December 7, 2007 - Whatsonstage, the website and magazine that provides coverage for the English theatre world, recently announced nominations for the Theatregoers' Choice Awards at their annual party. Michael Praed was one of 500 guests attending the informal event. Voting will take place in UK theatres and on the Whatsonstage website. Winners will be announced in February. The awards have been growing in prestige in recent years and are eagerly sought by members of the British theatrical industry. 

October 28, 2007 - Bill Kenwright will be producing the brilliant Anthony Shaffer play 'Sleuth' in 2008. After a two week stay in Windsor in late January, the thriller will tour the UK for the following six months. Simon MacCorkindale will portray cuckolded husband Andrew Wyke while Michael Praed will play his wife's lover, Milo Tindle.  MacCorkindale is a long-time cast member of 'Casualty' and seen in 'Falcon Crest', 'Manimal', 'Death on the Nile', and 'I, Claudius'. The production is directed by Joe Harmston.  Please check Michael Praed's Fanfare, the website for his official fan club, for tour information.

October 28, 2007 - It was announced recently that future 'Timewatch' narrations for 2008 will include Michael Praed.  This will be the sixth season for the partnership.  The 25 year-old BBC history series has relied primarily on Praed for the last five years.  One eagerly awaited episode will follow the reconstruction and voyage of an 11th century Viking warship from Denmark to Dublin. Watch the 'Timewatch' website for details.

October 9, 2007 - The DVD 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg', the German version of Michael Praed's docudrama on the Hindenburg released in August, recently received a new name.  The new title is now 'Die Hindenburg: die ungeklärte Katastrophe'.  The DVD is Region 2 Pal. Price of the 88 minute program is EUR 14,97. The soundtrack is in German with no subtitles.

September 12, 2007 - The docudrama 'Hindenburg', co-produced by the UK's Channel Four International, Germany's Zusammenarbeit and USA's Smithsonian Museum, will be shown on Channel Four in the UK on Monday, 17 September at 21.00. The drama uses archived film footage and photographs, interviews with survivors, and hearing testimony.  Reenactments and CGI were interspersed with archival material to illustrate the controversy surrounding the zeppelin's fiery end. This gripping film relays the story of the Hindenburg through the enquiry that was set up immediately after the crash. Was it accident or sabotage?  Michael Praed portrays survivor Nelson Morris.

September 9, 2007 - Following on the heels of the half-hour version of 'The Extraordinary Mr Spitfire' previewed on ITV Central today, the hour-long documentary on the life of aviation legend Alex Henshaw, 'The Extraordinary Mr Spitfire', will be shown on The History Channel (UK) on September 15th and 16th. 

Henshaw, who died in February at 94, is probably best known for his WWII role as head of the Spitfire flight test program at Castle Bromwich. He tested roughly ten percent of all Seafires and Spitfires, sometimes in perilous conditions, detecting faults before the planes were delivered to the frontline. But this was only part of Henshaw's flying career. He was also an air race champion and set long distance solo records which still stand 68 years later.  This biography includes interviews with Henshaw himself, plus newly-filmed sequences with the actual aircraft in which he achieved many of his competitive triumphs, a Percival Mew Gull.

'The Extraordinary Mr Spitfire' is produced and directed by Graeme Bowd.   Michael Praed is the narrator. Check local listings for times.

August 31, 2007 -  Cole Kitchenn Ltd announced that a workshop for Michael Praed's musical 'Dreamland' is set for September 2007.  If all goes well, the musical will be ready for London's West End patrons in 2008.

August 16, 2007 -  The BBC 'Timewatch' episode 'Beatlemania', narrated by Michael Praed earlier this year and available on DVD in the UK since January, will be released in the USA on October 2, 2007.  The DVD will be re-named 'The Unseen Beatles' and sold on the BBC America website for $14.98. plus shipping.

August 15, 2007 -  'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg', the joint German, UK and US docudrama featuring Michael Praed as Hindenburg survivor Nelson Morris, has been released on Region 2 Pal DVD for Germany. Price of the 88 minute program is EUR 14,97.  The soundtrack is in German with no subtitles. 

July 4, 2007 - B7 Media's 'Blake's 7' groundbreaking audio podcast 'Rebel' with Michael Praed as Soris has just been released.  It is available on the B7 Media website for £9.95.  Shipping is free within the UK.  The CD is also available outside the UK for £10.95, but  buyers are expected to pay for shipping.  The episode lasts approximately 70 minutes.

