Brits in the Wood… Hollywood that is - The Solihull Observer

Brits in the Wood… Hollywood that is

Solihull Editorial 12th May, 2017   0

From James Corden and One Direction to the Beckhams and the Osbournes, Brits are beating Hollywood stars at their own game these days.

Claire Bullivant – who relocated to Tinseltown ten years ago from Feckenham in Worcestershire was musing this over in a pub on Sunset Boulevard with British broadcaster Caroline Feraday – when the pair came up with an idea to create a podcast which tapped into their British perspectives on La La land.

They launched the Brits In The Wood podcast in March – to already critical acclaim and thousands of downloads.

“I can’t believe the response we’d had so far,” said Caroline, who is best known for her radio shows on Capital FM and BBC radio in the UK.




“I always say it’s like popping on Brit-tinted spectacles – and then looking at Hollywood through our eyes. That’s the journey we take our listeners on.”

Claire added: “We really hope people enjoy what we’re doing. We hope we give a little insight into LA life.”


Caroline, who left her BBC London radio show behind to move to LA in 2013, says that living there full time meant she was more aware of having an outsider’s perspective than when she was based in LA for GMTV in the early noughties.

She added: “Claire’s been here ten years and absolutely loves LA. I am a little more cynical. I love the weather. Hate the traffic.”

The podcast, which has already been picked up by iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play, has already featured big names guests including Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, former page 3 girl (who is now a Hollywood realtor!) – Leilani Dowding, Camilla Dallerup from Strictly Come Dancing who has changed her career and now runs A Very Zen Lifestyle, Vikings actor Huw Parmenter, Carol Smille and Billy Idol’s right hand man – rocker and artist Billy Morrison.

Claire says there’s many more in the offing: “Our very first podcast, where we interview Billy Morrison (the Cult, Billy Idol, Royal Machines) kind of made us realise we were on the right track.

“Billy really opened up to us and talked about his near death experiences with drugs and overcoming addiction.

“He’s now one of the most famous rockers in the business who has some great stories about Ozzy Osbourne, his best mate.

“It’s fascinating to hear about his journey. It’s a real rags to riches story too and something you don’t normally get to hear in normal interviews where they are just promoting their new project. We’re after their life story really… in an hour [laughs]. Hopefully we get some of it.”

Caroline continued: ‘It’s a lovely inclusive mix of irreverent and insightful. In fact, recent guest, British director Elliott Lester, commented how we put our guests at ease, so we get such a great conversation with them.

“I think people enjoy hearing a bit of classic British “bantz”.

Claire and Caroline say they hope they offer inspiring insights, a bit of laughter and an entertaining and informative hour for listeners – and are already building up a fast fan-base.

They added: “It’s not only for Brits, or for people in LA.

“We are both journalists so are naturally inquisitive about people with interesting tales to tell, and think we have a unique perspective to ask them pertinent questions and throw in a few tales of our own.”

From celebrity names to industry insiders, they say they discover what it takes to live the dream and make it in LA by talking to those that have done just that, and those are universal themes.

Listen here: http://britsinthewood.libsyn.com or click through from the website: www.BritsInTheWood.com

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