Category Archives: Worlds Shortest Radio Show
So, Jeremy Clarkson….
Suspended after a “fracas” with a BBC producer. The “liberal” left are celebrating with the sort of aggressive abuse they always dish out to anyone who dares to disagree with them. Clarkson spends his life deliberately riling the establishment. But of course, you’re only allowed to do that if you’re left-wing or, like Russell Brand, […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
I’m queer.
I’m not referring to my sexuality, I’m just reviving a word my mum would use when she meant “unwell”. I remember her telling me that my dad had “turned queer in the night”. A comment which could have put me into therapy for years. When you work for yourself, you (literally) cannot afford to be […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
Dame Jenni Murray???
I have nothing against the long-serving presenter of Woman’s Hour. I’ve been on Woman’s Hour and she was very nice. Though, I have to say, not overburdened with broadcasting brilliance. Which is why I was astonished to discover that Jenni Murray was made a Dame in 2011. For what? Maybe the honour was for some […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
It’s international women’s day.
And it’s important that we recognise this. All over the world, women are oppressed, subjugated and treated like second-class citizens. Usually, the more religious a society, the more prevalent this is. I’m not naive enough to suggest that sexism and misogyny have been eradicated in this country, but I do struggle to remember a time […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
A third year in the wardrobe.
Beautiful spring day today. It won’t last but I think it’s safe to say that we won’t be seeing any really cold weather for quite a while. Which means my ridiculously warm, down-lined American parka will spend another year undisturbed in the wardrobe. It was made for those severe New York winters that we’ve witnessed […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
The Radio 2 Young Brass Award.
Is it just me who sniggers every time this annual competition comes around? Surely I’m not the only one to whom the phrase “Young Brass” doesn’t mean a teenager playing the trombone.

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
To the Bush theatre
For a special screening of ‘R’ Story – a documentary charting the history of QPR, made by a group of largely unemployed youngsters from the Shepherds Bush area. It was backed by the Octavia Foundation, a charity which helps people of all ages who are struggling with unemployment, ill health and poverty. The film showed […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
Literary references where you least expect them.
This long-forgotten 1971 chart-topper could never be described as a gentle, sensitive piece of work. It’s been long forgotten principally because, with such sexist, predatory lyrics, it’s best described as “of its time”. And yet this down and dirty stomper contains references to Nabakov and DH Lawrence. What’s more, the band’s name has its origins […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
Well, it’s got a lot of Catholics in it.
I’ve just finished my first screenplay and I’m searching for parallels between my script and Mario Puzo’s. It’s very Catholic but there the similarity ends. To even think that mine will ever even make it to the screen is wildly optimistic. So I may as well aim stupidly high and dream that it’s as critically […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next
I love chocolate more than almost anyone I know.
But only the good stuff. I have no interest in Cadbury’s or Galaxy. Green & Black’s is the minimum standard and Ameila Rope or Paul A Young if I can get it. I’m not shy about spending good money on good chocolate but even I now think the world’s gone mad. A shop called Mast […]

- Auntie Jean -...19th Apr 2014
- I'm not suppo...18th Apr 2014
- Manchester is...17th Apr 2014
- Why are Russi...15th Apr 2014
- The ultimate ...14th Apr 2014
- Today is Palm...13th Apr 2014
- 25 years of T...12th Apr 2014
- Whatever happ...11th Apr 2014
- What do you g...10th Apr 2014
- It is, of cou...9th Apr 2014
- This morning ...8th Apr 2014
- I wonder if "...7th Apr 2014
- We can all re...6th Apr 2014
- Ever wondered...5th Apr 2014
- Two things to...4th Apr 2014 prev next