Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Of a culinary vamp, tenors, treasure, old farts radio, brutalism, gay disappointment and Bowie in cabaret


Congratulations to the "sex kitten" of TV chefs Nigella Lawson, who steps into the shoes of previous hosts Dame Mary Berry and Dame Prue Leith as the new presenter of The Great British Bake-Off.

It's another snippets post, dear reader:

  • Brutal(ist), indeed news: The hideous concrete monstrosity that is London's Southbank Centre [the 1950s adjunct to the otherwise OK Festival of Britain survivor the Royal Festival Hall, it encompasses the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and the Hayward Gallery, and was later joined by the National Theatre next door, and the British Film Institute (BFI) after that] has become a Grade II listed building. It's still depressingly ugly.

  • Muddled history news: It is once again LGBT History Month in the UK and, unlike in its heyday when Camden & Islington LGBT+ Forum actively facilitated loads of events that appealed to all sorts of groups who vaguely sat under this stupid "alphabet soup" banner, and we always found at least one or two events to go to, there's not a lot that appeals. Not for several years, more's the pity. It's all "trans" this, "queer" {{shudders}} that and "lesbian" the other; at least in our locale.
    One event on the other side of London did indeed catch my eye, however - a touring dramatisation of a long-forgotten radio script from the BBC all about homosexuality in an age when it was completely illegal: Stephen M Hornby’s play The BBC’s First Homosexual. Unfortunately, and possibly inevitably since its London run is a) cheap (£5) and b) hosted at the teeny-tiny Cinema Museum in Kennington [which I have been dying to visit], it's sold out! As is the centenary celebration of the irrepressible Kenneth Williams at the British Library. Dammit.

  • And finally: Sad news arrives of the death of Mr Des de Moor. Latterly known for his passion for real ale and his writings about the subject, he seems an unlikely candidate for a tribute here - but his name rang a bell when I saw it in the obituaries. With very good reason - for, way back in 2003, I happened to purchase a copy of a real oddity: his tribute CD to David Bowie, in cabaret style, with the late Russell Churney [of Fascinating Aida and Julian Clary fame] Darkness and Disgrace! And here, for your delectation, are two tracks from it:

And the weather? Shit.

15 comments:

  1. That concrete "hideosity" that is Southbank's "Shining Tower" is a blight on the City. (just my humble opinion!)

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    1. The whole Southbank complex is incredibly ugly - yet it hosts some magnificent entertainment. Tip - go there, and take in the view from one of its balconies - it's the only vantage point from where you can't actually see it blighting the view of London!! Jx

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    2. I know...that's how some people felt about Eiffel's achievement. Restaurant did a roaring trade!

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    3. The same with other London "eyesores", like The Barbican, the Post Office Tower, The Shard or the hideous "Walkie-Talkie" tower, I'd guess... Jx

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  2. Brutalist can be a hard sell for me. Surroundings can help. This one is difficult to see.

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    1. It is fortunate in its Thameside location, in that (as I said to Dinah above), the panoramic views are lovely. Turn away from the water, and it's just layers of concrete. Jx

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  3. I miss the Southbank centre, as you say it does some of the best entertainment. Sometimes I'd just go there for a cup of tea because I felt comfortable there. I don't care if it's ugly. It's of its time.
    Sx

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    1. P.S I'm sad that the tickets for Kenneth Williams were sold out - I would've enjoyed your review of it.
      Sx

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    2. It is very much "of its time" - a time, in architectural terms at least, that is summed up in two words: concrete cancer.

      I am absolutely gutted to miss the Kenneth Williams centenary event. Giles Brandreth, Dame Sheila Hancock and the wonderful David Benson (who specialises in impersonating Kenneth Williams, as well as Frankie Howerd and Noël Coward)? It would be something very special, indeed! Jx

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  4. I wonder if Nigella would like a wooden spoon making. Awful building reminiscent of the Yumbo centre. The lovely Russell, I wonder what Barb Jungr is doing these days.

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    1. I thought exactly the same when I went to Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria - "what is that godawful 'NCP car park'-like building doing in the middle of a Spanish resort?" The Yumbo Centre makes La Nogilera in Torremolinos look pretty, and that takes some doing.

      Barb Jungr is still performing - she is a regular at our fave cabaret venue Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel this year, and last Xmas, she paired up with Dillie Keane of Fascinating Aida for a festive show that toured the UK.

      RIP, Russell Churney. Jx

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  5. Probably due to the fact that i was born on this side of the pond, i discovered Kenneth Williams only recently...but i am hooked. I binge "listen" to Round the Horne and Beyond Our Ken etc. like crazy. Stop messin' about.

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    1. There was nobody quite like him - quite rightly, a "national treasure" over here! Glad you're enjoying catching up with his long, long career at last. Jx

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  6. I like the Southbank Center It reminds me of Plymouth, Coventry, Swansea and any other Blitzed city's redevelopment.

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    1. In the Southbank's case, they don't even have the Luftwaffe to blame... Jx

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