As the forecast marks its centenary this year, Attention All Shipping - inspired by Charlie’s book of the same name which has sold more than a quarter-of-a-million copies – offers a journey through the forecast’s beguiling vocabulary and its fascinating history as well as investigating the wider cultural impact of the forecast: its influence on poets, musicians and artists, while also featuring riproaring and hilarious stories from Charlie’s own journey through all 31 sea areas from Viking to South-East Iceland.
“I’m really excited about coming to Shetland,” he says. “I visited Lerwick on my journey around the shipping forecast map, as well as making it down to Fair Isle, and I absolutely loved the place. I can’t wait to come back.”
Attention All Shipping is proving popular up and down the country, selling out theatres from Penzance to Inverness, and Charlie admits to being surprised by the show’s success.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by how well Attention All Shipping has been doing,” says the bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster. “The shipping forecast has a remarkable following, not only among mariners but also people with no direct connection to the sea. Something about those lilting rhythms and mysterious phrases resonates with a wide cross-section of folk and my audiences have been a real mix of salty old sea dogs and committed landlubbers.”
While the show has proved popular even in locations a long way from the sea, Charlie feels there is something particularly special about performing at coastal and island locations.
“There can be few places in Europe as conscious of the power of the sea and its relationship with the weather than Shetland,” he says. “I’m finding on this tour that the shipping forecast has a special resonance for islanders in particular, communities that depend on the sea who are more aware than most of its dangers."
“For all we attach such a cultural cachet to the shipping forecast with its romance and lilting rhythms, it is important to remember that the forecast is there to save lives, to keep people safe.”
He will be paying particularly close attention to the shipping forecast ahead of his journey to Shetland.
“I’m coming by ferry, which I know can be a bit hairy at times” he says. “I’ve made sure to book my crossing a good couple of days ahead of the show to allow for any required recovery. On my shipping forecast travels I’ve survived the notorious ferry ride to the Norwegian island of Utsira, of North and South fame, and a wild and stormy crossing to an island off the southern coast of Iceland, but even so, I’m taking no chances.”
The shipping forecast centenary this year has seen Charlie appear on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and most recently BBC1’s The One Show.
“I’m proud to keep the flag flying for this extraordinary institution,” he says. “The shipping forecast has helped to save a phenomenal number of lives over the past 100 years - long may that continue."
