Category: Film, TV & Radio

Speaker’s House

A while back I was fortunate to be invited by Pippa to Speaker’s House in the Palace of Westminster. Of course I was keen to take a look at the extravagant refurb. undertaken by a former Speaker, Tony-crony Derry Irvine. You may remember that he was criticised for going OTT and the bill, as usual,… Continue reading Speaker’s House

Norman Conquest

Whatever the UK electorate decides about staying in or leaving the EU, many of us in the British Isles feel a sense of identity with the Normans. Our genes, our language, our architecture, our laws can to a large extent be traced back to Norman roots.

Tom’s School Days

Something, I’ll tell you what later, triggered this memory. About twenty years ago Sarah asked me to go with her to see her godson act in his house play at Eton.

Sounds of the ’60s

Everyone can remember the first record they ever bought. I was reminded of this by a reader telling me that her’s was Lily the Pink, see London House Prices, mine was A Hard Day’s Night.

The Jet Set

Like Pooh’s friend Rabbit, I have many friends and relations, amongst them Sir Peter Bazalgette who steps down as boss of the Arts Council next year, but will not disappear into his Notting Hill burrow.

Walkies

There has been a lot of chat about PG Wodehouse here but, hitherto, Barbara Woodhouse has been given the cold shoulder. She was what we call in England a “national treasure”, you are free to call her barking mad which is appropriate as, like many Britons, she was bonkers about dogs.

Get Smart

You’re an occasional visitor to London and you’ve finally got smart. You have an Oyster card to pay for tube and bus journeys. Actually you probably have multiple Oyster cards accumulated when you have forgotten to take one with you.

Nie Yinniang

Hou Hsiao-Hsien is a Taiwanese film director. He is a perfectionist and has spent almost eight years making his latest film, Nie Yinniang. Here it is called The Assassin, although “yinniang” actually means “hiding woman”, and it could be called The Woman in Black.

Figaro, Where?

The Metropolitan Opera in New York has been broadcasting Saturday matinees live to cinemas in Europe for ten years. It’s a super way to see tip-top productions with the bonus of watching what’s going on back-stage and hearing the singers being interviewed.  Only been around for ten years but already I have my favourite moment.… Continue reading Figaro, Where?