The Thatcher Years and Me

Margaret Thatcher has died today. I grew up in the Thatcher years being then around 12 years old when she was elected, I was rapidly approaching my mid twenties when she was ousted ... by her own political party. 

In my early childhood days I was probably a little bit oblivious to it all though it my early teens it was evident musicians at the time had a strong dislike for her (Billy Bragg, The Specials etc) as did many of the comedians on tv, Ben Elton immediately springs to mind. There is no denying Thatcher is a cultural icon of the 1980s but maybe not in a good way. I'll always recall Rik Mayall's anti Thatcher quips on The Young Ones.

My family were working class and had mixed fortunes during the Thatcher years, I'd say they steadily improved but that was through the hard work of my parents and not the successive Thatcher governments. I called in to see my dad today and asked him what he thought of the Thatcher years, he replied flatly 'Our mortgage doubled in cost'.

Reflecting back I can only convey here what I really remember and that was leaving school and going on the YTS (Youth Training Scheme) as my parents couldn't afford to finance me staying on at school or going to college. The YTS of course was very low paid labour but fortunately I managed to get on a scheme working with computers which was more training than work. It soon became evident that promises of a job through the scheme were merely transparent, I became restless, somewhat rebellious (I was still young and naive) and left the scheme to join another hopeless one. Fortunately during this time my parents didn't charge me board and lodgings, stating they wanted me to get used to having some money of my own and encouraged me to save and budget for my own clothing etc. The YTS scheme was in reality smoke and mirrors exercise, few gained jobs from it, though I do know people that did, however its main purpose was to lower unemployment figures.

Later of course, when I'd got a relatively low paid factory job the Poll Tax (also known as the community charge) came into effect and I saw my earnings plummet to pay some stupid tax even though I was still living with my parents. I refused to pay, as did hundreds of thousands of others and rioting occurred in some towns. I went to court and stood there with scores of others who'd refused. It was either pay or face the consequences so many of us agreed to pay the bare minimum. Soon after it was replaced and Thatchers reign ended.

Of course I recall other instances throughout her time as Prime Minister. The Falklands war in which a nation suddenly realised we had tiny islands thousands of miles away even though hardly anyone had heard of them beforehand. At the time I was probably patriotic and I remember the vivid images of sinking ships, burnt soldiers and the news reports on tv. I also recall riots in London and Bristol in deprived areas. I remember the miners strike and being spat at whilst leaving school and called a 'scab' by Yorkshire miners who had come to picket Crown Farm colliery mine and were encamped in a nearby pub before causing chaos. I wasn't the son of a miner but both my grandparents were miners so I have a mining background and I'm proud of it too. Thatcher divided Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire miners, a rift that is still apparent today. The epilogue to the strike was the unions were crushed (always a plan of Thatcher) and whole towns and communities were ruined. Nottinghamshire miners were favoured short term by the Thatcher government but in time their mines became no more and the local miners although receiving a period of prosperity followed by good pay off's found that getting work after was very difficult. The end of the mines saw the town where I used to live wither and slowly die, after the mines went other industries toppled and promises of cash injections never really appeared. A once thriving happy town seemingly capitulated, I witnessed its death, it affected me, I was there, it should have never have happened. Before the miners strike there always seemed to be work even low paid work, after it declined rapidly.

Can I say anything good about Thatcher? A strong leader or bully? All I can say is I liked the way she stood up to Europe and the then early makings of the European Union, that's about it really. Its fair to say life in the Thatcher years wasn't all bad, as a family we slowly prospered though I know my parents had periodic tough times. I recall the era well probably because as Thatcher came to power I was reaching that age where I took more notice, went to school, left school, struggled to find work and saw many social changes and influences. The Thatcher years will be always etched on my mind and shape how I think today.

In closing I don't think her legacy is a good one, though many will argue otherwise. She encouraged privatisation and private health. She divided communities and further widened the north-south divide. She crushed unions without mercy and destroyed what they'd spent years achieving. Manufacturing went to cheaper firms abroad. The coal mining industry was laid to waste. Deregulation of banks, social unrest, VAT from 8% to 17.5% etc etc, I could go on.

She died today in the Ritz Hotel where of course only the rich can afford to die in.

Zombies, Gladiators and Thrones

This week I've been catching up on Tv shows. I must say that The Walking Dead just gets better, it really is quality and compelling viewing. Not only does it have you on the edge of your seat but it evokes emotions as well as posing very heart searching 'What if that was me, what would I do?' questions. There's been less action in the second series but when there has beenit's has been truly nail biting knife edge stuff. Between the action we've had some great character building from a fine cast and some inspiring scripting to emphasise the psychological behaviour of a desperate few people facing a zombie apocalypse. This isn't a show just about killing zombies though, it is far deeper than that, every morale choice, every decision the small group makes has consequences and when people die you almost feel you are sharing their loss, it really is that emotive. It's an amazing piece of television drama.