June 26, 2007 -  Cole Kitchenn Ltd, one of London's leading independent stage  production and general management companies, recently announced they were undertaking those duties for the new musical 'Dreamland', written by Michael Praed.  Set for workshop in 2007 and production in London's West End in 2008, Olivier Award winning director David Gilmore will be directing.  Casting duties will be undertaken by Pippa Ailion. 

May 16, 2007 -  In June 1953, Britain was still suffering from the privations imposed by World War II. Despite the hardships, the country was excited by a once-in-a-lifetime event. A young, beautiful queen had just begun her reign and for the first time in Britain's 1000 year old history, the common Briton was able to see his monarch crowned, thanks to that miraculous new tool, television. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: The People's Coronation' airs on Friday, 18 May 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2. A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

May 4, 2007 -  The long-awaited B7 Media's 'Blake's 7' audio podcast started this week, courtesy of the SciFi Channel UK. The 36 segments of 'Rebel' will be released every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  A CD of the complete adventure will be released at a later date. Michael Praed makes a special guest appearance as Soris.

April 27, 2007 -  From 1942 the Vichy authorities willingly collaborated with the Germans to round up Jews in France. By 1945 some 76,000 had been deported and sent to concentration camps. Told in their own words, these are the moving stories of four children secretly hidden from the Nazis.   Directed by the award-winning Jonathan Hacker and narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: The Hidden Children' airs on Friday, 27 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.  A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

April 26, 2007 -  Stories of the American frontier's three greatest figures are brought to life in the BBC's newly released DVD 'The Wild West', exploring how the West was really won. The lives of General Custer, Wyatt Earp, and Billy the Kid are examined.  The docudramas feature Toby Stephens, Liam Cunningham, and David Leon. Michael Praed narrates.  Check Michael Praed's Fanfare, the website for his official fan club, for ordering information.

April 24, 2007 -  Seventy years after a 34-second conflagration consumed the massive zeppelin, 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg' ('The Secret of the Hindenburg') was shown on German television. The docudrama was co-produced by the UK's Channel Four International, Zusammenarbeit (otherwise known as ZDT, Second Channel - German Television) and the USA's Smithsonian Museum. Filmed in Poland last November, the program used reenactments and CGI to illustrate the controversy surrounding the zeppelin's fiery destruction. Was it accident or sabotage? The docudrama included Michael Praed in the cast as survivor Nelson Morris.

April 10, 2007 -  Recent confirmation from the island of Crete suggests that Europe's first great civilization, the Minoans, was destroyed by a cataclysmic natural disaster. Was the terrible fate of the Minoans the source of Plato's story of Atlantis, the city that disappeared beneath the waves?  A team of archaeologists and scientists scour Crete for conclusive evidence.   Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: The Wave that Destroyed Atlantis' airs on Friday, 20 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.  A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

April 6, 2007 -  In September 1970, a BOAC flight with over 20 school children on board was hijacked by a Palestinian guerrilla group - the first and last time a British commercial aircraft has ever been hijacked. Is it right to negotiate with hijackers?  What else can be done?   Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Hijack' airs on Friday, 6 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.   A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

March 29, 2007 -  Twenty five years ago, the Royal Navy landing ship Sir Galahad was sunk by the Argentine air force while unloading British troops in the Falkland Islands. Survivors and others affected by the tragedy tell how this act of war continues to shape so many lives. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Remember the Galahad' airs on Monday, 2 April 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.   A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.

March 13, 2007 -  The first two series of 'Robin of Sherwood', starring Michael Praed in the title role, is now available as one DVD box set in North America. Issued by Acorn Media, the collection contains the same extras as the Network and Koch Media releases in the UK and Germany. Cost of the first four-volume boxed DVD set (5 discs) is $59.99 USA/$72.99 CAN.  It can be ordered directly from Acorn Media or from other DVD vendors such as Amazon. The third season (with Jason Connery) is scheduled to appear October 30, 2007.

March 9, 2007 -  The last investigation of one of the American Wild West's three greatest figures is shown tonight in the docudrama series 'The Wild West'.  Michael Praed narrates 'The Gunfight at the OK Corral' on Friday, 9 March 2007 at 9.00pm on BBC Two.  

