AL RANTEL LATEST

Al is making good progress and has asked me to pass on his thanks and good wishes to all listeners. I re-print below his comments:

Al Rantel:
MIKE ....the response in e mail well wishers from UK has been beyond belief almost as much as here! Can you post on your site my extreme love and gratitude to all that I have read them all and that the love from mother England is sheltering me at this time, and I know I will be up soon. Things are working and as soon as I can get back on air (maybe even next week some) I am begging to do so. THANK YOU AND JEN for being there....this YANK is one lucky one.

NEIGHBOURS - UGLY BETTY - OC - 24 STAR WITH MIKE

Last weekend Mike was joined by his old mate ALAN DALE

Alan has been a major name in television & movies for almost 30 years in Australie, New Zealand and America. He is about to work in the UK for the first time in the West End. Saturday morning Alan revealed that he is joining the cast of SPAMALOT, taking over the role of King Arthur. The first performance will be on March 3rd.

SUNDAY MORNING DEBT SPECIAL

MIKE THOMAS - THE DEBT WIZARD - was live on air taking calls last Sunday morning.
Mike was supposed to be on from 1-2 am and there were so many calls that he stayed on until 4 am! There were many emotional calls from listeners who have found themselves trapped in the debt mire....

Mike is back again next month. in the meantime check out the site www.debtwizard.com it is totally free of charge and designed to help.

AL RANTEL - LETS WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND TELL HIM WE CARE

I have already been contacted by several of you who wish to send wishes of good will to Al Rantel at this worrying time.
Al's personal email address is alrantel@aol.com

(pic show Al Rantel with the former Mayor of Brighton Cllr Bob Carden outside the Royal Pavilion)

AL RANTEL

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that the link up with Al Rantel at KABC is cancelled until further notice.
Sadly Al is very poorly and has been since mid December. Al's listeners received this yesterday:

"I have learned that I have a highly treatable form of lymphoma. I wanted to share this with you - my listeners - directly, as so many of you have been not only loyal but have truly become members of my "family." I am glad to report that I am receiving the finest medical treatment available and that my prognosis is excellent. I am taking important steps to regain my health and have started chemotherapy."

I am sure you all join me in wishing Al a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him at this time.

Over the past 4 years, my wife and I have become very close to Al and his family having met up several times, we were hoping to visit him in a few months time and hopefully still will.

I will keep you informed as to his progress and will let you know where to make contact with him if you wish to send him good wishes from this part of the world.

In the meantime KABC have acquired a syndicated show to fill Al's timeslot, this show is based out of Tennessee on the south-east coast of the states.

Helen Smith – from Mobilise (Disabled Drivers Association)

In the past Mike has been very critical of the Blue Badge Scheme and disabled drivers.
Mobilise is a self-help organisation run for disabled people for disabled people, and aims to enhance disabled peoples’ mobility. Helen Smith from Mobilise popped in to show Mike that although she agreed with him that the Blue Badge scheme is abused at times, it is an essential tool for the disabled.
Mike was blown away by Helen, who is a quadruple amputee and very able to drive! and certainly taught Mike a valuable lesson.

STEVE MARTIN

Steve Martin is the co-author of 'YES!' 50 secrets from the science of persuasion.
This book is a must for all of us who want to persuade others do do all we bid!

GENO WASHINGTON WAS HERE

Geno Washington, the soul man himself, was on the show on Sunday. Geno has a brand new album out, currently only available via download and ITunes. Some great tracks proving that Geno has not lost a beat over the years. Dont miss the 'THIS IS SOUL' tour that started on the 18th January and stars Geno together with Eddie Floyd & Pauline Black

TEATRO POP IN

Mike & Listeners alike were totally blown away by TEATRO on Monday morning.
Andrew Alexander - Jeremiah James - Simon Bailey - Stephen Rahman-Hughes
make up a band of outstanding vocal talent who are celebrating the launch of their first CD consisting a unique collection of timeless classics from musical theatre.
This is a must have CD.
Teatro were chosen to appear at the recent Royal Variety Show and are about to undertake their first National Tour.
The band evolved through a process of four hugely talented and like-minded singers – three British and one American – deciding that Teatro’s moment was at hand coming together through a happy mixture of invitation, recommendation and friendships. Each had already achieved outstanding success on both sides of the Atlantic - Simon Bailey for instance played the leading man in Les Misérables and turned down the opportunity of appearing in Phantom Of The Opera to join the group.

info from www.teatromusic.com

MURDER ON THE DART BOARD

Justin Irwin had always wanted to become a sports star. Realising in his mid-thirties that he was old enough to be Wayne Rooney’s father, Justin remembered that in 1987 he’d once hit three treble 20s at darts. If he’d done it before, why couldn’t he do it again?
In Murder on the Darts Board, Justin describes his decision to give up the day job for one last throw at sporting success. Leaving behind his high-flying career as a charity director, Justin gave himself just one year to go from darts beginner to playing in the world championships.
From Hampshire hotels to out of season caravan parks, the dart leagues of London to day trips to Hull, this is the story of a man who learnt a lot about darts, but even more about himself.

