Contains mild spoilers Jago and Litefoot Starring Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter. 13 x 4-part full-cast series released as ‘box sets’ from 2010 – 2017 by various writers. Henry Gordon Jago (Benjamin) is a theatre impresario, master of ceremonies, a booker of talents, and king of the art of alliteration. His best friend is Professor … Continue reading Review: My Favourite Doctor Who Audio Spin-offs
Week 2: Build a Better TV Guide – Ditching the algorithms to curate my own lineup
Contains mild spoilers The schedule is a bit different this week, knocked off course by seemingly-endless work promoting my new self-published book, (Phil's Marvellous Machine and Other Stories, available here). How did I manage the diversions, deviations and distractions? Scroll past the preamble to find out. The Story So Far... When linear television was … Continue reading Week 2: Build a Better TV Guide – Ditching the algorithms to curate my own lineup
Retroscopic Round-up: My Week of Self-Curated Classic British TV
Contains mild spoilers When linear television was at its height in the UK, I had my own schedule. I’d flit between channels to catch my favourite programmes, and use things from my own video-cassette collection when there was nothing else worth watching. I had my own schedule: a personal routine of programmes, slotted in perfectly … Continue reading Retroscopic Round-up: My Week of Self-Curated Classic British TV
Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
Contains mild spoilers I collect the DVDs released by Network, even things I wouldn't necessarily have a desire to watch, or even knew existed. I picked up Edward and Mrs Simpson starring Edward Fox, in my local charity shop. It was £1, so at the very least I'd get a DVD with a Network badge … Continue reading Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
Savouring the sublime: Colvil and Soames (Full-Cast Audiobook review)
Contains mild spoilers Savouring things is a constant problem for me. It basically means delaying the moment I reach the end of a story—sometimes to the absolute limit. I was savouring Colvil and Soames, an audio drama starring Amanda Redman and Christopher Benjamin. But I was worried I’d lose the thrust of the story if … Continue reading Savouring the sublime: Colvil and Soames (Full-Cast Audiobook review)
The Bill & I Part 7: Is the quality slipping? I feel a sob coming on
Continuing to watch the earliest years of the long-running British police drama, The Bill. Since the last entry in this viewing diary, I have watched another five episodes. Before I started this watch-through, I wondered if channels like UK Gold avoided repeating the earliest episodes of The Bill for a specific reason. Maybe these episodes … Continue reading The Bill & I Part 7: Is the quality slipping? I feel a sob coming on
The Bill and I: Part Two – ‘Woodentop’ (At last!)
I feel like a Ghostbuster today. Not because I’ve converted my car into Ecto-1 or because I’ve strapped on a proton back to zap some nasties into ectoplasm. I’m not that kind of ghostbuster. More of an exorcist. Today I’m laying a ghost to rest., or starting the process of. For years I used to … Continue reading The Bill and I: Part Two – ‘Woodentop’ (At last!)
Classic BBC Radio comedy: Dad’s Army and To The Manor Born
Two full-cast radio adaptations of television comedy classics reviewed.
How I Got Lost in Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
I have a confession to make, and while it might be slightly embarrassing for me, it will almost certainly be amusing for you. As an audiobook devotee, I usually pride myself on vetting my listening queue. But recently, I threw caution to the wind and downloaded Dorothy L. Sayers’ Clouds of Witness completely blind. Three … Continue reading How I Got Lost in Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
Better Than The Original? The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy narrated by Stephen Moore
The six episodes that make up the first series of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy stands proudly next to Desert Island Discs, The Archers and Shipping Forecast as one of the most iconic representatives of British radio and just as timeless. But the fact is, the audiobook is even better. Gulp! Did you really just read that? How can … Continue reading Better Than The Original? The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy narrated by Stephen Moore