It was the most famous shoot-out in history: the Gunfight at the OK Corral. The legend of the righteous lawman -- Wyatt Earp -- was born after 30 seconds of lethal gunfire.  Five men were either dead or severely wounded. But as the smoke cleared, Earp wasn't seen as a hero by half of the population of Tombstone. He was indicted and put on trial for murder. Was Wyatt Earp guilty of slaughtering innocent men? Historians take a look at contemporary accounts to find the truth.

March 7, 2007 -  Setting a landmark precedent for podcast rights, B7 Media and Equity agreed recently to performance rights for the upcoming 'Blake's 7' podcasts.  Michael Praed is a cast member.

Martin Brown, Equity spokesman, said the agreement is an "important first step" for actors whose work appears online.  The arrangement provides for minimum session fees, rehearsal fees, pay (overtime and holiday), assignment of rights and a royalty share on net revenues generated via podcast downloads, audio streaming via the internet and subsequent CD release.

'Blake's 7' will be podcast next month.  A CD will be released afterwards.

March 3, 2007 -  The legends of the American Wild West's three greatest figures are reinvestigated in a new docudrama series called 'The Wild West'.  The latest installment will be presented on the UK's BBC Two on Saturday 3 March 2007 at 9.00pm. Michael Praed narrates the docudrama on Billy the Kid, starring David Leon as the young William H Bonney.

Three Wild West enthusiasts examine Billy the Kid’s crimes to determine whether he deserves a posthumous pardon by the present governor of New Mexico.

The last episode in the series will focus on Wyatt Earp and the infamous shoot-out at the OK Corral.

February 18, 2007 -  The stories of the American Wild West's three greatest figures are told in a new docudrama series, 'The Wild West', for UK's BBC Two.  Michael Praed narrates the first in the series, examining Custer's motives in his stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn, airs on Friday 23rd February 2007 at 3.00pm.  Toby Stephens ('Jane Eyre', 'Die Another Day') stars as General George Armstrong Custer.

On a sweltering day in 1876, Custer's 7th Cavalry attacked an Indian village. Outnumbered 366 to 2,000, two-thirds of the Custer's men were killed. Astonishingly, the latest historical research shows that Custer was close to pulling off a brutal victory.

'The Wild West' calls upon the latest archaeology of the battle scene and detailed examination of long-buried source material to provide a radical new picture of the battle and how it unfolded. It creates a picture of a driven man – a victory hunter – whose rivalries with his own officers would cost all of them their lives in the culture clash of the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Future episodes of 'The Wild West' will focus on Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp.

January 29, 2007 -  In January 1915, a German Zeppelin airship dropped bombs on the Norfolk town of Great Yarmouth. It was the start of the world's first strategic bombing campaign, initiating two-and-a-half years of terror that claimed the lives of 1,500 people. Timewatch examines the forgotten Blitz, revealing the little-known battle for supremacy in the skies above Britain. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Zeppelin: The First Blitz' airs on 2 February 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.  A short introductory audio/video clip will briefly be available on the Timewatch website, along with other interesting clips relating to the program.

January 22, 2007 -  The Netherlands now has 'Robin of Sherwood' DVDs offered in English with Dutch subtitles. Just Entertainment is presently taking orders for Series 1.  Series 2 and 3 will be offered later this year. Either click the link here, or type http://www.justwebshop.nl/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=221 into the address bar of your browser.  The link will also be available in the Merchandise area of the official Michael Praed fan club site, Michael Praed's Fanfare.

January 19, 2007 - In 1783, thousands of Britons died in a terrible environmental disaster, choking on poisonous gases from a huge volcanic eruption in Iceland. The ensuing winter was one of the worst on record and claimed yet more lives. The tragedy of Britain's forgotten disaster has remained a mystery for the past 200 years. 'Timewatch' goes in search of the evidence. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Killer Cloud' airs on 19 January 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2.  Watch the Timewatch website for updates.

January 14, 2007 - The Stephen Sondheim Society announced recently that due to work commitments, Michael Praed has had to withdraw from the charity gala of Sondheim's 'Follies in Concert' in February 2007. The role of Buddy will now be sung by Tim Flavin, winner of Laurence Olivier awards for the Gershwin musical 'Crazy for You' and for Rogers and Hart's 'On Your Toes'.   The 'Follies in Concert' benefit is to raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation and Kingston Hospital Cancer Unit Appeal.

January 6, 2007 - Forty years ago, the Beatles' performances revolutionized the music industry and inadvertently invented Youth Culture. 'Timewatch' looks at these aspects and investigates why, at the height of their fame, they disappeared from the stage. Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Beatlemania' airs on 12 January 2007 at 9.00 pm on BBC2. Watch the Timewatch website for updates and a short audio/video clip.

