50th without that daft old face

"Yeah. I'm doing it now. Time Lords, we have this little trick. It's sort of a way of cheating death. Except... it means I'm going to change. And I'm not going to see you again... Not like this. Not with this daft old face."

Those were the penultimate lines spoken by the ninth Doctor. And it appears he was right because Christopher Eccleston has turned down the chance to appear in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Doctor Who.

Of course Doctor Who is used to celebrating its birthday by bringing back past regenerations of the eponymous hero. Nor is it the first time one of the Doctors has turned down the opportunity to appear.

It all started for the 10th Anniversary with The Three Doctors.  The last time William Hartnell would appear on screen (or indeed in any role) and on screen is how he appeared whether in the TARDIS or the Time Lords space time viewer, he being too ill to hurtle about with Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee.

Ten Years and two Doctors later it was time for The Five Doctors. Hartnell who had died in 1975 two years after The Two Doctors  was replaced by Richard Hurndall, and the other two from that ten year show appeared as did the newest Doctor Peter Davidson. But number four the recently replaced Tom Baker declined to take part, but he did appear trapped in some other time frame through footage of the strike affected and unaired Douglas Adams written story Shada.

Now there haven't been another other reunion of Doctors on the screen since the 20th, though for the 40th Big Finish did produce an audio play Zagreus which features the voices of Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and some cuts of the voice of the by then late Jon Pertwee. Plus a whole host of familiar companions Nicholas Courtney (the Brigadier), Anneke Wills (Polly), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Louise Jameson (Leela), John Leeson (K9), Lalla Ward (Romana II), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Mark Strickson (Turlough), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Bonnie Langford (Mel), and Sophie Aldred (Ace). Although not everyone was playing themselves because anti-time has affected the Doctor and the TARDIS and invaders from another parallel universe come to the Doctor in the form of his past self and companions. But the relation of the Doctor with the TARDIS in this story before the return to TV was revisted and used again the The Doctor's Wife.

So is Chris Eccleston being small minded to not want to appear in the 50th Anniversary. Well with the exception of McGann his is the shorter tenure in the blue box. His initial contract was only ever for one season, because nobody at the BBC knew if the revival would work or not. So maybe he isn't totally to blame for being replaced with David Tennant. However, when asked how he enjoyed the role he did once respond "Mixed, but that's a long story."

Tom Baker refused to add his voice to any Doctor Who Audio version until 2009, so hopefully, with another 28 year break, we'll see Eccleston maybe appear in the 75th Anniversary story, however he will be 74 at the time being the first actor to play the role born after that first episode.

It's the Weekend So....part 2

It's that time on a Friday where I let you all let you hair down a little it is 5pm GMT. On Wednesday it was the 20th Anniversary of Wallace and Gromit marked by this Google ident.



So for a little bit of fun here is their appearance in last Christmas's BBC One ident.



But just as Nick Park was inspired by other stop-motion animators so he has inspired others. I found this student's assignment piece and very good example of imitation.

Think of a Number and Double It

Or should that be London 0 Brighton and Hull 4?

Either way by evoking the memory of Johnny Ball from my childhood television and the Housemartins from my youth is a roundabout* way of saying that good news is in the air.

Zoe Ball announced on her Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning that she and husband Norman Cook are expecting a second child. So 8 year old Woody will soon be getting a little brother or sister. Just as long as the new child isn't called Buzz Lightyear.

*No not the magic one.

Musical First: A Thriller

Being of a certain age my music collection is in 4 formats vinyl, tape, cd and electronic. Trust me I'm constantly trying to get it all unto one/two but there is always so much more good new stuff and only so little money. Yeah as someone who gets the odd little copyright payment I will not rip off another artist. Therefore sometimes some of the older scratchable (vinyl) or chewable (tape) formats are the only way I can listen to stuff.



The first album I owned was obviously bought for me as there are numerous kids albums that are still in the LP box back home. However, after my first couple of 7" singles the first 12" of grooved plastic I got my sweaty mitts on was a gatefold Album sleeve which featured on the inside the artist with a baby tiger. The album had only garnered two number ones of it at the time. But I was thrilled to hand over my own pocket money (this was before a paper round led to me buying an Album a week) to buy my first album Michael Jackson's Thriller.

So though my musical tastes are wide and varied that first piece of black plastic that revolved around my parents' turntable at 33 1/3 RPM was full of tunes like Billie Jean, Beat It, Human Nature, Wanna be Startin' Something and that unforgettable, mad, Vincent Price cackle from the end of the title track itself. There was also the Paul McCartney collaboration The Girl is Mine for which the reciprocal duet Say, Say, Say was on the former Beatles star's Pipes of Peace album also part of my music collection.

