Well our MFW TV week certainly revealed a lot of common likes and also a fair bit of diversity.
I never thought we’d conclude with a magnificent appraisal of Star Trek from Ed Couzens-Lake, but that’s life Jim, just not as we know it.
There was quite a bit of collective love for some of the obvious ones – Monty Python (thanks Stew), Blackadder, Minder and the Comic Strip team and all those marvellous spin-offs.
What was not mentioned – by readers and writers alike – which could have been?
Absolutely Fabulous, the Vicar of Dibley, OTT, Panorama and Crimewatch to name but a few.
Back in the day, I was occasionally an extra for “Police Five” with Shaw Taylor. The only role I can remember was bumping into a passenger alighting from a Red London Routemaster bus, nicking his wallet and buggering off on said bus.
Apparently, I did it so well there was no need for a second take.
The “wallet” was actually a Ryvita biscuit, but I did work for the Met after all and we couldn’t afford props.
Television has brought me joy and sorrow over the years, just as it has to all of us.
I got to meet several wonderful characters and a couple of buttholes (genuinely just one or two who I will not name) connected with that seemingly insular but actually all-embracing world.
Mrs P is in front of me as she met Edward Fox (more famous for theatre than television, but a “telly star” nonetheless) on several occasions.
My personal list includes a lot of folks I met in my capacity as a journalist but also a few impromptu encounters.
As this an end of MFW TV Week wrap and not an ego trip I’ll mention just a few of them.
Me and my mate Dave got free tickets to see something called “Yes We Have No Pyjamas” at the Harlow Playhouse, directed by Victor Spinetti and featuring one Fiona Richmond – many of our male readers will remember her for one reason or maybe two.
The set fell down at intervals, there was plenty of female nudity with no ostensible plot and as I recall they cancelled filming halfway through the debacle.
Afterwards, I approached Spinetti and Richmond, saying I was reviewing the show for the local rag, which indeed I was. Spinetti gave me a hug, said “Darling write what you like” and stormed off with a face like thunder.
Ms Richmond said: “Surely we weren’t that bad?” and that was that. Until I encountered her again a couple of years later by chance while she was opening the Top Man store in Harlow. She hadn’t forgotten me and gave me dogs.
I got £250 from the Sun for that story. You could buy a half-reasonable car for that in those days. $od the Harlow Gazette, money came first then. And maybe still does.
Frankie Howerd was a nice bloke – I met him in an Ilford churchyard while he was reading his script for the “unscripted” stage show Superfrank.
He took a right shine to my mate Solly and asked him into his dressing room before the show.
He didn’t invite me. Solly chose not to go.
Finally, there was the strange case of Bernard Manning. Racist to the core? I’m not sure about that tbh.
I bumped into him outside the Treasure Village, my local Chinese restaurant in Knutsford. He’d been paid a lot to put on a cabaret act for the owner – a personal friend of his.
We were yammering on for ages and he said it was all a myth that he was racist – it was how he made his money.
And how sad is that?
Anyway thanks for all your wonderful comments and hopefully we can collectively get back to the BL00DY FOOTBALL 😉
Great end to the week. I said in a post I met two in the Mitre Pub on Earlham Rd, Strattford Johns (softley Softley) Peter Adamson (Len Fairclough Corrie) Stratford Johns was as imposing as he was on screen, but was prepared to chat. Adamson on the other hand was depressed as heck, but not knowing the guy would not be easy to be right.
For my sins I was head of maintainence on Anglia Sq ( god it needed it) I was great friends with the steward of the old snooker club, used to do odd jobs for him that I really was not meant to. He stuck his head in my office informing Steve Davis had to whole club to himself from 9-11 am on certain days, while he was recording a Frame with Davis across at Anglia Studios.
In I went and sat quietly with a pint watching the master after 25 mins he walked over and asked if I would get him a bottle of water. Thought cheeky sod i aren’t your servant; but still went an got his water. Then on he was a smashing chatty guy, he even put me on the table with him, I could play a tad, but when compared to him I was a clueless moron.
He didn’t whitewash me, instead he helped with cuing, angles along with loads of technical aspects of the game.. His little stories of life on the circuit were a real pleasure to listen to, At the end of the fortnight he thanked me for making it bearable and for not being starstruck and blabbing . He brought in Mike Reid and Duggie Brown.on different days, two of the top comedians at the time, I do not honestly think I laughed so much since Monty Python at The Theater Royal. What smashing guys, still got the autographs on a snooker club menu, somewhere packed away.