January 3, 2007 - A dramatization of the final hours of the only time two submarines dueled to the death will air Friday, 5 January 2007 at 9 pm on BBC2. The HMS Venturer hunted down and sank the U-Boat U864, a sub on a deadly secret mission, in February of 1945. A short audio/video clip introducing 'Timewatch: U864', narrated by Michael Praed, will briefly be available on the Timewatch website.  

December 23, 2006 - UK-based independent media production company, B7 Media Productions, has announced the return of the cult television classic, 'Blake's 7' as a series of original audio dramas.

Taking full advantage of 'Blake's 7' (circa 1978-1981) cult status and enduring popularity, B7 Media has produced a series of original audio adventures based on the format and characters created by the late Terry Nation. The broadcast platform is currently under negotiation. 

Derek Riddell ('No Angels', 'Doctor Who') heads an all new cast as the eponymous rebel leader, Roj Blake. Colin Salmon (best known for his film roles in James Bond, 'Alien vs. Predator' and 'Resident Evil'), assumes the iconic role of Kerr Avon with Daniela Nardini ('This Life') as the rebel's arch nemesis Supreme Commander Servalan. Other cast members include Craig Kelly ('Queer as Folk'), Carrie Dobro ('Babylon 5'); Michael Praed ('Robin of Sherwood'), Doug Bradley ('Hellraiser') and India Fisher ('Doctor Who').

'Blake's 7' will be produced as a series of all new 36 x 5-minute audio dramas based on the original cult series broadcast on the BBC in the 1970s.

The audio adventures were recorded the first week of December and will debut in spring 2007. A special 'extended' CD edition will be released for retail the month following broadcast.

December 19, 2006 - All three series of 'Robin of Sherwood' will be released on DVD for United States and Canada by the US company Acorn Online (http://www.acornonline.com) in 2007.  With the exception of a Clannad music video, it appears this DVD will contain the same extras and re-mastered quality as the Network and Koch Media releases in the UK and Germany. The first two series (with Michael Praed) will be released as a set on March 13, 2007 and the third season (with Jason Connery) on October 30, 2007.  Tentative cost of the first four-volume boxed set (5 discs) is $59.99 USA/$72.99 CAN. 

December 18, 2006 - On Saturday 23 December, ITV3 (UK) will be broadcasting 'Robin of Sherwood' non-stop from 06.00 to 19.00. The first six episodes to be shown feature Michael Praed as Robin.  Check Michael Praed's Fanfare, the website for his official fan club, for the schedule.   

December 16, 2006 - 'Robin of Sherwood' Series 2 DVDs are now available in Poland and Germany. 'Robin z Sherwood' is offered in Poland by Studio Printel (http://printel.pl/video/) under the heading 'Fabuła'. 'Robin Hood' is distributed through Koch Media (http://www.kochmedia-dvd.com) in Germany. Both releases are in collaboration with Network DVD in the UK.

Series 3 (with Jason Connery, not Michael Praed) is also being added to the catalogs. Series 1 was released earlier in 2006.

November 10, 2006 - The Beatles' music has become one of the most carefully restricted artistic commodities in history. 'Timewatch: Beatlemania' is the story of how 40 years ago, their performances revolutionized the music industry, inadvertently invented Youth Culture, and why, at the height of their fame, they disappeared from the stage.   Narrated by Michael Praed, 'Timewatch: Beatlemania'  premières in January 2007. Watch the Timewatch website for future updates and a short audio/video clip.

November 9, 2006 - This website will go down periodically this week as changes are made to the layout.  Due to requests, there will be more photographs offered, past reviews, an RSS feed for news, and a slightly different way of listing Michael Praed's many roles and projects.  The narrative account of Mr. Praed's professional career will be eliminated, although it will be available in a similar form on Michael Praed's Fanfare, the sister website for his official fan club.  We think you'll enjoy the new features.  If you have any problems, issues or concerns, please address the webmaster at webmaster@michael-praed.com.  Thanks for your patience.

October 25, 2006 - Michael Praed is scheduled to join an all-star cast to present Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies' in a concert performance 4 February 2007 at the London Palladium. Curtain is at 7:15 pm.  Praed, singing the role of Buddy, has three songs.

