From The North...: May Update

Thursday, May 17, 2007

May Update

This blogger likes trees, dear blog reader. They're rather nice.

Anyway, kids - and all other assorted readers - this is the first update in positively ages (hey, what can I say, yer actual Keith Telly Topping has been busy?!) so there are lots of odds and ends to cover.

Monday 14 May saw the first new Book Club episode in six weeks thanks to the pesky Bank Holiday. If you want to listen to it, go here. The books covered were:-
Sally Dugan - Men Of Iron: Brunel, Stephenson & The Inventions That Shaped Our Modern World (MacMillan)
Doran Swade - The Cogwheel Brain: Charles Babbage And The Quest To Build The First Computer (Abacus)
Mick Brown - Tearing Down The Wall Of Sound: The Rise & Fall Of Phil Spector (Bloomsbury)
Ian Abrahams - Strange Boat: Mike Scott & The Waterboys (SAF)
Alexander McCall Smith - Forty Four Scotland Street (Abacus)
Stephen Oppenheimer - The Origins Of The British (Constable & Robinson)
David Winner - Around The World In Ninety Minutes (Bloomsbury)

Meanwhile, in other radio news here is an important self-aggrandising announcement: There was a significant moment in my radio career today as this blogger recorded what is to be his final preview slot for The Julia Hankin Show in its current format. Panic ye not, however, my dear blog disciples because from next Monday ... Keith Telly Topping is going to be a daily feature.

(Had you worried there,didn't I?) Basically, what we're going to do is pre-record a whole weeks worth of TV previews each Thursday or Friday and then they'll be dropped, Key To Time-like throughout the week as Keith Telly Topping's Top Telly Tips (devised by the very excellent producer Scunthorpe Steve Drayton). Keith Telly Topping has just pre-rec'd the five shows for next week (including managing to get a reasonably lengthy, and I think rather enthusiastic, plug in for the first episode of Cornell's two-part Doctor Who on next Friday's show). The daily clips - they will be three to five minutes in length - will be broadcast around 3:45pm each day Monday to Friday (they might be five minutes either way but it'll be in that sort of time-frame area). So - if you're as incredibly sad as me - you can make it a daily date in your diaries. As ever, they'll also be available on Listen Again for twenty four hours after each show is completed.

Current Listening:
Robert Johnson
Prefab Sprout
R.E.M.
Darts
The Who - whom this blogger is going to see live at The Arena a week tonight.
james
The Woodentops
Underworld

Current Viewing:
Qi
Top Gear
Lost
The Riches
Heroes
Doctor Who
Kingdom
Not The Nine O'Clock News
Veronica Mars (criminally cancelled just this very week in the US)
The Last Detective

Current Reading:
Don Jordan & Michael Walsh - White Cargo: The Forgotten History Of Britain's White Slaves In American (Mainstream)
Patrick Bishop - Bomber Boys (HarperCollins)
Hugh McManners - Forgotten Voices Of The Falklands (Ebury)
Dixe Wills - New World Order (Icon Books)
Sinclair McKay - A Thing Of Unspeakable Horror (Aurum)
David Tossell - Grovel! (Know The Score Publishing)
Paul Smith - Wasted? (Know The Score Publishing)
Several of these may feature on the June Book Club which, all things being equal, should broadcast on Monday 4 June.

Currently Watching (Big Screen Edition):
The Last King of Scotland
Pierrepoint
Both of which are hugely recommended. And it's not often you can say that about two British films.

