Crazy times of star DJ to top festival bill

Globetrotting writer and broadcaster Andy Kershaw said he is “flattered and honoured” to be headlining Cleckheaton Literature Festival.

Kershaw has worked for the Rolling Stones, shared a cramped office with DJ John Peel and travelled to 97 countries. He laid down his memories in his 2014 book No Off Switch.

And his one-man show comes to Whitcliffe Mount school on Saturday, May 9, when he will relay some choice tales from a life fully-lived.

“I’m very flattered and honoured and I’m pleased to help them get it off the ground.”

Mindful that the festival is designed to include young people, Andy offers widsom, taken from his parents, to anyone wanting to enter his field.

“Energy, enthusiam and curiosity. If you’ve got them you are in for a pretty colourful and stimulating life.”

Having done so much, Andy admits it is hard to choose which experiences to speak about on stage.

“It’s very difficult to leave anything out. I have to though and then at the end people say, ‘You haven’t talked about presenting Live Aid or the Rolling Stones’. I can’t win!”

Andy now regularly reports for the BBC’s The One Show and does live DJ sets.

*A few facts about Andy Kershaw:

Without ever having an ambition to become one, he was a BBC Radio One DJ for15 years.

Andy was an eyewitness to the Rwandan genocide and reported it for the Today programme.

Has made four visits to secretive North Korea and said it is the “strangest” place he has been.

He worked for rock superstar Bruce Springsteen in 1985.

He spent a week riding with Sonny Barger and the Oakland Hell’s

Angels.

He turned down an invitation, as well as £50,000, to appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

His show starts at 7.30pm. See next page for ticket information.