Also onstage will be Philip Quast, Maria Friedman, Imelda Staunton, Liliane Montevecchi, Liz Robertson and Laura Michelle Kelly, among others.  Elaine Stritch has recently been added as a special guest.

The benefit is to raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation and Kingston Hospital Cancer Unit Appeal.  For tickets to 'Follies in Concert', contact www.seetickets.com.

Note: Artist participation is subject to availability.

October 24, 2006 - A documentary on theatrical legend Dan Crawford of the King’s Head Theatre was released in April by Dragonfly Films in association with XI Pictures. 'The King’s Head: A Maverick in London' follows Crawford as he casts, rehearses and mounts a production of Michael Wall’s 'Women Laughing'.  The documentary, produced by Academy Award nominated director Stephanie Sinclair, also offers a quick history of the theatre through a series of interviews with the artists and writers who have contributed to its success in the past. Michael Praed was one of many well-known artists interviewed for the film.  

A DVD of the documentary has been released and may be purchased through Dress Circle or the King's Head Theatre itself.  Half of the proceeds go to funding the King's Head.

Note: This DVD is in PAL format only.  Make sure your DVD player or computer can handle the format before you order.

October 2, 2006 - The 2005 BBC documentary 'The Year Without Summer' has been nominated for an award at the Wildscreen Festival, the International Wildlife and Environmental film festival which is held in Bristol this year. The 2006 winners will be announced on the evening of Wednesday, 18 October as part of the week-long festivities. The festival drew 412 films from 45 countries.

One of four finalists for the Earth Sciences Award, 'The Year Without Summer' was noted for presenting scientific material in a compelling way.  Michael Praed was the film's narrator.

The film presented evidence that the 1815 eruption of Mt Tambora in Indonesia caused a drop in temperatures worldwide, resulting in multiple crop failures and widespread famine in Europe.  The documentary originally aired on 27 May 2005 on BBC2.
 

October 1, 2006 - 'Jonathan Ross's World Of Robin Hood' will be broadcast on Sunday, 8 October at 4.10pm, BBC1. In light of the new BBC Robin Hood series, Jonathan Ross looks at some of the ways the popular outlaw has been portrayed through the years.  Along the way, he stops to revisit 'Robin of Sherwood' and interview members of the cast.  Michael Praed played Robin in Series 1 and 2.
 

September 22, 2006 - Michael Praed will be appearing in a stunning new play, 'Blue on Blue', this October at the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke.   Blue on Blue' is the code for "friendly fire". In Derek Lister's blistering play, frontline television journalists are not just fighting a war, but each other and the army.  Other cast members include Nicholas Bailey (Dr Anthony Trueman in Eastenders) and veteran television actress Kathryn Pogson. ''Blue on Blue' starts on 6 October and runs until 21 October.  Evening curtain rises at 7.30pm.  Matinees are offered on the 19 October at 2.00 and the 21 October at 4.00pm.

Visit the Haymarket Online website at http://www.haymarket.org.uk for more details or to order tickets.
 

August 30, 2006 - Dragonfly Films, in association with XI Pictures, is creating a documentary on theatrical legend Dan Crawford of the King's Head Theatre. 'The King's Head: A Maverick in London' follows Dan as he casts, rehearses and mounts a production of Michael Wall's 'Women Laughing'.

'The King's Head: A Maverick in London' also offers a whirlwind tour of the history of the theatre through a series of interviews with the artists and writers who have contributed to its success in the past.

Although there is no word whether his interview will actually be included in the documentary at this point, Michael Praed was one of many well-known actors interviewed for the film.

Producer of the Academy Award nominated short 'The Dance of Shiva' and co-recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Award in 2002 for the pursuit of excellence and contribution to the arts in the field of directing, director Stephanie Sinclair is also the Associate Artistic Director at the King's Head.

July 31, 2006 - The Harlequin Mills & Boon UK audio book 'The Italian Tycoon's Bride' by Helen Brooks is now available.  The CD, fourth of four HM&B books narrated by Michael Praed, can be ordered directly from the Mills and Boon UK website with 25% off the cover price within three weeks of the release date, or from various bookstores such as WHSmiths, ASDA, Borders and Books etc and Amazon UK.

July 29, 2006 -  'Killing Castro' moves to its final venue at the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne from July 31 until August 5. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions UK tour of the Brian Stewart comedy includes cast members Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw. Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information.

