Match Report: Everton v Scunthorpe

Everton cruised into the 4^th round of the F.A Cup yesterday by thrashing Scunthorpe at Glanfod Park.

The Toffees, who have been struggling to find goals as of late, showed their Premier League class and hit five past a sorry Scunthorpe.

Louis Saha grabbed his second goal of the season opening the scoring with a cool finish from outside the box, similar to his goal in the midweek win over Tottenham. With top scorer Cahill away on International duty, former Scunthorpe player Jermaine Beckford finally found the net after his goal drought with a header, doubling Everton's lead. It could have easily been more for Everton before the break with the front pair looking dangerous and Leon Osman and Marouane Fellaini coming close.

After the break, Scunthorpe hit the back of the Everton net with a great finish by Michael Collins and the game looked to be one of those special F.A Cup moments. It wasn’t to be however, as Everton showed their class and kept knocking at Scunthorpe’s door. It was the impressive Seamus Coleman who grabbed Everton third, nodding in Beckford’s cross to grab his second headed goal in as many games.

Then the match was well and truly over, as on 75 minutes, Fellaini found space at the edge of the box, to drive a left foot shot past Murphy in the Scunthorpe goal. There was even time for Everton to grab a fifth. Magaye Gueye made an exquisite pass to set to Leighton Baines who curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net.

The victory was never in doubt, as five-star Everton proved that they are ready for another cup battle.

Match Preview: Everton v Scunthorpe

F.A Cup fever is hitting the nation this weekend as teams from every division battle it out for this historic piece of silverware; and none more so than Everton and Scunthorpe.

Both teams have not had a very good league campaign and a good run in the cup could see their spirits lifted.

Scunthorpe have home advantage, with the match taking place at Glandford Park but, after a bad first half to the season, Championship survival is now key for them. They sit one place off the bottom of the Championship, and with new manager Ian Baraclough taking over in September; a good cup run is vital and could get Scunthorpe up and running.

Meanwhile, after a hard-fought victory against Tottenham on Wednesday night, Everton will be in a more positive frame of mind after a mixed season. They lie eleventh in the Premier League table and know just how valuable a run in the cup can be, with them reaching the final in 2009. Scunthorpe will be the underdogs, but in the F.A Cup anything can happen, as Everton are much aware of. With losses to Shrewsbury Town and Bury in the past, the Toffee’s won’t be taking anything for granted.

Everton have a strong squad available for the visit to Scunthorpe. However, they will still be without Phil Jagielka, whose injured hamstring is still causing problems, while Aussie Tim Cahill is on International duty with the Soccoroo’s at the Asia Cup until at least the end of January.

Scunthorpe’s captain Cliff Byrne is a doubt after having trouble with nerves in his back, but defender Rob Jones is set to return following trouble with sciatic trouble in his back.  Yet Winger Gary Thompson could miss out because of a groin injury, as the struggling Championship side look to cause an upset against David Moyes’ toffees.

Match Report: Everton v Tottenham

Everton grabbed all three points against Tottenham at Goodison Park last night in a feisty, hard fought traditional game of football.

If ever a performance was needed by Everton it was now. With top goal scorer Tim Cahill away with the Australia Squad and a defeat to Stoke the previous week, the needed to assert themselves from the word go; and they did just that.

With Cahill absent, manager David Moyes left the fans guessing with who would replace him and if he would change the formation to 4-4-2. This he did as striker Jermaine Beckford came in for Cahill to partner Louis Saha in a two man attack. This strategy paid off as within the first 2 minutes  Saha shot brilliantly from the edge of the box to send the ball past Gomez in the Tottenham goal and brought to end the goal drought for him and Everton strikers. But Tottenham fought back and it was the lively Van Der Vart who headed home from a Peter Crouch knock down to grab Tottenham’s equaliser. Both sides continued to push for a second with Jermaine Beckford looking to test Gomez on numerous occasions and Mikel Arteta dragged his shot just wide of the Spurs goal. Van Der Vart was looking to get his second of the game with a lob from 30 yards out just going over the bar, as well as his acrobatic effort sailing over. Tottenham did however have a goal disallowed. A wrongful back pass by Louis Saha gifted the ball to an unusually quiet Gareth Bale who squared it to Peter Crouch to steer home. However it was correctly given offside and both side went in at half time level.