Amazing from the 9 tracks from that 42 minutes and 16 seconds of music that could be jammed between the lead in and outplay parts of the grooves on both sides of that disc of joys 7 were released as singles. Is it any wonder that the album is still the best selling of all time. Returning to number one a total of four times (thus far) in the US, UK and Australia. Looking at the Albums that sandwiched it takes me back through my music collection. Synchronicity my first Police record*, Footloose the film some of us watched on a school trip to London (and we then did the steps on the Hovercraft over to Calais in the morning), True by Spandau Ballet (yeah even this Duranie had True), War by U2 (what can I say I'm Irish), Touch by the Eurythmics and The Swing by INXS by equal first album of theirs with Listen Like Thieves**.



So for the last 24 hours I've been reliving early and later musical memories. Watching some of the tributes from Glastonbury including Lily Allen who was threatening a double (single gloved and a potential wardrobe malfunction a la sister Janet in that top) as well as samples of riffs or songs plugged at the last minute into sets.

The news continues to seep through, gladly now just a trickle amongst the other stories. But all eyes are looking at the physician who was with Michael just before he went into cardiac arrest and who was present in the room when a member of staff called 911. The coroners office in LA has ruled out foul play but an accidental misdose of prescription drugs may now have led to the cardiac arrest that took the King of Pop.

On a personal aside one of my colleagues at work who has a pair of tickets for one of Michael's O2 shows is not going to seek a refund. Instead he is going to frame them as a lasting tribute to the entertainer whose music he still appreciated.


*Sorry just had to use that pun.

** This was pre their international big break on Live Aid and after much hounding of the local record shop on the recommendation of an Australian penpal. I'm quite pleased of my early UK released INXS collection of everything in every vinyl format.

Piers Morgan is a Snob

My cousin has drawn my attention to this story regarding the recording of Susan Boyle for her bit on Britain's Got Talent. What struck me most was the insult to Blackburn in West Lothian from Piers Morgan one of the judges.

JUDGE Piers Morgan has branded Susan Boyle's hometown of Blackburn, West
Lothian, "a dump".

A camera crew filming the Britain's Got Talent singer were ordered to shoot in nearby Bathgate instead after the area "appalled" Morgan.

Camera crews were supposed to visit the village and film in locations including the community centre and the run-down council estate.

Whilst crew members diplomatically described the views as being "too bland", Morgan announced "it's a dump".

One thing that the sudden shock that swept across the judges and the audience when Susan opened her voice on Saturday was that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Now Bathgate may have some more picturesque buildings from being the major town in the area. Blackburn largely grew up to accommodate workers for the nearby Leyland plant*. But to refuse to film there to show Susan Boyles story is a disgrace.

Camera's did something slightly similar with Leon Jackson when he won the X-Factor in 2007. They didn't film his particular estate in much detail but picked out some of the more affluent areas of Whitburn and took him to the multi-million pound MacArthur Glen Retail Centre in Livingston where he once worked for his pre-final performance.

Personally I'm proud of Susan, Leon and Kerry McGregor another West Lothian X-Factor Finalist from the year before Leon. They are fine examples of the talent within the county and irrespective of what sort of house they call home we are all proud that they have gone up in front of the cameras and shown the UK (even the world) just how much talent they have.

As for Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan who is allegedly named after the brewery heir Piers Courage I say come up to Blackburn and spent some time with the people. Maybe go to the community centre and Susan's estate (if they'll let you) and find out just what sort of friendly people they really are. Just don't judge the book by its cover.

*One of the interesting facts I picked up while out postering at election times from the other local activists.

The Subject on the Card is Sir Clement Freud

I see today the sad news that Sir Clement Freud the former Liberal MP and panelist on Just a Minute has passed away aged 84. I shall attempt to pay tribute to the man in that length of time without deviation, repetition or hesitation as seems fitting so to do.

He was erudite in the extreme and looved* to fill the period against three others under Nicolas Parsons with lists. When he would rattle off compendia of foods, animals, places, things, people that were relevant to the subject on the card. His Grandfather of course was Sigmund Freud and what the great psychologist would make of his grandson's pursuant for revealing his encyclopedic knowledge is unknown.

He was at various stages a Member of Parliament for the party of my ilk, celebrity cook, journalist, amateur jockey, and Liaison Officer at the Nuremberg trials as well as the raconteur of note as mentioned previously.

