Nevil Tynemouth Director, New Results
Who is your favourite author and why?
Douglas Adams. His insight to technology is brilliant. How many of us are carrying around our own version of a “Hitchhikers Guide” in our pockets. In terms of writing his famous quote on deadlines “I love deadlines, especially the whooshing noise they make as they fly past”. This says nothing at all about the last minute nature of this month’s copy!
What would be your three Desert Island Discs?
Marc Cohn – “Walking in Memphis”. Dire Straits – “Romeo and Juliet”. Del Amitri – “Driving with the brakes on”.
Who is your favourite film star and why ?
Tom Hanks – Big was such a brilliant film in my teens. Every Tom Hanks film I watch makes me feel slightly better, sat here I can’t think of another actor with such a wide range of films, and I can’t think of a Tom Hanks film I didn’t like.
What are your top three films?
Shawshank Redemption. Highlander. Ferris Bueller’s Day off. Not a Tom Hanks film in sight!
Which poem left a lasting impression on you?
“If” by Rudyard Kipling. My Dad was an English teacher and I remember going into his office and seeing this hanging on his wall and reading and rereading it as a small child. Many of the words of that poem come back to me regularly and I love some of the lines.
What box sets have you enjoyed?
I am not a big watcher of TV, but I have realised I loved a lot of first series of box sets, so any first series of 24, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Sex education, Derry Girls.
Who is your favourite artist or performer?
Marc Cohn, I am seeing him in London soon (at a three times rearranged gig). I love his soulful storytelling in his songs and his voice is one of best sounds I can hear. There are only two songs that can bring a tear to my eye, and one of them is a Mark Cohn song.
What is your favourite venue?
Sunderland Empire – I recently got to see a little bit behind the scenes when running a workshop there. The history and the grandeur of the building and stage is breathtaking.
Which musical instrument do you particularly enjoy ?
The voice! I have been learning to sing myself, so I love a range of voices from Emile Sade to Meatloaf and from Marc Cohn to Kate Nash and Prince. I love artists who have a power and depth to their voice, one that can make songs come to life.
From the world of Arts and Culture who would be your ideal dinner party guests?
Steven Fry, Prince, Tom Hanks, Victoria Wood, Dawn French, Salvador Dali and Freddie Mercury. I think that might spark off some interesting conversations!