After an entertaining first half both teams emerged from the dressing room looking for a winner and it was Everton who simply out played Tottenham during the second half. Phil Neville had kept Gareth Bale quiet all night and the Tottenham whiz kid was soon substituted through injury. Mikel Arteta put in a much needed good performance and he and the in-form Marouane Fellaini controlled the midfield. It was however, the young Seamus Coleman who stole the show. The young Irish right back has been playing out of position for Everton this season, taking command on the right side of midfield and certainly finding his feet there. He had Tottenham right back Assou-Ekotto after him all night as Coleman played his heart out for the boys in blue. He made several runs and sending in crosses, one of which fell to Louis Saha on the volley but it was deflected wide for an Everton corner. Coleman did find himself through on goal with only the keeper left to beat but shot straight Gomez. Tim Howard wasn’t called into action much for Everton in the second half but he was needed when he made two great saves from Vander Vart to keeps Everton in the game.

With the atmosphere inside Goodison electric, the crowd got behind their player and they were finally rewarded when at 75 minutes Saha shot at Gomez who save rebounded into the path of Coleman for him to head home a deserved lead for Everton. Tottenham pressed for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be as the Everton back four stood firm and held on to claim a much deserved three points.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Everton manager David Moyes heaped praise on his side performance, ‘‘I thought it was a really good team performance. The players were extra special tonight. We said to the players, be brave enough to get on the ball. It was a brilliant game, all action and we made lots of opportunities.’’

Match Preview: Everton v Tottenham

Everton take on Tottenham Hotspur tonight at Goodison Park, with both side eager to take all three points for very different reasons.

Tottenham remain title contenders after the Christmas period and remain unbeaten in 9 Premier League games; their longest run since March 1999. They now sit 4^th in the Premier League table and they arrive on Goodison Park knowing that they haven’t lost there during their last 6 visits. A win tonight will further strengthen Tottenham’s hope of qualifying for next season Champions League, the second year in succession.  New Signing Rafael Van Der Vart has been at the front of Tottenham’s performances recently. Not only is the Dutch running the show from midfield with fellow playmaker Luka Modric, but he has also found  scoring form netting 8 goals in 14 Premier League matches.

It’s a different story for the home team however, who desperately need a win with them hovering 2 points above the relegation zone, albeit with a game in hand. The Toffees have had a somewhat up and down season. Highlights include scoring two goals in the last minute to draw with Manchester United, a heroic derby day victory against neighbours and fellow strugglers Liverpool and a win away against Manchester City with ten men. But they have also suffered their fair share of losses with defeats to Stoke, West Brom and Newcastle. Nobody can doubt Everton team spirit and work ethic while their performances have been positive overall, however, their strikers cannot seem to find the net this season and it is midfielder Tim Cahill who is the clubs leading goal scorer with 9 Premier League goals under his belt.

Everton have had their fair share of injuries and suspensions during the season and tonight will be without the talismanic Tim Cahill who has flow out to join up with the Australian National squad for the Asia Cup, Phil Jagielka is out with a hamstring problem and there are doubts over the fitness of Dutch defender John Heitinga and young Irish prospect Seamus Coleman. Tottenham has no new Injury concerns to worry about with defenders Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate sill out while Jermaine Defoe and Younes Kaboul are still missing through suspension.

Tonight encounter is set to be a feisty affair as these two traditional clubs battle it out under the Goodison floodlights.

Film Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

The Harry Potter franchise has been a phenomenon for the last 10 years. With the books ending in 2007 and part 2 of the Deathly Hallows due out in 2011, this penultimate film makes sure Potter fanatics around the world will not be left disappointed.

We last seen Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, being left a mission by Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) the late Headmaster of Hogwarts School. Harry’s enemy, Lord Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) had hidden parts of his soul in various horcruxes, and it is up to Harry to destroy them and to save the wizarding world from the clutches of Voldermort. The only problem? These horcruxes could be anywhere.

In this movie, with the help of his sidekicks Ron and Hermione, played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, they set out to find the final 4 pieces of Voldermort soul to destroy. The Dark Lord however, is getting stronger with each passing second and has taken control of the Wizarding World with the help of his ‘Death Eaters’. Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic and even parts of the ‘Muggle’ world have all come under fire from Voldermort and his team and only Harry and his friends can save it.

