Following on from my post earlier today about Leonard Rossiter, here he is on the 1978 Morecambe and Wise Christmas show. Stage presence is a strange thing. With Eric and Ernie, it was always Eric you watched. But here, right from the start, you can't take your eyes off Rossiter.
Good news for lovers of the Shropshire supernatural: the first edition of The Shropshire Witches Podcast has gone live. Its writers and presenters, Alix Chidley-Uttley and Amy Boucher, warn us to expect witches, folklore, hauntings and all things with a superstitious and murderous history. The first episode features severed penises, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General and a misogynistic king.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere's something about appearing in a successful situation comedy that makes an actor immortal. Leonard Rossiter is still a living presence to those who remember The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin or Rising Damp, yet it's now 40 years since he died. But he was far more than a sitcom actor, as the Guardian's superb survey of his career makes clear. He was a peerless stage actor and, because the best directors recognised his worth, he has a habit of turning up in films where you don't expect to see him. I saw Rossiter in his ...
Our election pledge was clear: after commitment to the NHS and social care and protecting the environment, 'We will help people with the cost of living.' We knew that was what most people wanted, after we had knocked on 2,741,251 doors (thanks, HQ!) in the General Election campaign, and national focus groups and polls had confirmed it. A Labour Party study into How Labour Won, reported in The Guardian, found that people voting Labour in this campaign had the same priorities. But what is the new Labour Government doing to help with the cost of living? Taking the Winter Fuel ...
This post is based on the speech I gave at Conference on the music industry. (Motion F36) I have spoken at conference on many issues - from funerals, to IT to empowering communities - but it is rare for us to have a chance to talk about the Creative Arts. As a society we do take artists, and what they produce, for granted. Music, drama and images are so much embedded in our lives that we often forget that there is a huge industry behind them, supporting individuals whose creativity needs to be nurtured, and often from an early age. ...
Back to Surrey for the next stop in our maiden speeches tour. Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell spoke in the adjournment debate in memory of David Amess MP. The text is below: Thank you for calling me to make my maiden speech, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate the hon. Member for Alloa and Grangemouth (Brian Leishman) on his contribution. It was interesting to hear about the challenges facing industry in his constituency. It is with immense pride and honour that I stand here today to give my maiden speech as the first ever female and first ever Liberal ...
Four principal authority council by-elections this week and a full slate of Liberal Democrat candidates. That is particularly pleasing as it is one up on the last time these wards were up. Marton (Blackpool) Council By-Election Result: [IMG: ➡] RFM: 38.8% (+29.3) [IMG: 🌹] LAB: 28.0% (-23.0) [IMG: 🌳] CON: 21.3% (-18.2) [IMG: 🙋] IND: 7.0% (New) [IMG: 🔶] LDM: 2.8% (New) [IMG: 🌍] GRN: 2.1% (New)Reform UK GAIN from Labour.Changes w/ 2023. — Election Maps UK (@electionmaps.uk) 2024-10-03T23:03:21.413Z
We recently received concerns from residents about the poor road surface on West Port at Johnston's Lane - see photo. We raised this with the Roads Maintenance Partnership and have received the following helpful response : "Thank you for your email. The local inspector has raised an order for repairs to be carried out."
Could Labour have handled the donations and gift scandal any worse? I don't think they could. Their media management of this ongoing crisis is the spin doctor equivalent of standing in a hole and digging furiously. Far be it from me to tell them what they should have done, but if they had got all of the facts out in the open on day one, apologised and changed the rules in double quick time so that it couldnt happen again, it is possible that the whole affair would have fizzled out by now and ministers could be concentrating on their ...