On to Spartacus Vengeance. I'll admit, I'm a huge fan of the previous two series but feel the loss of Andy Whitfield has impacted the current show. I don't want to be too judgemental here and the new Spartacus Liam McIntyre is slowing easing into the role. There's been some other minor personnel changes within the show but to cut to the chase and state what I'm really missing and that's a Machiavellian bad guy with the stature of what John Hannah exuded playing Batiatus. Glaba played by Craig Parker isn't as calculating as the erstwhile Batiatus or as dynamic, it's almost like he has to rely on support from characters such as Asha or Lucretia for prompts and schemes. What we are getting with this series of Spartacus is much the same with less of the clout of the previous series outings. The action whilst being the usually quality gore-fest is now starting to feel a bit samey and has lost its edge (the sex is still great!). What's also lacking from this current series is plots and subterfuge, they are still there but with less 'OMG' moments as the plot is suddenly revealed. You really felt you were in for the ride on Batiatus's power trip before as he climbed the social ladder, you knew he was a bad guy but you empathised with him strangely. Sadly the Roman bad guys in this new series lack John Hannah's presence. charisma and screen vitality - they just seem a pontificating generic bunch and Lucy Lawless as Lucretia has very much sadly faded into the background a little (probably because she has less power this time around).

It's almost starting to feel cliche and reminiscent of other shows that graced out screens in the past. People get captured, rescue attempts take place, odd minor characters die and so it goes on. Some could argue the creators of the show have taken artistic licence with what's known about the real Spartacus of history but I don't think that's a bad thing, as we'll never ever know the details anyway. Will I still watch? Of course, I'm still a fan of the show I just think something is missing and I'm not entirely sure what. They need to build characters up more such as Peter Mensah (Doctore/Onomaus) among others. Maybe I am being too critical and I suspect more will come from the show regarding characters, plots and story lines, it could well be still early days on a series that could turn out to be here for the long haul but if that's the case they'll need to put substance before style.

Lastly I have to mention Game of Thrones second season. There's been a few teaser trailers for the forthcoming series starting this April and to be perfectly honest - I can't wait. I had started on the second book but decided to hold off, probably because I enjoyed the first series so much I didn't want to spoil the second one. I suspect it is going to eclipse any series of this year for me and I genuinely feel we are in for something truly special. Reflecting back to my opening on The Walking Dead and the fact I feel much is down to how real the characters and their worlds feel and the actors who portray them do it - that's where Game of Thrones excels. I love all three shows and it'll be interesting to see what directions they all go in.

Here's a trailer for the new season of Game of Thrones starting in April.

Future Proof

There's a lot of talk among the tech media, websites and press regarding the next generation of consoles to be showcased at the next E3 Expo this coming June. Sony have said they won't be announcing the Playstation 4 at the Expo and are looking at possible partnerships regarding a cloud based system. As for the Microsoft and future Xbox's, there's talk of a possible new machine that comes with a tablet, possibly a challenger for the new Nintendo system expected soon, though industry experts say a new Xbox will be doubtful.

Samsung have recently announced future proof televisions that you can upgrade without buying a new set and most new televisions now are internet enabled giving you the ability to browse or download films with subscription services such as Netflix.

It doesn't really take a genius to see where it's all going and that is 'cloud' based. I would imagine the industry will find it much cheaper to have games available to either play or download from the cloud, it'll obviously replace the need (eventually) to purchase hard copies of games on disks I should imagine and it's probably a better way to combat piracy both with games and movies.

I can see consoles getting much smaller as their main jobs will be just to run the games via the cloud, they'll just be a small device with a wireless controller, though I suspect still able to play blu-ray and such for a good few years yet but inevitably films on demand and internet tv's will be the new thing. You'll be able to purchase films on the cloud and stream them whenever you want. In all honesty I don't think these changes are too far off, my reasoning being when you look how far technology has jumped over the last 20 years.

I think we are ideally looking at the living room containing a voice recognition tablet device (as the processing power is rapidly growing on these) as the main but portable focus. Combined with this will be a voice recognition tv (they're already here) and a wireless controller for games, that will be all you need. Should you want to relax in bed you'll be able to stream things to your tablet, or maybe a family will have multiple tablets all streamed to via a central hub of sorts, parents being in control of a master tablet to control settings and content for their kids.

Having an ipad I can already see how the cloud is working and the benefit of it it breaks or you lose it, then all your downloaded software and files are still there indefinitely.

Whatever happens, exciting times are ahead.

