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TV Review
A drama exploring Jane Austen’s non-event of a love life was never going to be a thrill-a-minute action extravaganza, but there were many moments during Miss Austen Regrets when I was desperate for something, anything, to happen. Even Austen’s death occurred off screen.
Radio Review
So it wasn’t a romantic death after all. The tragic suicide of an apparently brilliant young poet, investigated in Chatterton - The Allington Solution, was just a simple case of the pox.
Role play - Reality TV and Musical Theatre
Although reality TV shows can offer trained musical performers a platform to launch their careers, contestants with little training are unlikely to gain adequate skills and stamina from the experience, suggests Matthew Hemley
Chit Chat - Host with the most
The late and much lamented Humphrey Lyttelton was infamous for his deadpan delivery of smutty innuendoes on Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. Most of them featured the antics of the show’s fictitious scorer, the glamorous Samantha. Here are Tabard’s favourite Lyttelton offerings:
Chit Chat - A load of hot air
Gone with the Wind’s opening proved to be something of an unmitigated disaster last week, leading to some of the most scathing reviews in recent memory.
TV review
I am a big fan of BBC4, but too often the channel’s output just resembles Radio 4 with pictures. For example, this week Inside the Medieval Mind explored sex, sexuality and romance in the Middle Ages and jolly interesting it was, too. But I could have happily done without the overuse of the out of focus and wobbly camera pointed up at the cathedral ceiling. Perhaps the device was intended to represent the giddy confusion caused by the collision of Christian theology and secular sensuality, but the effect it had on me was pure annoyance with a hint of nausea.
Radio review - light programme
It is the late seventies and British film director Harold Baim is looking for the perfect voice to narrate a trio of travelogues celebrating all that is positive about Birmingham, Aberdeen and Portsmouth. So who does he plump for? American film and TV star Telly Savalas.
TV Review
Did you know that Heather Mills has only got one leg? No, nor me! So a big thank you to cutting-edge comedy Headcases for bringing the news to the nation’s collective attention.
Chit chat - Caine disabled
Meanwhile, maybe Helen would like to spare a thought for fellow impressionist/lookalike Drew Cameron, who recently suffered a rather nasty accident.
Chit chat - Her Royal Helen
There was a time when you would get the Queen down to name your new ship, or, if Her Majesty was otherwise engaged, perhaps another member of the royal family.
Radio Review - Drama
No wonder there’s so little stimulating, original writing on television these days - most of the dramatic effort goes into spin, presentation and rows that can wreck careers while hinging on the definition of one word. The documentary maker Paul Watson, whose career stretches back to The Family in 1974, became embroiled in controversy last summer over whether ITV’s Love’s Farewell actually showed the death of Alzheimer’s sufferer Malcolm Pointon, or not.
TV Review
Who’s safe in Coronation Street at the moment? I don’t mean from diddy David Platt, Public Enemy Number 1 (that’s his criminal ranking not his height in metres) or Weatherfield’s new eminence gris, ragman turned property developer Tony Gordon, or even - Flee, flee for the hills! - from the unrealised desires of the unhappy (and clearly unsatisfied) Liz McDonald, all molten and ready to blow like Vesuvius in a slow but scorching burn.
Radio review - Light programme
The very notion of Chinese hip hop would surely get fans of the hard core, American version having a good laugh under their hoodies. But, to the young generations from the likes of Beijing, their take on street music provides just as valuable an outlet for creative expression as the street gangs in LA - or Peckham.
Chit Chat - Phantom menace
Meanwhile, Tabard was pondering on the nature of all things offensive and for some reason Ben Elton popped into our minds.
Chit Chat - Students of strife
Diana The Musical. It was never going to be popular with the chattering classes.
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Backstage
- Lighting up the dance floor
- Robe moving lights was recently involved in the fourth series of Strictly…
- Learning with structure
- Czech Republic-based trussing manufacturer, MILOS, staged a two-day…
- Video adds value
- AC Lighting has launched a new video division aimed at providing a solution…
- Martin Audio appoints new joint MD
- Martin Audio’s long-serving finance director, Anthony Taylor, has been made…
- Guitar hero
- Bandit Lites is supplying lighting equipment and crew for the UK, European…
Obituaries
- Humphrey Lyttelton
- Few entertainers have been held in such affection by the British public as…
- June Gray
- June Gray (nee Uttley), the widow of Danny Gray and sister-in-law of…
- Mago
- Sweden’s outstanding dress designer, Mago, who designed the clothes for more…
- John Hewer
- Actor John Hewer won worldwide fame playing Captain Birdseye in the…
- Tony Church
- A leading classical actor, Tony Church was a founder member of the Royal…
Letters
- Access all areas
- Following on from the letter on disabled access last week (
- Words for the workers
- ‘The most voracious and passionate readers of the Bard’s work [19th century]…
- First class director
- Your article on the career of Peter Wilson, (page 32, April 10), director of…
- Black/Asian actors are invisible
- I was motivated to write in response to the article (
- Musical mystery
- I wonder if Russell Davies (
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