CULTURE
Barry Cryer
I love Barry Cryer. He's been at the heart of British comedy since the 50's and he worked with everyone. By my reckoning if you grew up with Morecambe & Wise, The Frost Report or Kenny Everett he's made you laugh. That's most of us. His influence goes far...
Dunkirk
I did not want to see Dunkirk for a number of reasons. First, Christopher Nolan may be a cinematic genius but life is short and he likes a lengthy running time. Second, I have no interest in watching the glorification of war or human pain. Finally, I watched a lot of...
Tell Me About Your Dog
I have varied taste in rom coms (the phrase is the opposite of fizzy). I am all for the classic Ryan/Hanks combo with the preference being You've Got Mail. I love When Harry Met Sally. I am a Richard Curtis fan girl. All impeccable, I'm sure you'll agree. I also love...
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes is a power house. Watch her TED Talk and she'll tell you. What she does is breathtaking, her achievements endless and she was unhappy. After her sister pointed out she didn't do anything anymore she promised herself to...
The Uncomfort Zone
I have agreed to chair the work book club as our fearless leader is taking time off to look after his children during the summer holidays. Although I love books and the sound of my own voice, this is not a natural fit for me. I have many opinions. I have lots....
A Trip To The Theatre
I love the theatre. From a back stage trip to the Playhouse in the Brownies to playing the milkman in a school production of Blood Brothers I fell for it at a young age. My dreams of being an actress were thwarted due to a fear of heights. Seriously, have you seen...
Sounds Of The South
BBC2 are showing Reginald D Hunter's documentary Sounds Of The South tonight at 10pm. It was originally shown on BBC Four and it's wonderful. Obviously the music is brilliant but Reg is a warm and wryly amused, bemused and angry commentator. It's worth your...
Drums Please
Music hits people in different places. Some people are all about the guitar riff. For others, it's the bass line. A horn section does it for others. I'm a sucker for the drums. Stand still long enough and I will lecture you about the importance of Phil Collins...
The Men Who Own My Soul – Part 3
My feelings for Bruce Springsteen run deep. He has always been there. I don't remember discovering him. No one introduced his music to me. He was there and I just kept falling more in love with his work. Even when he's writing about the darkest times his lyrics...
Doctor Who
The 13th Doctor is female. I'm so excited I could pop! I think Jodie Whittaker is a great choice. She was fantastic in Broadchurch and Attack The Block. And I have noticed that she's a girl. Don't tell anyone that bit, they may freak out. I do love a...
Midsomer Murders
I still fancy Bergerac... Now I have thoughts about ITV detective drama: Morse - yes Lewis - no Wexford - yes Wycliffe - if I must Vera - yes Endeavour - can I hear a dead horse being flogged? Foyle's War - yawn But Midsomer Murders. Perfect, bliss, heaven....
Hokusai
I married an artist. I am not an artist. Unless you class eyeliner as art and then I'm a genius. In attempt to be arty I took the beloved to see a documentary on Hokusai, the Japanese artist best known for the Great Wave at FACT. I was slightly sneery as...
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