A few weeks ago, I sat down and had a conversation with Liane Drake/Lee Ward, a former member of the dance group Pan’s People, about her recently published memoir.
The memoir – and the conversation – explores some pretty heavy topics (including addiction, sexual assault, domestic abuse, childhood trauma, cruelty and bereavement), but all within the context of Lee’s successful recovery from the life she found herself stuck in as a young woman.
A gifted and acclaimed dancer who performed all over the world, Lee Ward sadly fell into some of the darker narratives behind the glamour of the spotlight, though she was able to re-find, re-centre and re-make her own life into something she could be proud of, happy with and joyful about. It’s a conversation (and a memoir) about hope, about over-coming adversity and about escaping from what we feel are our own destinies.
Personally, I found the conversation quite moving and also, in places, a little too familiar to some of my own less pleasant historical experiences. Lee’s message of perseverance, of taking charge of ones own inner narratives and building a better life after gaining a solid foundation has a lot of resonance, probably for many of you!
Watch/listen to the interview on YouTube or Spotify below. Details about the book follow.
Synopsis (from the Publisher):
From the windswept corridors of a Yorkshire manor to the dazzling stages of Monaco and the BBC, Lee Ward’s journey is one of triumph, trauma, and tenacity. As a gifted dancer rising through the ranks to join the iconic Pan’s People, Lee’s life looked like a dream – until the spotlight faded to reveal a far more complex reality. Battling abuse, addiction, betrayal, and heartbreak, she navigates the darkest corners of the entertainment world and her own soul, searching for love, identity, and healing.
Told with unflinching honesty and raw vulnerability, this gripping memoir peels back the sequined curtain to reveal the true cost of fame and the power of resilience. From childhood isolation and a tumultuous marriage, to fame, international stardom, and a harrowing descent into substance dependence, Lee’s story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring.
Pan’s People: The Lee Ward Story is not just an autobiography – it’s a testimony of survival, a voice for those silenced, and a celebration of the strength it takes to reclaim your life.
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scott manley hadley aka SOLID BALD live
Here’s a video of me recently performing at the prestigious (it has a Wikipedia page) comedy night, Quantum Leopard. Listen to how much fun the crowd is having. You could have that much fun, too!
Forthcoming gigs include the following – there may/will be others:
9th April 2026, 7pm: Sunset Comedy, Chalk Farm
27th June 2026: Twinkles Cabaret, London
9th August – 14th August: BALD PERSONALITY DISORDER at The Street, Edinburgh, part of PBH’s Free Fringe
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