This instalment of the Harry Potter series is the first one not to be set within the ground of Hogwarts School and aside from the opening 30 minutes, it is manly Harry, Ron and Hermione searching for the Horcruxes that will save them. As the opening line suggests that ‘these are dark times’ and that couldn’t be truer. With a Horcrux found, the trio then set about how to destroy it; a task that proves more difficult than they think. As the search for the remaining horcruxes continues and with them not able to find a way of destroying the one they have, the tension begins to build.

There is however, much more to this film than just the destroying of the Horcruxes. The relationship between Ron and Hermione is beginning to grow with actors Rupert Grint and Emma Watson stealing the show with their portrayal of friendship, heartbreak and love. Helena Bonham Carter reprises her role as the violent and wacky witch Bellatrix Lestrange, brilliantly conveying the Dark Side of this film. There are also short appearances by Rhys Ifans who play Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna’s dopey dad, and Bill Nighy, as head of the ministry of magic. There is also a comic side to this film too, with the return of lovable ‘free elf’ Dobby and a few classic on liners from the famous Weasley twins Fred and George, played by Oliver and James Phelps.

This film keeps you on the edge of you seat the whole way through and you can see why author of the books JK Rowling regards this as her favourite. The millions of Harry Potter fans will not be disappointed with this film and its twists, turns, tragedy, love and heartbreak. It also ends perfectly to keep the audiences guessing for the much anticipated Part 2 and final film of this book phenomenon.

Film Review: Easy A

Easy A is a charmingly funny teen sex comedy, but without the sex. There has not been a genuinely funny high school movie since Mean Girls; Easy A has changed this.

Based loosely on Nathanial Hawthorne bestseller The Scarlet Letter, this film has some genuinely funny moment that make your stomach hurt and also appeals to your sensitive side as the journey teenagers can go through during high school.

Emma Stone plays leading lady Olive, a fun and charismatic but also book-smart teen that begins to feel the pressures every teenager has to deal with, but in her own entertaining way. She decided to help her gay friend pretend to lose his Virginity, or as it is commonly known as in this film ‘the big V’. Although they do not have sex, word spreads that Olive has finally lost her virginity, much to the dismay of the Evangelical Marianne, played by Amanda Bynes, the president of the schools Christian Society.  Marianne set out to tell everyone what Olive has been up too. After suddenly being branded a tramp, Olive decides to use it to her advantage. She is approached by high school boys who want her to say she has had sex with them and in return will give her gift vouchers or money. Then, her class are studying the book’ The Scarlet Letter’ when the main character Hester Prynne is made to wear the letter ‘A’ on her clothes after an affair with a minister, so that society knows she is a adulterous woman. Inspired by this, Olive then begins to wear a red ‘A’ on all of her clothing as an act of rebellion.  While the whole school believes the rumours, one person knows she is just doing this to get her reputation up, her childhood friend and love interest Todd, played by Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley.

Not only does this film contain some genuinely hilarious moments, it shows the struggle teenagers can go through and the pressures they can face from their fellow peers. With a supporting cast that boasts Stanley Tucci, Lisa Kudrow, Cam Gigandet and Alyson Michalka, there is very little this movie has wrong with it. The obvious stand our performance comes from Emma Stone, whose portrayal of Olive is flawless. Her knowledge, mixed with her comic timing and facial expressions, show that she is defiantly a one to watch. Overall, Easy A is a breath of fresh air for the comedy genre and shows how a small white lie can get out of control, with hilarious consequences!

Neighbour's dog attacks 3 year-old girl

A man was at Liverpool magistrate’s court today, after being arrested after his dog mauled a 3 year old girl.

The defended, was arrested on the ground of being in possession of a dangerous dog and agreed that the dog must now be destroyed. Police dog handlers have confirmed that the dog was a pitbull.

This comes after the 3 year old girl was found in his kitchen having been attacked by the animal. She suffered a broken nose, and has since needed surgery on her injuries.

The girl’s parents, who live next door to the defendant, want no further action to be taken. The prosecution however, are concerned why he was in custody of such a dangerous dog that it attacked the child. They are also curious as to how the child go near the dog in the first place.

The police report states that the door to get into the kitchen was open, while the defendant says it was not locked; the door at the time was shut.

This case will be taken care of in 2 weeks time when the police will come forward and give their evidence; which could determine whether the defendant faces a custodial or non custodial sentence. He is released on bail until then.

