Category: Uncategorized

Since debuting in 2009, The Chase has become one of the most watched and divisive shows on television. Fans at home have disagreed and been outraged with some of the actions taken by contestants on the popular ITV series.

One past contestant who is well-aware of going viral due to their episode is Darragh Ennis, who was recently announced as the newest Chaser to join the line-up of quiz geniuses.

Ennis competed on The Chase back in 2017 against Paul Sinha, where he bagged an impressive £9,000 in the cash builder. However, a combination of his team taking low or minus offers led to this being drastically reduced to £6,300.

At the time, viewers rallied behind Ennis on Twitter with the #JusticeForDarragh movement.

Related: Beat the Chasers’ naughtiest quiz answer ever makes viewers blush

When asked by a fan on Twitter whether past contestants could be brought back for redemption, Ennis referred to the recent successful spin-off, Beat The Chasers. “If everyone points out to ITV how much they like Beat The Chasers, then there’s a perfect vehicle for this”.

He went on to add: “And they could win BIG money.”

Previously, The Chase series one contestant Sally Wilson, who was part of the first ever winning team, made an appearance on the spin-off, where she lost to all five Chasers.

The Chase airs weekdays on ITV.

Actor Spotlight is a feature in which the career of a singular actor is analysed. We discuss their life, career and the impact they had on their projects.

SPOTLIGHT #57 – NORMAN REEDUS (THE WALKING DEAD, The boondock saints)

Actor/model/television host Norman Reedus has starred as fan-favourite Daryl Dixon on AMC’s The Walking Dead since the first season in 2010. Originally a recurring character, Daryl’s popularity led to Reedus becoming a series regular from the second season.

What some people may not know is that neither Daryl or his brother Merle (Michael Rooker) were in the Walking Dead comics by Robert Kirkman, which the series is based on. While series developer Frank Darabont created Merle, Reedus unsuccessfully auditioned for that part and had a new role created specificially for him.

As one of the longest standing actors on the show, Reedus has worked with almost all of the other actors. Some of his notable scene partners across the 9+ years are Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Melissa McBride (Carol Peletier), Steven Yeun (Glenn Rhee), Danai Gurira (Michonne) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan).

More than most other cast members on the show, Reedus has grown as an actor with the character. Daryl heading into Season 10 is a much different person who we met in Season 1. The best part is that the evolution feels natural and satisfying for the audience.

As the character has become more likeable, I have grown to like Reedus more in his role, as Daryl’s development over nine seasons showcases his ability as an actor.

Besides The Walking Dead, Reedus has appeared in other projects during his near three decade career such as The Boondock Saints (1999) and its sequel (2009) in which he played hot-headed Murphy McManus opposite Sean Patrick Flanery’s Connor.

Reedus returns as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead‘s upcoming tenth season on AMC.

Note: I have the 12 books in four large books as three trilogies. As such, I am unable to pinpoint which book is which and will just say ‘early books’ or ‘late books’.

In The Saga of Darren Shan, we see the title character leave his human life behind and become a half-vampire quite early on. As we only get a fleeting glimpse into Darren’s human life, this is the end of the road for many characters in this portion of the story, due to their storyline having ended.

We all know what happened to Steve Leonard/Leonard, but what about the other family, friends and acquaintances in Darren’s life?

Below is the list of everyone that Darren left behind upon becoming Mr Crepsley’s assistant.

DERMOT & ANGELA SHAN – HIS PARENTS

In the short time we spend with this couple, we learn a few things about them. Dermot has large feet and multiple pen pals and Angela is a keen stamp collector.

They were obviously devestated by their son’s ‘death’ and eventually moved out of the family home where they had lived, a few years prior to Darren returning to it. Dermot also suffered a mild attack.

Although they do not appear after the early stories, expository dialogue from a neighbour named Bridget informs us of their ultimate fates.

Annie shan – his sister

Appearing as a young girl in the early books, Annie is one of the few people aware that Darren went to the Cirque du Freak and kept this secret from their parents. Likewise, she was aware of Madam Octa and how Steve actually got a poisoned bite.

Eight years after Darren’s ‘death’, Annie fell pregnant by Steve Leonard, Darren’s best friend who did not love her, simply being manipulative.

By her return appearance in the later books, she has a son – Darius – who was blooded by his father Steve as a half-vampaneze. Darren later re-bloods him as a half-vampire and they make the trek to Vampire Mountain.

TOMMY JONES – HIS FRIEND

Tommy Jones was the star goalkeeper of Darren’s school and one of his closest friends, alongside Steve Leonard and Alan Morris. Tommy primarily featured early on, competing for a ticket in order to attend the Cirque du Freak although he was unsuccessful.

Seemingly a minor, inconsequential character, Tommy made an appearance when Darren returned to his hometown in the later books, as a now famous goalkeeper returning for a football game.

Although he doesn’t tell him the full story, Tommy mentions some tidbits about Steve and Annie that help Darren later on.

He and Darren made plans to properly reunite, but this never came to pass, as he was murdered by Steve’s psychotic vampaneze henchmen R.V. and Morgan James.

ALAN MORRIS – His friend

Alan was the fourth member in Darren’s group of friends. He is responsible for setting the events of the series in motion, by bringing a flyer for the Cirque du Freak into school.

He later becomes a famous, leading scientist of the country where he lives (it is never specified) and helped create the first dragon. This is all mentioned through other characters’ dialogue.

MR DALTON – HIS TEACHER

Mr Dalton was Darren’s teacher and he served a very specific use during his time in the story. Remember, despite the sophisticated storytelling and plots, these books were technically for children and most probably would not know what a ‘freak show’ was.

