Mike Elliott
Encyclopedia
Mike Elliott is an entertainer: he has been an actor, stand-up comedian
, television presenter and radio phone-in host.
produced series, At Last It's Mike Elliott broadcast on Channel 4
. For several years, Elliott was a mainstay of Folk Rock group Lindisfarne
's UK tours, working as warm up
and compere.
Mike released two albums on Newcastle-based Rubber Records - Out Of The Brown RUB 025 (1976), and At Last It's Mike Elliott RUB 044 (1982)
Mike returned to work for Tyne Tees Television in 1992 presenting a number of regional documentary series, including, Down Colliery Way about North East coal miners.
and a number of roles in television drama series, including Catherine Cookson
adaptations, Crocodile Shoes
, Byker Grove
, Spender
, Harry
, and a variety of roles in New Voices, a showcase of short movies screened locally on Tyne Tees Television
, and played a taxi driver in the 2005 film Goal
and its 2009 sequel Goal! 3: Taking on the World.
in the North East. He was suspended in his first year at the station for swearing at a woman caller who said she was a benefits swindler, but was reinstated after fans protested outside of the station's studios in Gateshead
. In January 2000, he was taken off the air in the middle of his show following an expletive-filled outburst at a caller. Bosses sacked him, assuming, from his behaviour and slurred speech, that he was drunk. However, Elliott claimed that his "strange behaviour" was caused by combining two glasses of wine during a family meal with the cold remedies Benylin
and Night Nurse. He was reinstated by the station in June that year.
He launched a board game
in 2001 called Social Insecurity, with some similarities to Monopoly
.
A new Mike Elliott radio show launched on North East Magic Radio
in the same slot as his previous programme in December 2002. However on MW it failed to gain the same amount of listeners that the Century FM series had achieved, and Elliott was released from his contract in July 2003, whilst on holiday.
December 2003 saw Mike back on air on Sunderland's Sun FM
.In January 2006 the show was rebranded North South Divided pitched the Northern stations of the Local Radio Company against their Southern counterparts. Broadcast over almost 30 stations, this was the first time listeners outside of the North East had a taste of “Mike The Mouth.”, alongside another male presenter, Alex Dyke (later replaced by Carol McGiffin
). North South Divided ended on 5 July 2006.
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, television presenter and radio phone-in host.
Stand up comedy and recording
Elliott taught English at Hartlepool's Dyke House School. He first found national fame in 1983 on the Tyne Tees TelevisionTyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
produced series, At Last It's Mike Elliott broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. For several years, Elliott was a mainstay of Folk Rock group Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne (band)
Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...
's UK tours, working as warm up
Warm Up
Warm Up is a Formula One style racing video game, released in 2000 developed by Lankhor, and published by Microïds, for Microsoft Windows based PCs....
and compere.
Mike released two albums on Newcastle-based Rubber Records - Out Of The Brown RUB 025 (1976), and At Last It's Mike Elliott RUB 044 (1982)
Mike returned to work for Tyne Tees Television in 1992 presenting a number of regional documentary series, including, Down Colliery Way about North East coal miners.
Acting
Elliott has also had a number of acting roles. These include playing boxing trainer George Watson in the film Billy ElliotBilly Elliot
Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...
and a number of roles in television drama series, including Catherine Cookson
Catherine Cookson
Dame Catherine Cookson DBE was a British author. She became the United Kingdom's most widely read novelist, with sales topping 100 million, while retaining a relatively low profile in the world of celebrity writers...
adaptations, Crocodile Shoes
Crocodile Shoes
Crocodile Shoes is a British 7-part television series made by the BBC and screened on BBC One in 1994.The series was written by and starred Jimmy Nail as a factory worker who becomes a country and western singer...
, Byker Grove
Byker Grove
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One...
, Spender
Spender
Spender is a BBC television drama set in Newcastle upon Tyne, written by Ian La Frenais and Jimmy Nail, who also starred. The series was produced by Martin McKeand . The series was broadcast on BBC between 1991 and 1993...
, Harry
Harry (TV series)
Harry is a television drama series that was made by Union Pictures for the BBC, and shown on BBC One between 1993 and 1995. The programme concerned a journalist called Harry Salter who ran a news agency in the town of Darlington in England.- Cast :* Harry Salter - Michael Elphick* Jonathan - Tom...
, and a variety of roles in New Voices, a showcase of short movies screened locally on Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
, and played a taxi driver in the 2005 film Goal
Goal! (film)
Goal! is a 2005 film directed by Danny Cannon. It is the first installment of a trilogy also named Goal!. This film was made with full cooperation from FIFA, which is one of the reasons actual teams and players are used throughout the film...
and its 2009 sequel Goal! 3: Taking on the World.
Radio
In February 1995, Mike Elliott was given a new nickname as “Mike The Mouth” when he launched the first late night talk show on 100-102 Century FM100-102 Century FM
Real Radio North East is a radio station in north east England owned by GMG Radio. It is based in Team Valley, Gateshead, and broadcasts to north east England....
in the North East. He was suspended in his first year at the station for swearing at a woman caller who said she was a benefits swindler, but was reinstated after fans protested outside of the station's studios in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
. In January 2000, he was taken off the air in the middle of his show following an expletive-filled outburst at a caller. Bosses sacked him, assuming, from his behaviour and slurred speech, that he was drunk. However, Elliott claimed that his "strange behaviour" was caused by combining two glasses of wine during a family meal with the cold remedies Benylin
Benylin
Benylin is a brand name owned by Johnson & Johnson for a range of cough, cold and flu medications. The flagship cough syrup and cold care brand is marketed in several countries as Benylin DM, for its active ingredient, dextromethorphan...
and Night Nurse. He was reinstated by the station in June that year.
He launched a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
in 2001 called Social Insecurity, with some similarities to Monopoly
Monopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
.
A new Mike Elliott radio show launched on North East Magic Radio
Magic 1152
Magic 1152 is the name of an Independent Local Radio station in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. It forms part of the Magic network owned by Bauer Radio. It shares a studio complex with sister station Metro Radio at the 55 Degrees North complex, next to the Tyne Bridge...
in the same slot as his previous programme in December 2002. However on MW it failed to gain the same amount of listeners that the Century FM series had achieved, and Elliott was released from his contract in July 2003, whilst on holiday.
December 2003 saw Mike back on air on Sunderland's Sun FM
Sun FM
Sun FM is a radio station serving the City of Sunderland and also available in Tyne and Wear, northern parts of County Durham in England. It broadcasts on the frequency 103.4 MHz and plays a mix of contemporary and classic popular music alongside local news, travel and covered ground breaking...
.In January 2006 the show was rebranded North South Divided pitched the Northern stations of the Local Radio Company against their Southern counterparts. Broadcast over almost 30 stations, this was the first time listeners outside of the North East had a taste of “Mike The Mouth.”, alongside another male presenter, Alex Dyke (later replaced by Carol McGiffin
Carol McGiffin
Carol Deirdre McGiffin is an English broadcaster of radio and television, best known for her regular appearances on daytime talk show Loose Women. She married Chris Evans in 1991; the couple separated in 1994 and divorced in 1998....
). North South Divided ended on 5 July 2006.