July 23, 2006 -  Oneword, the digital satellite radio component of Channel 4 Radio, is presenting 'Mills & Boon at the Weekend', featuring romantic fiction from the catalog of Mills & Boon.   Michael Praed reads Juliet Landon's 'His Duty, Her Destiny', beginning on 23 July.  Stories will be broadcast in half hour slots in ten installments on Saturday mornings at midnight, and Sundays at 8 am and repeated at 4 pm.

July 23, 2006 -  Swinging into the second-to-last week, 'Killing Castro' migrates south to Southend-on-Sea.   Brian Stewart's black comedy, based on preposterous plans by America's CIA to remove Fidel Castro from the head of Cuba, will play at the Cliffs Pavilion Theatre from Monday, 24 July until Saturday, 29 July. The cast includes Clive Mantle, Michael Praed, Edward Hardwicke, and Joe Shaw.

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

July 17, 2006 -  Killing Castro' relocates to Richmond.  Brian Stewart's black comedy, based on preposterous plans by America's CIA to remove Fidel Castro from the head of Cuba, will play at the Richmond Theatre from Monday, 17 July until Saturday, 22 July.  The cast includes Clive Mantle, Michael Praed, Edward Hardwicke, and Joe Shaw.

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

July 10, 2006 -  'Killing Castro' Brian Stewart's black comedy based on ludicrous schemes by America's CIA to remove Fidel Castro from the head of Cuba travels to Stoke-on-Trent next.  It will play at the Regent Theatre from Monday, 10 July until Saturday, 15 July.  Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

July 9, 2006 -  CORRECTION Misinformation was given regarding the website where tickets may be purchased online for 'A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford' at the Sunday 16th July 2006. Tickets to the Novello Theatre, Aldwych, Gala are available from the Novello Theatre box office at 0870 950 0935 or online at www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk. Ticket prices range from £25 - £100.  Michael Praed plans to attend.

July 3, 2006 -  Brian Stewart's black comedy 'Killing Castro' makes a brief foray into the West Country Monday.   The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions comedy will play at the Theatre Royal  in Plymouth from Monday, 3 July until Saturday, 8 July.  The cast includes Clive Mantle, Michael Praed, Edward Hardwicke, and Joe Shaw.

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

July 1, 2006 -  The Harlequin Mills & Boon UK audio book 'The Viscount's Betrothal' by Louise Allen is now available.  The Michael Praed narration can be ordered directly from the Mills and Boon UK website with 25% off the cover price within three weeks of the release date, or from various bookstores such as WHSmiths, ASDA, Borders and Books etc and Amazon UK.

June 27, 2006-  Michael Praed will be one of a number of stars taking part in an homage to Dan Crawford, founder of the King's Head Theatre in London who passed away last summer. The Novello Theatre, Aldwych, London will host 'A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford' at the Sunday 16th July 2006 at 7pm. Proceeds will go to the Raise The Roof fund for the refurbishment of the theatre in order that Dan Crawford's legacy can continue.

Tickets to 'A Love Letter to Dan' are available from the the the the the Novello Theatre Box office on 0870 950 0935 or online at www.delfont.mackintosh.co.uk www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk. Ticket prices range from £25 - *£100 (*includes joining the stars at the after show party).

June 26, 2006 -  Two Michael Praed films will be making appearances on British television soon.  One is the rarely aired 'Writer's Block' on the New 24 Movie Channel on Sky Digital, 14 July. The other is the vampire flick 'To Die For 2: Son Of Darkness' on the Horror Channel on the 31st of August.

June 26, 2006 -  After a week hiatus, Brian Stewart's black comedy 'Killing Castro' is back on stage in Cambridge.   The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions comedy will play at the Cambridge Arts Theatre from Monday, 26 June until Saturday, 1 July. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions UK tour of the Brian Stewart comedy includes cast members Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw.

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

June 23, 2006 -  Book publisher Harlequin Mills & Boon has struck a broadcast deal with Oneword, the digital satellite radio component of Channel 4 Radio. Under the agreement, Mills & Boon romantic fiction stories will be broadcast in half hour slots on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 am and repeated at 4 pm. Stories have been selected from the publisher’s best selling romantic fiction series and will be read by audio narrators Michael Praed and Jan Francis. The first novel to be read by Michael Praed will be Juliet Landon's 'His Duty, Her Destiny', beginning midnight on 23 July.

June 12, 2006 -  Greenwich Theatre is ready for the 'Killing Castro' UK tour, which moved into Greenwich for a run stretching from Monday, 12 June to Saturday, 17 June. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions UK tour of the Brian Stewart comedy includes cast members Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw.