I did have to work some days. but delegation was a wonderful thing ..
Hi Lad.
Shared experiences again!
When I was sports editor on the Harlow Gazette one Monday morning (our very busiest time) this sharp-suited “geezer” walked into our offices and demanded to see me. He didn’t bother to acknowledge reception, came straight in and slapped down a B&W picture and sheet of paper in front of me.
He said something like “this is Steve Davis – he’s going to be the champion and if you don’t print his picture and biog you’re a wally”.
Charming.
His name was Barry Hearne.
Run his story we did – shows the power of the man I guess.
I met Steve himself later, much later, when I was invited to The Matchroom in Romford. Boring he wasn’t – a lovely bloke indeed. I never got any lessons from him though!
During a stint on the Ilford Recorder, the local pub the Cauliflower was “a bit rough” so us journos used to drink in Ilford Snooker Centre where the house pro was Eugene Hughes. A great guy with time for everyone when he emerged from two to three hours of pre-tournament sessions.
In fact the manager, Jill, was the UK’s first female professional WSBA referee. We got a couple of stories out of that.
Mrs P and I occasionally indulge in the dubious delights of Anglia Square to this very day – mainly to buy Gravy Bones, our dogs’ favourite treats, at QD.
Rileys Snooker Centre has been next to Roys for several years now.
Thanks – small world:-)
Hi Martin
I saw Victor Spinnetti in Jesus Christ Superstar at one of the London theatres. He was a brilliant Herod, modern white suit, shoes, and tie. His rendition of Herod’s Song was superb.
As for getting back to football, oh how I hope Man City choose to play John Stones against us! I watched the match last night, and from half way through the first half I was pleading with Southgate to substitute him. Pukki will murder him!
Hi Jim
I’ve only seen the highlights but the Stones error was dreadful.
When Emi cuts inside as he so often does it will be interesting!
And there’ll be no Kompany, although they’ll probably spend £120m on a replacement.
Spinetti was a very nice guy – I’d actually met him before the “show” and he was very affable. I think he was a bit on edge that evening as his partner was seriously unwell and could not travel with him.
I had a look in the “broom cupboard” yesterday and found a C.1979 pic of Fiona Richmond ripping my shirt off at Top Man. Not with the best of intent – she didn’t like the Sun story but I’m a nobody so I didn’t care. She had a big smile on her face and hoped she’d get some publicity out of it I guess.
Pete Knight the photographer and I didn’t fall for it – but it was a great pic that I never threw out.
No publicity for Fiona that day.
Thanks as absolutely always.
Great stuff, Martin (and commenters).
Personally, I’d have left it at “Fiona Richmond ripping my shirt off … with a big smile on her face”. Let readers’ imaginations fill in the gaps….
Stew I absolutely promise I’ll show you and any interested others the pic, at the next MFW bash if not before.
I don’t possess a scanner but maybe Mundesley Library does? I’ll see what I can do in the next week or so.
The shirt-ripping was feigned anger and regrettably not lust.
Stewart, I wish you hadn’t said that – my imagination is in overdrive. I am old enough to know who Fiona Richmond was (is?) and the sort of stuff she used to write for a certain magazine.
Hi Jim
Fiona Richmond’s not her real name, she’s actually somebody called something Harrison and is allegedly the daughter of a CofE Bishop (no Google from me yet again as I like to keep my memory active and almost always unaided).
She spoke with an exceptionally upper-class voice I must say so the aforementioned might well be true – how would I know for sure?
I don’t remember her writings – I guess the term “nom de plume” would come into play in that scenario.
Thank you
I guess she just fell in with the wrong people – eh Mr Paul Raymond?
?
Hi Martin
Fuloy agree there have been some great comments on this TV week.
As for meeting celebs I did meet Muriel Pavlow and her husband Derek Farr at RAF Stanmore Park they were always guests as AVM Farr, they were very pleasant the AVM wasn’t, At Bentley Priory we would have little known visitors like Douglas Bader and Johnny Johnson come in very abrasive people.
A prog I rewatched last night that seemed to have slipped by was Special Branch it was good but when you see similar prog made today it a wonder that they get shown with all the complaints they might get form the PC brigade.
You have in the last 2 off seasons done music and tv why not do films next.
