If it’s news to me, it must be news to you!
Crepe idea
Surrey police celebrated Shrove Tuesday by calling in Crepe Artiste Philippe de Pan to help them locate some of their most wanted villains through the medium of pancake art.
Speaking of pancakes
An Englishwoman won the annual pancake race challenge between the town of Olney in the UK and Liberal in Kansas with a time of 1:06 seconds.
May not contain nuts
What do peanuts, almonds and walnuts have in common? Yep, they are among the ten common nuts that aren’t actually nuts.
The man with the unlucky sneeze
The James Bond theme is one of the most instantly recognisable but who knew that composer Monty Norman based it on an abandoned 1950s musical? The lyrics are a scream – click the video on the right to listen to the original. (Hat tip to QI)
No iDear
If you’re watching a film and want to know who are the bad guys just check out their phones. They will never use an iPhone because Apple has a clause in their contract that forbids an association with any character that might damage their image.
Speaking of technology
When you’re trying to do a serious Facebook Live about the weather and you accidentally tap the Mystery Mask filter.
A lot at steak
I’m not sure this is up my street – a vegan steak created on a 3D printer.
And finally
A Mona Lisa made out of nearly 300 Rubik’s Cubes was sold for nearly half a million euros at auction in Paris on Sunday evening.
Brief Lives
NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson; former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak; last of the silent movie child stars Diana Serra Cary; former rugby league player Adam Maher; flat-earther and steam-power rocketman “Mad” Mike Hughes and; prolific author Clive Cussler.
One of the Hidden Figures. KJ, RIP!
As for Brief Lives, I don’t think Mr Parrot will mind me “piggy backing” into his system with a mention of the recent death of British comedian, actor and TV and radio presenter, Roy Hudd on 15th March 2020. He was a bastion of British comedy for many years and certainly added zip and sparkle to many a radio show. He was perhaps a link to those fading years of British music hall (think Charlie Chester, Arthur Askey, Ted Ray etc) and, after his departure and that of Ken Dodd a year or two back, it’s now extremely unlikely that there are any of that breed still “treading the boards.”
A couple of days ago, I stumbled across a video recording of the unveiling in Brighton, of a blue plaque in memory of Lancastrian comedienne, Dora Bryan (perhaps best remembered for her role as the “floozy” mother in the 1960’s film, “A Taste of Honey.”) There doing the unveiling was our old chum, Mr Hudd.
He also had another string to his bow, which was his vast knowledge of British music hall – the performers themselves and the material that they had used. A very talented man and a sad loss to our world of entertainment. God bless him.
Thank you for this Trevor. With everything going on at the moment it didn’t feel the time for my often flippant Sunday Round-ups but I had made note of Roy’s passing who is one of my comedy heroes. He will be missed.
Here’s another one for me to “piggy back” (apologies to Mr P) with the death a few days ago of British comedian, Eddie Large (born McGinnis). He was one half of the Little and Large comedy double act which came to the forefront in the early Seventies. Perhaps not as impactful or longlasting on the British public as Morecambe and Wise or The Two Ronnies, nonetheless, their somewhat simple Northern humour managed to keep us entertained (the audience ratings don’t lie) on TV on a succession of Saturday nights. Poor chap went into hospital with a heart complaint but lost his life to the coronavirus. Doesn’t seem right somehow.
I’ve missed your posts, Ian. It’s okay with me if you’re flippant. We need more flippancy and fewer posts about you-know-what. I’m sick of reading about it. If Mrs. RWP and I die of anything it’s going to be boredom as we haven’t left the house in over a month. We have reverted to our youth and put jigsaw puzzles together and play the Phase 10 card game to pass the hours.
…and there’s more.
Michael Medwin died earlier in the year. He was a British film and TV actor from the late Fifties and early Sixties, probably most remembered for being Corporal Springer in the hit British TV series, “The Army Game” Set in National Service, the fate of many a young lad at that time – alongside Sergeant Major Snudge (Bill Frazer), Private “Excused Boots” Bisley (Alfie Bass), Private “Popeye” Popplewell (Bernard Bresslaw) and Private “Cupcake” Cook (Norman Rossington). Tell you what, we were easily pleased in those days.
Pearl Carr – one half of a singing partnership with husband, Teddy Johnson. I believe they won one of the very first Eurovision Song Contests – and we’ve never looked back.
Derek Acorah – Merseyside-born spirit medium, perhaps best remembered for his participation in the successful TV series, “Most Haunted.” Some doubts about his authenticity but an interesting character, nonetheless.
Tim Brooke-Taylor – British TV and radio performer, perhaps best remembered for being part of, “The Goodies” (did we really find them so funny?) But also seemed popular on radio panel shows like “Just a minute”?
Honor Blackman – came up through vintage black and white British films then progressed to “The Avengers” on TV and being a Bond heroine (Pussy Galore?). Bit of a dish I always thought.
Joe Brown (not the singer) – prominent British rock and mountain climber. Learned his craft after World War Two on the Pennine hills in northern England and was at the forefront of climbing in this country alongside several others from the Manchester conurbation. The odd one out was Chris Bonnington from “darn sarf.” They went on to be prominent throughout the world of climbing.
TTFN