Nothing screams self indulgent more than a bit of self promotion and thanks to the iconic writer and broadcaster Sarah Greene, this week’s offering is just that! On Saturday 3rd May 2025 I shall be preparing to launch my latest book Beyond The Title: The Pop Culture Handbook at the Indie Authors Book Festival at the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon. Therefore Sarah kindly agreed to turn the tables on me and interview me about everything from the writing process to the powerful themes within the book.
Profiling and celebrating over forty of Britain’s most significant and influential cultural figures, this jam packed entertainment celebration tells a collective story of pop culture’s close relationship to the evolving political and social landscape. Beyond The Title is an entertainment podcast established by writer and journalist Josh Barry in the autumn of 2016. Born with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy which results in his body being prone to unwanted movement, Josh writes purely with his nose on a touchpad. With the help from a team of PAs, Josh and Beyond The Title have slowly developed a growing reputation for incisive and revealing interviews with some of entertainment’s best loved faces. In this book, Josh shares the challenges of creating content during lockdown and how the pandemic may have altered the narrative of the ongoing story of popular culture.
From Dame Joan Bakewell to Danny Wallace, via Jo Whiley and Johnny Ball, as a collective, Beyond The Title: The Pop Culture Handbook aims to shine a light on the overarching narrative of postwar mass entertainment and examines the sociopolitical influences on contemporary popular culture. With a detailed analysis of where entertainment sits in the psyche of the nation, this is a must read for any telly addict or anyone with a soaring passion for the arts. Prepare to revel in stars, fashion and music as Josh transports you back to a time when entertainment was as potent as the colour of your slinky!
Myself and Sarah originally crossed paths when I was embarking upon a series of episodes to mark a decade since the closure of BBC Television Centre and our mutual passion has encouraged us to keep in touch. I was especially touched and honoured when she accepted my optimistic request for her to provide the foreword for this new book and it’s unbelievable to have this special seal of approval. In many ways, I believe that her foreword legitimises the whole book and I couldn’t be more grateful!
For obvious reasons, this article is slightly shorter than my usual accompanying pieces through fear of giving away too much information which may defeat the purpose of you buying a copy and therefore in this case, less is definitely more! To order your copy, please click the shop button on the top right corner which will take you to the new BTT shop where my whole repertoire is available for purchase. Thanks again for your support and may the dulcet tones of the iconic Sarah Greene encourage you to buy a copy!
Beyond The Title