Liverpool City Council against cuts

Liverpool City Council came together today, to discuss the issues that will now affect they city after the coalition government announced cuts.

Issues that arose where council tax, housing benefits, roads works and tuition fees as Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool’s Labour Party, looked set to fight the cuts brought in by the new government.

With the new of the cuts having dramatic effect across the country, with cities such as London and Birmingham coming under attack from violent demonstrators, the council agreed that some of the cuts will have a knock on effect to the people of Liverpool; but look to fight it every step of the way.

As a whole, they agreed that the cut of the EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) which was brought in by the Labour government, is a wrong decision stating that it ‘provided vital and financial support to students from low-income families’ and that it will ‘particularly hit Liverpool families and young people already reeling from the cutting from the Building schools for the future.’ These cuts will not only will these affect higher education, but education as a whole. Around twenty-six schools that has plans to be rebuild or have work done on them, will now be left unfinished, leaving some schools future looking bleak.

One main issue that has also effected the city of Liverpool is crime, and as a 28% cut has been made to the local authority funding, with the council very opposed after all the efforts Merseyside Police have made over the past few years, saying ‘Merseyside Police have helped make Liverpool a safer place.’

There will also be around 3500 job losses across Merseyside, and a further £300 million pound will be cut from regeneration sites in the poorest areas in Liverpool, including Kensington and Anfield.

The city of Liverpool has come a long way since the last time the Conservative were in power and you can be sure that Liverpool City Council will be doing everything it can to keep Liverpool’s regeneration going.

Cuts and rise in fees to have a knock on effect in Universities

People wanting to attend University in the future will be hit hard as the new coalition government looks set to raise the tuition fee amount; Liverpool City Council heard today.

 These three words, ‘Education, Education, Education,’ were primarily the reason why the Labour government go back into power in 1997 as then labour leader Tony Blair promised to make education their number one priority. Before the coalition government formed earlier this year, leader of the liberal democrats Nick Clegg promised to scrap tuition fees and now, after joining forces with David Cameron and the Conservatives, has gone against his words as the government look set to raise the amount people will have to pay if they want to further their education.

Now the fees looked set to be raised from £3000 a year to £9000; without the essential living cost most students need to take out. This will affect the working class families who cannot afford to pay over £9000 pound a year for their child to further their education. With riots happening up and down the country, particularly in the capital city, students are outraged that Nick Clegg has done this sensational u-turn, after giving him their backing during his campaign.

In  a Liverpool City Council meeting, where discussions were taking place about the tuition fees, public sector cuts and the effect they will all have on the city, council leader Warren Bradley stated that the council are against the rise in tuition fees and that they should be abolished at the earliest opportunity.

Outside, there were several demonstrations taking place about the rise in fee and the public sector cuts. Councillor Steve Radford who is part of the liberal party, is against what Nick Clegg has done by joining forces with the conservatives and going against everything his part believes in. ‘We at the liberal party have been emailing every single Lib Dem Councillor, every single Lib Dem MP and every single Lib Dem member saying you’re doing everything you said you would do at the election you should not support this. This is why today, were quite pleased to join people with totally different political traditions in saying, this is wrong’.

Local universities are set to be hit hard too, as Councilors Gary Millar and Paul Twigger announced at the city council meeting. Due to lack of funds given to them, Liverpool John Moores University will not be able to give their students bursaries. They went on to say that it’s time to examine the local methods of allocating bursaries to reflect the change in students across the UK.

The ratio for people wanting to attend universities will be affected too, with 1 in 3 set to miss out on a place at University. Steve Radford said it is an important time for students and we should be trying to win them over. ‘We cannot afford to alienate students as they are an important part of our economy. If Britain is to be run like a business then, due to the deficit in our economy, we need an educated work force and this is why the cuts are bad for students, universities and bad for Britain.’’

Lourdes; the history and a place of Pilgrimage

There are many big cities around the world that attract a large number of tourists each year. Places like New York, Paris, Sydney, California and Hong Kong are all swamped with visitors all year round. These big cities have amazing sites to see with skyscrapers, beautiful beaches, fancy restaurants and places that can make you shop till you drop; so you can see why these cities are popular with many tourists. However, there is one place that is very different than these cities and yet, boasts thousands of people visiting each year. The place? Lourdes.

