'3 IN A BED' - Channel 4 - Wednesday April 28th  & August 15th 2010

I cannot even begin to tell you what an amazing outcome we have had since appearing in the Channel 4's - '3 IN A  BED'  programme last April 28th 2and again August 15th 2010.  The outpouring of love, admiration, friendship, respect and honour sent to us through e mails, phone calls and people stopping us in local shops and bars having recognised us - has been awesome.  I have felt truly mooved and humbled.

The programme has put us on the map at last. We were already well known in the gay circles but we are now offered a level of respect from the straight community that had no idea we were here.  We have been the most talked about gay mens hotel in the UKfor a long time - some love us and a few hate us - but we are now accepted in a very different light as a venue that is trying to offer something right - something for all the right reasons.

I have watched the original programme 5 or 6 times now, and the newer longer version a couple of times, not to see me,   but to see it through different perspectives... What and how the 76 year old Granny who wrote asking if she could adopt me - might make of it and why.  What the guys in the gay bar in Spain - booing at Andrew and cheering me,  made of it and why - What they thought of a gay man on the telly standing up to the bigot and speaking his mind ?   What the women and her 3 children thought as they watched and phoned almost before the programme was over to congratulate us on our standing up to Andrew - and so on... and this has been a great learning curve for me.

You see - I like me in the programme. I am not often that calm and things were  a little more heated between Andrew and myself and cleverly and professionally edited.  The absolute truth prevails - just some of the woffle that he kept blabbing and my annoyance with this has been removed, and I like me - and watch and learn that this is who I can be - this is who I am - although there are times when even I get in my own way and this programme has been a huge lesson for me in this manner.  I am truly thankful to Studio Lambert for this.

Even in early August - 3 months  after the original programme went out, I was recognised in Aldi  by a women who congratulated me - saying that the 'other guy was a tosser' ( her words ) and that I handled him brilliantly,  and I always laugh and say it was well edited... and my 15 minutes of fame lingers on....  and I'm having such a giggle with it... ego - NAH ! - I'm like a big kid having a laugh and sharing it with my friends...'I'm a TV star you know...'  over and over... makes them mad... and we laugh...

We approached the gay media wondering if they'd do an article... no interest at all... so fuck 'em.   When 95% of our business comes through the internet and the gay media gagging for advertising revenue and they still offer an arrogant asinine service to their advertisers,  just as they have done when we needed them as there ws nowhere else,   it is no wonder their revenue from advertising is so down and they are gagging for our business.  The gay media does not have a very good reputation with their advertisers for bad service, dreadful attitude and arrogance.   

I also owe a huge gratitude to Kristian who worked tirelesly to get Ham Hall all lovely and spotless for the filming,  as he always does,  and despite what one asshole in the film claimed,  the place is highly maintained and very well cleaned ( just remember that when watching the programme ) and Kristian  wasn't even able to join me at the other venues as we couldn't find the key to his ball and chain attaching him to Ham Hall,  and the Director had asked if we minded sharing a bed at the first venue as it didn't have room for a seperate room each.  It was Kristian who pointed out that they would hardly expect me to share with a female member of staff - and he was right. Who knows what they would have made that look like - Morcombe and Wise sitting up in bed together in our jim jams giggling like two camp old queens ( what do you mean - old ? )

Kristian is the best manager I have ever had here and his ideas and input are continuous and he really is Heaven sent.  Ham Hall is a lot of work physically  and  emotionally  and he is brilliant i  many ways.

Through Kristian,  a local florist had filled the venue with lovely flowers - all free of charge - and  CHERISH another local shop,  gave wonderful baskets filled with candles, joss sticks etc. all beautifully wrapped with cellophane etc. for each of the participants and even one each for the film crew... and it was delightful.  Thanks everyone

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Some of the e mails received from the public:

 Hi John, I'm working through all those pre-recorded TV programmes on a lazy bank holiday and came across your episode of 3 in a bed. Just wanted to say I think you're absolutely marvelous in what you have set out to do. For me the programme conveyed your dedication not only to disect the stereotypes of gay and spiritual endevour, but to share the greatest message of all - liberation. The world needs more people like you :-) Much love Mark

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 your e mails about the programme

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