The tour will take a break between Sunday 18 June through Sunday, 25 June. 

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

June 6, 2006 -  Lesli Zador, the product manager at Harlequin Mills & Boon UK, released a list of audiobooks which Michael Praed is narrating, along with the release dates.  The books are: Juliet Landon's 'His Duty, Her Destiny' (March),  Sara Craven's 'Wife Against Her Will' (May), Louise Allen's 'The Viscount's Betrothal' (July), and Helen Brooks' 'The Italian Tycoon's Bride' (September).

CDs can be ordered directly from the Mills and Boon UK website with 25% off the cover price within three weeks of the release date, or from various bookstores such as WHSmiths, ASDA, Borders and Books etc and Amazon UK.

June 5, 2006 -  The 'Killing Castro' UK tour moves to the Festival Theatre at Malvern for the dates of 5 June -10 June. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions UK tour of the Brian Stewart comedy includes cast members Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw.

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

June 1, 2006 -  Mills and Boon recently released another audiobook narrated by Michael Praed.  'Wife Against Her Will' is a modern romance written by Sarah Craven.  It is available online directly from the Mills and Boon UK website, or from various bookstores.

May 30, 2006 -  DVDs presenting the first series of 'Robin of Sherwood', starring Michael Praed, are now available in Germany. Under the name 'Robin Hood', the DVDs may be ordered through Koch Media (http://www.kochmedia-dvd.com).  The three DVD set also includes 'The Making of Robin Hood', audio commentary by participants, outtakes, 'Electric Theatre Show' segment, a promo by Clannad, and a booklet with an episode guide.

May 29, 2006 -  The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Richard Jordan Productions Limited and the Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions UK tour of the Brian Stewart comedy 'Killing Castro' moves to Brighton this week. It plays at the Theatre Royal from Monday, 29 May to Saturday, 3 June.

The cast includes Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw

Please see Michael Praed's Fanfare for more venue information and schedules.

May 23, 2006 -  The Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Limited begins the UK 'Killing Castro' tour tonight at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford at 7:45 pm. The comedy will play at the renown theatre through Saturday evening before moving on to Brighton on Monday. Tickets may be purchased online from the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre website.

In the run-up to Castro’s visit to the UN in 1960 the audience is taken to CIA secret headquarters to watch four bumbling officials hatch the conspiracy of the decade only for it to go wrong in the most disastrous and hilarious ways. This new comedy by British writer Brian Stewart (from TV’s 'The Office') has enjoyed critical acclaim in the US. The cast includes Edward Hardwicke, Clive Mantle, Michael Praed and Joe Shaw.

Please watch Michael Praed's Fanfare for any updates.

May 19, 2006 -  Michael Praed narrates the last episode of the current series of 'Timewatch: The Princess Spy' at 21:00 on Friday 19 May, BBC2. In 1943, Noor Inayat Khan was the first female wireless operator sent into war-torn France as part of Winston Churchill's secret army. Betrayed, captured and tortured, Noor revealed nothing before she was executed. 'Timewatch' tells the Princess Spy's tragic and inspirational story. For audio/video clips of Michael Praed's narrations, visit BBC's 'Timewatch' website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. Clips are only available for a brief time.

May 12, 2006 -  Michael Praed narrates the episode of 'Timewatch: San Francisco's Great Quake' at 21:00 on Friday 12 May, BBC2.  

In the early hours of Wednesday 18 April, 1906, America's greatest natural disaster struck San Francisco. Told through the words and images of those who were there, Timewatch marks the centenary by revealing the true extent of the catastrophe.

For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.

May 9, 2006 -  In an effort to recoup some of the production costs of their excellent history series 'Timewatch', the BBC is offering PAL DVDs for a limited time period to subscribers of their 'Timewatch' newsletter. Both 'The Mystery of the Black Death' and 'The Secrets of the Mary Rose' were narrated by Michael Praed. Costs for the DVD are £9.99 each and are available in P AL format only.

May 5, 2006 -  On 9 March, 1862, a naval battle of the American Civil War featured the world's first combat between ironclad warships, 'The Monitor' and 'The Merrimack'. Shut out from daylight, and depending on their vessel for the air they breathed, the crew of 'The Monitor' felt it resembled an iron coffin. What was it really like to live inside this great metal monster? Michael Praed narrates this episode of 'Timewatch: The Iron Coffin' at 21:00 on Friday 5 May, BBC2.

