MIKE ON THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
Mike celebrates Beach Boy Mike Love’s Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with feature article in The Beach Boys Official Newsletter, June 3, 2025.
NEW ROGER MOORE DOCU
Michael featured alongside Christopher Walken, Joan Collins, Pierce Brosnan, the 007 Bond movies producers and Roger’s family members in a unique family archive documentary film directed by Jack Cocker for BBC Television. Premiered in cinemas December 2024 and broadcast on BBC2 Christmas night 2024. The documentary is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer and is being distributed throughout the world by Freemantle Entertainment.
SEAN CONNERY DOCU
Michael featured alongside Andy Garcia, Michael Caine, Nicolas Cage and John Boorman in Gregory Monro’s film documentary “Sean Connery vs James Bond” broadcast on ARTE throughout Europe in 2022. The film subsequently streamed on MUBI.
RICHARD HARRIS DOCU
Michael featured alongside Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall and a host of film luminaries in Brian Reddin’s documentary film on the life of Richard Harris which premiered 2020 on TG4 Ireland.
ROBERT REDFORD DOCU
Michael featured in Pierre-Henry Salfati’s celebrated documentary film, Robert Redford: The Golden Look, which premiered on ARTE TV Europe in 2019.
SHOESTRING IS BACK
Newly released from BBC is the complete series edition of Shoestring, the record-breaking private eye series, set in Bristol. Mike was the Story Editor on the early episodes. In the new book written by Andrew Pixley which accompanies the DVD, Mike discusses the details of the creation of Eddie Shoestring.
MIKE AT THE IFI
Mike hosted Victoria Price’s Vincent Price Legacy lecture at the Irish Film Institute, introducing a screening of Vincent’s personal favourite Corman/Poe movie, The Tomb of Ligeia .
MIKE READS YEATS
Mike participated in the Heritage Yeats event, Mr Yeats Visits Killala, at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Killala, Co Mayo, reading Yeats’ work in an evening of storytelling, poetry and music.
THE PROFESSIONALS: REMASTERED
Currently on release on DVD and Blu-Ray is Season 2 of the international hit series, The Professionals , remastered with surround sound. The accompanying booklet contains a new interview with Mike and other writers of the series.
MIKE ON CINEASTE SYMPOSIUM
Mike contributed to Cineaste magazine’s Art and Craft of Film Biography: A Critical Symposium, alongside Cari Beauchamp, Kevin Brownlow, Marc Eliot and others. To access a copy of this detailed analysis of the biographer’s craft, VISIT CINEASTE for subscription information.
MIKE’S MOVIES
Check out a clip from Mike’s film, The Beach Boys Today , celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary. Excerpts from the film will feature exclusively on the new definitive documentary on the Beach Boys, directed by Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny, streaming on Disney+ worldwide from May 24th 2024.
Check out the promotional film Declare Your Independence , written and directed by Mike for BOBCOM.
Check out Mike’s film of John Lennon’s original band, The Quarrymen,
playing live at The Cavern, Liverpool. Produced & directed by
Michael Feeney Callan. VIEW VIDEO HERE.
MIKE’S INTERVIEWS
Mike on the Beatles: Exclusive interview by Michael Feeney Callan with Pete Best, The Beatles’ first drummer. VIEW INTERVIEW HERE.
BOOK NEWS
WITH A LOVE LIKE THAT – THE BEATLES AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVED THEM: Mike is currently working on a book about The Beatles’ muses, for publication by Hachette US shortly.
THE WOMAN & THE RABBIT: Reviewer Ben Quinn’s verdict on Mike’s novel in the Irish Independent: “Will Self on speed.” Book available in paperback and eBook formats. Available at AMAZON.
HARRIS REVISED: Mike’s biography of actor Richard Harris has been reissued in a new, updated version, reviewed by Kirkus as “meticulous.” In paperback and eBooks. Available at AMAZON.
HOPKINS IN RUSSIAN: A new edition of Mike’s biography of Sir Anthony Hopkins is now available in Russian language from Ripol Classics, Moscow.
HOPKINS IN LARGE PRINT: A large print version of Mike’s Antony Hopkins biography, published by ReadHowYouWant Books, is now available online and via AMAZON.
ACCLAIM FOR REDFORD BIOGRAPHY: Mike’s Robert Redford: the Biography, chosen by the Sunday Times and Entertainment Weekly as a Best Books of the Year selection, continues its many translations. Available at AMAZON.CO.UK and AMAZON.COM.
REDFORD AUDIO BOOK: The 14-disc Random House audio version of the unabridged Robert Redford: The Biography read by Mark Deakins (Star Trek: Voyager ; Buffy the Vampire Slayer ) is available in stores and via AMAZON.
RADIO & TELEVISION
Hear Mike on the RTE arts show Arena , discussing his second poetry collection, An Argument for Sin . LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW.
PRINT FEATURES
SUNDAY TIMES: Jeff Dawson of the Sunday Times interviews Mike about Robert Redford. See JEFF DAWSON BLOG for full article.
VANITY FAIR: Mike’s feature in Vanity Fair, revealing the truth behind the making of All The President’s Men . SEE VANITY FAIR.
DIRECTING & PRODUCING
Mike recently wrote and produced the Channel 4 television series Sounds from the Cities , featuring K T Tunstall, Imelda May, Gruff Rhys and a number of emerging young artists.
As an incentive for emerging talent, Mike directed the Magical History Tour , a homage to the Beatles which included interviews with Pete Best and the Quarrymen and Cavern Club performances by talent from LIPA, the esteemed Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Following this Mike produced and directed the pilot episodes of LIPA’s The 2UBE , a student-centered series live from the Institute.