Speaking of movies, over the last couple of weeks - between bouts of writing yet more Charmed and Buffy articles - this blogger has been doing a wad of short movie reviews for his dear old friend Diana Dougherty's US multi-media fanzine Raspberry World. For the next issue, Di has decided, perhaps insanely, but we'll leave that matter for another time, to devote the entire magazine to One Thousand And One Movies You Must Watch Before You Die. A fabulous conceit and this blogger was happy to contribute around two hundred reviews of between one an two hundred words each (or, in the case of Batman & Robin, ten words). It's quite addictive, actually (if a bit Asperger's-esque). Below are three samples of what you can expect from the finished magazine:

Almost Famous (Untitled): Cameron Crowe's touching, awkward, stimulating recreation of his teenage years as a journalist for Rolling Stone has just the right degree of wit and insightfulness to ward off potential charges of mawkishness. A rite-of-passage text, a road movie, a social document and sex and drugs and rock and roll. The director's cut - Untitled - is better, if only because you need forty nine minutes more of this film in your life. 'How old are you?' Oh, and the DVD commentary with Cameron and his mum is hilarious.

The Italian Job (1969): Forget The Sting, this is the greatest heist movie ever made. A cultural icon in Britain where men of a certain age can chant along with the entire film and its numerous lines of legendary dialogue ('You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!')

Michael Caine is at his Carnaby Street coolest, Noel Coward's last great movie role, tons of cameos by reliable comedy actors and rising stars (look out for Robert Powell as one of the gang), Tony Beckley totally stealing the show as Camp Freddy, the Mini Cooper chase through the streets of Turin and the greatest (literal) cliffhanging end to a movie ever. Magnificent Qunicy Jones soundtrack (thankfully now available on CD). Clever, funny and dramatic script by Troy Kennedy Martin. Forget, too the awful 2005 remake,

Sauve Qui Peut (La Vie) (1980): A cooly detached - and often quite morbid - look at modern French attitudes to morality from Jean-Luc Goddard.

After twelve years of low budget, militant left-wing and otherwise experimental film projects outside of commercial distribution, this was Godard's effective return to the 'mainstream', with a sizeable budget and French film stars. Worthy, if for no other reason than where else are you going to see Isabelle Huppert getting spanked in the back of Citröen?! English title: Slow Motion.

For those whose curiosity has been piqued, this blogger post full details on how to order a copy of Raspberry World once I know myself but the magazine's website, featuring details of previous issues, is here.

And finally, as this blogger is away this weekend (a short, well-deserved break at his brother's gaff in Yorkshire) Keith Telly Topping may not get another chance before next Saturday to tell you that, if you only watch ninety minutes of television this year, make sure it's Keith Telly Topping's old mucker Paul Cornell's forthcoming two-part Doctor Who story, Human Nature - BBC, 7:00, 26 May/2 June.

Must-see telly at its finest.

Disclaimer (A Slight Return)

All of the opinions expressed within this most opinionated of blogs - unless specifically indicated otherwise - are Keith Telly Topping's own. They should not, in any way, be thought of as reflecting (either collectively or individually) the views of any of the various media organisations, broadcasters, publishing companies or periodicals for which this blogger has freelanced in the past, or may be employed by in the future. Or, indeed, anyone else other than Keith Telly Topping his very self.

This blogger's opinions on all manner of subjects, his political and spiritual beliefs, the choice of which TV shows he likes and dislikes, which newspapers and books he chooses to read and, indeed, which football team he used to have the misfortune to follow are his own and expression of them is Keith Telly Topping's right within a free and democratic society. (Which, for all of Britain's faults in other areas in 2024, it just about still is.) If you disagree with any of the opinions expressed here, then please feel free to start your own blog and say whatever is on your mind to your own dear blog fiends. That is, after all, what blogs are for.

This blogger encourages everyone to use those freedoms - which many brave men and women have struggled, suffered and died to attain and then maintain over the years - to express your opinions upon whatever subjects you desire and whenever you see fit in a public forum. Within - of course - the boundaries of The Law as it currently stands.

Please remember there are, sadly, many parts of the world where citizens do not have similar liberties and who would probably love the opportunity to enjoy some of the freedoms that we in the West, all too often it would seem, take for granted.

