Nights are fare drawing in

Hi,

Ok ships all finished for another year and thank you to Cunard and RCCL for their continued faith in me....well that was very polite.
I have had a few weeks off to get ready for the panto season and I'm really enjoying being at home. I'm always torn between looking forward to Panto and knowing that I'm away from home for such a long time. Christmas and New Year are always great when everyone comes up to Edinburgh but I miss the family so much during the run. I try to get down as often as I can but its so dangerous to fly down on my day off and then all of sudden fog or snow sets in and I'm stuck. I'd hate to put my understudy under that stress.
Family all well. Kate is doing some live gigs at the moment and working a new album with David. David very close to a big publishing deal.....again. You never no till its signed on the dotted line.
Jane busy with next years concerts.
Cinderella is looking good on paper. 10 days and we'll hear how it sounds out loud. I've started learning the first act finale song....its a lot of words....and my old memory takes longer every year. It will be great to get back to the old 'wind up ' routine with the boys.
Ok next time I write we'll be open
Merry Christmas....sorry a bit previous.

bye

Autumn is here

Hello, autumn is here and all thoughts turn to.......panto....yes its that time of the year. One more trip to the Med and then start getting the long johns out..... and the bras. I've had a great cruising season on Cunard and RCCL. Plus loads of holidays. Dubai, Marbella, Ibiza LA and maybe a wee weekend away before panto. Moving to next year I have just booked the Three Degrees for my Big Big show. Wow.....they are flying from the US to do the show. 'When will I see you again', Take good care of yourself. Dirty old man, that one is dedicated to me, to name but a few. Really excited about that. I worked with them 30 years ago in Torquay with Cannon and Ball and they said...... for me.....for me.... they would fly over and  do my show. Fantastic. Also Fred Mcauley, Grant and hopefully Andy (if he can get time off from River City.
So should be a great show. So everyone is well. Jane is doing the 6 big concerts in Hyde Park next year and David is very close to a big publishing deal. Kate is taking back control of her music career and doing the type of music she wants to do. So all is well in the Stewart household.
Speak soon. xxx

Hello

Hi, well summer is almost over. I hate writing that. My favourite thing is to sit in the garden reading my paper and having my breakfast.....it has to include raspberry jam. I must have raspberry jam. I even take jam with me when I travel round the world. How sad is that. We are just back from the most beautiful boutique hotel in Ibiza and I took my jam with me. The hotel was called Cas Gasi and although I didn't particularly like Ibiza this hotel was stunning. It was like your own villa with your own staff and chef. The kids ....who am I kidding, they are 27 and 22, came with us. It's so great that they are happy to spend time with us. Or maybe its just the thought of a free holiday. I didn't like the restaurants in Ibiza and the taxi's are a complete rip off. As well as very expensive they are miserable and I left a bag in the taxi and they denied it was there. Lost quite a few expensive things.
I'm ashamed to say that was my 4th holiday this year. As well as lying in the sun on my many cruises I have enough vitamin D to last me for years.
We have the panto script ready to go and Cinderella is looking like a goody. Business is unbelievable this year....I can't believe its my 21st year. Just planning the Big Big show and that is looking exciting as well. Jane has just finished a very busy Robbie Williams tour and the kids are busy as usual. Lots of things happening for them. I love watching their careers.
Ok it will be very near panto time again. I'll probably just cut and paste the last years blog. Nothing changes.

bye

Its been a while

Hi all yous guys,

Sorry its been so long but when I get to this time of the year you might as well read the blogs from the last few years because it's pretty much the same. On and off the Cunard ships. Still loving the Victoria and the Elizabeth. They have so much class. I did the RCCL ship (Navigator of the seas) recently and it was lovely as well. Been working on the Panto (Cinderella) with Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison. It comes round so fast. The script is pretty much finished. As always a lot of the work is done on the 'floor' as we say. That's in rehearsal when we all put our ideas together and come up with the finished product.
Kids are well. Kate has another single "Sex for Breakfast' out in the middle of July and David is still writing and producing. Jane is on the Robbie Williams tour at the moment. I went to see him at the Queens stadium in London last week....he's still got it. Although the journey to Stratford there and back was a nightmare. Took the edge off the whole evening. You know how when you are on holiday and you start thinking about the flight home about 3 days before you go. Well that was how I felt just before he sang Angels.
I'm travelling a lot over the next couple of months. I'm also trying to put the Big Big show together as well. I tried out a new big number last week. It's the Celine Dion/ Boccelli duet 'The Prayer' doing both voices. Learning the Italian was the most difficult bit. I have trouble learning English lyrics never mind Italian. Anyway tried it out and it went really well. Worth all the work.
Ok speak soon.....yeh right!!!!

