Ga-Ga for radio and the lonely censor.

Hello.





I've been marvelling at the depth of podcasts recently, I have learnt about Ancient Rome (from the softly spoken Mike Duncan, who has his blogspot here), been educated about the Greek Gods and kept abreast of politics with from the Guardian yet the podcast I've enjoyed the most is the BBC Friday night Radio4 comedy podcast.

It contains 'The Now Show' (featuring Hugh and Steve from my favourite 90's BBC2 comedy show 'The Mary Whitehouse Experience' my second TV appearance, I was in the audience (not strictly on TV, but you can see me) my first TV appearance I'll talk about in a bit), and the 'News Quiz' both of which you can listen to on iPlayer if you want.

This has lead me on to delving into some of the great radio comedy that the BBC has in it's archives, to name but a few there are 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' (anybody actually know how to play 'Mornington Crescent')? 'Children's Hour with Armstrong and Miller', 'Radio Shuttleworth', 'The 99p Challenge' (which I regularly steal lines and gags from) and the sublime 'Old Harry's Game'.

My question is does listening to Radio 4 now officially stick me into old duffer territory? There is something about it that makes me want some slippers, a pipe, a nicely upholstered armchair and one of those walnut old-stylee radios. Ahhhh the 1940's bliss of it all.

Some belated praise to a man who was an inspiration to young artists, young people who liked to make messes or just young people who loved strange plasticine creatures.

Tony Hart died recently, a great presenter and teacher, I met him once, he came to my school to film an episode of 'Hart Beat'. I was one of the dancing robots on it. He was as happy and enthusiastic in the flesh as he seemed on TV.

My favourite news snippet of the week (from the aforementioned 'News Quiz') involves the BBFC. The BBFC, for those that don't know is the body in the UK that watches all films, programmes and straight to DVD classics and applies a suitable age rating to them.

They also have to view all pornographic titles to ensure the films do not contain anything that contravenes the R18 rating. This was usually done in two's, (one to watch the other to follow the plot no doubt) however due to cutbacks, crunching credits, money squeezes and frankly, robbing, stealing, thieving bastard RBS bosses it is being cut back to only one person.

There's a punchline here, but instead of me providing it I'd like suggestions.