I am really looking forward to the new series of Doctor Who starting tonight.It will almost make up for this rubbish Spring. I cannot believe the program has it’s 50th Anniversary later this year – it was first broadcast on the 23rd of November 1963. That makes it almost as old as I am and that I have been watching it for most of my life.
I have really been enjoying the re-runs of the recent Doctor Who series on BBC3 and saddened that they have finished. What I did notice was that every now and then a very quotable line would come up. Unfortunately, I have a very bad memory and this is the only one I managed to jot down while still fresh in my mind. Do not hold your breathe waiting for Quote No2.
Doctor Who Quote No 1
I made the above image with a great little web application Recite. Just type in the text, pick a template and then chose what you want to do with it.
Finally. Last night, after all the waiting and the trailers, the first part of The Hollow Crown, Richard II, was shown on BBC 2.
I absolutely loved it. Gorgeously shot and superbly acted, especially by Ben Whishaw in the titular role. One nice little touch was the death of Richard mirroring the martyrdom of St Edmund, also a king, that was being painted in one of the earlier scenes.
St Edmund , of course , was one of the saints pictured with Richard II in the The Wilton Diptych, along with St Edward the Confessor and St John the Baptist.
It could have done with an intermission though – time to make a cup of tea. It was too good to miss any of it.
But don’t just take my word for it. Here is a proper review:
If you missed it there is always BBC iPlayer. And, you get the added bonus of pausing it.
Well, I know what I shall be watching on television later tonight.
I read last year that, as a schoolboy in the Sixties, Andrew Lloyd-Webber spent his pocket money buying up paintings by the then highly unfashionable Pre-Raphaelites. Ever since then, as well as a feeling of jealousy, I had wondered what was in his collection.
Now, thanks to ITV, at 11.35 I shall be able to find out.
In which the composer talks about his love of these Victorian artists and showcases his own collection.
Well the BBC’s Shakespeare Unlocked season has started , well for me anyway. I seem to have missed a couple of programmes in April. Yesterday evening I watched:
By focusing on the female roles of his earlier plays Twelfth Night and As You Like It, this documentary set out to show that Shakespeare had an insight into the hearts and minds of women.
I found it very interesting, but then I’m biased – I could find the Telephone Directory enthralling if read by gorgeous Joely Richardson.
I shall be watching Simon Schama’s Shakespeare BBC2 9pm on Friday although it conflicts with David Bowie And The Story Of Ziggy Stardust on BBC Four. Thank god for iPlayer.
I am really looking forward to The Hollow Crown. This is the series of film adaptions of four of Shakespeare’s history plays that cover the reigns of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V. The trailers look very stunning.
I wonder how it compares to the 1960s BBC series “An Age of Kings” that I remember from childhood.
I have just heard that yesterday Davy Jones died of a heart attack in Florida at the age of 66.
Although he had been in Coronation Street and played the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver in both the West End and Broadway, I remember him best as the British member of the Monkees.
The original manufactured boy band, The Monkees were recruited for a television series of the same name that ran for two seasons.
I fondly remember their madcap adventures in the late 1960’s and the music wasn’t too bad either, my all time favourite being Alternate Title.
Ah ha. Just found out that it really was an alternate title. Released in America as Randy Scouse Git it was renamed for the UK release in case it offended Brit sensibilities.