This is an excellent read and should inspire others to take the plunge, or they will never know!
Available via AMAZON

HOLIDAY ON ICE

Holiday On Ice returns to the Brighton Centre today (10th January) until the end of the month.
Joining the UK cast of Romanza is former England Rugby International Kyran Bracken. Kyran was the winner of ITV1's smash hit show Dancing on Ice. In the semi-final he received the highest score in the history of the show (29.5 out of a possible 30) and went on to be crowned 'Champion of Champions' in a special edition of the show after repeating his record score.

Romanza, the latest dynamic production from the world famous Holiday on Ice will set hearts on fire this winter, taking audiences on a journey through some of the most romantic stories from past to present day.

Romanza uses dance and theatrical techniques to create this retro and upbeat, artistically choreographed production. Featuring cultural classics such as Madame Butterfly, Romeo & Juliet and Anthony & Cleopatra; together with modern day couples Sandy & Danny from Grease, Baby & Johnny from Dirty Dancing and even Barbie & Ken; Romanza will have audiences dancing in their seats to the powerful soundtrack packed with popular music numbers!

Beautifully told through the skilful skating of 46 international, world-class skaters, Romanza uses breathtaking solo numbers, elegant pair skating and exhilarating ensemble pieces to shock, surprise and entertain. Dramatic sets, exquisite costumes and innovative lighting form the backdrop to a visual feast on the ice and in the air, with flying, fire and death defying magic!


Mike went to the opening night and commented 'ROMANZA is the best Ice Show yet in the Centre's 30 year history. The colour, the staging, the sheer talent is just amazing and guaranteed to entertain the whole family.'
Shows nightly and 4 extra shows over the weekend.
Well worth a visit to Brighton for an overnight stay.

As well as Brighton you can catch the show as follows:

The Brighton Centre
10-27 January 2008
01273 292695
www.BrightonCentre.co.uk

London - Wembley Arena
7-10 February 2008
0870 060 0870
www.Wembley-Arena.net

Cardiff International Centre
12-17 February 2008
02920 224488
www.livenation.co.uk/cardiff

Westpoint, Exeter
19-24 February 2008
08705 321321
www.westpoint-devonshow.co.uk

SHADOWS LEGEND POPS IN

Bruce Welch, from the Shadows popped in recently for a chat with Mike.

For more than thirty years, Bruce was the rhythm guitarist for the Shadows. Many knowledgable fans will insist that Bruce's excellent rhythm playing was just as important as Hank's distinctive lead guitar work in establishing the Shadows' unique (indeed legendary) position in the history of British Rock and Roll music. Bruce's singing voice was also a distinct asset to the vocal performances of Cliff and the Shadows.
Bruce's influence has been as more than just a performer. As well as being responsible as composer of many of Cliff and the Shadows early hits, it was Bruce who 'discovered' Olivia Newton-John, became her producer and penned her million-selling US No1 single 'Please Mr Please'. When Cliff's career was faltering in the mid 70s, Bruce was largely responsible for re-launching it by producing his 'I'm Nearly Famous' album as well as some of his most successful singles 'We Don't Talk Anymore', 'Devil Woman' and 'Miss You Nights'.

DINOMUMMY

DINOMUMMY is the story of the discovery of a dinosaur body so well preserved that you can run your hands over its bumpy scaly skin.
Dinohunter Tyler Lyson unearthed the creature and named it Dakota.
This book is expertly put together by palaeontologist Dr Phillip Lars Manning, who spoke to Mike about the discovery and subsequant book.
Some great photos and diagrams. Available via Amazon and published by Kingfisher Books.

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE ME FEEDBACK

Just before Christmas Mike had in the studio the authors of a very funny book all about EBAY (Mikes favourite pastime).
Chris & Alison Arif woke one morning to find they had received a negative feedback and un unjust one they hasten to add. The Arifs told Mike that this negative had felt like a personal attack on them so they set about going through loads of other sellers feedbacks to see how they got on. They very quickly found great comfort in what they found plus they had a damn good laugh at some of the comments from buyers and so the germ for a book was lodged.
This is a very well put together book, very funny in places and very well accepted by the public.
Its available on Amazon.

THE ULTIMATE PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE SHAUN DENNIS VISITS

Psychic Medium Shaun Dennis was in the studio 1 am on Sunday morning. The telephones went into meltdown while he was in the studio (1 1/2 hrs)
Shaun has over 30 years Paranormal Experience.
Shaun is about to embark on a National Tour, details in his website www.shaundennis.com
Shaun will be back again soon