The Trouble With Tarot

I lounged on my sofa in the early hours of this morning, unable to sleep I flicked through several channels and watched snippets of several programs. Feeling agitated and restless at not being able to sleep I kept hitting the up channel button on my remote until I reached Freeview channel 31. It was the 'Psychic tv channel'. I decided to watch for a while and what I witnessed was a money making machine designed to rob the vulnerable, insecure and not so clever of society of their money. I've never seen such a cringe worthy piece of rubbish on my tv screen before.

People ringing up in the early hours of the day asking the same stupid questions and being repeatedly told the same vague predictable answers from psychics that are allegedly gifted with things like 'remote viewing' and 'subtle energy'. The only thing subtle is their ability to get you to part with your cash, though anyone with a modicum of brain power can see straight through the ruses on show. Nobody who turns a pretty pictured card over for you can determine what tomorrow or indeed the future holds, it's just total bullshit.

Tarot cards originate from 14/15th century Italy, possibly before in Mamluk ran Egypt and were originally used for card games and depicted various regions in Europe, they later evolved somewhat and were used my mystics and occultism but generally not till the 18th century. It seems there were lots of different types of cards back depicting many things from gods, regions to animal types and indeed today there are many types of tarot cards.

They have no magical qualities, they cannot predict the future, they are just a card with a picture that is turned over by a person that has a gift to talk about the picture revealed and make sweeping generalisations regarding the image and how it supposedly relates to you. When you watch such programmes as psychic tv you almost never see bad predictions being made, it's always good ones as bad stuff wouldn't be a wise business model. What you do see is statements such as 'You'll have a fling when autumn leaves are falling'. Things like this are usually said when a few facts have been determined about the person, as in they in a relationship etc and of course with generalisations like that made there's the fortuitous window that it will happen. What psychics, mediums and clairvoyants do is practice the art of 'chance' by saying gambit orientated stuff that people identify or relate to, such as recent illness, the passing of an elderly relative and other such regular life events that happen to us all, if one person doesn't respond then there's a good chance another in the audience will and then they can begin to build on that with other like 'your grandmother was quite frail in the end wasn't she?' - well most elderly people are!

Emblazoned across the television screen is all the various ways in which you can pay for this nonsense, credit card, pay by phone, pay by mobile, no way to pay is left out and people will pay good money to be told good things. It all runs like a well oiled money making machine as people text or call in with the usual social dilemma's but mostly its love or happiness and they all are told the same but with different words. Credit where it is due, the psychics and tarot readers can talk, they are truly gifted and talking about finding love in a 1001 different ways. One woman called in and remained anonymous and asked 'Does my male neighbour like my Christmas card and will we find love in the new year?' The answer was of course he did love the card but was unsure of his own mind, he was lacking in confidence and perhaps the lady needed to give him a bit of a nudge to instigate something. Therefore the psychic is using the power of suggestion, urging the woman into action and thus making things happen but on the psychics part its all remained vague and no good or bad outcome is mentioned, it's all very clever and its all done with no information on the caller at all.

Sadly there's a lot of vulnerable, gullible and lonely people out there in society, money too is a scarce commodity at present and this compounds how people feel, increasing isolation. It's human nature to want to love or be loved and the producers of the show and their motley bunch of greedy psychics know this very well as they charge upwards of £1.50p a minute to make you feel good, it's television and lies of the worst kind. The fact they can give people a reading knowing nothing at all about them defies logic and when some do reveal their star sign or date of birth we get even more vague information that signifies or means nothing 'Oh Jupiter is in alignment with whatever and this means love for you'. Yeah of course it does.

Tarot cards are meaningless occultist mumbo jumbo, nobody can talk to the dead and nobody can predict the future otherwise we'd have some people in society that could just take over and run the whole show because they'd know everything.

It is odious deception of the worst possible kind. I'll bet they didn't see this blog coming !!!

The Cult Of Celebrity

Every time you switch your Tv on these days there is a reality show on, its nothing new, we seemed to have embraced reality programmes with a passion over the last decade or so. I can't deny that I've watched reality shows and enjoyed them in the past but these days I think they are cliché to the extreme. The current crop of shows gracing our screens at the moment has contorted the word 'celebrity', it has changed the meaning to 'someone that may have been on a programme once in the past'. Of course real stars avoid celebrity programmes like the plague, why tarnish a good career? It's the desperado's that we are left with, the ones that will do anything for exposure that could lead to other things or bring a few quid in. Then of course we have to address the fact they are clearly deluded and their overblown self belief is evident.

What I find amusing on celebrity programmes these days, such as celeb big brother or celeb coach trip et al is when the celebs first meet they regularly don't even know who the other is! The reason generally being for that is that they really aren't well known at all. There seems to be a collision on such programmes of celebs that have crashed and burned such as Michael Barrymore meeting celebs (I use the word loosely here) who have been on some minor cable channel decorating rooms or something.

