Welcome weather
When I found out that BBC local radio in Yorkshire had a weekly hour-long show devoted to the weather, I imagined it might be like the Four Yorkshiremen sketch from At Last...
Take it to the bridge
A former major label executive once told me about a bizarre conversation he had with the firm’s accountant. ‘I’ve been looking at our releases, and there are an awful lot...
The laser treatment
With the exception of his amazing cameo in Tropic Thunder, and the excellent Mission: Impossible series, Tom Cruise has sailed through some stinkers in recent years. Never...
Goldilocks television
I complain when there aren’t enough good programmes to write about. I complain when there are too many good things and there isn’t room to cover them all. What does it take...
When the going gets...
This is one of the lean weeks of television, as foretold by scripture. One of those weeks where no amount of channel flipping will yield anything that is both new and...
It gets my vote
There have been weeks, I’m sure you will recall, when I have griped in these pages about the slim pickings to be found in the TV schedules and I’ve struggled to find...
The Fantastic Mr Cribbins
I like to use my 400 words wisely. With the exception of the odd rant, I prefer to enthuse about radio I’ve enjoyed. So, I won’t be saying anything about the Radio 4 panel...
Game for a laugh
Well, goodness knows we needed a laugh. I’ve been waiting for a new situation comedy to cheer us up and now three have come along at once. The Job Lot (ITV, Monday at...
Adventures in...
I own a lot of LPs. Not as many as John Peel had but, when it came to moving house last year, it felt like more than enough. Some of them are special and wonderful. Others...
The hero returns
If nothing else, Iron Man 3 presents another opportunity to decide whether Gwyneth Paltrow is, as People magazine declared, the world’s most beautiful woman. As to that I’d...
THE GATEKEEPERS
The State of Israel was 65 in mid-April. As a native who preceded this by 18 months, I have witnessed Israel’s existence as it proceeded from the excitement and optimism of...
Art of deception
Danny Boyle has certainly got style. He showed that in the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games and in Trance, which he somehow managed to knock off presumably before,...
Leading ladies
Eve Myles is probably best known as the star of Doctor Who’s ‘young adult spin-off’ Torchwood. It was jolly enough. It differed from its parent show in two crucial...
Ella and me
In recent weeks, this column has become something of a whistlestop tour of my record collection. First it was Wally Stott, then it was Tom Lehrer, and now it’s Ella...
More Morse
Following a promising pilot last January, Endeavour begins its first full run this Sunday (ITV1 at 8pm). Since Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000, a few attempts to...
'My big love was maths!'
Paco Delgado received an Oscar nominated for his lavish and imaginative designs in Tom Hooper's epic big screen adaptation of Les Misérables. Here he reveals how they...
An American classic
Whenever idiots claim that Americans have no concept of irony, I offer Tom Lehrer and David Letterman as the case for the defence. Lehrer has been one of my heroes since I...
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is due to open the Cannes Film Festival (and will be released in UK cinemas on May 16), but for those of you who are just as desperate as we are to see it,...
Daily tip from the lady archive
“PEOPLE cannot help being influenced by their surroundings and their environment; therefore how all important it is that both of these should be healthy and cheery, for health and happiness both go hand-in-hand.”
The Lady. The Blessing of Old Health, 18th November 1920
Your vote...
Q: The Queen has received a £5m boost in the funds she receives from the taxpayer to carry out her official duties. Do you approve?
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