I believe I was still typing as the whistle went. Do I deserve the bonus point?

Clement Freud 1924-2009

*By the way I've just spotted this typo but have decided to keep it in as a tribute to that other JAM raconteur the late Kenneth Williams.

Supreme DM has Rolled His Last Dice on this Spheroid

Dave Arneson one of the co-creators of Dungeons and Dragons has lost all his key ability scores and character levels and no magic will be able to restore him to the game of life. At least not on this board where you are reading this.

Having created the game that became the worldwide success and godfather and pinnacle of role playing in 1974 with Gary Gygax he sadly passed away to cancer in St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday.

In tribute his daughter, Malia Weinhagen, said:

"The biggest thing about my dad's world is he wanted people to have fun in life. I think we get distracted by the everyday things you have to do in life and we forget to enjoy life and have fun.

"But my dad never did. He just wanted people to have fun."

No doubt he'll either be rolling polyhedral dice with whatever celestial being you believe exists. But if you don't his dice will simply have stopped rolling although the millions of dice rolls either on tabletops on online will be a honour to live and D&D players will continue to have fun in his memory.

Dave Arneson 1947-2009

The New Generation's Radio 1 Ban

Every generation of teenagers needs one. That song that just pushes the boundaries of a Radio one sensitivities just that little too far and ends in a ban. For my generation it was of course Mike Read taking exception to Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax. I had one friend at school who ended up buying every single mix of it when they came. Hardly surprising then than the record, which at the time of the ban was heading down the charts went back up to the number one spot, nor that my friend ended up working for MTV for a spell.

So this generation have now got Scott Mills and the song Ass to Ass which features in the fictitious show to find a new member for the band SexxBombz in the E4 drama Skins. Well Mills actually appeared as himself on the show as one of the judges of the show and was going to to play the song on his drive time show when some of the stars guested. But Radio One producers apparently got cold feet.

No doubt the song which is available as a download will now soar up the charts as a result. Some things never change.

If you want you can hear the song and see the lyrics here.

Hat tip to adamdustagheer via Twitter

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue; The Return

When Humphrey Lyttelton died last year a little bit of Radio seemed to go with him, for 'Humph' was the host of Radio 4 anecdote to panel games I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. The show had survived the sad passing of Willie Rushton who along with Graeme Garden, Barry Took and Tim Brooke-Taylor had led us on a merry chase from Mornington Crescent to Cheddar Gorge and to balls too numerous to mention. Whereas Just a Minute who although gradually losing their A-team four (Clement Freud and the late Peter Jones, Derek Nimmo and Kenneth Williams) had always had guest panellists the gang of five had always existed on ISIHAC.

However ISIHAC may be an anecdote to panel games is to take a leaf out of post Angus Deyton Have I Got News for You, as have others, and is to have a rotating chair of Stephen Fry, Jack Dee and Rob Brydon when it makes a return to the airwaves.

We just hope Samantha isn't too put out my the new hosts.

A Now a BAFTA Completely Different

They've finally put the Phyton's into an institution.

Well all right then only one.

Yeah, yeah the one who did all the artwork.

Last night Terry Gilliam was awarded the Fellowhip of the Academy at the BAFTA awards.

He did the customary thanks to his family in a typically different way

"I'm amazed to be humbled by a piece of metal. I'm worried that Bafta will take it away when they realise I'm not who they think I am. Maggie, Holly, Amy and Harry, thank you for letting me make your life a living hell when I'm working. And even worse when I'm not."

Gilliam paid tribute to the the late Heath Ledger who'd won best supporting actor, whom he directed in his last film just before his death, in his acceptance speech

"It would have been nice if Heath had won more awards when he was alive. Heath was a genius, I think there was nothing he could not do.

"We hadn't seen anything from him yet."

And he ended by saying too often the little people are overlooked before extracting a long list of paper from his jacket. But fortunately he only rattled off the name of the Time Bandit's actors from the film of the same name, and thank them for making him feel big.

And now for something completely different.

Free Football for Kids

One of the ways that my team Livingston build a fan base from nothing in the 13 years we've been located at Livingston was to offer free tickets to children. So therefore I was interested to see that the Scottish Government have called on the SPL and Scottish League to allow access for kids for free at certain games in a bid to boost attendance.

The aim of course is to get kids excited about the atmosphere of actually being at the game, something that no matter what level or Setanta or Sky technological gimmicks watching on TV can't make up in entirety. Of course the kids would end up dragging along a parent or other adult to escort them, boasting coffers. If they also get really into their team they may well go to other games which they have to pay.