It seems all you have to do these days is appear on a reality tv programme, albeit even once and you have transcended normal everyday life and are now a celebrity. An article that recently amused me was two X-Factor contestants called '2 Shoes' (yes from Essex, where else!) announced after being booted out of the show on the first week that they wanted to do their own chat show. Here lies the problem with the whole cult of celebrity these days, in the fact after minimum exposure people assume they've hit the big time and deserve something without any effort at all. The tragedy is that the world of minor celebrity is a cut-throat one, they have to hustle for such shows to pay their way, however demeaning they might be or you swiftly fall from grace and into debt, I quote Jade Goody for instance who died leaving sizeable debts and other celebs such as the loathsome Kerry Katona that has reported of being in considerable debt before.

What we seem to have these days is the regular circuit celebs, looking at the current crop of celeb programmes it seems to be the ones that have been on Big Brother in the past or as I stated above are fallen stars or minor channel wannabe's.

I guess in the past I used to enjoy such shows to a degree, I never took them seriously they were just something I watched whimsically. I guess the likes of Big Brother started out as something experimental and new but rapidly declined into the same old crap year in, year out. The by-product being people that probably enjoy a 5 mins of fame before lapsing into the unknown abyss and then being unable to come to terms with it.

The bad news is though the media will keep churning it out and of course there is a market for it on tv and the tabloids which is probably the reason I don't read such newspapers any more or watch that much television, unless I want to vent my spleen at such drivel for therapy.

The Ridicule Factor

Ok I confess, I watch the X Factor, not avidly nor do I worry if I miss the programme but I watch it if I'm at home on a Saturday. The show I feel is pretty irreverent about music and has always been irreverent in the way it portrays people. I'm guilty as charged for laughing at the misguided souls trying to impress. Of all the thousands auditioning the ones deemed to have genuine talent progress and so the process goes on. I guess with most it's just a punt at making the showbiz life and there's nothing wrong in that. Others have been told they can sing by friends (who lied) and have wholly bought into it. A minority have unashamed arrogance in their capabilities or lack of them and some to be blunt are just plainly deluded, there's no easy way of saying it.

There's many different tiers of talent on the show from the raw yet to be moulded talent, the entertaining pub/club types that can belt out a half decent tune, the unusual or bizarre and as I have mentioned the above the wishful thinking or deluded types. One last type remain though and that's the vulnerable, the sort the show will shameless showcase for the entertainment of the rabid British tv viewing proletariats. The nation must echo with laughter as we watch couples such as the Sinclairs or individuals like Ceri Rees attempt to sing and fail dismally.

Let's be honest here though, such people however nice clearly aren't as intelligent or astute as the majority, I think there's a line between delusional and perhaps not the sharpest tool in the toolbox to coin a phrase. That is in no way intended as disrespectful, the flat fact here is that some of us are more intelligent and perceptive than others in society and that's how it will probably always be, the intelligent and the not so.

What angers me about the show is that they know this too yet the sensationalist producers will still lead the vulnerable lambs out to the slaughter because it's good for ratings, like jesters of old they entertain the kings of the living room armchair thrones and its all very sad if you ask me. I've got to the point where laughter now eludes me, I just shake my head in pity and question why the producers of the program would (a) readily make fools of people knowing they have no musical ability (b) air something that doesn't have the alleged X factor or is remotely musical and (c) create a cause and lasting effect scenario for unfortunate people.

Now you could argue that regardless of any intelligence, ability or skill you have a right to audition and in essence I concur however I do think there is a small percentage as recently demonstrated that could be clearly regarding as vulnerable in some respects. According to reports the Welsh woman Ceri Rees shown on the last audition show has been in tears ever since and the producers were contacted by a singing teacher who had befriended her and pleaded with them not to show the footage. If Ceri Rees had failed four times to progress in the show why build her up again only to destroy her hopes and dreams all over again? It's even disconcerting for die hard fans of the show. As for the Sinclairs, they seemed a lovely couple who probably now will receive ridicule and humiliation in the high street resulting from their footage. Unless the show vets people better before allowing them a very public demise on stage I suspect one day it may end in tears with something very real happening on a reality show that really isn't very nice at all.

Usually mature adults in this country make allowances for people who perhaps aren't the brightest or who may have mental health issues and morally look out for them in many respects so that they retain their dignity, yet a national family show has no such disposition or concern. The irony is that a contestant before who did have mental health issues was pulled from the show after progressing which can only have been a massive blow to the persons morale. People with low intelligence or indeed mental health suffer enough as it is in society without national media portraying them as buffoons. I'm not saying those people can't be gifted in many ways because they can but the reality often is that they don't see things as we do and that's the simple fact of it, if they were to progress the trappings of fame and publicity would only end up confusing them more and doing real psychological damage.