Lourdes is a small village that is situated in the South of France in the Pyrenees Mountains. Since the late 1800’s, it has been a major tourism site and not because of its spectacular view of the mountains. The reason it attracts thousands upon thousands of people each year is because it is known to be a site of miracles, healing and prayer and it is where a young girl claimed she saw visions of Mary; and this is why thousands of people that travel there go on pilgrimage. But what is so special about Lourdes and why does it attract so many pilgrims? The answer stretches back to the 1850’s.

At the centre of the special things that were happening in Lourdes was the young girl. Her name was Bernadette Soubirous, who was born in Lourdes in 1844 and was the eldest of 9 siblings. The family were very poor and, after her father lost his job at a local mill, all 9 family members moved into a disused prison cell; known as the Cachot. They lived in considerably poverty and Bernadette was very poor in health nor was she the brightest pupil in her class. On the afternoon of Thursday February 11^th 1958, Bernadette went to collect some firewood with her younger sister and a friend. They went to the Massabielle grotto, where a stream separated the grotto area and the forest. Bernadette, afraid she would get sick if she crossed the stream, decided to wait in the grotto for her sister and friend to return. It was there she heard a gust of wind and looked up to see a Lady standing there. She did not speak, but she was dressed in a white girdle and blue sash, had a yellow rose on each foot and wore a rosary around her neck.  Bernadette then took out her own rosary and began to say it. Bernadette’s mother did not believe her, and told her to not visit the place again. Eventually, on the Sunday, Bernadette returned. The lady appeared to her again and once again, Bernadette said her rosary. On Thursday Bernadette went back to the grotto with her mother, sister, aunt and friend. It was here that the vision finally spoke to Bernadette asking her to return for 15 days. Bernadette agreed to do this and in return asked for the visions name. The lady only smiled back at her. Even though the description of the vision fitted that of Mary the mother of Jesus, Bernadette only ever called her ‘the lady’ and she was the only person to see her.

Bernadette went back to the grotto each time the lady asked her too. She received various messages from her vision, one time she was seen sobbing having been asked to ‘pray for sinners’ and another occasion kissed the ground and shouted ‘Penance!’ On the 9^th apparition, Bernadette was asked by the lady to ‘dig at the ground, and drink from the water’. Bernadette began to dig and onlooker watched as she began uncovering some muddy water. She tried twice to drink it, but it wasn’t until the third time that water appeared. At first, the people watching though she was insane but it wasn’t until Bernadette told them that this is what the lady asked her to do; ‘drink and bath in the springs’. That night, the onlooker dug further and uncovered a spring. It was from here on, that people began to believe Bernadette, except for the local council and the local priest. On another apparition, the lady told Bernadette to go the priest and have a chapel build so that people can come in procession.

It wasn’t until the 16^th apparition that the priest was convinced. He asked Bernadette to ask for her name one more time, and this time, the lady replied. She said ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’. The priest knew Bernadette would not know what this meant as she was an uneducated girl and was too young to understand what it meant. The Vatican later confirmed Lourdes to be a place of miracles and that the apparition Bernadette saw was that of Mary. After the last apparition, a big chapel was built for people to pray and taps and baths were put in for people to bathe in the springs. Bernadette later left Lourdes to join a convent in Nevers. She was never to return to Lourdes and died at the age of 35. Sixty years later, Bernadette was pronounced a saint, and her body was dug up. However, to everyone surprise, she had no decayed. She remained perfectly intact and to this day, can be seen in a glass coffin in a chapel in Nevers.

Now, thousands of pilgrims travel to Lourdes to see the site where Bernadette saw the lady. It can bring great comfort to many people, but one of the main reason people go is for healing; physically and mentally. The springs at Lourdes, where people can wash and bathe, and know to have miraculous power as thousands of people have claimed to have been cured. There have however, only been sixty-two cures that have been accepted as miraculous by The Church Commissions at Lourdes. The people who claim to have been cured by the waters of Lourdes, have to go through three stages before having it officially confirmed. First, they are examined by the Lourdes Medical Bureau and doctor from across the world are called to examine. Secondly, they must come back in a year’s time for another assessment and their illness could not have been cured and there is no explanation that can explain why they have healed. Finally, the Church declares that a miracle has happened to that person. These steps are put in place to prove that sometimes, there is no explanation and that science has to surrender to the unexplainable.

