For people of a certain age, Timmy Mallett on the telly was a fixture of childhood. During the 1980s and early '90s, he hosted the Wide Awake Club on Saturday mornings and Wacaday during school holidays, bouncing around the studio in his fluorescent-coloured clothes and wacky spectacles, cheerfully striking everyone from pop princess Kylie to prime minister Margaret Thatcher over the head with Mallett's (foam) Mallet and delivering unashamedly dodgy puns and funny sketches. Seeing his name on the book 'Utterly Brilliant: My Life's Journey' conjured up all sorts of memories, and I was intrigued enough to want to know what he'd been up to since last brightening our screens.
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
08 October 2023
18 April 2023
'The Magpie Murders' by Anthony Horowitz
Watching an adaptation rather than reading the book always feels like cheating, but sometimes I can't resist. There are just too many great stories out there and so many different ways to tell them well. Besides, when the screenwriter is Anthony Horowitz and he's adapting his own novel, 'Magpie Murders', you know you're in safe hands. Or as safe as they can be when there's a villain on the loose...
14 August 2016
Do Not Adjust Your Specs
I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but how cool a job have the graphic designers done on Sue Perkins' memoir 'Spectacles'? I mean, just look at this cover.
There aren't many people who can be recognised through just a few brushstrokes. Alfred Hitchcock and Adolf Hitler are about the only ones I can think of, but the less said about that the better.
Anyway, then you get to look inside the book and... wham! More specs than you can shake an optometrist at! Shame they didn't make this into wallpaper or fabric or something, I have a friend who would've loved it.
And just as you think it can't get any better, you arrive at the book itself!
In 'Spectacles', Ms Perkins takes us on an entertaining, whistle-stop journey through her life (or at least a version of her life - as the disclaimer says "Most of this book is true."). We get to know her potty but lovely family, the friends that inspired her and her partner-in-prime time Mel Giedroyc. (Wouldn't be surprised if the latter is brewing her own memoir in retaliation...) There are demanding dogs, car-related calamities and an unexpected encounter with Esther Rantzen, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at 'Maestro', 'World's Most Dangerous Roads' and, of course, 'The Great British Bake Off'.
This is a charming book, full of energy and humour, much like you hope the author herself to be. 'Spectacles' is heartwarming, heartfelt and at times heartbreaking, as the anecdotes make you laugh at life's absurdities and shed tears for its cruelties.
This book may be filed under non-fiction, but like all autobiographies it's a version of the truth told to us as a kind of collaborative lie. But unlike many celebrity memoirs, at least this one is self-aware and more about entertaining the reader than making the author look perfect.
'Spectacles' begins with Ms Perkins describing her wish to be a writer. I think her understanding of her audience shows that she is. I hope this is not her last book.
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| 'Spectacles: A Memoir' by Sue Perkins (Penguin/Michael Joseph, 2015 |
There aren't many people who can be recognised through just a few brushstrokes. Alfred Hitchcock and Adolf Hitler are about the only ones I can think of, but the less said about that the better.Anyway, then you get to look inside the book and... wham! More specs than you can shake an optometrist at! Shame they didn't make this into wallpaper or fabric or something, I have a friend who would've loved it.
And just as you think it can't get any better, you arrive at the book itself!
In 'Spectacles', Ms Perkins takes us on an entertaining, whistle-stop journey through her life (or at least a version of her life - as the disclaimer says "Most of this book is true."). We get to know her potty but lovely family, the friends that inspired her and her partner-in-prime time Mel Giedroyc. (Wouldn't be surprised if the latter is brewing her own memoir in retaliation...) There are demanding dogs, car-related calamities and an unexpected encounter with Esther Rantzen, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at 'Maestro', 'World's Most Dangerous Roads' and, of course, 'The Great British Bake Off'.
This is a charming book, full of energy and humour, much like you hope the author herself to be. 'Spectacles' is heartwarming, heartfelt and at times heartbreaking, as the anecdotes make you laugh at life's absurdities and shed tears for its cruelties.
This book may be filed under non-fiction, but like all autobiographies it's a version of the truth told to us as a kind of collaborative lie. But unlike many celebrity memoirs, at least this one is self-aware and more about entertaining the reader than making the author look perfect.
'Spectacles' begins with Ms Perkins describing her wish to be a writer. I think her understanding of her audience shows that she is. I hope this is not her last book.
25 September 2015
Girls on Film
Finishing 'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory meant I felt ready to watch the BBC series 'The White Queen', starring Rebecca Ferguson (Elizabeth Woodville), Amanda Hale (Margaret Beaufort, 'The Red Queen') and Faye Marsay (Anne Neville, 'The Kingmaker's Daughter').
Originally broadcast on BBC One in 2013, 'The White Queen' is based on three of the Cousins' War novels, 'The White Queen', 'The Red Queen' and 'The Kingmaker's Daughter'. It brings to life a dark and complex world of conspiracies, alliances and dynastic ambition, not to mention all the books' key players.