In closing I think the X factor needs to concentrate more on the potential talent than highlighting no talent at all. Everyone deserves the right to apply but everyone needs to be treated with respect and moral understanding of the implications of being on the show. I don't like what Simon Cowell stands for basically, the X Factor is all about finding potential talent for financial gain, the contestants also gain short term but when they fall out of the brief attention span of the public they are released from (as I understand) a very stringent contract and then who knows what will become of them, remember Steve Brookstein? In March 2010 Mr Brookstein was performing in a pub in Cornwall where punters paid £2.50p to hear him sing, if you bought a pie and a pint that was then waived, his two albums were on sale for £3 each. Despite his 5 minutes of fame he's a very bitter man.

Musically the X Factor has and never will give us anything other than commercial produced pulp pop tunes where the contestants are propelled to fame without any real maturing. There's lots of genuine talent out there in this country, the sensible ones probably opt not to appear on the X Factor because they have a love for 'real' music. We may live in an age in where things move a little faster and singers or bands become popular overnight due to the media unlike the greats who have had to perform long and hard over the years to gain recognition and deserved fame but like a wine or cheese that matures over time - they're always better.

Tv Of The Month

In all honesty it's not been a bad month on Tv. Shooting Stars with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer returned with much hilarity on BBC2, Monday 9pm or there abouts. This long running comedy quiz show (I say that loosely) just gets better with age and still manages to be fresh after all these years, it's surreal, it's bizarre and more importantly it's a bit of irreverent fun.

Reality show Big Brother entered the fray in resurrected sense on Channel 5 (daily 10pm) after it was dropped by Channel 4 some time ago. First up is the celebrity version before the long running public one begins proper. There was much hype surrounding it but to be honest a B-list celebrities are all that entered the recreated opulent house and I turned off after just two episodes, according to viewing figures over 5 million viewers dumped it after the first night too.

Dragon's Den is also in full swing on BBC2 (Sunday 9pm usually) but I really feel the format is looking tired now despite the entrance of new down to earth female dragon 'Hilary Devey'. I'll still stick with it as there's new innovations of interest but generally it's much of the same.

Cheesy reality talent show 'The X-Factor' also reprised on UK screens this month (ITV Saturday 8pm) but even though all the judges are new despite Louis Walsh it still feels very 'Simon Cowell'. Mr Cowell is already ruffling feathers by replacing chart singer Adele with Sinitta for the boot camp stages at the alleged judges houses. Though I must confess to watching the early shows its just purely for laughs as deluded hopefuls try and prove they have what it takes to be the next manufactured robotic pop act that is ultimately launched by Cowell's label 'Syco'. Fair play to Mr Cowell, he plays a shrewd game and why scout for new talent when you can get it to come to you via a televised format? Sadly a large amount of the younger British public buy into the whole thing because of the show and thus we have groomed manufactured mundane pop acts all over the UK charts.

You can't blame some people for trying but sadly a good majority think they are recording artists after getting through the first audition. The fact is the finalists are fast tracked to fame and don't really have to work hard at proving themselves like aspiring acts did years ago, it's all too easy via the X-Factor, the result is generic rubbish that end up doing an album of cover versions until they are dropped back into obscurity they were once plucked from, none will have longevity of the likes of the Rolling Stones or Bowie.

Next up was the excellent 'Seven wonders of the Buddhist world' (BBC2 24th Aug) presented by the very gorgeous Bettany Hughes. What a refreshing hour and 15 mins of great television as Bettany guided us around the world to view shrines and temples of the Buddhist world from Thailand to Cambodia, from Nepal to the USA. Regular readers know I'm not a faith orientated person but buddhism does interest me as it is one of the few faiths in the world with a lot of common sense attached to it. I'd been to the Buddha shrine on Lantau Island in Hong Kong several years ago and I found it to be an amazing place and I smiled broadly in fond memory when Bettany visited it on the show.

Lastly we have 'Francesco's Italy tip to toe' on BBC4 Tuesday 8pm) in which eternally smiling elfin Italian Francesco da Mosta travels from his native Venice to the toe end of Italy whilst criss-crossing this beautiful and historic country. I blogged about him a few years ago when he did another travelogue style program sailing from Venice in search of the old Venetian empire around the Adriatic coast, Greece and Istanbul. Francesco is a proud Italian historian/traveller with plenty of character and deserves wider recognition for his great shows and books.

Below is the Buddha shrine at Lantau island, Hong Kong, featured on Bettany Hughes's 'Seven wonders of the Buddhist world' . I took this photo when I visited some years back.

Tv Of The Month - Small Teen, Bigger World.

