Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner are to star in a new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre. You're welcome, Ms Scarlet.
It's another snippets post, dear reader:
- Celeb cornucopia news: The hit TV show Traitors has launched a successful "Celebrity" version, and for a change there actually are a load of really famous (as opposed to "TikTok influencer" or "former reality TV contestant") names in it, including sex god Tom Daley, popstrel Paloma Faith, (not-yet-a-Dame) Celia Imrie, Sir Stephen Fry, TV and radio presenter Jonathan Ross, classical crossover singer Charlotte Church, camp comic Alan Carr, sport and current affairs commentator Clare Balding, TV historian David Olusoga, daytime TV presenter Kate Garraway and actress Tameka Empson (plus a few others I'd never heard of). I'll still never, ever watch it, of course.
- Victory for free speech news: A man who was fined for burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has won his appeal against his conviction. "We live in a liberal democracy. One of the precious rights that affords us is to express our own views and read, hear and consider ideas without the state intervening to stop us doing so. The price we pay for that is having to allow others to exercise the same rights, even if that upsets, offends or shocks us", said Mr Justice Bennathan. Hear, hear!
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- Paragon of the pictorial arts news: An exhibition dedicated solely to that grand old queen of photographic portraiture, Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World is currently on show at the National Portrait Gallery until 11th January 2026. Another one to add to our list of "must-see" outings, methinks.
- Batman eats Robin! news: By examinining its shit, scientists have discovered that the European greater noctule bat hunts and eats migrating songbirds while in flight. Tweet that!
- Money for nothin' news: 38 years after it launched in the UK, the sad death of MTV has been announced - as all its remaining five UK music channels will go off the air at the end of 2025. Video killed the radio star. Now streaming has killed music television. Sigh.
- And finally: We're at the tail end of National Curry Week! I feel a celebration coming on...
Mohammed Rafi - Jaan Pehchaan Ho from Gumnaam
A Lamb Bhuna, pilau rice and some naan bread, please...
Oh you should watch Traitors just for Tom Daley's side-eye. I thought of you when I was watching. During the funeral procession he had his shirt undone - the man isn't keen on clothes even in the Scottish rain. Plus, I didn't believe I could love Stephen Fry any more than I do, but there you go. This may be a reality series [sort of] but you have to have an exception that proves the rule and I really think you might enjoy this one. Maybe watch some snippets?
ReplyDeleteOh....Aidan Turner! It gets better and better!! Thank you!!
Sx
I'm very happy that Tom Daley spends most of his time in little skimpies. It always cheers me up. However, wild horses wouldn't drag me to watch reality TV, even if the cast involved is fantastic. Madam Arcati's started watching it, however, but he copes better with that sort of thing... Jx
DeletePS Aidan - with a pornstar moustache! It doesn't suit him, but I'd forgive him.
You two have pretty much convinced me to watch celeb Traitors, now. A friend of mine was talking about how funny Alan Carr is on it (and in general, which I agree with) which had me humming and hahing about watching it. But now that I know (not-yet-a-Dame) Celia Imrie is in it, I'm going to have to tune in!
DeleteP.S. I also very much enjoy a pornstar moustache. Aidan's looks a bit "Nigel Mansell", but that's no bad thing!
It's a camp cast, alright - but I'll leave it to you and the Madam to exchange notes on that one... Jx
DeletePS Nigel Mansell a lust object?! Good grief.
Well, back in the day, a glimpse of Nigel Mansell's moustache had me reaching for my fan - or, it would have done had I not been a pre-baby gay at the time.
DeleteBless. I imagine Mark Spitz would send you into paroxysms, then... Jx
DeleteOh, how unseemly! I can see part of his top lip!!
DeleteSigh. Here you go... Jx
DeleteThere’ll have to be a new rock anthem to replace Video Killed the Radio Star. Aidan Turner... oh sigh.
ReplyDeleteThere's already been a "song" called Tik Tok. By Kesha, apparently. I didn't give it a listen. Jx
DeleteWell I am enjoying Traitors and looking forward to seeing 'Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World' and now I want a Curry !
ReplyDeleteThe Cecil Beaton exhibition will; be splendid, I'm sure!
DeleteJx
PS Dig out the mango chutney...
I'm on the link you provided for Cecil Beeton and once again I am SO JEALOUS of you guys, having so many cool things at hand to visit and enjoy. Also WTF bats eating tiny songbirds. I mean seriously WTF, bats. No. Make them stop. SOMEBODY MAKE THEM STOP PLEASE GOD
ReplyDeleteOne of the (many) reasons why I never want to live anywhere but London is the sheer number of things we have available to see or do. I mean, even if you can't afford the Cecil Beaton exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, or the Cartier one at the V&A, both venues are otherwise free to enter - which is the case for just about all our major museums and galleries! Jx
DeletePS Bird-killing bats! It is Hallowe'en soon, after all...
On the other side of the world and, indeed, the clock, I get valuable updates from your posts. Even things that don't float my boat; I still feel "in touch" with the far side of our world. And, besides, you do all the trawling.Well, you Daily Mash!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dinah! Jx
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