Thus, it fell to Mr Dalton to explain to Darren, his classmates and indeed the audience about how cruel the shows really were and why one being active would be such a rare and unusual thing.

We also get an insight into his well-intentioned personality, as he tries to get the Cirque du Freak shut down, likely out of concern for the ‘freaks’ ‘ safety.

Years later, when Darren covertly observes his old school, he sees Mr Dalton still working there, as popular as ever.

Diclaimer: I am not any of the Blind Wave members nor am I affiliated with the channel in any way. Simply writing about content that I enjoy.

Blind Wave is a long-running YouTube channel with content that includes Reactions and Reviews to TV shows and Movies. They are also known for their lightsabre battles.

There are five members, going from left to right in the above picture: Eric, Shane, Rick, Calvin and Aaron. Prior to creating the channel, they had years of history with one another which translates into their content. You can tell these guys have known each other for a good while and genuinely get along.

My entry point was through their Flash reactions which are done by Eric and Aaron. More specifically, the fifth episode of season 5, when Iris West jumps off a building to save Barry.

I discovered their other reactions and videos – as well as the other three members – by simply browsing. Other shows they react to include Breaking Bad, Westworld, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things and This Is Us.

Considering I basically stumbled onto the Blind Wave channel by accident, I am very glad that I did.

The whole group is very interactive with their fanbase whether it’s their ‘Mailbag’ series, Twitch livestreams or just talking on social media. In my own case, I once sent a DM on Instagram saying how much I enjoyed the channel. They replied, but I have no clue which one of the five it was.

If you are only familiar with Blind Wave through YouTube, you can also check them out on other platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Twitch.

Thanks again, Blind Wave, for the great content you produce and the generosity you show towards all Wave Riders.

Some of the unbelievable support that Courageous Nerd has received in its infancy.

So incredibly grateful!

Writers’ Spotlight is a feature in which the career of writers in different fields are analysed. We discuss their life, career and the impact they had on their projects.

SPOTLIGHT #4 – DARREN SHAN (Saga of DARREN SHAN, DEMONATA, ZOM-B…)

I would like to preface this edition of Writers’ Spotlight with a few points. Firstly, unlike the other posts, this edition focuses on an author rather than a Screenwriter. This is because Darren Shan is one of my all-time favourite writers, since 2008 when I first discovered one his books. Or rather, three of them as the first trilogy in the Saga of Darren Shan was condensed into one big novel.

Furthermore, I became an even bigger fan of Darren’s when I discovered some of the interesting parallels in our personal lives:

1. We were both born in London during the month of July although in different years,
2. Possess strong Irish heritage; Darren’s real surname is O’Shaughnessy and mine is O’Brien.
3. Immigrated to the Green Isle around the same age — 6 and 7, respectively. Interestingly, Darren moved to Limerick, the ancestral home of my family.
4. Both the oldest of two boys who has the same first initial as each of us
5. Interest in writing, across different formats

Over the course of his prolific career, Darren’s imagination has created many different fantastical scenes and characters that allow readers to imagine or interpret them in their own way. Vivid imagery and first-person narrative in particular helped The Saga and The Demonata, in particular, come to life.

Considering Darren’s audience for these books were a YA (Young Adult) audience, the writing is still as smart and sophisticated as ‘adult’ books of the same genre though Darren does, in fact, write books for maturer readers under the name Darren Dash.

For me, my journey into the “Shandom” as Darren’s fanbase are known on Twitter, is intrinsically linked with two characters: the title character of the Saga who is named for Darren’s pseudonym and his unlikely mentor, the centuries old vampire Larten Crepsley. The strength and realism of these characters are what strapped me in for what has been an eleven year journey and counting. In the Saga alone, supporting characters such as Steve, Harkat, Vancha, Mr. Tall and Desmond Tiny also helped shape the world of these novels.

The relationship between Darren and Larten is one of, if not the outright strongest throughout the series. Their evolution from wary acquaintances to a true father-son bond is a genuinely beautiful development to see. Since the books were written in first-person, from Darren’s perspective, we saw his side primarily, Larten was later fleshed out in a prequel series – The Saga of Larten Crepsley, which was published between 2010 and 2012, comprising four books.

As alluded to earlier, the Saga is one of the reasons why I became interested in writing fiction though my preferred format is Screenwriting. The idea that one person could write all these different and interesting characters, with such contrasting perspectives and views was so fascinating to me. I started writing myself in 2009 – one year after reading the Saga for the first time. Coincidence? I think not!

As I suspect is the case for much of Darren’s audience, I transitioned to the darker Demonata books as I grew older. This series was unique for me in that it gave me my first ‘scare’, a rarity as anyone who knows me can tell you. I have sat through some of the scariest horror films without flinching.

In particular, I am referring to a brutal decapitation in the first book and the death of a beloved character in the sixth book. Anyone who has read the series should know what I am referring to, without spoiling it for those who have not.

The series also differed from the Saga. Indeed, it retained the first-person narrative that had been effectively employed but had three main protagonists: modern teen Grubitsch ‘Grubbs’ Grady, Kernel Fleck from the 1970s and Bec, a girl from ancient Ireland. Each was the narrator in alternate books so, for example, fans of Grubbs after the first book would have been surprised in the second when he does not appear, though some do return, although younger.

Overall, I would like to thank Darren for giving me and many others not only the opportunity to explore vivid and realistic worlds in our imaginations but also helping me and possibly others find their own passion for writing.

As a sidenote, I have had the pleasure of interacting with Darren on Twitter on a number of occasions on my personal account and he has always been lovely, answering some questions I have had about his novels. Truly, a gent.

That’ll do it for this Writers’ Spotlight. Make sure to look out for #5!