As featured on BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ and BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme.
As the shipping forecast embarks on its second century, Charlie Connelly brings Attention All Shipping, his hilarious show celebrating its quirks and unique appeal, to Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre on 22 February.
Paying tribute to what Connelly regards as the greatest invention of the modern age, Attention All Shipping asks how a weather forecast for mariners captured the hearts of a nation, from salty old sea dog to insomniac landlubber, and how it’s possible for ‘rain later’ to be ‘good’. Not to mention - where the hell is North Utsire?
Image - Charlie Connelly, Banner
“I’m really excited about bringing Attention All Shipping to Bristol,” says Connelly. “The city’s remarkable maritime heritage makes the show a perfect fit.”
Inspired by Connelly’s bestselling book of the same name, which has sold more than a quarter-of-a-million copies, this pacy, moving and hilarious show takes you all the way from Viking to South-East Iceland to ensure the shipping forecast will never sound the same again.
“We’ll explore the history of the forecast,” he says, “unlock the secrets of those strange phrases and odd place names, find out how it’s put together and broadcast, explore some of the cultural phenomena inspired by the forecast and hear some of the best and funniest stories from my own travels around the shipping forecast map.”
Attention All Shipping has been selling out theatres up and down the country from Penzance to Shetland at venues by the sea and miles inland, leading to Charlie appearing on BBC1’s The One Show and the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
“The show is doing far better than I could ever have imagined,” he says. “One of the best aspects of touring Attention All Shipping is seeing first hand just how popular the shipping forecast is among such a wide range of people all over the country,” says Connelly. “I’ve met all sorts of folk with a shared love of the shipping forecast, from pop stars to rear admirals, crusty old sea dogs to landlocked insomniacs with not a sea leg between them.”
The forecast celebrated its centenary in 2024 and shows no sign of declining in popularity any time soon.
“It’s like a beating of the national bounds,” says Connelly, “living proof that we are a maritime nation and we all have a little bit of sea water in our veins.
“The shipping forecast is an unadulterated force for good. It represents the very best of us. That’s why I’m delighted and honoured to celebrate it with so many fellow devotees up and down the land.”
‘Attention All Shipping: A Celebration of the Shipping Forecast is at Bristol’s Redgrave Theatre on 22 February 2026. Tickets from https://redgravetheatre.com/ or by calling the box office on 0117 315 7800.
Image - Charlie Connelly, Portrait
What they said
“Charlie Connelly is one of the funniest people I have ever had the pleasure of sitting in a studio with…He has a natural wit that doesn’t get crushed by an over-zealous ego with a lovely personality attached to it.” Fi Glover, broadcaster
“Charlie is always warm, funny and engaging…I actually sent him a fan letter - and I've never done that to anyone in my life before.” Bernard Sumner, New Order
“I can thoroughly recommend an evening spent in the company of the very funny and very lovely Charlie Connelly whose knowledge of what I call ‘the ships’ is excellent. Sou’westers optional.” Corrie Corfield, BBC Radio 4
Notes For Editors:
- Charlie Connelly is a popular performer, bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster. His book Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast has sold more than a quarter-of-a-million copies. Three of his books have been BBC Radio 4 ‘Book of the Week’.
- Attention All Shipping was featured on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in January 2024 and on BBC1’s The One Show in December 2024.
- Charlie Connelly is available for interview. Contact charlie.connelly@gmail.com.
- Facebook: @charlieconnellyshipping Insta: @chasconnelly
- Website: www.shippingshow.co.uk
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