The Silver Foxes Rule!

Clark Collis, wrote this cover story for the current issue of Entertainment Weekly. For it, he gathers Oscar Best Actress front-runners Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, and Judi Dench for an exclusive (and raucous) roundtable discussion. You can also read this article on the Entertainment Weeklywebsite. All photos by Martin Schoeller.

''There is nothing like a daaaaame!'' croons Meryl Streep after warmly greeting Dame Helen Mirren on this late December morning. And that old song is doubly true on this occasion. Today, in an unassuming office in downtown Manhattan, we'll be joined by another Dame of the British Empire, Judi Dench. All three actresses are, of course, legends who between them can boast 20 Academy Award nominations and three actual Oscars � though boasting is definitely not their style.

The trio's most recent performances prove that the decades have only sharpened their talents. This year marks the first time in recent history that it's the Best Actress race, not the Best Actor race, that's overflowing with worthy contenders. And despite dazzling turns from the likes of Kate Winslet (Little Children), Pen�lope Cruz (Volver), and Naomi Watts (The Painted Veil), it's these three who've got voters buzzing, the ones who were already established stars when Ms. Winslet was still in kindergarten. She may be unfashionably punctual today, but Streep, 57, coolly inhabited the soul (and designer clothes) of style-magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Dench, 72, was villainous, yet never cartoonishly so, as a lonely London schoolteacher who develops an unhealthy crush on Cate Blanchett's fellow pedagogue in Notes on a Scandal. Finally, Mirren was convincing both emotionally and � to an almost eerie extent � physically as Elizabeth II in the sleeper hit The Queen. Indeed, the smart money is on the 61-year-old Prime Suspect star becoming the first to win an Oscar for playing a British monarch since a certain J. Dench took home a gold man in 1999 for portraying Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love.

It is Shakespeare's fault, by the way, that Dame Judi cannot be with us in person today. The actress is awaiting our call in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where she's between a matinee and an evening performance of a musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Naturally, there is concern that the woman James Bond calls ''M'' may be a little tired from her onstage exertions. ''Let her snooze!'' suggests Streep. ''We can make up her part!'' As it turns out, however, Dench is as feisty and funny as her Stateside peers as the trio ruminate on outraging audiences and ganging up on directors � not to mention impertinent EW journalists.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Dame Judi, could you please describe for our benefit exactly where you are?
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JUDI DENCH: In my dressing room at the Royal Shakespeare Company. You can just about get four people in it.
MERYL STREEP: I saw you, Judi, yesterday. On the satellite television, they were playing [1968's] A Midsummer Night's Dream and there you were, practically naked. Beautiful!
HELEN MIRREN: I was in it as well! I played Hermia � that little fat girl.
MERYL STREEP: You're kidding me! I didn't even know. That's so divine.
JUDI DENCH: I have to say I'm rather frightened it's being shown.
HELEN MIRREN: I know. There are certain ones you really want to disappear forever, don't you? And that's one of them.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Remarkably, it's the only film on which any of you have worked together.
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HELEN MIRREN: We're always working with men! That was the great pleasure of Calendar Girls. For once, you're working with women. But Judi, you've just done it, fantastically, in Notes on a Scandal. It's so great to have a role opposite another woman.
JUDI DENCH: It is lovely. It's the same old story, isn't it? Not enough parts to go around!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Is it fun to go to all these awards ceremonies?
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MERYL STREEP: It's fun for people who like...that. That's my answer!
HELEN MIRREN: It seems so full-on now: the clothes, the fashion thing.
MERYL STREEP: You feel very honored and everything. [But also] burdened...
HELEN MIRREN: And humiliated.
MERYL STREEP: It never doesn't feel like work. There was a moment I remember, early on, when the Golden Globes or something used to be not televised. And there was a luncheon...
HELEN MIRREN: And you could get drunk.
MERYL STREEP: It was fun. Or you read about how photographs were taken at the Oscars, but that was it. Then it really seemed like something that was an honor from the industry. And it still is. But you do feel like a very tiny cog in a big machine.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Dame Judi and Dame Helen, do you know each other fairly well?
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JUDI DENCH: Well, we don't fairly well, do we?
HELEN MIRREN: No, we don't. I know Americans look at Britain as this tiny, tiny country. You must all know each other!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I think there is an idea that there's...
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JUDI DENCH: A Dames' club?