Even though only sixty-two miracles have been accepted officially, many people can experience their own miracle during their trip to Lourdes. This can be physically or even mentally. They can go to Lourdes to seek guidance, help and courage and find strength in the journey that they take during their pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage can last for however long you want. People travel to Lourdes for a day, a week or sometimes even longer. They usually travel in groups and one big Pilgrimage group is the HCPT. This is a group for disabled children across the world, but the groups that travel there are most notably from the United Kingdom. They travel in local groups and consist around 10 children and 15 helpers and there are many things to do during their pilgrimage. Not only can they visit the grotto, chapel and take part in mass; but they can also visit the local zoo and villages and do a bit of shopping. So not only is there the religious aspect of this pilgrimage, there is also fun for the children who get to take part and socialise. Plus, this also provides respite for the carers and parents of the sick children. Local churches also travel on Pilgrimage there, one being the Liverpool Archdiocese. Each year, around 500 youth across Merseyside travel to Lourdes by coach, to help with the elderly and sick. This gives the youth a chance to socialise with people their own age, as well as with the sick pilgrims.

A pilgrimage can therefore, mean differently for different people. It is about the journey that a person goes on to feel comfort, healing, peace and friendship. The same goes for miracles; they are different for everyone. Just because it has not been officially proven, doesn’t mean a miracle has occurred. To that person, a miracle can mean healing inside and out, to feel comfort, joy or happiness. To others, a miracle can be about the journey that take and the place they visit. Lourdes is therefore, not just know for miracles to happen there, but as a miracle itself.

 

Chris Carins Interview

The Liverpool comedy scene has produced some big names over the years and the latest one could quite easily be local lad Chris Cairns. He regularly makes audiences laugh up and down the country, having been on the comedy circuit for over 12 years, but he is best known in his hometown as being the weekly compere at the Slaughterhouse Comedy Club.

Winner of the Eric Morecombe comedian of the year in 2002 and voted comedian of the year at the Liverpool Echo Arts Awards in 2009, it is no surprise Toxteth born Chris is being classed as a comedian that can go straight to the top.

He’s devoted to running his comedy club, the Slaughterhouse. It can be hard to run a comedy club, but the Slaughterhouse is well known in Liverpool and has a high reputation, something that Chris is keen to spread with bit name acts. ‘‘We’ve got Alan Carr coming in one Friday night, but I’m not going to be telling anyone what date, it spoils the surprise. That’s what you need to be a successful comedy club, it has to be well run, well timed and timing is the key, you have to send the money on quality acts.’’

Not one to shy away from the crowd, Chris has taken his show to some of the UK’s biggest stadiums and playing to large audiences. “I supported Jo Brand and Julian Cleary on tour and that was nice to get a laugh from a big audience.’’ Out of all the venues that Chris has played in, there is one that stands out above the rest. “The Neptune Theatre because I remember walking out thinking wow, Bill Hicks and the Chuckle Brother have played here.’’

Being a comedian can have its downsides; you cannot please everyone with your act. “I remember I did a gig in Bristol, I just didn’t get a laugh and I literally died on stage. When it’s bad it’s awful.’’  It doesn’t happen a lot to Chris, as he is quite varied in his act, “I have a lot of material ready, to make it universal.’’ Then there is the odd heckle that can come your way, something that Chris finds the funny side of. “I quite like a good heckle. I mean there are some that you just have to let go but then I can also get them back. Heckling is meant to be funny.’’

The comedy circuit is very male dominated and male comedians Chris likes are Lee Mack and Shaun Lock to name a few, but he is also a fan of female comedian Sarah Millican. “She’s a good friend. There aren’t many female comedians probably because it’s seen as an immature profession, but we knew from the beginning she would go far. She is a very funny woman.’’

Away from comedy, there are plenty of thing Chris has planned. “I think I’d like to do more TV work, as it’s always good to raise your profile. I’d also like to do more panto. I was in one with John Bishop and I just loved it. At first it was terrifying but towards the end I was sad it was all over.’’

He is also helping in his local community, working for the comedy trust in help teaching kid’s comedy. This project is very rewarding for Chris and close to his heart, “its very satisfying to give children confidence. You see kids who come and are really shy at first but then they grown in confidence and become more positive and outgoing.’’

One thing can be said for Chris, his work in comedy has not gone unrecognised. Whether it is helping kids at the comedy trust or at his own Slaughterhouse, you can be sure he will be keeping us laughing for many years to come.