Tag: Channel 4

  • Errol Douglas MBE

    Errol Douglas MBE

    Errol DouglasThis award winning Guyanese-British hair stylist has had his own salon in Motcomb Street since 1998 and began his career in an East End salon at the age of eleven. Douglas’s clients are said to have variously included Emilia Fox, Annie Lennox, Brad Pitt and Forest Whittaker and he is a regular on the BBC and Channel 4. He has over 10,000 followers on Twitter and is one of the most personable characters of Belgravia.

  • Grace Dent

    Grace Dent

    Grace DentThis Carlisle born author, broadcaster and columnist loathes Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland but loves Tartufo in Cadogan Gardens, SW3. Dent’s witty weekly Evening Standard column ‘Grace and Flavour’ is a must read as her acerbic commentaries about London’s best and worst eating spots are just brilliant. She has nearly 200,000 followers on Twitter and has also written eleven novels.

  • The Hon. Nigella Lawson

    The Hon. Nigella Lawson

    Nigella LawsonA self-proclaimed “Domestic Goddess”, Lawson was rebranded a “habitual criminal” during the trial of her two former assistants in November 2013. In an email quoted during the case, her ex-husband, Charles Saatchi, nicknamed her “Higella” and alleged his wife “poisoned [her] child with drugs and trashed her life”. In response, amongst those who leapt to Lawson’s defence on Twitter were Tom Parker Bowles, Rosa Monckton and Piers Morgan. Though the image of Saatchi throttling Lawson at Scott’s in Mayfair is undoubtedly one of the most shocking published in 2013, this cookery writer and presenter’s last biscuit may have just been baked given American viewer’s distaste for drug abuse.

  • Wally of the Week: Reverend Patricia Jackson

    Wally of the Week: Reverend Patricia Jackson

    A vicar who claims wearing a poppy “advocates war”

     

    A Methodist minister named the Reverend Patricia Jackson from Telford, Shropshire is refusing to wear a poppy to a Remembrance Day service because she believes they “advocate war”. For that reason, she simply had to be our Wally of the Week. (more…)

  • The genius of Homeland

    The genius of Homeland

    Twist in latest episode of ‘Homeland’ was pure genius

     

    Since its inception, Homeland has never failed to impress. Some might say the second series was a let down. I’d disagree. The end of last night’s episode, however, was pure genius (more…)

  • Salutations in Sandwich

    Salutations in Sandwich

    The sale of a £4.5 million Grade I listed house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens

     

    Once described as “Britain’s smartest bed and breakfast” by the Financial Times, The Salutation in Sandwich, Kent has also appeared on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed and Gogglebox programmes. The Grade I listed house, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, is now for sale for £4.5 million (update September 2014: Reduced to £3.5 million). (more…)

  • Homing on Downton

    Homing on Downton

    Sunday night’s viewing was a mixed bag

     

    Last night Homeland went head to head with Downton Abbey. The winner, in our view, was clearly Homeland but though both had their moments, both had clear weaknesses. (more…)

  • Something and nothing

    Something and nothing

    Rupert Murdoch’s comments on the police investigation into phone hacking have a degree of logic to them

     

    In stating that the covertly recorded remarks made by Rupert Murdoch and broadcast on Channel 4 yesterday do actually have a degree of logic to them, some will suggest that we’re supporting an arrogant Citizen Kane like man. (more…)

  • Slurring Saatchi

    Slurring Saatchi

    Whatever you may think of him, Tony Parsons’ comparison of Charles Saatchi to Ian Brady is beyond offensive

     

    Yesterday, the former host of a Channel 4 show named Big Mouth, Tony Parsons, compared Charles Saatchi to child murderer Ian Brady in a Daily Mirror column titled: “Men who deserve no mercy”.

      (more…)

  • John Challis: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    John Challis: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks actor John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in “Only Fools and Horses”: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

    Marlene is my guiding force at all times. Listen to your wife. She knows best.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Never lose that bitterness”.

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?

    Wind turbines.

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    The energy of my youth.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    Life in a warm climate.

     

    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?

    Bloody capitalists!

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    “Gobsmacked”.

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    I support animal charities especially Tusk Trust. They are fighting to save rhinos and elephants from extinction as a result of poaching. Ronnie Wood and I are the oldest and longest serving patrons of Tusk.

     

    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?

    Mobile phones are a bloody nuisance, especially on public transport. I have got into fights in the silent carriages of trains. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. I resisted a mobile for years.

    John Challis and friends
    John Challis and friends

     

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Tom Graveney, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Jacques Tati, Marg Helgenberger and Paul Guilfoyle.

     

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    Gorgonzola cheese with fresh figs and a glass of vintage port on the terrace of the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy.

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    6pm unless out to lunch.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    A martini, stirred not shaken, with a twist of lemon and an olive for my heartburn.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    I don’t do parties anymore. My 60th finished me off.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    My brother-in-law, Johnny Palmer.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    ABBA.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    A man with a cricket bat striking a cover drive.

     

    If you were a car, what marque would you be?

    An Aston Martin DB4.

     

    Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    I wear Converse trainers.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    Abby Bobblehead (NCIS), a miniature Trotter yellow van and a packet of lupin seeds sent to me from a Twitter follower in Texas.

     

    John Challis is an English actor best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in the long running BBC television comedy series Only Fools and Horses and its spin-off, The Green Green Grass.

     

    To order signed copies of John Challis’ autobiography, Being Boycie and Boycie & Beyond, and to view the list of venues for his show on tour, go to: http://www.wigmorebooks.com

     

    Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/BeingBoycie