Thursday 4 January 2024

First film of the year - which reduced a super-annoying sweet-rustling audience to complete, rapt silence after the first ten minutes. I did feel sorry for Sir Nicholas when he got ambushed by the ghastly Esther Rantzen, though. Happy New Year everybody. On the way home I bought a bunch of skinny pencil-bud daffs - and that was the first of the year, too.

10 comments:

  1. Oh, I don't think Esther Rantzen (sp?) is ghastly. I quite admire her - woman in a man's world back in the ??70s//80s. And now she's dying, poor thing. I mean, I wouldn't particularly want her living next door.

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  2. Also, she founded Childline and the one for oldies. I think she means well. No?

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  3. Yes, but it's all about the programme and big emotions and cameras shoved in people's faces as they weep - and huge pressure on people to turn up and perform for the public. I know if the likes of ER ever wanted to talk to me it would a big **** off! I'm not saying
    these programmes never do any good but they don't do it from the goodness of their hearts - why should they, that's not what they're there for.

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  4. Re Esther Rantzen, I'm with you. Private Eye has always called her Enid Rancid. She made herself a professional widow and now (and I am sorry for her) a professional cancer victim.

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  5. Ouch, that's even harsher than I am, callmemadam.

    I'm sure you'll enjoy it, Vronni.

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  6. Oh well! What firm readers you have, Mary. I still think she's done more good than I ever will. Childline, the one for sad oldies.

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  7. Maybe I'm being a bit mean, Pam - that moment in the film just seemed a bit manipulative. But it did take me back, Esther's young male sidekicks coming onto the set - then she appears in a very showy frock. Was it every Sunday (?) night through the 70s and 80s .. we all watched it (nothing else to do apart from homework!) but I'm old enough to remember Braden's Week. Only just!

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  8. Well, I haven't seen the film. I too remember the handsome male sidekicks, but (I don't think I thought about it at the time) I suppose it was as a contrast to the other way round for the sexes in most programmes at that time. I'm old enough to remember Braden's Week too and his wife Barbara Kelly (I think?).

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  9. Yes, I suppose it was a change back then for the woman to be very much Queen Bee. But I think you'd enjoy the film, Pam. I was at a reception at the NPG before Christmas and it was lovely to see some of the original 'children' there accompanied by their families.

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