DON'T WATCH WITH MOTHER
19.04.08
Well, hello there! It's been a long time. Though I do now realise I'm the only person who actually reads this site (and I haven't looked at it for three months), it still seems like a good idea to give you at least some advance notice (a whole two days!) of the broadcast of something I'm in. It's on Radio 4 at 11pm on Monday April 21st, it's a sketch show called "The 'Don't Watch With Mother' Sketchbook" and it stars Rhys Thomas, Lucy Montgomery, Tony Way, John Hopkins and me. It's just a one-off for now but it's ruddy damn good and making it was the most fun I've had working on anything for a long, long time. I also did a song in it which a critic from the Times says is "brilliant". But don't read the rest of the review or it'll put you off. Then again, since I'm the only person who reads this site now, I can safely say it hasn't put me off at all and I shall still be listening to it.

What else? Oh, I don't know what to say. I've been very, very busy, making music mostly for telly things. I'm supposed to be having a day off today before I completely burn out, and if my wife catches me writing this, she'll be very cross. So bye then!

It's good talking to myself online. It makes me look cool.

Waen xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR… BELATEDLY...
21.01.08
Yes, three weeks in and I've finally realised it's 2008. So Happy New Year (to the two of you who actually read this)! Unfortunately, since it's a new year and nothing ever really happens much in January, I don't really have much to report. Got a few gigs coming up in the guise of Colin Watson, so you might be able to catch one or two of those if you have a gander at the Events page. You can also buy a new DVD of some brilliant short films made by Ben Gregor & Tim Plester, one of which I was in, which you can find out more about on the very same page. And apart from that, well, I'm very busy, but I'm not going to tell you anything about any of that, because I'm shy, or secretive, or superstitious, or something.

As for Gary Le Strange? Well, he's taking a little rest. Not sure how long for. But I've been being him for over five years and it's time he had an extended holiday. Actually, it's time I had one too, but that's a different story.

Lots of love

Waen Shepherd (and his warm wife) xxx

CLUB FANTASTICO IS ALIVE!
20.11.07
Excellent news! This month's Club Fantastico (on the 22nd, this Thursday) looks to be definitely going ahead. I'll be doing a never-performed Gary Le Strange song, plus a once-performed piece in the guise of sixties surf rock legend Colin Watson. Oh, and I'll be playing Darren O' Reilly the bricklayer. I think. Full details on the Events page as always. Though I admit those details should have been there ages ago.

Yes - Colin Watson. I haven't told you about him, have I? Just a new little act I dreamt up. Which will also rear its strange head in other places, particularly on Nov 28th and Dec 5th. And if you're lucky you might catch me hanging around bars reading out stories I wrote when I was eight years old. All of which is similarly documented on the Events page.

Also: Golf War did incredibly well in the ratings apparently, for a show on E4 at 11.30. I'm glad about that. Hurray!

All the best

Mr W O Shepherd xxx

CLUB FANTASTICO CANCELLED
25.10.07
Sorry to tell you this but tonight's Club Fantastico at the Albany has unfortunately been cancelled due to illness. Hopefully the next one on November 22nd will go ahead. I apologise unreservedly to all, even though it isn't my fault.

A FEW TINY TITBITS
10.10.07
Sorry I ain't been round for a while. Been a bit busy with some secret writing, and have given poor old Gary Le Strange a couple of months' rest.

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say that Club Fantastico will be returning to the Albany on Great Portland Street for a new monthly run from October 25th. I'll be performing as Gary each time, just like before, plus doing some other crazy bits and pieces if they'll let me.

Something else you should know is that the pilot for Golf War, which I filmed this spring, is finally going out on E4 on November 5th. Full details of both these things on the Events page.

And now I'll get back to my secret writing…

Toodle-oo

Waen xxx

CAPTAIN HELIX GAME ONLINE
05.08.07
Just a quick note to say there's a brilliant Captain Helix platform game online at the BBC's Hyperdrive website, to tie in with the new series. All the voices are me and the theme tune is me too (but not the prog rock type score in the background). The Helix theme is the nearest thing to an official Gary Le Strange release since last year's Beef Scarecrow, though strictly speaking it isn't Le Strange. Despite the fact that it sounds exactly like him.

Hyperdrive Series 2 continues on BBC2 at 9.30pm on Thursdays (repeated the following Wednesday). Helix features a lot more in Episodes 5 & 6. And if you miss them, there's a DVD out on August 13th which features extra deleted Helix scenes from Series 1.

Another note: if you ever see anyone calling themselves "Captain Helix" on a message board anywhere, it isn't me.

The Latitude Festival was a lot of fun, by the way, especially the 30-strong chorus of "Day of the Maggots". Hopefully I'll be able to upload some pics soon.

Waen xxx

AN ENORMOUS GREAT BIG SLAB OF NEWS
08.07.07
No updates on this site for months, then six all come at once. Strap yourselves in...

MUTTON
I've done a couple of bits of music for a play called Mutton by Liberated Theatre which is due to make its official premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. There are a few London previews at the end of July. More details on the Events page. It's the first time I've specifically written songs for someone else to sing, so naturally I'm quite nervous about those bits.  But it's a cracking play with a great cast and should be both funny and poignant in equal measure, so it's well worth your time. Might be a bit of a treat for those who lament the passing of Gary's synthpop days.

HYPERDRIVE
Finally, the second series of Hyperdrive is due to air (BBC 2, Thursdays at 9.30 pm, from July 12th). I'll be in a few episodes (four, I think, but I can't tell you precisely which) playing Nick Frost's favourite space hero Captain Helix. Two of them feature me a bit more than usual. Especially Episode 6. More details on the Events page. And there's a DVD of Series 1 & 2 coming out on August 13th, in real live shops. And keep an eye out for interesting things which may happen at www.bbc.co.uk/hyperdrive.

GOLF WAR
E4 are doing a series called Funny Cuts which is basically a series like Comedy Lab but the episodes are half the length. Simon Farnaby and Rich Fulcher put together a 12 minute sitcom pilot called Golf War and I'm the greenkeeper, Spooky Bob. I also did a little bit of music for it. No idea when it's transmitted yet but hopefully some time in the autumn, possibly immediately after Big Brother's finished. Not sure.

LIVE GIGS
Gary's been keeping a fairly low profile of late, and that situation is bound to continue for the time being, but there will be a couple of opportunities to see him live this summer. Have a gander at the Events page to see what I'm on about...

NEW MATERIAL
Club Fantastico ended its fantastic run of shows at the Albany last week. After two months of being able to showcase new material (new songs Blackdown one month and Flat the next), I failed to get the lyrics finished for third new song Rubella in time for the club. Dang those other pesky work commitments! Darren O' Reilly did make a welcome return though, I'm very pleased to say, and I managed to sing the as-yet-unrecorded-and-rarely-performed-because-nobody-usually-gets-it-even-though-certain-people-think-it's-incredibly-funny Black Doll Man. The club will return though, hopefully in September, by which time I ought to have finished the rather elusive chorus of the unfinished song.

SITE UPDATES
In the meantime, you may gawp and gape at a few new sets of photos I've uploaded in the gallery, from last year's Latitude Festival, this year's Resofit benefit at the Bloomsbury, and the Showcase gig I did for the Outsiders charity, the latter of which features Gary in his latest marvellous costume. Thanks to Jon Appleyard, Salim Fadhley and Jon Edge for the pics.

That's all for now, but beware, for one day, I shall return

Waen xxx