bye

What's to do

So..... been a great couple of months. Went to LA for two weeks and had my dose of driving down Sunset Blvd with hood down....love it. Then Ross and I joined the Queen Victoria for a little trip down to Guatamala.....still cant spell it. Not my favourite place in the world. Flew back to LA and then home. I had a few days off then picked up the Queen Mary 2 in Dubai. It was a nice trip met some other acts on board and had a few laughs. So now I"m home for a few days and fly to pick up the Queen Elizabeth on its last part of its world cruise. So I'm pretty Cunarded up. I love these ships.
Kate's single came out on the 31st of March. Its moving nicely but not much happening yet. The record company say its about a 2 month run up to getting on the radio. Its so hard. Great song though 'Hands' written and produced by David. His track on Tinnie Tempa's album is out as well. So hoping for a publishing deal soon.
Not much else to tell you but just remember 'everyday above the grun is a bonus"
Bye

The big show

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Well I had the most fantastic week at the Kings in Edinburgh. This year’s Big Big show exceeded all my expectations. I have worried, sweated, lost sleep over this show and it paid off. Elaine C Smith stormed them. Grant did some of his material from his ‘Behind the Mic’ show and they loved it. Edward Reid was great as expected and Pilot……well when you have loved their 3 hit songs for 30 years and then the band recreate them exactly on stage, you cant ask for anymore. My worry was that I have to close the show and follow all the great acts. I tried and going by the wonderful reviews (well except for one old woman who didn’t mention me) I think I got away with it. My Theresa May scared me as I looked like her…..not to mention my wife. She doesn’t like me in women’s clothes. I loved playing the drums in Phil Collin’s in the air tonight (I saw Phil Collins do this 10 years ago and always wanted to recreate the moment.) Susan Boyle even appeared on two nights, which brought the house down. She just stands there and draws the audience to her. It's magical. I could happily have done another week and judging by the audience numbers I think we could have. So its back to earth and the next show is the Vera Lynn Birthday show at the London Palladium. That should be a great night. Then I'm off to LA for a break before picking up the Queen Victoria for a 5 day trip to Guatamalla......where......'how are things in Gwatamalla' Don't know how to spell it. I could google it but I cant be bothered. Kates new single out on the 31st of March. Written and produced by David. He also has a track which he wrote and produced and features with Tinie Tempah out on the same day. Exciting. So here's to the next time.

bye

Hello Edinburgh

HI
Just arrived back in Edinburgh for my Big Variety show. We open on Tuesday... It really is very stressful putting this together. However I saw the light at the end of tunnel about two weeks ago after battering my head against the wall since panto finished. Elaine C Smith came round the other day and we chatted through the show. She is really great to work with. Grant and I have been Face timing each other and working on some sketches and routines. My act was the biggest worry for me. Finding new ideas and impressions etc. So Theresa May is making an appearance (in full black watch tartan suit and leopard skin kitten shoes.) I have rewritten Bohemian Rhapsody explaining what is happening in the world today. Got a great wig from the famous wig maker Richard Mowbey.
I'm really looking forward to just sitting in the theatre and listening to Pilot. I was a big fan in the 70's. Edward Reid is back. He has been making a great name for himself since his last appearance at the Kings.
Jane and I went to Dubai for some much needed sun and rest. We got the rest....unfortunately the weather was terrible. Not one day of sun......Top man wasn't happy. But we did relax in a wonderful hotel, the Al Naseem.
Kate's single comes out on the 31st of March. David wrote and produced it. It's called Hands and is a feature with a rapper. Not allowed to say who it is yet. This is the first official release on the Warner label. I have to say this is a great 'today' sound. Yeh like I would know....old fart that I am. I do actually take a lot of notice of the music that is out there at the moment. Jane and I are very into the kids careers so we study the whole scene. David also has a track on the new Tinie Tempah album out on the 31st of March as well. He wrote produced and features on it. So all looking good in the kids camp.
So I promise ....yeh right..... to write next week and tell you how the show did.
Bye