I'm really glad that I waited until I'd read all three of the source novels before watching this. The reason why films and TV series often fail to convince readers is simply because their writers can't squeeze everything in a book(s) into a few hours of screen time. This leaves them with a tough choice; cut chunks of the original story or squeeze everything in without covering it properly. My memory may be letting me down, but I'm pretty sure that the makers of 'The White Queen' went for the latter option, which meant that it was actually a really useful reminder of what happened in the books rather than a standalone piece in its own right. It may not be what the BBC originally intended, but I feel well prepared for 'The White Princess' and her successors now!
On the whole, I thought the casting was strong and the actors did a good job. Rebecca Ferguson and the other leading ladies were excellent, but Max Irons (Edward IV) didn't work for me and James Frain (Earl of Warwick) wasn't my image of the Kingmaker at all. Frain's a great actor who I've enjoyed in many other films and programmes, but I feel he's at his best when playing slippery politicians rather than bullish warriors. I just couldn't imagine him having the physical power to wield a sword in battle, which was slightly distracting. Just like the books, it was an interesting ensemble piece, however, and it worked because the collective talent present was so strong. I've spent so much time on IMDb checking people I'd seen somewhere before!
A lot of work had clearly gone into the gorgeous costumes and the use of colour was thoughtful. Several times I found myself wishing I could wear a few of the stunning gowns - both luxurious and warm looking! But where were the hats? Duchess Cecily had a couple of nice bits of headgear,but on the whole they seemed to be completely absent, which seemed a bit odd when they got so many mentions in the books.
The other element I usually like in a historical drama is the locations. 'The White Queen' was filmed in Belgium and provided some stunning backgrounds. The set piece coronations and court scenes offered a glimpse of medieval glamour and made rooms that seem spartan by today's standards rich and opulent, full of brightly coloured glass and richly embroidered hangings. But all too often it felt restricted and fairy tale-esque and none of the exteriors really felt like, well, England.
On the whole, I enjoyed 'The White Queen', but it'll probably be a while before I watch it again. It was a useful revision tool, but on the whole felt too clean and tidy to have the sense of time and place that I always bang on about in historical novels. On the one hand, I completely understand that the tumble-down structures we see today aren't the highly painted and richly furnished castles and churches our ancestors would've recognised, but equally everything looked a bit too fresh out of the box to be completely believable in this programme.
I've heard rumours that a new series based on 'The White Princess' may follow. I think I would watch it, but I really do need to read the books first!
Now, back to the books!
Related Links
Official BBC One Website
IMDb site
Philippa Gregory Official Website
Originally broadcast on BBC One in 2013, 'The White Queen' is based on three of the Cousins' War novels, 'The White Queen', 'The Red Queen' and 'The Kingmaker's Daughter'. It brings to life a dark and complex world of conspiracies, alliances and dynastic ambition, not to mention all the books' key players.
I'm really glad that I waited until I'd read all three of the source novels before watching this. The reason why films and TV series often fail to convince readers is simply because their writers can't squeeze everything in a book(s) into a few hours of screen time. This leaves them with a tough choice; cut chunks of the original story or squeeze everything in without covering it properly. My memory may be letting me down, but I'm pretty sure that the makers of 'The White Queen' went for the latter option, which meant that it was actually a really useful reminder of what happened in the books rather than a standalone piece in its own right. It may not be what the BBC originally intended, but I feel well prepared for 'The White Princess' and her successors now!
On the whole, I thought the casting was strong and the actors did a good job. Rebecca Ferguson and the other leading ladies were excellent, but Max Irons (Edward IV) didn't work for me and James Frain (Earl of Warwick) wasn't my image of the Kingmaker at all. Frain's a great actor who I've enjoyed in many other films and programmes, but I feel he's at his best when playing slippery politicians rather than bullish warriors. I just couldn't imagine him having the physical power to wield a sword in battle, which was slightly distracting. Just like the books, it was an interesting ensemble piece, however, and it worked because the collective talent present was so strong. I've spent so much time on IMDb checking people I'd seen somewhere before!
A lot of work had clearly gone into the gorgeous costumes and the use of colour was thoughtful. Several times I found myself wishing I could wear a few of the stunning gowns - both luxurious and warm looking! But where were the hats? Duchess Cecily had a couple of nice bits of headgear,but on the whole they seemed to be completely absent, which seemed a bit odd when they got so many mentions in the books.
The other element I usually like in a historical drama is the locations. 'The White Queen' was filmed in Belgium and provided some stunning backgrounds. The set piece coronations and court scenes offered a glimpse of medieval glamour and made rooms that seem spartan by today's standards rich and opulent, full of brightly coloured glass and richly embroidered hangings. But all too often it felt restricted and fairy tale-esque and none of the exteriors really felt like, well, England.
On the whole, I enjoyed 'The White Queen', but it'll probably be a while before I watch it again. It was a useful revision tool, but on the whole felt too clean and tidy to have the sense of time and place that I always bang on about in historical novels. On the one hand, I completely understand that the tumble-down structures we see today aren't the highly painted and richly furnished castles and churches our ancestors would've recognised, but equally everything looked a bit too fresh out of the box to be completely believable in this programme.
I've heard rumours that a new series based on 'The White Princess' may follow. I think I would watch it, but I really do need to read the books first!
Now, back to the books!
Related Links
Official BBC One Website
IMDb site
Philippa Gregory Official Website
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