I've not really watched much television this month, no bad thing really. The Apprentice ended with a good conclusion I thought and the right person won for a welcome change.

One program that did touch personal heart strings was 'Small Teen, Big World' which started as a four part documentary on BBC3 on July 11th. It opened with 3'8" (Hope I got that right) teenager called Jasmine (she prefers Jazz) saying 'I don't have a problem with my height but other people often do' or words very similar. All I can say is that being of hobbit like stature myself I empathised with Jazz immediately and each episode has evoked plenty of emotion within me. The series deals with certain aspects of Jazz's life in each episode, including the reunion with her estranged father, social life, holidays and relationships with those around her including her amazing grandparents and hysterical mum called 'Bev' who is a little gem in her own right.

The BBC needs to be commended for documentaries like this but I really wish it had made prime time BBC1 viewing to bring awareness of us small folks to the masses so we aren't people that are ridiculed in the street or just in films - we are a part of society. I'm a little taller than Jazz but I still face the same prejudices and obstacles at times and I can painfully recall what it was like growing up with the inner battles of trying to be who you are and sometimes wanting to be someone else. Age of course eases things but Jazz is probably coping in many ways better than I did, she really is very articulate, lovely and above all remarkable - a real heroine of our times.

Jasmine I just want to say thank you for sharing your life on the tv and say that you're an inspiration, your family is awesome and your mum has me giggling like a loon -what you both have is very special.

Nowadays when people ask me how I handle being short I reply 'I wear it, I wear it like an armour' - they never see that one coming but these days its true, I am proud of who I am and like you - never let it hold me back!

Tv Of The Month

It's not been a bad month for tv really. The Apprentice has been in full swing on BBC1, Wednesday 9pm. The thing is, I feel the Apprentice is becoming tired and formulaic. There's only so many times panoramic camera views of London (especially the Gherkin building) can have appeal. The tasks on the show remain the same with little change. The contestants are as usual mostly loathsome ego maniacs yet I still watch the show, mainly because I love Sir Alan's aide 'Nick Hewer' who has me rolling with laughter with his facial gesticulations and quips. Karen Brady is also a great asset to the team and I really like her blunt honesty. The show does need some changes though, maybe longer tasks or more trips abroad BBC?

Second up is the back to back programs of Four In A Bed and Come Dine With Me on Channel 4 5-6pm respectively. Great irreverent virtual reality shows with plenty of typical Brit humour, I never take the shows seriously but then that is the general idea - an ideal bit of teatime nonsense with laughs.

Lastly my favourite program of the month. This was a documentary presented by the award winning fantasy author Terry Pratchett, a thoroughly lovely man. The documentary called 'Choosing to Die' was aired on BBC2 on June 13th an was about assisted suicide. I really find words hard to find to describe the impact this program had on me. It was a reminder of my mother that died several years ago when I consented to her life support machine being switched off. All the memories came flooding back but the way Terry Pratchett presented this sensitive subject was objective in general context (not subjectively about Mr Pratchett), balanced and very touching. As he rightly quotes in my opinion 'The timing of his death should be his choice and not the governments'. Of course Terry Pratchett's thoughts and feelings were evident but I felt as a viewer the program looked beyond his personal views and looked at the subject matter from different perspectives.

It was a compelling piece of powerful television and I haven't seen anything that has evoked that much raw emotion in me for some time. I feel strongly for assisted suicide if of course there is no doubt in peoples minds that because of disease, pain and declining health issues that their quality of life is no longer there. It's a contentious subject for sure but one I feel the government needs to address and the church needs to stay out of. Great television from the BBC. You can find a review of the program here.

Tv Of The Month

This month for me has been dominated by the amazing Game of Thrones on Sky. Each episode gets better, not just by a little bit but by huge leaps all the time, a great cast and a captivating story of family power struggles, personal feuds and political intrigues. It really is amazing stuff.

Secondly I've also been watching the ever hysterical 'Have I Got News For You' weekly on BBC1 though I usually watch the extended version on the very excellent BBC iplayer which I can access through my tv. It's been going for years but the format never gets tired with the very witty Paul Merton and Ian Hislop helped along by funny guests and iconic hosts.

Below is a picture of the Throne they are all making a play for in the awesome 'Game of Thrones'.

Tv Of The Month

It's been a cracking month tv wise. The month kicked with the excellent Louis Theroux going back to visit the vitriolic biblical buffoons known as the Phelps family on BBc2, April 3rd. The family headed by failed lawyer and misguided ranter Fred Phelps are of course more of a cult than a real church. In his second jaunt to see them called 'America's most hated family in crisis' we learn several members have left to start what I'd call real lives. Louis has such a style and approach that he manages to get the cult members to unwittingly reveal perhaps more than they'd want to, great and insightful tv.