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Yes, where you all sit around drinking Earl Grey tea.
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JUDI DENCH: No, it's not like that at all.
MERYL STREEP: That's not what we think you sit around drinking. [Laughs]

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Is it just a fluke that you have these meaty roles in The Queen, The Devil Wears Prada, and Notes on a Scandal? Or do these films indicate an improvement in the way the movie business regards older actresses?
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HELEN MIRREN: I think there is a growing acceptance of the fact that women actually make up 50 percent of the population. And that women of our generation are an economic force.
MERYL STREEP: There are several generations of women who have the habit of going out to the movies and buying a ticket, which is not so true [of young people]. It's just like in the music business. The only people that buy CDs are people like us. Everybody else downloads it illegally off the LimeWire. And that's probably what's coming with movies. But while we still have the habit of going to films, they damn well better market to us and give us something to watch.
JUDI DENCH: I agree with that. But I do think it's a fluke when you get a year with a lot of very good parts written for women. It's whatever is in fashion.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The problem may also be connected to the still-notable shortage of female filmmakers. Why haven't any of you ever directed a movie?
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HELEN MIRREN: Because we're actresses!
MERYL STREEP: Why don't you drive an airplane?
HELEN MIRREN: Judi, you've directed a couple of times in the theater, haven't you?
JUDI DENCH: Yes, about six or seven. With theater directing, they gang up against you, actually. They say, ''We're going to a pub'' � and don't tell you where the pub is! It's a really curious thing. You think, I don't do that. But of course I do do that. I gang up against directors straightaway.
MERYL STREEP: That's part of the fun of it.
JUDI DENCH: Of course it is. And, as a director, you have to get a lot of wayward people over a line at the same point. And that's very difficult because everybody works at different speeds. I think it's a really difficult job.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: But so many male actors do make the move into directing.
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MERYL STREEP: Well, they're more unfeeling. Look at Judi talking about ''Oh, they all work at a different pace.'' Most directors don't give a s--- about your pace. No, I'm kidding, obviously. I'm kidding!
HELEN MIRREN: A weird thing happens to male actors, especially movie stars, in my experience. Which is, they become grumpy old men. I think a young male actor feels great. All the girls want him. He's a star. As they get older, that sense of not being in control of their own destiny sort of grates on them, and they get grumpy. And they move into direction to try and feel they're in control of their own destiny. Whereas I don't feel psychologically challenged, because I'm in a collaborative situation on a set with a director.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Do you find directors are ever in awe of you?
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MERYL STREEP: Unfortunately...no! [Laughs] I mean, actors are, I can tell you that. Until the second day when I don't know my lines and they go, Well, she's not so f---ing great!
HELEN MIRREN: I hate being respected, I really do. It makes me feel so uncomfortable. When younger actors come up and say they respect you, you want to go, ''Don't respect me! I don't want your respect!''
MERYL STREEP: But you're happy when you inspire them.
HELEN MIRREN: Yes, because I love being inspired by other people. I was thinking about that coming here. It's interesting for me that Meryl and Judi are the two people that are participating today because they've both been incredibly influential on me in terms of ''Oh, God, I wish I could do that. How does she do that?''
MERYL STREEP: That's the way I feel about you.
HELEN MIRREN: But the reality is that you are yourself. Of course, you take inspiration from other people. But in the end you can only be yourself. You have to stumble on in your own way.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Neither Queen Elizabeth II nor Barbara Covett, in Scandal, are exactly glamorous parts. And in Prada there is a memorable scene in which Miranda Priestly is shown in a very real, makeup-free manner. Is it mortifying to be shown in that way, or as an actress, do you think, Fantastic!?
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MERYL STREEP: That's the part of the film that makes the whole rest of it worth doing. Without that scene, what is there?
HELEN MIRREN: One of the great advantages of getting older is that you can walk into a world which is more truthful and less to do with other people's fantasies.
MERYL STREEP: But I felt the desire to f--- around with how I look from the very beginning. And the idea that you're married to some sort of glamorous look makes me crazy. I hate all that bulls---. I mean, I'll put on foundation over my pimples, but really it pisses me off.
HELEN MIRREN: How extraordinary, then, to play in The Devil Wears Prada. That's what it's all about.
MERYL STREEP: My favorite line is Stanley Tucci's: ''That's really what this multibillion-dollar industry is all about, isn't it? Inner beauty!''

