Alex James (musician)

{{main|Blur (band)}}

File:Provinssirock 20130614 - Blur - 01.jpg in 2013]]

James was born in Boscombe, Bournemouth, and attended the state grammar school Bournemouth School, where he started playing in bands. He credits the Beatles with inspiring him to pursue music: "I was off school with chickenpox when John Lennon was shot in 1980. I spent the week watching a VHS recording of the Beatles film Help!, which was broadcast on TV the day he died. I still watch it once a year. Then I bought a Beatles songbook and a guitar, figured out the chord shapes and started strumming and singing along. I never looked back."{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/alex-james-blur-and-oasis-owe-a-lot-to-the-beatles/ar-AADrXeF |title=Alex James: Blur and Oasis owe a lot to The Beatles |publisher=MSN |date=26 June 2019 |access-date=6 May 2020}}

In 1988, James met future bandmate Graham Coxon at Goldsmiths College, where James studied French. Introductions with Coxon's old school friend Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree soon took place; at the time Albarn and Rowntree were part of a band called Circus.

In 1989, James joined Coxon, Albarn and Rowntree's new band, Seymour, which would later be renamed Blur. He has been in the band ever since, although in 2008 he described the days of being a constant band member as "a past-life".{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/7200749.stm|title=Cocaine: Alex James in Colombia|publisher=BBC News|date=28 January 2008|location=London|access-date=16 July 2014}}

Almost immediately after this, Blur got together with returning bandmate Graham Coxon to perform at Glastonbury Festival, Hyde Park, Oxegen and T in the Park during the summer of 2009. They also played shows at Goldsmiths College, Essex Museum and other venues around the UK and mainland Europe. Blur headlined a show at Hyde Park for the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. In 2013, the band performed at the Rock Werchter in Belgium,"[https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/01/rock-werchter-2013-lineup-blur-depeche-mode-phoenix-rammstein-and-more/ Rock Werchter 2013 lineup: Blur, Depeche Mode, Phoenix, Rammstein, and more]". Consequence of Sound. 29 January 2013. Retrieved on 16 February 2019. the Spanish and Portuguese dates of the Primavera Sound festival,"[https://pitchfork.com/news/48128-blur-confirmed-for-primavera-2013/ Blur Confirmed for Primavera Sound 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012061454/https://pitchfork.com/news/48128-blur-confirmed-for-primavera-2013/ |date=12 October 2012 }}". Pitchfork. 8 October 2012. Retrieved on 22 October 2012. and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the United States."[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/25/coachella-2013-blur-headline?INTCMP=SRCH Coachella 2013: Blur, Phoenix and Red Hot Chili Peppers to headline]". The Guardian. 25 January 2013. Retrieved on 7 February 2013.

File:Blur Newcastle 2009 Albarn James.jpg

Unlike Albarn, Coxon and Rowntree, James has not released any solo material, although he has been involved in other collaborative side projects. In 1998, James formed Fat Les with actor Keith Allen and artist Damien Hirst, releasing the unofficial theme song (excluding three others) "Vindaloo" for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. He also worked on side project Me Me Me with Stephen Duffy, co-wrote songs for Marianne Faithfull (appearing in drag playing a double bass in the music video for her single "Sex With Strangers") and Jane McDonald, and worked with Florence and the Machine and Gene Loves Jezebel.

James worked with Sophie Ellis-Bextor on her solo debut Read My Lips, co-writing and co-producing "Move This Mountain", and co-producing "I Believe" with Ellis-Bextor and producer Ben Hillier. He also played bass on both tracks. Ellis-Bextor's 2003 album, Shoot from the Hip also featured James as bass player and co-writer on the track "Love Is It Love". He also joined his friend and singer-songwriter Betty Boo in a band called WigWam in 2005. In 2009, James appeared as bass player on debut Bad Lieutenant record Never Cry Another Tear. The band consists of New Order lead singer Bernard Sumner and guitarist Phil Cunningham, along with Jake Evans of Rambo And Leroy. In 2013, James co-wrote the song "Did I Lose You?", performed by Giorgia and Olly Murs.

