Trinny and Susannah, "The Final Frontier"

The response to How Cancer Saved My life continues, apart from the book sales there's been the newspaper articles, the radio interviews and the exhibitions. There's been all sorts of messages through email and the blog and some old fashioned telephone calls to the publisher. It's becoming a phenomenon with it's own life and momentum.

So now rather than promotion it seems that responding to demands from wherever they come from is required in taking the book out into the world. Our very creative, hardworking and inspirational Project Manager, Nikki Newman continues to organise, oversee and orchestrate all of this. The exciting thing is we just don't know what is going to happen next.

So a couple of weeks ago Nikki was contacted by a producer from ITV on behalf of the makers of the new Trinny and Susannah series , "The Great British Body", (goes out 2/3/4 of June 9pm). They had picked up on all the interest in the book. They were fascinated by my story and asked me to be involved in the programme. They were particularly interested in my "living with cancer" story and more specifically of course, my story of Penile Cancer and the fact that I have survived with a penis and that it still works. Well I always said that one of the themes and intentions of the book was to open up discussion about all of this and now that I'm succeeding I better seize and enjoy such an opportunity.

Who knows what will end up in the programme and when but I ended up being interviewed, (near Russell Square) in a booth on a couch looking at myself in a mirror (like Big Brother, not that I've paid that show any attention!!!).

There were questions that encouraged me to talk about my story and like your in this unreal world, a new experience, just going along with it. I forgot I was being filmed just talking to this God or Angel like voice from beyond! I was speaking about how I had made a decision to resist the surgical options and I was pleased that my penis was still intact and functioning (with slight alterations caused by a circumcision) at which point the voice said

would you like to pick up the hand held camera and show us?

I felt relaxed and just did it, I was not ashamed. All in the cause of art and literature and a greater understanding.

This was like "The Final Frontier" and a wonderful, even sensational feeling of liberation that after all these years of talking about it etc. etc. etc. there it was for millions of people to witness. I have spoken about it, written about it, lectured about it, painted about it, on occasions avoided talking about it, been interviewed about it and now it truely is Out In The Open.

I wait in excited anticipation as this remarkable story unfolds.

Easter Weekend and Radio interviews.

I've been working on paintings to be included in the UK. Hospitals touring exhibition. The tour kicks off at the begining of April at the close of the amazingly successful Exhibition at The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Elisa just called me from The BBC Radio London Late show to confirm that I'm on The Jamoke Fashola Show tonight around 10.15 p.m and they are arranging a taxi home for about 11.30 so I'll have a great chance to "carry the message" and maybe talk to a few listeners too.

It's the Nick Ferrari Breakfast show tomorrow 25th at 9.45 a.m.


Watch these pages for further exciting developments!

More Radio Interviews!

I'm being interviewed about my work and The Book on Monday evening, 24th sometime between 10pm and 2am on the Late Show on BBC Radio London.

Later in the week I'll be on the Nick Ferrari Breakfast Show on LBC.

Happy Easter!

Outlook on BBC World Service

It was fascinating to be taken into the studio in Bush House even though I was a little nervous. I had no preconceptions just going with the flow. I was seated amongst banks of machines, computers, coats and handbags. "you will be going into the studio at 6 minutes past one and when the correspondent finishes talking about blogging in Saudia Arabia, you move in to his seat and then it will be you" That was it. The next thing I knew there was a big red light glowing and Fred Dove, the presenter was asking me, "so how did cancer save your life?" It seemed like only seconds later Fred was winding up the interview. Of course all will be fully revealed in the book, "How Cancer Saved My Life, My BBC Bush House Experience". Anyway all went well and the interview has been published on the BBC site to which there is a link here.

Interview with Fred Dove on BBC World Service

The interview was broadcast in the UK this morning around 10.20 am. There's a link to the programmes web site and you'll see a picture of me posing outside Bush House. In the next 24 hours the interview will be available on the Outlook page, that's if it's not there already. The story of the interview will be on these pages soon! Click here to listen to the broadcast.

Independent 4th of March/ life style section

"My very private hell" was the headline for a great feature on my story and The Book, "How Cancer Saved My Life". We've had a fantastic response with orders for the book and a number of inspirational emails and even some hilarious dicussion on at least one web site. The Priest who pronounced the book "A Holy Book of Healing" loved the article too, I forwarded his comments and his "blessings" to the Independent Journalist who was touched and amazed as he said that he rarely got such feedback especially from a Priest.

All sorts of other feedback which I will report on in the future but the main response that I concern myself with this evening is my interview for BBC World Service. A producer from The Outlook programme, which goes out on Monday 10th at 1.30pm and then repeated, contacted me through BolamRose the publisher last Friday. I've been invited to be interviewed about the book, my story and my art, so the whole world will hear all about it. I'm naturally very excited and look forward to reporting on the experience. I'm off to prepare myself for "questioning"!