I knew what I was getting with the Norton Show, it was the Obama/Springsteen segment that pissed me off, the smug self satisfied, preachy twats. Jonathan Ross I have actively avoided for decades, hard to believe he was hugely important to British comedy, including Vic and Bob, in the 80s.
Well, I’m half way through and it does keep you watching. Interesting character building, inter-weaving storylines around a sick-feeling content and direction it seems to be taking you. 3 episodes to go and the reveal has me intrigued!
Which network is The Chestnut Man on? Have read the book, I'm interested to see if it's the same / as good. Cheers
I went to see Dame Judy Dench in conversation on stage at The Theatre Royal, Winchester, a couple of Sundays ago. It was just one of those opportunistic things - chance to see a ‘great’ of stage and screen. During the show she mentioned her stint on “Who Do You Think You Are?”, which I have finally caught up with. Very moving in terms of her discovery of her father’s medal-winning heroism during WW1, but also an incredible link to Denmark and… well, watch it if you’re into that sort of thing.
Have you watched the film/documentary ‘Nothing Like a Dame’ which is Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and the magnificent Eileen Atkins chatting over tea and champagne a couple of years ago. It’s sensational. Sometimes moving and sometimes very funny. They all had stuff to say about Olivier, despite Plowright being his wife. And they all had a go at Dench for getting first pick of the old lady roles. I’ll watch the telly programme, though that format has gone a bit stale.
I saw her on WDYTYA. Her father was quite a man and the Denmark links were remarkable. Excellent viewing.
I’ve not seen that many episodes of WDYTYA… probably half a dozen at most and usually if the subject is of sufficient interest. I think the last one I saw before Dame JD was Greg Davies.
I wonder how many celebs they film "Who Do..." per series who turn out to be total nobodies with absolutely **** all of interest in their back story before they decide on which ones to go full production on. Danny Dyer was their major surprise, now that was interesting!
Quite a few are apparently told yet research is underway and then told their services won’t be required….. The Danny Dyer thing, like Josh Widdicombe, is poorly explained though. When you go back loads of generations you have loads of direct ancestors - 16,384 at 14 generations (12th great grandparents). The odds get better and better that you will have someone famous in your background the further back you go - and you will share that ancestor with loads of other people who you wouldn’t consider yourself related to. 14 generations is about 300 -350 years. Which is why all Europeans are descended from Charlemagne, because with smaller populations sizes the ancestors get duplicated. https://www.theguardian.com/science...-genetic-ancestry-charlemagne-adam-rutherford
Dame Judy said that she was told nothing before being asked to film her episode, so her surprise at what she was told about her heritage was genuine. I’d imagine the makers must spend myriad man-hours researching celebs’ family trees and then cherry pick the most interesting ones to actually film. Tenuous link, I know, but I met Levi Roots at an awards things a few years back and he never asked to appear on ‘Dragons Den’. He said he was pestered for a number of years by the makers because his stall was successful at the Notting Hill Carnival each year and his reputation was growing in the local community as a consequence. They just wore him down in the end and the rest, as they say, was Peter Jones.
Finished it and enjoyed the series. Harrowing content. Dark. Interesting characters and storylines. The reveal was a slight surprise, though the person was on my shortlist - only because I was looking/thinking laterally though I suspect. Thanks for the recommendation Steels.
Tonight at the wonderful Barrowlands Ballroom we went to see Public Service Broadcasting. For those not familiar with their music, it's mainly instrumental with samples edited into the tunes of old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material. Been really looking forward to this, as the last time we were supposed to see them the festival they were playing at was cancelled. This gig was not a let down, massively enhanced by a fantastic light show/video show with the archive footage - the tracks from Every Valley and The Race for Space were superb. Quite a long set too - hour and 45 minutes.
They Gave Me a Lamp is from Every Valley, all about the rise and fall of the coal industry, especially in Wales - hence the Welshness. The band are actually from London. Their latest album Bright Magic draws on their experiences living in Berlin, quite Kraftwork inspired. They've introduced a female guest vocalist for this album and she was very good last night.
I’m seeing them on Wednesday at Brixton. Haven’t been to that venue for ages. Very much looking forward to it.
Sounds like a really good gig, would have liked to have had the opportunity. Enjoyed Race for Space but really enjoyed War Room and White Star Liner.
