I have been trying and failing to solve a Jon Pertwee mystery.

It involves the song Can I Kick It? by the American group A Tribe Called Quest. It was recorded in 1989 and released in October 1990.

The Boilerhouse Mix of the song reportedly samples Spotty (Jon Pertwee) from SuperTed, saying "Er, you can?" and "Then do so at once". (Read more... )

If you hate Spanish Armadas
And King Philip of Spain
If you became Mayor of Plymouth
And if bowls is your game
If in the year of 1580
You sailed in June round the Cape
You're the knight that I've looked for
You are Sir Francis Drake

I rewatched the 2016 episode of Goodnight Sweetheart the other day, having seen some of the old episodes on Yesterday. Restarting a story that had concluded so many years earlier was a challenge, and one that involved making us care about characters that we may have struggled to feel affection for even during the original run. It met this challenge ( Read more... )

It's outrageous!
Hung House
Now the parliament's hung
What's Theresa done?
It's a weak, wobbly show
So when's she gonna go?
Hung House
It's a mess, it's a farce
Certainty? My arse
Get the DUP along
What could possibly go wrong?

Why did they make Stephen Merchant say that last year's episode of The Crystal Maze (or in his case, the "Christ, he's tall" maze) was a one-off? Weren't there enough lies in 2016? A possible new series had been talked about since the crowdfunding campaign.

On the plus side, there'll soon be three Crystal Mazes: the Experiences in London and ( Read more... )

This coming week includes the halfway point between what would have been Freddie Mercury and David Bowie's 70th birthdays. In response to this and to recent events, I've messed around with their most famous collaboration.

Original song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I ( Read more... )

The words I share in this blog are shared for the interest and enjoyment of others. I don't appreciate people using my words elsewhere without acknowledgement, thinking I won't know or not caring if I do. I'm proud of my wordplay - perhaps on the odd occasion, justly proud - and people who help themselves to it without notice are taking something ( Read more... )

My concerns about spoilerphobia have been heightened by recent incidents on Twitter.

But first, Facebook. I've lamented it before. The way people use it - so shallow, not social - bending courtesy to breaking point, either not knowing or not caring because crowds are no place for the precious. What the Sh*ttingham-upon-F*ck* is a like? I mean really ( Read more... )

No, Kellogg's, you will not 'see me at breakfast'. Here's why:

1. The second part of your slogan is a narrow-minded, needless f***-you to all those who enjoy cereal at other times of the day. For pity's sake, one of the most talked-about new eating places in one of the world's major cities is a cereal café (Cereal Killer in London) and it is not ( Read more... )

As well as the obvious significance of 2015, I'm excited about several screen anniversaries this year. [Edited since original posting]

10 years:
Christopher Eccleston's Doctor - a favourite

20 years:
Bugs
Sliders

25 years:
Spatz
Brother Mace - a favourite TV character
The conclusion of the Back To The Future trilogy
A Day In The Life - a favourite advert

30 ( Read more... )