Copyright - An Important Notice

During 2015, this blog received three separate "take-down" notices from blogger.com regarding individual pages of From The North relating to - alleged - copyright material posted on this blog. All of which were compiled with despite an extremely unhelpful attitude from those making the requests in telling Keith Telly Topping exactly *what* they - or, specifically, a third party - wished him to remove from the page(s) in question. Therefore, please note, From The North is an entirely non-profit making blog compiled by Keith Telly Topping in his spare time. Almost all of the images used on this blog to illustrate a particular story come via Google Images. No attempt is made to infringe on anyone elses copyright - and the same goes to any links provided to You Tube. I am perfectly happy to remove any links or images from any particular page which are copyrighted (within reason, of course), but it would greatly help if I knew which one (or ones) are at issue. If you are a copyright holder and you believe that something has been posted on From The North which shouldn't be here, please contact this blogger directly via email. Keith Telly Topping is a reasonable chap - mostly - and is sure we can work something out to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned.

Who He Is & How He Came To Be

A full-time survivor, dandy highwayman, bon vivant, self-unemployed author, journalist and broadcaster Keith Telly Topping's bibliography includes over forty books on mainly pop culture subjects. He was the co-editor of two editions of The Guinness Book of Classic British TV and has written or co-written factual volumes on television series as diverse as The X-Files, Star Trek, The Avengers, 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Charmed, The Sweeney and Stargate SG-1 as well as music, film and literary critique. He authored four Doctor Who novels (including the award-winning The Hollow Men, with Martin Day) and a novella. His work includes two editions of the acclaimed The West Wing programme guide Inside Bartlet’s White House, A Vault Of Horror: A Book Of Eighty Great (and not-so-great) British Horror Movies, Do You Want To Know A Secret?: A Fab Anthology Of Beatles Facts and Doctor Who: The Discontinuity Guide. He was a regular contributor to numerous TV and genre magazines and was a former Contributing Editor to DreamWatch. He is widely considered to be one of Britain's foremost experts on the bewildering complexities of US network television. No, he hasn't the faintest idea why either.

Notoriously suave, articulate and a right wow with the ladies (allegedly), Keith Telly Topping was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the very day that his beloved (though even then unsellable) United lost three-two at home to Northampton Town. Things haven't improved much since. He was the presenter of the monthly The Book Club (2006-08) and the daily Keith Telly Topping & His Top TV Tips preview slot on BBC Newcastle (2005-2012). He contributed to the BBC television series I ♥ the 70s, Call The Cops and The Perfect Detective and has also written for Sounds, the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times Culture Supplement, Radio Times, TV Zone, The Doctor Who Magazine and many other publications and periodicals.

Keith Telly Topping writes, and occasionally performs stand-up, and has written radio comedy, co-wrote the stage musical comedy Monopolise! (performed at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival with Alfie Joey and Mark Deeks) and two TV pilots both of which are, currently, stuck in 'Development Hell.' A failed pop star at the age of fourteen as bass guitarist in (the never-legendary) Slime, Keith Telly Topping lives, works and occasionally sleeps on Tyneside. His interests include foreign travel, listening to bowel-shatteringly loud pop music, socialising with friends, eating in nice Chinese restaurants, watching football and cricket, reading, British horror movies of the 1960s and 70s, military, political and social history and lots of other malarkey and shenanigans too numerous to list.

Keith Telly Topping still dines out on the tale of how he and three friends once - accidentally - stalked George Harrison down pretty much the entire length of Oxford Street. True story.

A Mod's Odyssey

Keith Telly Topping is a fifty nine year old geezer. He has survived pop, power-pop, glam-rock, prog-rock, Krautrock, punk, post-punk, mod, ska, synth-pop, indie-pop, indie-rock, post-indie, neo-indie, goth, post-goth, shoegazing, soul, funk, blues, rhythm & blues, jazz-funk, jazz-fusion, house, acid-house, acid-jazz, reggae, rap, hip-hop, trip-hop, trance, Madchester, grunge, post-grunge, Britpop, dadrock, techno, hardcore, urban, jungle, drum n' bass, handbag, garage, contemporary UK R&B, glam-metal, thrash-metal, death-metal, black-metal, nu-metal, ragga, bhangra, two-step tanga and the English folk revival-revival. And then, sometime around 2007, he thought ... 'Nah, sorry, that's me done. Can I have some milky cocoa, a pair of slippers and a copy of Mojo now please?'

