Author Archives: Paul

I have no interest in rugby. My love for the football World Cup is matched only by my indifference to its oval-shaped equivalent. So England’s hosting of the tournament and all the attendant excitement mean nothing to me. I suddenly have empathy with those who feel the same way about football. The appeal of rugby […]

..has been celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this week on Radio 4, and I’ve been listening to it since I was a child. Filled with wanderlust, I was transfixed by the despatches from far-flung corners of the globe And I decided I’d become one of those brave, buccaneering correspondents, reporting back to Blighty. First, I’d have […]

Sir Elton wants to have a meeting with Putin to discuss the Russian president’s disgraceful record on gay rights. I think this would be a very good idea. The two men have much in common. One of them is globally famous, was once married to a woman and is now a gay icon. The other […]

37 today. He’s the man of the moment with his astonishing performance(s) as both Ronnie and Reggie Kray in the hit film Legend. This is, of course, the second biopic about the Kray twins. In the early 90s, The Krays starred Gary Kemp as Ronnie and Martin Kemp as Reggie. Tom Hardy now makes Gary […]

This clip is uploaded from time to time by Facebookers, saluting two of the greatest stars of the 20th century, singing together at the height of their fame. But in 1960, it was viewed rather differently. This was Elvis’s first big TV appearance after coming out of the army. His millions of fans, who’d waited […]

On the one hand, this is great. Voters now have a genuine alternative to the bland, centrist politicians who have dominated British politics for the last twenty years. Labour has returned to its roots. On the other hand, it’s not so great. A healthy democracy needs a strong, credible opposition to hold the government to […]

This week, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 23,227th day on the throne and surpassed Queen Victoria to become Britain’s longest reigning monarch. I’m no flag waving Royalist but I do like the Queen. For more than 63 years, she’s served her country with distinction, discretion and dedication to duty. In that time, she has also […]

Let’s hope so. Botney is, of course, Alan Yentob. Private Eye gave him this nickname – Yentob backwards – and it’s wonderfully disrespectful to one so pompous. Once controller of BBC1, Botney has somehow re-invented himself as a presenter of arts programmes, as well as being the BBC’s “Creative Director”. He was also Chairman of […]

We all know that their first hit, Gangsters, was basically the same tune as Prince Buster’s Al Capone. But what about their first No.1 hit, Too Much Too Young? What was that based on? Have a listen to this.

Sadly, Mr. Rico will blow no more. Rico Rodriguez died yesterday. He was a hugely influential figure in popular music, playing trombone on countless reggae and ska records and helping to define a whole genre. After years blowing away in the background, Rico found fame with The Specials and practically invented 2-Tone. But his musical […]