For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.

May 2, 2006 -  "Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar" airs tonight at 10:00 pm EDT on the American television channel CBS. Film footage of memorable moments in the 'Dynasty' saga will be shown, including footage of the wedding of Prince Michael (Michael Praed) to Amanda Carrington (Catherine Oxenberg) known as the infamous "Moldavian Massacre". Although 'Dynasty' originally aired on ABC, Paramount, who owns the rights to 'Dynasty' is now owned by CBS, hence the change in the broadcasting company.  

April 21, 2006 -  Michael Praed narrates "Timewatch: The Mystery of the Headless Romans"  on BBC2, Friday 21 April at 21:00. The discovery of 30 decapitated Roman skeletons in a rear garden of a house in York kicked-off an intense archaeological investigation. What did all this mean and why did these bodies have their heads removed?   For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.

April 14, 2006 -  Michael Praed has been the primary narrator of 'Timewatch', the BBC's venerable history program, for the last three years. A new series is starting Friday 14 April at 21:00 with the episode 'Timewatch: The Crusader's Lost Fort'. Timewatch digs into the mystery of why a supposedly invincible fort held by the warrior elite amongst the crusaders fell in an incredibly short five days.  For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.

March 25, 2006 -  Jumping the official April publishing date somewhat, Mills and Boon recently released a new audiobook narrated by Michael Praed.  The Juliet Landon romance is entitled 'His Duty, Her Destiny' and is available directly from the Mills and Boon UK website, or from various online bookstores.

March 24, 2006 -  Michael Praed will be touring with Clive Mantle (Little John in 'Robin of Sherwood') and veteran actor Edward Hardwicke in 'Killing Castro', starting this May. The Brian Stewart comedy is based on an actual CIA plot to kill Castro during his 1960 visit to the UN and has already played to appreciative audiences in the US. The play will be on tour in the UK during May, June and July. The run is scheduled for Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (starting Tuesday 23 May), the Theatre Royal in Brighton, the Richmond Theatre in Richmond and the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent. Tickets may be purchased through the venues or Ticketmaster.  Watch Michael Praed's Fanfare for updates on venues.

March 12, 2006 -  The 1983 series 'Robin of Sherwood', starring Michael Praed as Robin, is returning to ITV3 in the United Kingdom on the 12th of March at 7:55 and 16:50.  Twenty years ago it inspired two major motion pictures. Last year's re-showing spurred the BBC to develop their own series to be written by Dominic Minghella.  Both timeless and contemporary, the series helped launch the careers of Michael Praed, Ray Winstone, Clive Mantle, and Anthony Horowitz, among others. 

March 10, 2006 -  Michael Praed narrates "Timewatch: The Secret History of Genghis Khan" on BBC2 at 9.00 pm., Friday, 10 March. The world's most famous warrior, Genghis Khan, rose from abject poverty to rule the largest land empire the world has ever seen. Written nearly 800 years ago by Genghis Khan's adopted son, an extraordinary text reveals the behind-the-scenes history of Genghis Khan. For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.

March 8, 2006 -  'Robin of Sherwood' DVDs starring Michael Praed are now available in Poland. 'Robin z Sherwood' is released through Studio Printel at (http://printel.pl/robinzsherwood/) in collaboration with Network DVD.

March 3, 2006 -  Michael Praed narrates "Timewatch: Missing in Action" (BBC2 Friday 3 March at 21:00) follows an American military unit in search of two pilots who were shot down in the Vietnam War. A short audio/video clip is also briefly available on BBC's Timewatch website.   For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch.

February 24, 2006 - Michael Praed narrates "Timewatch: Unknown Soldiers" on BBC2 at 9.00 pm.  Timewatch follows a special American military unit called in to identify the remains of two soldiers from World War I.  For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch.

January 20, 2006 - Michael Praed narrates "Timewatch: The Bog Bodies" on BBC2 at 9.00 pm.  BBC has exclusive access to the investigation conducted by the National Museum of Ireland. The bodies of 'Old Croghan Man' and 'Clonycavan Man' were miraculously preserved for 2300 years in an Irish peat bog and discovered within weeks of one another.  Forensic evidence reveals much about their diet, social status, even hairstyle.  It also gives brutal evidence that life -- and death -- in the Iron Age could be vicious.  For Timewatch listings, check http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/timewatch.

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