ABOUT THIS AND THAT

Yet another page of completely gratuitous and unnecessary information that will make no difference to your life whatever once acquired, but that I have included purely in accordance with the time-honoured (and really rather scary) principle so memorably expressed in 'The Stepford Wives' - "Because I can..."

So this is where I get to play Favourites, yay!

Favourite Actors

If you were to ask me who my favourite actors are (something you had absolutely no intention of doing, of course), these are some of the names - in no particular order of priority - that generally get my instant attention if I see them on a cast list, past or present:

• David Tennant
• Nicola Walker
• Anton Lesser
• Mark Bonnar
• Richard Armitage
• Elizabeth Spriggs
• Phyllida Law
• Michael Sheen

(Just for the record, in my novel 'Peter McLeish' David Tennant provided the physical and vocal template for the title character, as did Anton Lesser for Richard Taylor. Sean Pertwee and Nicholas Gleaves furnished the same service for Matthew Lesser and Alan McLeish respectively. And, of course (I presume), not one of these actors has the least idea that that was the case!)

Favourite Singer/Songwriter

Alongside David John McDonald, those who have a copy of 'Peter McLeish' will have seen the name of Christopher John Davison in the dedication. Many will realize that the former was David Tennant's birth name, but how many of you are aware that the latter is better known to the world as Chris de Burgh?

On this evidence you will conclude that nobody can claim my musical tastes are fashionable (or even popular, except in certain quarters), but I steadfastly stand by this one. How can you not be intrigued by a man who has written songs whose 'voices' include (among others) Leonardo da Vinci, Henry VIII, the war dead, a vampire, mankind's spirit of exploration, a literally insanely jealous husband, and one of the lovers entombed in Pompeii?

So can I congratulate Jenny, in Peter McLeish, for having the same favourite as me - Heart of Darkness? Excellent taste in both her man and her music, that woman...

And while we're in the general area of 'favourite' musicians, can I also cite Ennio Morricone and John Barry for their film scores, and Murray Gold for Doctor Who ever since 2005? I can? Gosh, thanks awfully!

Also, see my reference to Mark Barnwell on the About Time! page of this site.

Favourite (Living) Comedy Writer/Performer (Morecambe and Wise no longer being with us)

No prevarication on this one. John Finnemore. Completely. Absolutely. Without question. Yes.

The man is brilliant - as his own Cabin Pressure character, Arthur, would instantly agree - brilliant. Anyone who can be that funny - consistently funny - without resorting to either crudity or profanity, gets my vote and always will. The Council of Moths sketch from the second series of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme will always spring to mind! So for goodness' sake go and visit his page on Substack. Everything he posts is – well, brilliant!

So there it is. Evidence toward my contention that John Finnemore is one of the most talented radio comedy writers and performers the UK has ever produced - if you happen to think my opinion matters. (Which I’d like to imagine John would – if he were aware of it...)

Favourite Music Tracks

My personal Desert Island Discs playlist is (in no particular order, except that Heart of Darkness hasn't changed from being my favourite since you read about it approximately one minute/half the page ago):

Holding Out For A Hero (Bonnie Tyler)

The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (Walker Brothers)

This is Gallifrey/Vale Decem (Murray Gold) (Two for the price of one here - combined in "Doctor Who At The Proms 2010", lead vocal for Vale Decem by Mark Chambers - gets me up in goosepimples, every time! If you haven't come across it, try here)

Walk On (Matt Monro)

For Love One Can Die (Ennio Morricone)

Somewhere In Time (John Barry)

Viva La Vida (Coldplay) (note: I'm not a dedicated follower of Coldplay, but how can you resist a song with the line "Roman cavalry choirs are singing" in its chorus...?!)

Heart of Darkness (and here I refer you back to Favourite Singer/Songwriter above; it's also the track I'd select if I could only take one while I was 'Living on the Island' - the clues are all there...)