Diary

9 August 2008

Clemency Burton-Hill's diary

Back from Rome, it’s to Pinewood Studios, where I’m voicing an animated film called A Fox’s Tale. It’s got a fantastic cast — Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter and Sienna Miller are attached — but the curious thing about this process is that you sit in a studio, alone but for the director and engineers, dubbing your part in complete isolation. But the story is charming, and it’s a treat to be doing a film that my young nieces can enjoy. With that almost in the can, I’m expected over in Swindon, where my publishers are throwing a barbeque with WH Smith Retail. I’m here to meet the people who make the decisions to stock the books we see in the shops — in my case, hopefully, my first novel, The Other Side of the Stars. This is all new to me, and exciting. I’ve never met anyone who works in that side of publishing before, and their insights about the nation’s reading habits as we munch burgers and chicken wings are fascinating.

Speaking of exciting: the Royal Albert Hall during Proms season has to be one of the most thrilling places on earth. I’ve spent so many hours here as a Prommer that it’s something of a dream to be part of it. It’s Roger Wright’s first summer as director, and the buzz backstage is palpable. I’m second presenter on a clutch of BBC4’s broadcasts, which means I get to interview some of the world’s greatest performers, including members of the West-Eastern Divan orchestra, who are returning to the Proms with their founder-conductor, Daniel Barenboim. Since 2004 I have been regularly to Israel and the Occupied Territories with another bridge-building musical outfit, the Choir of London, and am increasingly convinced that although music will not solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is one of the most effective ways of creating dialogue and understanding between people on both sides. In a happy coincidence, the young Palestinian beneficiaries of our new bursary scheme are in town performing at the Wigmore Hall on 15 August, so they too will meet Barenboim and his visionary orchestra; and hopefully will be inspired to keep on with their music, a potential ticket out of the hell that is the West Bank.

On a coffee break snatched in sunshine by the Albert Memorial, I get a phone call. It’s the Wedding Shop. I’m due for a dress fitting, remember? Ah, yes. I’m getting married in a matter of weeks, but life’s been so hectic recently it’s easy to forget how imminent is the date. I call my fiancé, James, to see if he’s managed to book our DJ and photographer (let alone our honeymoon), but he, like me, is run off his feet. He works at Downing Street, where apparently there’s quite a lot going on right now. Whoever said August was about silly season and recess and bank holidays? Chance would be a fine thing.