Ashes To Ashes is Gene-ius

Don't usually read The Sun online, but this caught my eye...

 

FIRE up the Quattro . . . beer swilling, spaghetti hoop-munching hardman DCI Gene Hunt has swaggered back in Life On Mars spin-off Ashes To Ashes.

I saw the first episode last night.

It is 1981 and the gang have moved to London to shake up those poncey Southerners.

DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) arrives after being shot in the head in 2008 then apparently going back in time.

Her job as a top psychological profiler means she's all clued up on Hunt after reading a report on Sam Tyler, the time-travelling cop from Life On Mars.

But that doesn't stop her fainting when she realises where she is (well you would pass out if you were given such a dodgy blow-dry).

Alex finally tells Hunt: "I invented this world" and Hunt hisses back: "I invented the bruise-free groin punch!"

Might we have a couple of New Romantics on our hands?

I was hoping Ashes would live up to the hype – and believe me it does, with Philip Glenister, as Hunt, at his absolute best.

Crack open a bottle of Asti Spumanti and enjoy when it airs on BBC1 from mid February.

 

Millais at Tate Britain

Went to see the Millais exhibition at Tate Britain on Saturday. Really enjoyed Sir John’s Pre-Raphaelite work which – obviously – is much more vivid and arresting when you see the originals.

Ophelia is magnificent and the detail in the plants was a revelation. It’s such a beautiful, still image of something so tragic.

Conversely Millais’s ‘fancy’ pictures were appalling chocolate-box sentimentality, the most famous being the Pear’s soap advert, Bubbles. Hard to believe it’s the same painter.

St Vincent @ Bush Hall, London

Friday, 30 November 2007

“My secret name is Annie,” says the pretty, petite and knowingly winsome Miss Clark AKA St Vincent, after enthralling, beguiling and elating in equal measure the capacity crowd at Bush Hall. Of course it doesn’t come as a shock to the gathered devotees that’s she’s not really a bona fide canonized saint. And she’s certainly isn’t an obscure Roman martyr executed beyond the walls of the city of Rome on the road to Tivoli in Italy (the historical St Vincent, don’tcha know?).

Splitting off to go solo from the Polyphonic Spree, if it continues to work out for her, just think, she could inspire the 27 other ‘phonics to follow in her wake... Maybe they parted company because Annie didn’t get on with Spree leader Tim DeLaughter’s new dress code – the band’s stage attire switched from flowing choir gowns to black army uniforms earlier this year. More likely her growing collection of heartfelt skewed pop songs forced her up the front and away from the histrionics of the Polyphonics.

Despite her fragile appearance, Annie is a confident and consummate performer and she’s assembled a complimentary backing band for this intimate show. Accompanied by violin, bass and drums, St V plays effects-enhanced electric guitar in a set made up almost entirely of songs from her debut album, Marry Me.

But it’s when the accompaniment exits the stage and Annie is left truly solo that she really shines. She’s funny and feisty. During an exquisite reading of the album’s title track, she sings: “Let’s do what Mary and Joseph did / Without the kid.” This lyrical witticism provokes a shriek of laughter from a girl in the crowd (it’s on the album, dear). Annie looks over at her, then back at the audience. “She’s just got it,” says Miss Clark.

And there can’t be many that haven’t ‘got’ her precious pop songs by the end of the set. Except perhaps the twit squatting at the back playing games on his mobile throughout this delightful gig. Delightful, yes. Sounds twee, I know – but you had to be there.

(4½/5)

Rosie

Rosie the cat!

"This is absolutely idiocy..."

The Guardian has posted an article with links to genuine 999 calls by idiot members of the public wanting to know the date, wanting to speak to the Prime Minister, wanting to know where Homebase is... but this is the best:
A man has dialled 999 to say that his wife has gone out without leaving him any food to eat

Communications operator: "Hello police"

Caller: "My wife's left me two salmon sandwiches which was left over from last night... and I'm a sat in the chair here and she's out there decorating. She won't put any food on or anything for anybody, I don't know what...."

Communications operator: "I'm sorry but I really can't take this. It's not an emergency because your wife won't give you anything to eat."

There's lots more here:
Crackdown on nuisance 999 calls

Survivors remake

Survivors for BBC One

Another classic series comes back to the BBC. Although as well known as Doctor Who, Survivors was a brilliant series, at its best it was disturbing, thought provoking and exciting.

Can't help wondering if the BBC would have preferred to remake Blake's 7, though. But the rights were taken up a few years ago by an independent company. They promised a TV mini series, but it turned out to be a radio show released on CD.

Time Crash

Great stuff! Must stop watching it... oh, just once more.