brothers grew up in an ancient farmhouse in the Lancastrian hills. Eva was introduced to acting by her mother, an avid theatre goer who saved up to take Eva to Stratford - On - Avon every couple of years. "Shakespeare has been my Light ever since".
At 19, Eva left her wellies and her erratic school life behind and moved to London to a 3 year classical acting course at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She was almost expelled after her first term and had to "round off her northern corners".
Triumphantly "rounded off", Eva left Webber Douglas with a top Distinction in the 90's and jumped straight into Theatre, playing a ghost at Dundee Rep, Adrianna in Comedy of Errors at the New Vic and - her favourite part to date - Jessie in "Bright and Bold Design" by Peter Wheelan, in Theatre in the Round. Whilst playing Jessie, Eva was spotted by Coronation Street bosses and begun a year-long reign as the evil Tanya Pooley - eventually forcing her way out of the Granada doors when a friend suggested that the weight of hate levelled at her across the Nation every evening must be enough to sink Britain.
Since those days Eva has played lead roles in over 70 Television, Film, and Theatre productions, gaining nominations and awards for her performances along the way. Eva also writes and produces award winning work and is actively an all-rounder in her Industry, with her Northern corners included again. She was most recently nominated for Best Supporting Actress at The 2017 California Woman's Film Festival, Hollywood.
Eva is patron of The Old Courts in Wigan.
Twitter: @Evapope
John’s numerous television credits include playing series regulars in the ITV’s Emmerdale, Channel 4’s Brookside, and BBC’s The Case, Waterloo Road, All the Small Things, and Mersey Beat, for which he won the award for Best Actor in the Regional Television Society Awards 2002.
His recent stage credits include An Enemy of the People, Things I Know To Be True (Frantic Assembly) and The Red Lion for Rapture Theatre.
John is also an author as well as actor and director. His debut book 'You Never Said Goodbye' is available to buy via Amazon.
Find out more about the wonderful John McArdle.
Kris Hitchen
Kris Hitchen is an actor and voice over artist, his break out performance came playing the lead in Ken loach's "Sorry we missed you". His performance was met with world wide critical acclaim earning him a BIFA nomination for Best Actor and the film a BAFTA nomination for outstanding British film.
Kris is a known face on TV and film including parts in Trigger Point, Anne Boleyn, Sorry We Missed You and the powerful TV series Four Lives. Kris also has an ever growing number of exciting projects in development.
Talent agent Greg Herst Troika Talent
https://www.troikatalent.com/agent/greg-herst
Photo credit Zurich Film Festival
Paul Byrne
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Paul Byrne, now stand-up comedian, writer and performer, was a police officer in the Metropolitan Police where he progressed to the rather intense roles of missing persons and calling the shots as a Firearms Tactics Commander on firearms incidents and hostage-takers. He worked as a Detective Sergeant in the Murder Squad before becoming a Detective Inspector. Paul recently left the Met Police after 25 years deciding the life of comedy is more for him, and what a plethora of experiences he has been able to select his material from.
The comedic guru, Arthur Smith has mentored Paul as he instantly recognised and appreciated the original, surrealist humour Paul portrayed.
Paul volleys an extreme satirical performance at his audience, holding nothing back and with plenty of swears to delight the audience and to break the taboos in policing. Paul has appeared at several fringe festivals and remains extremely active in producing podcasts with online video content and animation. He has a successfully published novel along with several short stories and is a level 2 cricket coach!
Paul’s one hour show entitled, ‘All Coppers Are Bastards. A Life In Policing’ will be performed in front of a live audience who are bound to enjoy a hilarious evening finding themselves experiencing areas they haven’t otherwise been before, but they will be very glad they did!
For media interviews and gig bookings contact:
Publicist: Sofia Cann.
Becky Bond
Becky Bond has been helping people tell their stories for twenty-five years – either on radio, television, newspapers or through ghostwriting.
As a radio producer she has worked across the BBC nationally and locally including 5 Live, Radio 2, Radio 4 and various commercial stations on subjects ranging from politics to showbiz, menopause, motorbikes and even coleslaw wrestling.
In TV she's worked with the likes of Aled Jones on Celebrity Christmas Carols (Channel 5), with paramedics on Helicopter ER (UKTV) and historians such as Ben Robinson for Villages By the Sea (BBC2).
As a regular columnist and freelance feature writer for The Yorkshire Post, Becky found her own voice and writing style, but has always preferred other people's stories. In fact, it was one of her centre-spreads which spawned her career in ghostwriting. One thousand words about Georgina Hurst, a woman who turned to pole-dancing after a life-altering accident, grew into seventy thousand and ‘Unbroken: The Woman who Walked Again’ was born.
Her latest ghostwriting collaboration is an amazing story of a young boy's fight for justice after surviving a childhood of abuse and neglect at the hands of his parents and the care system. 'Richie - Who Cares' is out in June.
You can see more of Becky's work at www.beckybondwrites.com.
Chris Bond
Chris Bond is a freelance journalist, ghostwriter, copywriter, lecturer and proofreader. He worked at The Yorkshire Post, where he was features editor, for 22 years before leaving in 2022.
He is a successful author having written the authorised biography of the popular Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson - Ashley Jackson: An Artist's Life; and has taken part in several literary events, including the Bradford Literature Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, Leeds Big Bookend and Morley Literature Festival, both as a panellist and an interviewer.
During a journalistic career spanning more than two decades he has covered a wide variety of stories ranging from 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan, to the Great Yorkshire Show and the Leeds Festival.
He has also interviewed countless famous names, including Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Michael Palin, Sir Michael Parkinson, Sean Bean, Alan Bennett, David Baddiel, John Bishop, Jerry Hall, Lee Child, Richard Hawley, Jenny Agutter, Tony Bennett and Eddie Izzard.
Follow Chris on Twitter: @BondChris73
For more info and to book Chris click here for his email.
Ant Robling
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Anthony Robling is a photographer specialising in theatre, portraiture and event photography. Working with natural light, on location, and in the studio. He produces images featuring bold colours and crisp black and whites.
Theatre photography makes up the vast majority of Ant’s work. To date, he’s worked at, amongst others, York Theatre Royal, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Grand, Leeds City Varieties, Harrogate Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax, Cast in Doncaster, Bradford Alhambra, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool Empire, and the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Court in London.
He has also been published widely throughout Yorkshire, and also nationally in The Guardian, The Independent, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, The Stage, Morning Star, Vogue and on the BBC, ITV and Sky Arts. His services include coverage of press launches, meet and greets, rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and publicity shoots.
His portraiture takes all forms - personal projects, headshots, and commercial photography. Business clients include Jo Loves, Asda, Caddick Construction, Delifresh, National Railway Museum, Balfour Beatty, Jo Malone, Jimmy Choo, Cann Communications, The Diana Award and The Pentelow Practice - Principal Partner Practice of St. James's Place Wealth Management.
Ant has covered a wide range of events including Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards, Manchester Theatre Awards, Yorkshire Choice Awards, and Child Friendly Leeds Awards.
We choose Ant Robling when it comes to photography because he's creative, reliable, good at what he does, passionate and professional.
Follow Ant on Twitter: @RoblingPix
For more info and to book Ant for your events visit his website.