Artist, author and TV personality Timmy Mallett set to appear at Gladstone Library

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TV personality, author, artist and long-distance cyclist Timmy Mallett comes to Gladstone Library in Hawarden.

The Wacaday presenter, who also appeared on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, will speak at the library on Saturday, February 26.

He will talk about his book, Utterly Brilliant!: My Life’s Journey, which charts his 3,000 mile solo cycling odyssey. In 2018 he cycled alone from his home across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain and back.

Timmy said: “I was inspired by my brother Martin, who had Down syndrome and with his language and learning difficulties I always lived here and now, I always loved it.

“We were going for a bike ride together and I have a great shot of him focusing on the ride itself, rather than thinking about the next hill. He understood the “now” of life, and that’s what I wanted to capture.

“My mission was to cross the continent by bike alone without prior reservation of accommodation, painting the landscapes and the people I meet. It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.

During the grueling trek, he struggled with treacherous weather, as the ‘Beast from the East’ descended, bringing freezing cold and high winds.

Despite these challenges, he produced a series of paintings based on the landscapes he encountered along the way.

Timmy said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Gladstone Library. He has a special place in my heart for my family and I look forward to sharing the adventure, talking about my TV and chart-topping career and my love of art and history.

He added: “There will be cycling, art, history, the Mallet by Wacaday Mallett and Itsy Bitsy. There should be something for everyone to come and enjoy.

Library director Peter Francis said: “Timmy Mallett’s ties to the library go back many years – his father was trained as a clergyman here in the 1960s.

“Since knocking on the library’s door over 20 years ago, Timmy has been a wonderful ambassador and enthusiast for the library and has become a good friend.

“I think we’ll probably get through this without him singing his 1990 number 1 hit ‘Itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini’, but what you might not know is that Timmy is an accomplished artist, his photos will illustrate his cycling trip from Cookham to Santiago de Compostela and back, which is the subject of his recent memoir.

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