Neil Oliver has also made a return to BBC2 (Tuesday's 9pm) with his new mini series called 'History of Celtic Britain'. Mr Oliver is always good to watch and I love his enthusiasm though during this series I found myself being critical on several points as I felt he quickly brushed past some key areas of interest, Queen Boudica not really getting the coverage she deserved really, still, another great offering from the enthusiastic Caledonian.

Next up, and keeping with the theme of history was Dan Snow and 'Filthy Cities' (BBC 2, 9pm) covering the history of London, Paris and New York in their most grimy and disgusting periods. Dan really got stuck into doing some of the horrid jobs they had to do back in the day, such as carving up animals in a back alleyway and washing their entrails into the street as well as generally shovelling raw excrement onto backs of carts. He deserves a medal for it and it provided a vivid look into how filthy our great cities used to be.

Zombies made a welcome return to our screens this month with 'Walking Dead' coming to Channel 5 (Sunday 9pm). Although only a short six or seven part series adaption of the comic I feel its very much a thinking man's zombie series with some great characterisation and acting with Andrew Lincoln playing embattled cop 'Rick Grimes' with a great supporting cast.

At last the much vaunted 'Game of Thrones' has come to Sky Atlantic (Monday 9pm). All I can say after seeing the first two episodes is a resounding wow! It's too early days to write too much about it but I suspect it is really going to be epic, HBO can certainly turn out some quality stuff and I don't think this will disappoint. Amazing cast, great actors, deep and twisty plot and the promise of lots of things to come, I can't wait.

So all in all, a great month of television.

Tv Of The Month

It's not been a great month for tv really, in fact I haven't watched a great deal at all. The lure of my 42" screen tends to happen around tea time whilst preparing or eating food. I've got a back log of dvd's to watch, as well as several recorded programs too. Anyway, on to the titled subject. My favourire program this month has been 'One man and his campervan' which ran on BBC2 for ten days earlier this month. It chartered the culinary road trip of Volkswagon campervan owner Martin Dorey from Devon on his journey around Britain. I'm guessing it was filmed last summer. I loved Martins laid back attitude to life, his appreciation of people and places and very likeable demeanor. To be fair I think I would have preferred more of a travelogue type program as I feel there's too many cooking programs on these days but this was cooking with a difference - from a VW camper with its limitations. I love VW caravettes, probably as my dad had one several years ago, alongside the mini they are probably my favourite motor vehicle and I'd love to own one and explore this lovely isle we love on because lets be honest in our life times how much do we actually see of our own countries?

Second up program wise is (ok you can groan) is Channel 4's 'Coachtrip'. I concede some may say it's irreverent reality tv but I like it. Coach trip has that common touch and is a great idea. Host and tour guide Brendan Sheerin often provides comic interludes and witticism's as seven couples basically compete to stay on the coach trip holiday the longest. There's laughter, skullduggery and tears which provides great early evening light hearted entertainment.

Tv Of The Month

I've not watched a great deal of television this month. Bruce Parry has been back on our screens with a documentary series on the Arctic. It's been fascinating stuff and I love Mr Parry purely for the empathy and interest he shows in what he is doing, he's such a top bloke and whilst some of his programs are bitter-sweet in content he manages to be objective at all times.

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is now showing on Starz, it's a prequel series to last years Spartacus: Blood and Sand. It's minus Andy Whitfield (Spartacus) who has been ill over the last year (odd it still carries the Spartacus label though). It's more about John Hannah's character and his wife Lucy Lawless as they rise through the Roman socialite ranks with their gladiator school and so far it's shaping up very well indeed. Check out a trailer below.

Next up is the Tudors (season 4 - and final one), is back on BBC2, 9pm Saturdays. Ok so it's a history 'light' version of Henry the eighth but it's still compelling tv. I'm hoping they follow it up with a series about Elizabeth the 1st in coming years. Here's the new season trailer.

Dairy Milk Commercial

I'm really love the new Dairy Milk commercial, great commercial in what is seemingly a sea of bland car insurance commercials these days. If you're wondering who the song is it's by Freestyle and the title is 'Don't stop the rock'.

Tony Hart

Tony Hart the children’s Tv presenter and artist died yesterday aged 83. I grew up watching television watching shows such as ‘Vision On’ and ‘Take Hart’ almost daily as he created something out of nothing as quick as a flash, it was magical to watch. I guess I was a creative kid and watching Tony work always enthralled me, then later came along his hilarious animated clay character called ‘Morph’. I was just reading his mailbag often attracted between 6 and 8 thousand letters a week.

Goodbye Tony, and thanks for the childhood memories and I’ll never forget the 'Vision On' gallery music !

