Frances Ruffelle is a singer, actress, mother, francophile and cabaret chanteuse. She originated the iconic role of Eponinie in the first production of "Les Miserables" and took it from the West-End to Broadway and won a Tony award in the process. Last Year I met her smack bang in the middle of London's West-End. She had just finished a run in a new musical and the very first run of new cabaret show "Paris Original" to follow her Edinburgh smash hit "Beneath The Dress". We talked about her return to the stage after a long sabbatical for motherhood, the bizarre record deal where she never recorded a not but got paid a fortune and why she no longer sings her "Les Mis" showstopper.

Episode 9: Paris, Frances with Frances Ruffelle

Stephen Bradley wrote and directed the recent bio-pic of Christina Noble. In this fascinating chat he takes us on the journey from the lunch where the project began, right up to the eve of it’s American release. The film has had a stellar run at film festivals winning numerous awards along the way.  Stephen tells us of the logistics of shooting a film on 35mm half-way around the world, the obstacles of capturing a huge life on film; when a staggering reality can be more unbelievable than fiction. I also chat to Deirdre O’Kane about playing a real person and shadowing Christina Noble in Vietnam to prepare for the role.  
 
 

Episode 10: A Noble Calling with Stephen Bradley and Deirdre O'Kane

As part of Stock, Aiken and Waterman, Mike Stock is the most successful writer producer in British chart history. His music was the soundtrack to the late 80s and early 90s he wrote some of the most enduring floor-fillers, revived the flagging careers of legends like Donna Summer and Cliff Richard, created stars from the boys and girls next door and turned an actress into one of the worlds biggest pop stars. 

Mike talks about the intensity of the period where at one point they had five studios working 24 hours a day churning out hits for artists. Hence is responsible for 54 top ten hits in the UK, 18 number one hits worldwide and over 100 top 40 hits.

He continues the Stock, Aiken and Waterman ethos of giving music fans what they want and recently produced a crowd-funded album for Shayne Ward. 

Fascinated Podcast