One small jump for Robbie...

On July 13th 2009, motocross legend Robbie Maddison attempted to leap Tower Bridge in London. Meanwhile, in the city of Hull, one gentleman was getting slightly over-excited about the 'live' coverage on Channel 5...

To King's X and back...

Thrilling train ride to London King's Cross and back again. Literally. Got off the train, had one pint on Euston Road, then it was back on the train home, with camera pointed from the engine's cab to the railtrack for a short film title sequence. All for Ted Lewis – I hope he appreciates the effort. The Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP was sitting in the carriage with us on the way down. Reading the Telegraph, pouring over the latest on the expenses scandal. We got fed up of making comic asides about saving receipts etc and had a chat with him – well, camera guru Martin more than me, the two of them sharing an unhealthy interest in all things BAE Systems and Martin shamelessly conducting an OOV interview as his camera rolled. Alan made it clear that he was paying for the wine that he shared his table with, even though it looked as if he was going to get it gratis. Anyway, enough about politicians. Thanks Hull Trains for making it possible and also supplying me with some much-needed food (feta salad followed by fish platter in case you're wondering).

Return journey...

London! Birmingham! Manchester! We're now back from our three date tour. Man amid the fashionable boutiques of the capital city's King's Road to his lady friend: "Shopping, of course, is all designed with women in mind." On the same road I was rendered almost blind by a most intense bout of hay fever, tears streaming down my face. I got some most peculiar looks as I pushed Finn along.

Standing room only...

Auditions were fun. As for the train journey, well, we'd had a heads up at 7am and throughout the day from various other people via the miracle of text that there'd be some hiccups coming back to Hull but it wasn't that bad. Standing room only on a GNER so we decided to stand, or rather lean, in the bar carriage and drink several cans of beer from plastic glasses. We got on rather well with bar manager Darius, who humoured our feeble efforts to create the kind of atmosphere you might find, say, in a public house in South Cave. In Grantham we hopped back on a Hull Trains train and did some work on the script. Made a change from sitting at the dining table clattering on the laptop on my own.

Tags: London, On A Shout, public transport