The Steeple Times asks experimental disc jockey and background actor Morgan Delle Piane: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
All the virtues.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Equality and diversity.
Britain’s answer to Celine Dion. One of Tyler’s singles, Believe In Me, was chosen as Britain’s 2013 Eurovision Song Contest entry in 2013. In it, she sings: “It’s just not worth the pain”. This more than amply bosomed Botox loving Welsh woman is quite right. Her song is beyond painful.
This London born rugby player’s mum learnt ‘The Knowledge’ and worked as a taxi driver so she could send him to a private school. Cipriani has no connection to the restaurant and hotel empire of the same name, but his model girlfriend, Kelly Brook, “sent a message” to him by dining at the London outpost when they split in 2010. After the pair were reunited in the spring of 2013, he was injured after being hit by a bus during a drunken pub crawl in Leeds. Of the incident, he commented: “I can’t believe I am not dead… I am a very lucky boy”.
The Steeple Times asks actor Jules Knight: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Vino, feminae et Carmen.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Ask, believe, receive”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
I find the fact that we make celebrities of people in reality TV shows unspeakably depressing.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I miss my father who died a few years ago.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
If I had a choice between being wealthy and alone or poor and in love, I’d definitely choose the latter. Preferably someone like Mila Kunis if you can arrange it.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
I think a lot of people and companies made mistakes driven by greed and no one seemed to learn from historical mistakes. I’m not against big bonuses if they reward success. I believe in a meritocracy.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“We are experiencing high call volumes (today, yesterday and every other day you’ve called). Your call is important to us (so important that we have 2 non English speaking people working to answer 5000 calls a day). Please Hold (whilst you are charged 50p per minute so that when we answer we can tell you that what you want us to do is not possible”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Over the years I’ve performed at a lot of charity events and helped them raise money in all sorts of ways. On a personal level, I think the British Heart Foundation is a great charity and I have a soft spot for WWF. But aside from wrestling, that wildlife charity is good too.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They’re a blessing and a curse. I use mine to run my whole life. It practically brushes my teeth for me. But when I lose it or it breaks I feel completely helpless. Sad really.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Fry, Anthony Hopkins, Christian Bale and Jennifer Aniston. A few drinks, a few laughs and then perhaps make love. Not all together. There isn’t room in that bar.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I have a feeling they’d make me have it in prison but if they were foolish enough to allow me to have it in, let’s say, The Fat Duck, I’d do that and then have a couple of pints in a pub in Bray, chill out for a few hours and then, well, go home and relax. Phew that was close.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I never really drink before 6pm unless there is a plan to start early. In which case, I can be persuaded.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A vodka martini with Grey Goose and a twist. That gets things started nicely.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
There is a yearly polo party that Audi put on for about 200 people that is the best of the year. Talented, interesting guests from the world of sport, acting and music, lots of champagne, cocktails, amazing food. It turns into one big house party in a field.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My old boss, Nigel Evans MP. He’s a lovely chap.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Pickled eggs.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
“Get it Here”.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Range Rover Evoque. A fusion of classic and contemporary, urban and rural.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I wanted to be in the army. Now I prance around treading the boards.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
My Classical Brit is wedged between my two degree certificates: a woeful 2:2 MA in Art History from St Andrews and my MA in Acting for Screen from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Jules Knight is an actor and former member of the Blake, the vocal group widely known for having been formed on Facebook in 2007. He appears in BBC1’s Holby City from 14th May 2013 as Dr Harry Tressler.
Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/MrJulesKnight
The latest arrest in Operation Yewtree illustrates the muddle that this investigation has become
British newspapers have decided not to name the 82-year old “celebrity” arrested in Berkshire on suspicion of sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree.
The political blog Guido Fawkes and other news sources have decided to name the individual, however, as “there was no legal reason not to report this news”. They suggest that the individual supposedly is the Australian entertainer Rolf Harris AO, CBE.
Boris Berezovsky found dead in his bathtub
It has just been confirmed that 67-year old oligarch Boris Berezovsky was found dead in a bath at his Surrey home at around 11am this morning. His son-in-law, Yegor Shuppe, revealed the news earlier today on Facebook and later a statement came from Alexander Dobrovinsky of Moscow based The Alexander Dobrovinsky & Partners law firm stating:
“Just got a call from London. Boris Berezovsky committed suicide. He was a difficult man. A move of disparity? Impossible to live poor? A strike of blows? I am afraid no one will get to know now”.
