Ten Mancs: Terry Christian

Eighteen years have past since Terry and I did our first shoot. This time we met up for coffee, a chat and a shoot in his local watering hole, the Bubble Room in Bramhall.

TERRY CHRISTIAN is a Mancunian with Irish parents. He is best known as a controversial journalist and TV and Radio presenter who often gets in trouble for ‘not mincing his words.’

When Terry’s parents married in 1947 they moved into a rented upstairs in a house in Old Trafford where Terry, his two brothers and two sisters were born (his youngest sister was born in hospital).

During Terry’s childhood, the money was short but there are fond memories of treats such as the family holidays at Pontins in Blackpool and of times in Ireland visiting his Father’s relatives.

The things Terry enjoyed most at Primary School were playing football and collecting Batman cards and, in terms of work, writing stories – once he grasped the concept of reading! Later on, at Thames Polytechnic, Terry studied applied biology, set himself a low standard, failed to maintain it, got  kicked out and ended up on the dole in 1980/81. His break came when, as a politically aware teenager, he was chosen to be one of 100 youngsters from inner-city Manchester taking part in a discussion show by World in Action. As we all know Terry can talk, which he did, came across well and was offered a job at BBC Radio. The rest is history.

I asked Terry how important ‘The Word’ was for his career.

“To be honest it had a negative effect on my career. I went to the show with clear ideas and eight years of experience presenting Radio Shows. The press portrayed me as a scally from Manchester and the production company hung me out to dry!”

Terry explains that the most important part of his career has been when he has had a say and been able to make a difference.

At the moment he is a regular columnist for The Sunday People, continues to work on his stand-up comedy Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic and is writing his next one, Rebel without Applause while still appearing on Channel 5 and Radio 4.

He adds, “To be fair I never had a career, just a series of jobs but I have enjoyed the freedom of that.”

And my last question? How do you describe a Manc?

“We are friendly but sort of hard-boiled and we often call a spade a shovel!”

Photo by Karin Albinsson