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Alex James is a food writer for The Sun and has a weekly column, 'Alex James on All Things Food'; as well as a regular column on farm and family life in The Sunday Telegraph titled 'Mucking In'.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9109104/Mucking-in-farm-and-family-life.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Alex | last=James | title=Mucking in: farm and family life | date=27 February 2012}} He also writes a monthly column on cheese for Esquire Magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.co.uk/2011/06/essential-life-skills-no-237-how-to-pair-whisky-and-cheese/ |title=Essential life skills No 237 – How to pair whisky and cheese |work=Esquire |date=9 June 2011 |access-date=16 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509230121/http://www.esquire.co.uk/2011/06/essential-life-skills-no-237-how-to-pair-whisky-and-cheese/ |archive-date=9 May 2012 }}

Alex contributes to a number of other British newspapers including The Independent,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/alex-james/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501175801/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/alex-james/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 May 2008 |title=Alex James |work=The Independent |access-date=14 July 2011 |location=London}} The Observer,{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/alexjames | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Alex | last=James | date=4 February 2008 | title=Alex James profile}} The Times,{{cite news| url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6988355.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Alex James on reuniting with Blur | date=16 January 2010 | access-date=23 April 2010 | first=Philippe | last=Naughton}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and The Sunday Times,{{cite news| url=http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/interiors/article6976419.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Beyond Soho House what Nick Jones did next | date=10 January 2010 | access-date=23 April 2010 | first=Alex | last=James}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} as well as Q magazine, The Spectator and The Idler. An autobiography of James's experience with Blur, Bit of a Blur, was published in June 2007 by Little, Brown & Company. It has since been described as "the definitive guide to Britpop".{{cite news|author=Caspar LLewellyn Smith |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/jun/03/blur.music |title=Review: Bit of a Blur by Alex James |work=The Observer |date= 3 June 2007|access-date=16 February 2011 |location=London}} James published a follow-up entitled All Cheeses Great and Small: A Life Less Blurry in September 2011, charting his transformation from rock star to cheesemaker as he moves to a farm in Oxfordshire.{{cite news|author=Tom Lamont |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/09/all-cheeses-great-alex-james-review |title=All Cheeses Great and Small: A Life Less Blurry by Alex James – review |work=The Observer |date=9 March 2012|access-date=16 February 2019}}

In 2001, James and Graham Coxon appeared in the Channel 4 Pixies documentary "Gouge". James represented The Idler on BBC Two's University Challenge: The Professionals in 2005 with John Moore of Black Box Recorder. They secured a heavy win over the Financial Times in their heat, but did not score highly enough to return for the tournament's later stages. In 2007, James was a judge on the Channel 4 show Orange unsignedAct and, in November 2007, appeared as a panellist on the BBC One satirical news quiz, Have I Got News for You. He also appeared in episode #3.4 of Gordon Ramsay's The F Wordurl = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1077616/ TV series as a participant in the Recipe Challenge which occurs in each episode. In August 2008, James appeared in reality TV series, Maestro on BBC Two.{{cite press release|title=Eight passionate amateurs bid to become BBC Two's Maestro|publisher=BBC|date=23 May 2008|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/05_may/23/maestro.shtml|access-date=24 May 2008}} He was voted out in the fourth episode of the series.

In September 2008, a documentary television series, Cocaine Diaries: Alex James in Colombia, premiered on BBC America, in conjunction with the BBC America Reveals program. As the documentary progresses, James – who admits to having used cocaine extensively during Blur's Britpop heyday – learns about Colombia's violent drug export trade.{{cite news |last1=Hassall |first1=Greg |title=Alex James: The Cocaine Diaries, Saturday, 17 March |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/alex-james-the-cocaine-diaries-saturday-march-17-20120309-1uodu.html |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 March 2012 |language=en}} In October 2009, James presented an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and, in January 2010, he participated in the ITV1 reality television programme Popstar to Operastar. On 4 March 2012, James appeared on Top Gear as a guest for their 'star in a reasonably priced car' segment, clocking in at 1:45.2.{{cite web |title=Episode #18.6 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2287267/ |publisher=IMDb |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=16 February 2019}}

On 3 December 2011, he appeared on The Chase with Sara Cox, Ann Widdecombe and Eamonn Holmes against chaser Anne Hegerty, but he was caught by the chaser. On 16 March 2012, James appeared on The Bank Job and made the final, where he was beaten by Rachel Riley. He is also the first Bank Job contestant to find two "bankrupts" in a single game. James has been a participant in BBC One programme 10 Things You Need to Know About Losing Weight.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ksh7c |title=10 Things You Need to Know About Losing Weight |publisher=BBC One |date=6 January 2011 |access-date=16 July 2014}} On 26 December 2014, he appeared as one of the celebrity homeowners on Through the Keyhole with Keith Lemon.{{cite web |title=Episode #2.8 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4325006/ |publisher=IMDb |date=26 December 2014 |access-date=16 February 2019}} In August 2015, he won the Channel 4 programme [Celebrity Fifteen to One].{{cite web |title=Celebrity Fifteen to One – S2 – Episode 1 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/dqnm7b/celebrity-fifteen-to-one--series-2-episode-1/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=16 February 2019 |language=en |archive-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153144/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/dqnm7b/celebrity-fifteen-to-one--series-2-episode-1/ |url-status=dead }}

