Welcome to the festive talk show studio, Poetry Lovers!
(Ecstatic applause – security on standby) 
Now, settle down, we don’t want to scare our special guest off, do we? Although our esteemed guest poet is pretty fearless! It’s Nick Goodall!!
(Standing ovation as our glamorous guest glides down the lit stairway)
Welcome to the show, Nick. Absolutely honoured to have you as our guest
(Audience cheer)
LOVE those shoes!
Do fill us in on your background
I was born into humble stock, over-achieved what was expected of me, then threw it all away and came to sit by the sea a little over a decade ago.
You must have known when the time was right. That proved a good move.
When did poetry become a part of your life?
As a child I liked Spike Milligan. And Gerard Manley Hopkins.
I made a deliberate decision at the beginning of 2022 to write and, critically, to get paid to perform poetry, but not to be published or win competitions.
Prior to that, I had written perhaps half a dozen poems. I also set about getting an ‘O’ level in dementia studies, I think. And visiting Azerbaijan.
Oh! I grew up on Standing Room Only by Spike. He pushed such boundaries.
Who are your biggest influences?
I don’t read much poetry, and am not sure I have any, but as my style evolves and matures, I’m sure others might infer some subliminal influences. There are poets I admire, but I do not write like them.
No, you have your own distinctive style.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I have twenty or so poems in various states of completion, and I try to ‘publish’ (Facebook and ‘live’ only) a first draft of a poem every other day.
I’ve only managed one every three or four days this year. They tend to come in litters of a dozen or so.
You’re very prolific, Nick. It’s admirable how many poems you write. So …
(sweeps everything off the desk. Audience gasp)
What’s the best gig you’ve ever done, and the worst?!
Any gig where someone takes the time to say the magic words ‘I loved that phrase’ or similar.
The worst? Never had one. Its a privilege to perform. If it doesn’t land well, that’s down to me.
Mind you, there was the time at the Blues Festival, when the punters were actually in my face, but you’ll have to go to YouTube for that…
Ha ha! I’m jumping on there now!
I’d like to share the great event you have coming up at Broadstairs on 29th December.
A fantastic line up of poets in The Chapel, a stunning bar and bookshop with lovely staff. In such a beautiful town.
I’m looking forward to it. Get there if you can, Poetry Lovers.
Thank you so much for coming on the show, Nick. You’ve been a wonderful guest.
I’m afraid Dobby’s a bit displeased because you have a photo there of you with a dog!
Perhaps you’d like to go out the back way!
Nonsense! I can take on a cat! I’ll leave the way I came in!
Didn’t I say Nick was fearless, PL’s?! A big hand for our lovely poet Nick Goodall
(rapturous applause and standing ovation as our guest ascends the lit stairs)
(cries of “mind the shoes, you little cow! follow quickly)
Wasn’t Nick a fascinating (and brave) guest?! Click on this link to find out more about this wonderful poet
http://thebardofbroadstairs.com
And do get along to Broadstairs on the 29th if you can. I’m honoured to be one of Nick’s guest readers in Poets on Parade.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Happy Christmas to you all. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….
Heather Moulson 
Whose face is it on the cover of Woman magazine? And what connects her with Nick Goodall? Could it be you, Heather, when you were younger? Connaire
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