what's all this shouting?

went to see The League of Gentlemen live show at the Bristol Hippodrome last night – utterly fab. I don’t think they missed out any of the characters, and Hilary Briss in a spangled apron was a sight to behold. Very efficient stage crew who managed all the set and costume changes without a hitch, and the League themselves must have been exhausted by the end.

the first half is loosely – very loosely – based around Legs Akimbo organising a nativity play, and the second is a pantomime (hence the sparkly costumes).

the audience were in a mood to enjoy, and even perlmonger was seen indulging in audience participation. We were accompanied by agc and kalunina, and a very good time was had by all.

I imagine it’s sold out everywhere, but if you’re a fan, and they’re anywhere near you, it’s well worth the ticket price

Alan Bennett

for those of you who are fans of Alan Bennett – and I’m a huge fan – listen to the Home Service this evening, where you will encounter a two part special on the great man.

19:15
Front Row
4 Oct 05

In conversation with Mark Lawson, Alan Bennett discusses his work for stage, screen and radio, and also reflects on his childhood, his family, and changes in his personal life, which he has recorded in his new book Untold Stories. [Continues at 8.00pm]. Alan Bennett talks to Mark Lawson about family secrets and being neighbours with Sven Goran Eriksson.

20:00
A War Against Prejudice

Alan Bennett, Part 2: Continuation of the special programme looking at the work of Alan Bennett.


I’ve set the EyeTV up to record it, so hopefully copies might be available (if I’ve done it right).

a televisual feast

we have today, at long last, had The Aerial Chap round. Our ancient coat hanger on the roof got a lousy signal, and we had Telewest Digital boxen upstairs and down.

with the arrival of E4 on Freeview, we vowed to do something about it, if it could be done. And it could. Yon chap has erected [fnaar] a spanking new digital aerial, put in an amplifier and four feeds, plugged in the Freeview box*, tuned the TVs and videos, and left with 160 of your earth pounds, which seems like a bargain.

particularly when one considers that we were paying bloody Telewest *£48.50* per month for a service that we hardly use, so it will be paid for in pretty short order.

tomorrow, we will have the joy of trying to make it work with the Tivo. Oh good …

and there’s a feed into the study, and this nice new monitor does Picture in Picture, so I’d better go and get another Freeview box tomorrow.

* the box that came free with the television when we bought it about four years ago; never even opened the box, and it worked first time. *And* it has a top up slot should we want it.