A 2016 documentary titled Alex James: Slowing Down Fast Fashion examined the fashion industry and how "consumers' seemingly unquenchable thirst for cheap clothing is having a huge effect on the environment and workers, both at home here in the UK and abroad".{{cite web|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/alex-james-slowing-down-fast-fashion-amazon-prime|title=Alex James' new documentary, Slowing Down Fast Fashion, has just hit Amazon Prime|last=Carvell|first=Nick|website=British GQ|access-date=24 June 2019}}

In 2007, James presented the BBC Radio 4 programme On Your Farm.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Catriona |title=Blur guitarist finds a new voice on the farm |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1536545/Blur-guitarist-finds-a-new-voice-on-the-farm.html |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=11 December 2006}} He presents Alex James's Date Night on Classic FM every Saturday at 7-10pm.{{cite web|url=http://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows/alex-jamess-magical-music-tour|title=Alex James's Magical Musical Tour|work=Classic FM|year=2014|access-date=16 July 2014}}

James presented The A-Z of Classic FM Music.{{cite news |last1=Plunkett |first1=John |title=Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Alex James join revamped Classic FM line-up |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/13/gcapmedia.commercialradio |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=13 February 2008}} The show was named Commercial Radio Programme of the Year at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards on 5 June 2009.{{cite news |title=Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards: Full list of winners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jun/08/arqiva-radio-award-winners |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=8 June 2009}} He has also contributed to the show's accompanying memorabilia, writing the foreword to both the book and CD box set, published by Reader's Digest in 2010.{{cite web |title=Alex James' classical saviour |url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Alex-James-classical-saviour/6892/ |website=Skiddle.com |access-date=16 February 2019}}

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After his career with Blur, James moved into cheese production. He purchased a farmhouse in the Cotswolds and renovated it into a cheese farm. His 200-acre cheese farm in Kingham, Oxfordshire, now produces cheeses including Good Queen Maude, Blue Monday (named after his favourite New Order song) and Goddess.{{cite web|url=http://alexjamespresents.co.uk|title=Alex James Presents|work=alexjamespresents.co.uk|year=2012|access-date=16 July 2014}} James made two cheeses with New Zealand cheese expert Juliet Harbutt: Little Wallop (2007) and Farleigh Wallop (2009);{{cite book |date=2009 |last=Jarvis |first=Kate |title=Cotswolds |publisher=Crimson |location=Richmond, UK |page=215 |isbn= 9781854584632}} the latter won the Best Goat's Cheese award at the 2009 British Cheese Awards.{{cite web |url= https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a131716/james-names-cheese-after-new-order-track/ |title=James names cheese after New Order track |author=Simon Reynolds |publisher= Digital Spy |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=2023-12-09}}

In 2011, James launched a range of everyday cheeses through at Asda.{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Rosie|url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/alex-james-launches-cheese-range-with-asda/3029362.article|title=Alex James launches cheese range with Asda|work=Marketing Week|access-date=15 July 2012}} with flavour combinations include 'cheddar and tomato ketchup', 'cheddar and salad cream', and 'cheddar and tikka masala'.{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9293656.Blur_bassist_launches_cheese_range_at_York_supermarket|title=Blur bassist launches cheese range at York supermarket|work=York Press|date=7 October 2011|access-date=15 July 2012}} Tim Chester, writing in The Guardian, described James's cheese as "bizarre flavour mash-ups in sliced, processed, plasticky form".{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/aug/24/alex-james-plastic-cheese-punk|location=London, UK|work=The Guardian|first=Tim|last=Chester|title=Alex James: plastic cheese punk|date=24 August 2011}}

James announced he would open his Oxfordshire farm to host an annual food and music festival. The event, Alex James Presents Harvest,{{cite web |title= Alex James Presents Harvest |url=https://www.alexjamespresentsharvest.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615194350/http://alexjamespresentsharvest.com/ |archive-date=15 June 2012 |access-date=15 July 2012 |publisher=Alexjamespresentsharvest.com }} ran from 9 to 12 September 2011, in conjunction with promoter Big Wheel Promotions. The event had a shaky start when Big Wheel Promotions went bankrupt leaving the ticketing company out of pocket and stallholders and performers unpaid.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2011/nov/03/alex-james-cheese-festival|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Marina|last=Hyde|title=Dark days for Alex James's 'Worstival'|date=3 November 2011}}

The local primary school, Kingham Primary, were also owed £7000 for the entertainment they organised,{{cite web|url=http://www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/9577817.School_is_still_waiting_for_money_owed_after_festival|title=School is still waiting for money owed after festival|work=Cotswold Journal|date=9 March 2012|access-date=15 July 2012}} with the headteacher telling The Guardian that "We are either going to have to lose the music teacher or take it from other budgets which will reduce other parts of the curriculum".