Strictly Nonsense

He’s not pretty, he’s getting on a bit and according to the judges of this program he can’t dance. Former political journalist John Sergeant has decided to pull out of BBC1’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Now, I don’t ever watch this program but the odd brief bits I’ve caught of it is a simple format, the best dancers progress, the weakest get pin pointed by the judges and then face a public vote, a popular reality tv formula.

Sergeant’s dancing abilities have been in question most weeks evidently, and the judges of the program have been none to flattering about his ballroom dancing techniques and grace. On the other hand, the public love him and have kept him in the show every week, despite his scores ranking near the bottom.

Now he feels it’s time to leave the show as if he won it would be ‘a joke too far’ and not really fair on the good dancers if he won. How sad is that, a man with obvious character and with a comedy value that appeals to the masses has withdrawn? Did he jump or was he pushed? Reading the BBC news forums it seems the public will miss him greatly, and the fact he was getting stick every week prompted more to vote to keep him in. The British public don’t like being told who is best or who they should vote for, that psychology doesn’t work, we love an underdog, we love character and we like to laugh and be entertained, isn’t that the whole purpose of light entertainment reality programs? There’s the argument of course that the best contestants should ultimately win and also that Sergeant has turned the show into a soap opera, but the bottom line is the public vote for who they like, and after all this is a celebrity prime time program and not a serious competitive event. If it was a serious program the celebrities wouldn’t be there in the first place! It’s all nonsense, and more proof, as with other recent events that the BBC just isn’t in touch with its audience needs or wants. As for the press, why listen to their bitter and twisted rants on Sergeant, now he’s left they just pour scorn on someone else.

I miss the old days, programs like ‘It’s a Knockout’ to name but one, where it was all light hearted fun, wasn’t so serious and ego’s didn’t come into play, it was just good old fashioned entertainment.

By Any Means

Yep Mr Charley Boorman is back in his latest sojourn called 'By Any Means' in which he travels from his family home in Wicklow, Ireland to Sydney in Australia using any transport available in the country he happens to be in, excluding air travel.

I've watched the first two episodes riveted to the screen, he sort of reminds me of a modern day Francis Drake, Boorman is charismatic and witty, and compulsive viewing. It's nice to see Charley doing a series of his own, not that I thought he was ever over shadowed by Ewan McGregor in the Long way around/down.

Baker's Banter

So, I was in the bakers in town today when I turned and noticed the guy in front of me was none other than the actor that plays Eric Pollard in Emmerdale (ITV, weekdays, 7pm)

He lives on the outskirts of town, I've seen him before a couple of times, The actress that plays Edna Birch lives in a village nearby too.

As I order some bread, he orders some cakes and jokes with the very attentive staff he intends to munch on the cakes later in the car.

The two female staff remain really polite and are all smiles till the moment he leaves.
Then one turns to the other and says;

'My lad went to school with his lad, my lad says his lad is a bit of an arse!'

The people in the shop burst out into fits of laughter.

When in Rome

Rome is back on BBC2, in fact its halfway through season 2 and what a rip roaring series its been! Full of intrigue, divided loyalties, conflicts, subversion and pure decadence.......oh and did I mention the gratuitous sex and violence?

Class acting from the likes of Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson as Vorenus and Pullo as their lives become ever more complicated and manipulated by Romes powers that be. Atia of the Julii played by Polly Walker remains as seductive and ruthless as ever and my personal favourite is Mark Antony played by James Purefoy, an arrogant machiavellian if I ever saw one.

David Bamber plays an excellent Cicero, always plotting and counter plotting and pulling some great facial expressions whilst doing so.

Last but not least is the sometimes malevolent looking Octavian played by Simon Woods, who incidentally reminds me of a young Malcolm McDowell.

Ok for the pedentics out there the series isn't historically correct but who cares when shows of this calibre come along to grace our often mundane tv screens!

Hypocrisy?

I'm confused. Though I'm not watching this series of Big Brother on Channel 4 I gather a housemate was evicted for using the term 'nigger' quite innocently whilst dancing with another house mate (of Afro-Caribbean background). Swift action was taken and she was removed from the show.

But surely Channel 4 are hypocrites? They readily show Hip-hop, R'n'B and rap videos and even programmes in which the word 'nigger' is clearly used.

Personally I don't like the word or agree with its use but it seems to me things are somewhat fudged these days as regarding certain words and who can say them.

You're always going to get black people that play the racist card and condemn certain words and actions but equally you are going to get black people that are quite happy with the word and freely use it. I understand the origins of the word and why it could be found distasteful for a white person to call an ethnic person it but I do feel that certain incidents on tv only serve to heighten racial tensions also.

But in closing I just think it smacks of hypocrisy from channel 4 who in trying to resolve it have seemingly made it a big deal.