Quick Reads

So here am I doing a quick few words thanking my family, my agent , my double gusset support wear - na only kidding. Here some pics from this week’s launch of the Quick Reads series at the Senedd in Cardiff. Proper posh government do with nice sandwiches

Here is very important Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert. He lent me his specs as I forgot mine. I luvs him.

and here we are supporting the heart. He is holding my book which was more than gallant so I let him have a gratis copy. For you it's £1.99

And here I am with a lovely Miss Wales, Courtenay Hamilton, who is holding her own

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/01/26/actress-helen-lederer-helps-launch-short-books-for-adult-literacy-campaign-91466-30200625/

After the launch I was interviewed by the wonderful Roy Noble on BBC Radio Wales. Here we are swapping our lovely books.

The Roy Noble show http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0079fxq - My interview is in the last hour of the show.

A Bit on the Side

omiword...The Big Brother Bit on the Side is the best bit

me acting Nan to my glamour grandchildren, Lisa and Jessica Jane

BBBOS boasts the only green room where bowls of chewy sweets are replenished as soon as one bowl disappears. Service! No matter the caramel gums the teeth up – loving the gratis toffee adrenalin kick back.

In danger of getting obsessed with the celebs – luckily all the little details I have noticed on Big Brother watching 24/7 are picked up on BBBOS – e.g Gareth eating with mouth open bless (a small weakness to offset his perfection) also Natalie’s extreme wiping of surfaces behaviour (sadly now departed) brings out the wry laughter in me.

Just as death comes to us all – so too will the inevitable departure of all housemates –this should unify them but it seems to be getting them twitchy.

Maybe they should be carried out in wicker ware humanist baskets to cut down on humiliation and regrets? (I will suggest this)


BOOK SIGNING - Wednesday, 25th Jan, 2-3pm at Waterstones, The Hayes, Cardiff.
Am more than a little concerned re book signing of FINGER FOOD. What if there isn’t a queue of keen fans around Cardiff high street ? My famous welsh actress friend Melanie Walters can’t make it .. so that just leaves er me.. And me books.

Still, I’ll be getting some nice sausage rolls at the Senedd – and maybe a welsh cake at Waterstones if not – I’ll bring me own.

Diolch in advance

Goings On

Omigod dear reader – recorded an episode of BBC TV ‘Pointless’ – with Russell Grant who sported a glittery matching eye shadow and tie set. I got two answers right which lulled me into complacency – I came down to earth soon though when I faced the audience of my after dinner speech that same night. At least three of the celebrities in the audience were the very same ones who I make gentle ironic use of in my wry and surreal attempt to be hilarious. Panicked. Borrowed a biro to substitute other celebrity names who were not there to defend themselves before I stepped up to the plinth –  to be hilarious. Note to self ‘get new jokes’. Anyone’s.

But hey, got a gig this Sunday – for charity – will be able to swear at that one so looking forward already. http://funnywomen.com/we-will-be-here.php?e=111 I’ve been put on very early. Is this good? Should I care?

Next Wednesday I do my launch of the 2012 Quick Reads / Stori Sydyn series at the Senedd (POSH ARTY NEW GOVERNMENT BUIDING) in Cardiff Bay. Joining me will be Paralympian, Dave Roberts, and Cardiff City footballer, Robert Earnshaw and some sausage rolls, I hope. But back to me me me - my contribution to the Quick Reads series is my book called ‘Finger Food’, a comedy of ambitions, dreams, blackmail and daytime TV. Where DO I get my ideas from?

The cover of my new book 

Me in my comfort zone

And now for more hot Welsh news...

I'M GOING TO BE in Waterstones Cardiff from 2 - 3pm to have some fun with anyone who cares to drop in. Looking forward to and will answer any questions about Day Time TV (and other subjects to do with hair dye, botox and politics). I'll be signing copies of 'Finger Food'. Coming? It’s that or the pub. And more crisps.

You can follow the action on Twitter :  @wstonecardiff and  @storisydyn2012

That's 2-3pm on Wednesday 25th January at Waterstones Cardiff,
2a The Hayes, Cardiff, CF101WB


And THEN...I'll be on the BBC Radio Wales' Roy Noble Show from around 3.25pm.

Listen to BBC Radio Wales in this fashion.
FM: 93-96 & 104 FM 
Medium wave on 882 & 657 AM
Sky - channel 0117
Freesat - channel 714
Freeview - channel 719
Virgin Media - channel 931


So no excuses really – unless you’re in the cinema or have gone swimming.

Busy, busy

This was me in Dublin with two very nice clever funny presenters of The Daily Show.  I love Claire’s hair style. Someone said Jedwood. I beg to differ. Jedwood's hairs are completely vertical. You will see here the hairs have been contained close to the crown.

Quite a busy week ahead – I can’t be doing with anyone who is de-toxing right now. Please have a sense of decency and those in the ‘no raw after 4 brigade’ keep your healthy distance.

a flat spritzer never hurt anyone

Lucky for me the new rules on drinking from The Dept for Health have drawn me into the lime light as a coveted commentator - huge gratitude and general thankfulness - see my Huffington Post article. But just to be sure here are the basic rules again. Women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day; (one glorious alcopop) and lucky men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day (two cans of cider). Apparently the old rules were deemed unclear so lots of MPs assembled (over a nice glass of wine) to draw up some new rules.

I’m sure I told you all about the last time I was on the BBC sofa (if you missed it The Guardian can enlighten you http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/oct/21/helen-lederer-my-greatest-mistake) so naturally anxious to get it just right.

Was on with a dashing doctor from Kings who sees a lot of liver damage in the young –so together we must strike a balance over liver damage and comfy drinking (lots in my case) then met twinkly MP Chris Bryant in the green room who assures me the glass size in the House of Commons is the same size as normal. I challenge him to give me the opportunity to see for myself. He offers. I accept in a heartbeat . No sooner do I get home I get a call from a gentleman at BBC World at One – he asks me to summarise the facts of the official advice and measurements with an humorous twist if you please. I dash off a piece in twenty mins and before I’ve got time to change out of my leisure pants and whip off my scrunchy I have to enter the tardis - sorry - radio car where I stumble over some statistics which they kept in and some jokes which they kept out. Never mind - drinking is a serious business - that’s why you have to keep at it.

But if I thought that was totally showbiz- how about this on Wednesday http://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/support-us/national-wow-events/inspirational-women-of-the-year-awards/?menu=4c  I must boldly venture out in black dress to do an after dinner speech – someone dropped out. I wonder who it was? But hey, I’m rallying the Daily Mail Inspirational Women of the Year Awards. ‘As in previous years we expect this to be a wonderful, fun, glamorous event.’ Yeh - well they hadn’t asked me at that point had they, but will do my best not to wear the laddered penis-proofs – even though they hug the thighs nicely when one is clutching the plinth.

I am recording Pointless on TV - a quiz programme in the day time , where you MUST NOT SCORE.
I'll be on Big Brother’s Bit on the Side Thursday afternoon on  Channel 5. Must swot up On Celeb Big Bro.
THEN I will be doing this on Sunday 22nd Jan: http://funnywomen.com/we-will-be-here.php?e=111
No one dropped out for this - but I will be dropping in – hope they have nice crisps in the dressing rooms – so depressing to race down to the bar for one's own bespoke beverages and sundries – at my age.