As the indirect result of such a scheme, my exes little brother took the option of the free tickets, going along with him and father to games was seen as a bonding experience. End result of which is that I still go, indeed go home and away. Alongside many young people who started out as part of the free tickets scheme.

The scheme may help boast football attendances but will only maintain them if there is the need for maintaining a product that will hold an audience. In the depths of a Scottish winter that can end up being only the hard core fans. There may be a need to look at a chance in the season, if only because with Saturday lunchtime and evening games, the warmth of being in front of a TV and watching two games on a Saturday is far more attractive to our seditary society than actually going out layered up for the cold to get the live experience of just 90 minutes of football.

Not to be! That is the Answer

Whether 'tis a pain in the back to suffer,

Aft' surviving the arrows of outrageous reviews,

Or to take on stage actual human skull,

And by resting end pain? To miss: perchance press night.

(with apologies to W. Shakespeare esq.)

Yeah the news is that David Tennant had to pull out of last night's performance of Hamlet due to an ongoing back injury. With the production having just transferred from the home of the Bard in Stratford to London's Novello Theatre. Whether the Time Lord actor will be able to take to the stage tonight to appear alongside that Shakespearean captain of the Enterprise Patrick Stewart remains to be seen, depending on on the actor feels today.

Springfield Up in Arms Over Development

The residents of Springfield are furious that developers of the planned supermarket to the East of Linlithgow looks set to double in size. The news comes as plans to include a nursing home on the triangular parcel of land on the Blackness road were dropped in correspondence to West Lothian Council.

Considering the area was originally zoned for office development in the Council's area plan the nursing home, hotel and retail complex was already meeting opposition from the Linlithgow Against Springfield Development Group.

The council have asked the developers Kensington & Edinburgh Estates to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment to show the affects on noise, light and traffic pollution, impact on water levels, wildlife etc of the proposed development. Considering Linlithgow was recently endorsed as a Cittaslow town aiming to improve the standard of living in the town with the support of the council such a development on top of the two existing supermarkets and DIY superstore in the town, detract from that aim.

They Say It's Your Birthday

It doesn't really matter if its raining or its fine,
Just as long as you've got time,
To P-L-A-Y, P-L-A-Y,
Playaway, Playaway, Playaway.

Robin: Holy Makeral Batman one time presenter of kids show Playaway, Jeremy Irons is 60 today.

Batman: That's very true Robin but he went on to many other things and is considered a serioius thesbian these days. Winning an Oscar an Golden Globe for Reversal of Furtune as well as other awards and nominations.

Robin: But don't you also have an important birthday today Batman?

Batman: Well not me personally Robin but yes Adam West (right) who played me from 1966-1968 on television and in a film turns 80 today.



Robin: WOW! So who else is blowing out candles today then Batman?



Batman: Well Xandra Rhodes the fashion designer, Twiggy the model, Niles Rogers the record producer, Jarvis Cocker the singer, David Seaman the footballer and a Liberal Democrat blogger to name but a few. It's also 38 years since the first Glastonbury festival was held.



Robin: Ding! What a day uh Batman.



Batman: It certainly is Robin.

Brother Steps in to Brother's Shoes

I'll admit that with the elections across the country today my cursory glance of the news this morning didn't really inspire me to write much. Plus for obvious reason's I'm not going into last night's football, especially as it had never happened in my lifetime, in that competition.

What I was drawn to was the news that Ali Campbell who quit earlier in the year as lead singer of UB40* has been replaced by his other brother Duncan. Now where has Duncan been all these years while Ali and other brother Robin, the bands guitarist have been touring the world and recording as the world's most sucessful mixed race Reggae band. Well he has been a professional spoon player. Yes you did read that right, in fact he was the only professional spoon player registered with the Musicians Union in the UK. He'd followed his Scottish father Ian's passion for folk music rather than his brother's passion for the reggae culture they grew up with in Birmingham. Apparently Duncan has suggested he could play the spoons in UB40 but the band are said not to be too keen, however, if he ever did no doubt it would be the first reggae rhythm beat out on two pieces of cutelry.

*Short history lesson for youger readers. The UB40 (Unemployment Benefit form) was the precurser to the JSA40 (Job Seekers Allowance). When the band formed in the late 1970s unemployment was heading to a 'record high' (although regigging how it's counted since has led to some dipute on this) of over 3 million.