Yer Keith Telly Topping's Favourite TV Shows Include

In no particular order other than those that occur to me ...

Doctor Who, The West Wing, Qi, Life On Mars, Sherlock, Top Gear, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Borgen, Lost, Our Friends In The North, The Sweeney, True Detective, Star Trek, The Avengers, The Simpsons, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Planets, Time Team, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Angel, The Prisoner, State of Play, Porridge, The X Files, Rutland Weekend Television, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), Coast, Being Human, House Of Cards, Bones, The Black Adder, The Shield, Millennium (season 2 only), In The Red, 24, Ashes To Ashes, House, Monkey, The Wire, UFO, Mock The Week, [spooks], Waking The Dead, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons, Drop The Dead Donkey, Ideal, The Rockford Files, Top Of The Pops, Rising Damp, The Blacklist, MasterChef, Department S, Luther, Grandstand, A Man Called Ironside, Lie To Me, Ripping Yarns, Jonathan Creek, Not The Nine O'Clock News, Stargate SG-1, A Bit of Fry & Laurie, I, Claudius, Columbo, The Brothers, Dad's Army, Match Of The Day, Is It Bill Bailey?, The South Bank Show, Inspector Morse, Broadchurch, The Goodies, The Invaders, Coronation Street (up to some point in the mid-80s), The Champions, Foyle's War, The Culture Show, Callan, Soccer AM, Torchwood, When The Boat Comes In, Pushing Daisies, The Morecambe & Wise Show, Sharpe, Touching Evil, Have I Got News For You?, Man In A Suitcase, Arena, Twin Peaks, Secret Army, Hawaii Five-0, Spiral, Between The Lines, Shoot, Harry Hill's TV Burp, Cosmos, The Young Ones, Washes Whiter, Danger UXB, World In Action, The Fall, The Sky At Night, The Shadow Line, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Duchess Of Duke Street, Z Cars, Pandora's Box, Wire In The Blood, Omnibus, The Omega Factor, NCIS, Absolutely, This Week, Adam Adamant Lives!, The Tube, Ace Of Wands, Kojak, The Old Grey Whistle Test, Civilisation, The Ascent Of Man, The World At War, Dave Allen At Large.

... and so on for another fourteen pages.

Comments

Depressing to report the From The North Comments Section which this blogger reopened due to popular(ish) demand has been closed again. This is because of a further - entirely unwanted - deluge of correspondence to this blog from an extremely tiresome online stalker whose behaviour caused its closure in the first place. A rather dispiriting example of the Twenty First Century at its most crummy.

This blog operates a zero tolerance policy towards rude arseholes, racists, homophobes, transphobes, bigots and crass overgrown school bullies. If you want to indulge in any of those sort of things then you can go somewhere else and do it (though it'd be preferable for everyone if you didn't). Be advised, however, that you are not any getting space on my blog to spread your repulsive views.

appreciate what you've got while you've got it

The BBC is, of course, a British institution and national treasure that we should all be proud of. It is also - much more importantly - a World Class broadcaster with a global reputation for journalistic honesty, integrity, balance, innovation, creativity and quality. Ironically, the only places in the world where it *isn't* highly regarded are in knobcheese fascist dictatorships like Iran and China and in its own backyard where shit-scum politicians and pond-lice newspapers with a, sick, agenda use it as their own personal punch-bag. This is WRONG. This blog supports the BBC and believes that it is high time the people of this country - to whom, after all, the BBC *belongs* - stand up for themselves and remind such crass, ignorant bullies that the BBC is BETTER than all of them put together. Even if its Director General is a wretched spineless coward who, seemingly, believes that "impartiality" is letting Tories goosestep all over you and everyone who works for you.