In December 2011, a concert was staged locally to settle the debt. "I pledged to match the funds raised from my own pocket ... I was very happy to do that" said James.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/04/alex-james-festival|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Jay|last=Rayner|title=Blur star Alex James tells of shock and fury over farm festival that became a financial nightmare|date=4 March 2012}} Big Wheel Promotions, the company behind Harvest, then abruptly ceased trading even though it had already taken ticket fees for 2012. Alex James Presents Harvest was also notable for a photograph of James with David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2011/sep/15/day-the-festival-dream-died|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Marina|last=Hyde|title=The day the festival dream died | date=15 September 2011}}

Since 2012, James, along with Jamie Oliver, has hosted The Big Feastival, an annual food and music festival, on his Oxfordshire farm. On joining forces with James, Oliver said "The Big Feastival was a great success in South London last year and I cannot wait to take this celebration of the greatest chefs, the best local produce and suppliers and some fantastic entertainment to a more rural location at Alex's."{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/paloma-faith-and-razorlight-to-headline-jamie-oliver-festival_1330230|title=Faith And Razorlight To Headline Jamie Oliver Festival|publisher=Contact Music|date=18 May 2012|access-date=16 July 2014}} Along with live musical performances from Paloma Faith, Gaz Coombes, The Cuban Brothers, Noisettes, Razorlight, Texas, and Sahand,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jamie-oliver-and-alex-james-perform-at-the-big-feastival-8102673.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905141306/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jamie-oliver-and-alex-james-perform-at-the-big-feastival-8102673.html |archive-date=5 September 2012 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Jamie Oliver and Alex James perform at The Big Feastival|work=The Independent|date=3 September 2012}} there were cooking demonstrations, masterclasses, Q&As and book signings with well-known chefs, as well as family entertainment from Peppa Pig, Slow Food Kids' Taste Adventure and Chipping Norton Theatre.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/2012/08/more-musical-and-childrens-entertainment-delights-added-to-the-menu-for-jamie-oliver-presents-the-big-feastival-with-alex-james|title=More musical and children's entertainment delights added to the menu for Jamie Oliver presents The Big Feastival with Alex James|publisher=Jamieoliver.com|date=10 August 2012|access-date=16 July 2014|archive-date=27 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027185311/http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/2012/08/more-musical-and-childrens-entertainment-delights-added-to-the-menu-for-jamie-oliver-presents-the-big-feastival-with-alex-james/|url-status=dead}} The Big Feastival returned to James's farm on 31 August and 1 September 2013 with a line-up including KT Tunstall, The Feeling, Rizzle Kicks and Basement Jaxx. The festival attracted over 30,000 attendees in 2014, and has continued to be held annually on August Bank Holiday weekend.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/2015/02/big-feastival-tickets-coming-soon|title=Big Feastival 2015 tickets coming soon!|publisher=Jamieoliver.com|date=11 February 2015|access-date=20 February 2015|archive-date=18 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218145517/http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival/2015/02/big-feastival-tickets-coming-soon/|url-status=dead}}

On 19 June 2019, James visited Bledington Primary School and invited the children to submit a fun, colourful, festival-inspired design. The winning entry was displayed as a stage backdrop at The Big Feastival.{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17723678.big-feastivals-alex-james-launches-design-contest-at-bledington-school/|title=Get creative to win a free family ticket for Big Feastival|website=Oxford Mail|date=22 June 2019 |language=en|access-date=24 June 2019}}

The most recent iteration of The Big Feastival took place on 23–25 August 2024. The music line-up included Snow Patrol, Becky Hill, Kate Nash, Johnny Marr, Scouting for Girls and Ella Henderson, with DJs including Jax Jones, Judge Jules and Jeremy Healy. Food stages and stalls hosted chefs including Raymond Blanc, Andi and Miquita Oliver, Max La Manna and Cherish Finden. Entertainment acts included Rhys James, Zoe Lyons, James Buckley and Justin Fletcher.

