Pub Quiz thread
- Thread starter colognehornet
- Start date
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yorkshirehornet
Well-Known Member
Shelley Winters was born with that name but she died in 2006.
Yes indeed. Must admit to having had a little bit of a crush on her back in the day.
Over to you.
One of actor Bob Hoskins’ more interesting performances occurred at The Old Bailey. Who was he ‘helping out’ and how did he explain that man’s nickname?
yorkshirehornet
Well-Known Member
The nickname was to do with the size of the defendant, Hoskins maintained, although that was a lie.
Hoskins lied through his teeth to protect a known drug dealer/thug/protection racketeer, sometime actor.
Interesting story that - about John 'Biffo' Binden. Also known as 'Big John' due the size of a certain appendage.I'll bet the royal family were glad when he died...
Bob Hoskins gave him a character reference at his murder trial, which helped find him not guilty - but I've no idea what he actually said in that reference.
I'm now off to see if I can spot him in some old episodes of Softly, Softly or Hazell or Z Cars or Special Branch...
Bob Hoskins gave him a character reference at his murder trial, which helped find him not guilty - but I've no idea what he actually said in that reference.
I'm now off to see if I can spot him in some old episodes of Softly, Softly or Hazell or Z Cars or Special Branch...
Well done, sir. It is extraordinary, yes. The prosecution made a big deal of the fact that Binden’s nickname was ‘Biffo’, i.e. he liked violence. Hoskins was asked why Binden was called Biffo.
“Well look at the size of him! He’s Biffo the Bear!”
The jury all laughed and it helped Binden be seen as a scoundrel rather than the very nasty piece of work he was. The murder was undoubtedly that, not self-defence. The only argument remains as to how pre-meditated it was. Some people believe the fight it formed part of was pantomime to mask Binden’s effective ‘hit’. I’ve no idea, but Binden did run protection rackets in West London, he did complete jobs for the Krays and the Richardsons. There is a myth that he was just a ‘bit of a boy’. He wasn’t, he was a nasty bastard and ended in any early grave, but not as early as some others at his hands.
Hoskins’ defence of him is something I don’t understand - his evidence was seen as the critical turning point in that trial. I know people who knew Hoskins (not closely) and they all spoke very highly of him and his character. So why did he do what he did? Doing this at the Old Bailey is not an insignificant thing, not a quick whim. I’m mystified.
Over to you.
Cheers Biffo - or should that be Big Andy?
Which 37 year old was pilot in an air crash that devastated Britain?
Which 37 year old was pilot in an air crash that devastated Britain?
Graham Hill?Cheers Biffo - or should that be Big Andy?
Which 37 year old was pilot in an air crash that devastated Britain?
Is this the Pan Am 103?Cheers Biffo - or should that be Big Andy?
Which 37 year old was pilot in an air crash that devastated Britain?