Berezovsky, who I encountered several times at The Lanesborough Hotel, lost a £3 billion damages claim against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich in 2012. It was the largest private court action ever to have been heard in Britain and during the case he was described as “an inherently unreliable witness”.
In a separate case in January 2013, Mr Berezovsky former lover and mother of two of his six children, Elena Gorbunova, won a £200 million freezing order on his assets.
Aside from this, the political exile and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was subjected to a number of assassination attempts. A 1994 car bomb decapitated Berezovsky’s chauffeur and after a hitman had been sent to kill him in 2007, he alleged that security sources had told him:
“Someone you know will come to Britain, he will try to connect to you and when you meet him, he will just kill you and will not try to hide”.
Whether Mr Berezovsky died of natural causes, committed suicide or was killed unlawfully remains to be revealed. Whatever transpires, this turn of events marks a most tragic end for this most colourful of oligarchs.
A mistake of operatic proportions
We’ve utterly no problem with the billionairess Oprah Winfrey but we’re not sure our national opera house should be renamed in her honour.
The management of the Vue Cinema in Reading plainly don’t feel the same as here, as our picture of the week, we feature an image of a poster for their forthcoming series of events. Highlighted to us by Elizabeth Ferguson of The Royal Ballet on Facebook, Vue mistakingly renames the Royal Opera House the “Royal Oprah House” in an advertisement for “the best on stage on screen.” Of it, Ferguson commented: “Words fail me.”
Oprah may be one of America’s finest but we imagine even she’ll admit that she’s not quite ready to take centre stage at Covent Garden just yet.
Our congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
The announcement that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby brings joy at a time when this country needs it. The pages of our newspapers have been filled with stories of Leveson, Jimmy Savile and austerity for too long and now, like with the 2012 Olympics and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the press have a positive story to share.
David Cameron was bang on the nail when he commented on Twitter: “They will make wonderful parents.” We at The Steeple Times wholeheartedly agree and offer our congratulations to the royal couple.
Zach Topley reports on a Wellington College teacher who lost his battle with cancer who is now topping the iTunes chart
Jimmy Higham, who sadly lost his battle with cancer last year, has soared through the iTunes download charts with a beautiful cover of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely. Higham, a Lancashire born teacher at Wellington College in West Berkshire, recorded the song just months before his tragic death in December 2011, aged just 26.
After being released on iTunes last week, the song quickly rose through the charts and now stands at number 15. All proceeds go towards the Jimmy Higham Bursary Fund, set up in his memory to enable 16-year-olds from the north of England to attend the school and play sport.
“Jimmy was an instant hit at Wellington with students and staff, hard-working, dedicated, wise, funny, kind, helpful, a gifted teacher with amazing promise. The students loved his dry humour and willingness to listen,” the College said in a statement.
Students at Wellington have got behind the cause, spreading the word via Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #jimmyhigham.
A student commented: “We’re all hoping it can get to Christmas number one. We need support from everyone, both in buying the song on iTunes, as well as telling friends about Jimmy’s story.”
Follow the campaign for the Jimmy Higham song to top the charts on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/JimmyHighamSong
Donate to the Jimmy Higham Bursary Fund at: http://www.justgiving.com/wco
Watch the official music video for the single at: http://youtu.be/RDYOHmQWFcU
To purchase the single for just 79p, go to: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/music-video/isnt-she-lovely/id587014296
The Tout gives his take on this weekend’s racing at Newbury
Winter has officially arrived and traditionally The Hennessy is the first of the major National Hunt events for the purists who love this sport. Sadly the race is a handicap and generally The Tout despises a contest such as this because those greedy bookies already have the upper hand. Without some inside information, we are playing with fire here but there are two prospects at both short and long prices.
The Tout recommends the longer priced horse for a small wager but if you really must have a go at a favourite, Tidal Bay is an obvious choice at 4/1 for the in form Nicholls yard but then use that argument and the obvious choice at 25/1 is Duke of Lucca. Philip Hobbs, his trainer, is in great form and his rider Richard Johnston is the greatest jockey who never was thanks to the incredible Tony McCoy. This horse’s place ratio is huge and the value is outstanding.
The Tout advises a wager of a medium size on The Duke and then sit back and enjoy some serious winter action. Happy days.
The Tout.