James's father, Jason, was sales director of a company selling waste compactors and baling machines. James married Claire Neate, a music video producer, in April 2003 in Cheltenham. They have five children. The family live near Kingham in Oxfordshire on a 200-acre (0.81 km2) cheese farm; James is considered by the press to be a member of the Chipping Norton set.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/interactive-graphics/9124278/Whos-who-in-the-Chipping-Norton-set.html|title=Who's who in the Chipping Norton set|work=The Daily Telegraph|author=Caroline Dewar|access-date=6 May 2012|date=5 March 2012|location=London}}

In his book, James describes a long period of decadent lifestyle. To celebrate his birthday in São Paulo one year, he got the tour manager to find him a balthazar of champagne, which he shared with the five prettiest groupies who were at the hotel door. James estimated that he spent about 1 million pounds on champagne and cocaine; in 2015, however, he said that this story was not true.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alex-james-interview-blurs-bassist-on-the-bands-comeback-oasis-and-making-cheese-10279542.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530171327/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alex-james-interview-blurs-bassist-on-the-bands-comeback-oasis-and-making-cheese-10279542.html |archive-date=30 May 2015 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Alex James interview: Blur's bassist on the band's comeback, Oasis|date=30 May 2015|website=The Independent}} He mentions a long list of favourite bars, including the Groucho Club and The Colony Room.{{cite book |title=bit of a blur |last=James |first=Alex |year=2007 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bitofblur00jame/page/192 192], 193, 228 |publisher=Little, Brown |isbn=9780316029957 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitofblur00jame|url-access=registration }}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/jun/03/blur.music |title=The drinks are on you now, Alex |author=Caspar Llewellyn Smith |date=3 June 2007 |work=The Observer |access-date=25 March 2011 |location=London}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/jun/16/biography.blur?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |title=Sex and drugs and bacon rolls |author=Leonie Cooper |date= 16 June 2007|work=The Guardian |access-date=25 March 2011 |location=London}}

Bournemouth University presented James with an honorary doctorate in November 2010. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Gloucestershire in November 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/newsandevents/News/2010/november/ne003_alex_james.html |title=Alex James on Bournemouth and Cheese | News & Events | Bournemouth University |publisher=Bournemouth University |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-date=10 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210180621/http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/newsandevents/News/2010/november/ne003_alex_james.html? |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=University Announces Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships |url=http://recruitment.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/archive/prFrom2013/August2013/Pages/UniversityAnnouncesHonoraryDoctoratesandFellowships.aspx |publisher=Glos.ac.uk. 9 August 2013 |access-date=4 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221092113/http://recruitment.glos.ac.uk/latestnews/archive/prFrom2013/August2013/Pages/UniversityAnnouncesHonoraryDoctoratesandFellowships.aspx |archive-date=21 February 2015 }}

• {{cite book |title=Bit of a Blur |location=London |publisher=Little, Brown |year=2007 }}
• {{cite book |title=All Cheeses Great and Small: A Life Less Blurry |location=London |publisher=Fourth Estate |year=2012 }}

{{portal|Biography}}

• List of cheesemakers

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Alex James}}

• [http://info.spectator.co.uk/ Alex James] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109034842/http://info.spectator.co.uk/ |date=9 January 2016 }} regularly contributes to The Spectator magazine
• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/onyourfarm.shtml Alex James is one of the regular presenters of BBC Radio 4's On Your Farm]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120719055021/http://www.evenlodepartnership.co.uk/ Evenlode Partnership] – Alex James and Julie Harbutt's cheese company
• [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2007/08/alex_james_the_cheese_diaries_2.html Alex James: the cheese diaries, episode 2]
• [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2007/08/alex_james_the_cheese_diaries_1.html Alex James: the cheese diaries, episode 1]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070103215155/http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_a_l/alex_james/article2105925.ece Alex James gives up vegetarianism after 17 years]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070205034741/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0%2C%2C1948228%2C00.html Article on Alex James and cheese manufacture]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP8Mmd6s__k&NR=1 Alex James presents Never Mind the Buzzcocks (YouTube)]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/books/1999/dec/10/top10s.alex.james Alex James's top 10 reads], The Guardian, 10 December 1999
• [http://www.classicfm.co.uk/on-air/presenters/alex-james/ Alex James presents on ClassicFM]
• {{IMDb name|0416262|Alex James}}

{{Blur}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Alex}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London

Category:Blur (band) members

Category:Cheesemakers

Category:21st-century English farmers

Category:English male journalists

Category:English male singers

Category:English rock bass guitarists

Category:English male bass guitarists

Category:English male songwriters

Category:21st-century English writers

Category:Ivor Novello Award winners

Category:People educated at Bournemouth School

Category:People from Boscombe

Category:Britpop musicians

Category:Dairy products companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Me Me Me (band) members

Category:People associated with the University of Gloucestershire

Category:Musicians from Bournemouth

Category:Writers from Bournemouth