Last nights game was terrible and the errors in defence were highlighted but England seem to have found another Wilkins in Henderson he loves to play either sidesways or backwards very few forward passes, and continuously giving verbals to the REF, there is a game on Sunday which is completely waste of time for 3rd or 4th place who cares just more money for UEFA/FIFA
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Hi Alex
I did actually give a nod to Special Branch in the original article – tucked away in a lengthy list, but it’s in there somewhere!
On the military front I was delegated to drive Sir Michael Rose (as in NATO, Bosnia etc) to and from a prearranged field for his helicopter. He was a motivational speaker at our management conference and my boss, who came along insisted I must not speak to Sir Michael at any time.
He got out of the car to undo the five-bar gate but couldn’t budge it. Sir Michael was in mild hysterics. To pass the time he asked me: “Any military experience Martin?”
I truthfully replied: “only the CCF at school Sir”.
“What did you get out of it?”
“Sore feet and a marksman’s patch”.
“Oh, commiserations on the first and congratulations on the second”.
A really lovely gent. Sir Michael, not my boss, whose face was redder than a Man U top when he finally opened the gate.
For next year I suggested Cars (see above), but Films sounds equally feasible. We’ll see what Gary reckons nearer the time:-)
Thanks as always.
hope this works. she could have had my shirt any day of the week. and more… Perhaps spme clever chap could put the tags not sure which ones to use. () ?
https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/8587392/314full-fiona-richmond.jpg
If that doesn’t work here is url ..
https://www.listal.com/viewimage/8587392
Strictly for the younger members who haven’t a clue us old ones are on about
Thanks to absolutely everybody who commented on or created our MFW TV articles this week. We’re now back to the hard-nosed world of football which is what we do best, after all.
First week of June 2020 I’ll try and persuade Gary to do a week of Cars. My very first was an Austin 1100 and there have been a couple of Mercs, an Alfa and an amazing number of leaky convertibles along the way.
Until then, we’re PL footy-centric.
Loved that Martin, thankyou for sharing the stories and recollections.
I meet a few famous’ish people connected with (mostly) sport and music through my work and, although the prospect of some get me a tad excited at the prospect, I used to get positively hysterical (in an understated Norfolk manner) with delight at crossing paths with a famous face when I was younger.
Richard Briars in panto at Norwich in 1974 or 1975. OK, so we didn’t meet. But he was a man on the tele. On a stage. In real life. And in the same room as me (swoon!)
Bob Wilson. His Mum used to live in Brancaster. One summer evening, a group of us decided to knock at her door, as Bob had been sighted, that’s an affirmative, in the village. We walked there and, after taking around 40 minutes to pluck up the courage, we knocked on the door, pencil and bits of paper in hand and asked if Bob was in? “No, he’s gan oot*” said Mrs Wilson senior. So that was that.
Standing waiting for a sandwich in my favourite café in Wimbledon (when I lived there, early 1990’s) -it was opposite Wimbledon Theatre so in trooped Eddie Large and Syd Little who were doing panto there. Eddie was in character, cracking gags and taking the mick out of Syd to his audience of two (me and the café owner) but I was more interested in getting my sandwich and tried to ignore him as best I could before making my escape.
Walking across the Hungerford Road bridge in London. Kate Bush was walking towards me. It was like those scenes in The Matrix where everything stops apart from you and the other character. I was in full hippy regalia-mullet, long coat, Led Zep t-shirt. I wanted to impress and be cool so, as she walked past, I said “Hi Kate, fancy a coffee?”…except it came out as “Hmph Kut, fanci a corrfee”, such was my excitement. Sadly, THE great love affair of the 1980’s didn’t transpire as a result.
Asking Chris Woods for his autograph before the first Norwich game I went to. He dropped my pen to which I said, “…ha ha, you’d better not drop the ball in the match”. I can attest that, like the Incredible Hulk, you do not want to make Woodsy angry. Those eyes. That look. Shudder.
Some great material on the site as always. Much respect to all…
Hi Ed
I once met Bob Wilson too and he was a very articulate and friendly type of guy.
Likewise David James, who I met at The Belfry – although neither of us played golf, I was photographer for our company golf day and he was sitting in the sun waiting to be interviewed by a BBC sports crew who were late. We had a great chat and when my colleague Amanda came along she swooned. Not over me, but David of course. He was really happy to have pictures taken with her and also a couple of our corporate types who recognised him.
Brancaster’s a truly beautiful place – but I didn’t have a clue that Bob Wilson’s mum lived there!
Thank you.