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was your first-ever paid acting job?
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JUDI DENCH: Playing Ophelia at the Old Vic.
MERYL STREEP: Gee, that's starting small. [Laughs]
JUDI DENCH: That was in 1957. I got paid 3 pounds, 10 shillings a week. I was sharing with two other people and the rent was 9 pounds a week and we were to give 3 pounds each. So I was left with 10 shillings. What is that nowadays, 50 pence? [Roughly a dollar.]
HELEN MIRREN: My first paid acting job was in a play called Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs that I did in a theater that had those seats which would flip up. And I had a line that went, ''Will you shaft me?'' which means ''Will you f--- me?'' And whenever I said, ''Malcolm, will you shaft me?'' at least five seats would go click-click-click-click-click as people left their seats in outrage. The beginning is always the best, isn't it?
MERYL STREEP: Right after college I joined a theatrical commune and we played during the summer in Vermont. We made so much money that we decided to go right through the winter and play the ski resorts. And so we would do Chekhov in the ski resorts and, at the end of the first act, the whole front row was snoring. They'd been on the slopes all day and they would snore so loud.
HELEN MIRREN: We've all seen that.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Meryl recently worked with Lindsay Lohan on the late Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion. What do you all think about the media scrutiny young actresses find themselves under these days?
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JUDI DENCH: Well, now there's nothing you don't know about people. You can find out everything about everybody and I think that's a rather eroding thing. I would be put right off if I was coming into the profession now. I wouldn't like it at all.
HELEN MIRREN: But, you know, there are actresses � and I suspect that we three were of that ilk � who really operate on a completely different level. They're just not interested in that. They don't read the magazines. They're thinking about Shakespeare or about Chekhov. They're thinking like actresses, not celebrities. Lindsay Lohan � who is wonderful, actually, on screen � has come into the profession, into the work...
MERYL STREEP: ...as a child, and that's a very difficult thing.
HELEN MIRREN: And she loves it. And why shouldn't she? And she'll get over it.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Do you think it's a problem that a lot of today's young film actors don't have the kind of theatrical background that you all had?
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JUDI DENCH: It's a problem for them when they come to doing something on the stage. You can always tell if somebody doesn't have theater experience. You can tell very, very clearly.
HELEN MIRREN: In the theater you also get inspiration from other actors. The thing about film is that people will say, ''Oh, what was it like to work with Robert Redford?'' Well, actually, I didn't work with him. I was in the same movie as him [The Clearing]. Maybe we were on the set for, you know, half a day and for about 30 seconds we were on the screen for the same time. You don't really work with the other actors.
MERYL STREEP: Well, sometimes you do. In Robert Altman's films...
HELEN MIRREN: Yes, absolutely...
MERYL STREEP: ...it was like a little theatrical troupe.
HELEN MIRREN: Very much so. But that was the only time.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You all have these tremendous bodies of filmed work. Do you ever find yourself watching a movie on television having forgotten you're in it?
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MERYL STREEP: I haven't forgotten that I was in stuff. I definitely forget the plot. I always watch very interestedly to find out what happens. How does this come out? Does she get out of the car?

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Which choice does Sophie make?
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MERYL STREEP: No, I remember certain things. Over Christmas this happened. There was some movie called Falling in Love that Robert De Niro and I made. And my daughters were saying, ''So, what happens? Does he leave the wife?'' But I really couldn't remember.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Do you ever still have to audition for roles?
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JUDI DENCH: I think sometimes we might be without knowing it. If you're having a kind of friendly meal with somebody and you suddenly see those very beady, gimlet eyes looking at you, you might be auditioning then.
HELEN MIRREN: I was hopeless at auditioning. I've always been inspired by American actors because they have an ability to go straight to an emotional thing. In my early days of being in America, I'd go on an audition-type thing
and the American actors would be there doing their role in the waiting room, full out, with...themselves. Full out!
MERYL STREEP: Yikes.
HELEN MIRREN: Crying and banging. And then you'd go in...
MERYL STREEP: And get the job!
HELEN MIRREN: No, I didn't. I never got the job.
JUDI DENCH: Glenda [Jackson] used to do that, when she played Elizabeth I. She used to roar at people.
HELEN MIRREN: Oh, well, when you're actually playing the role, that's a different thing.
JUDI DENCH: She was just having lunch! I'm going to have to be very rude and go. I'm so sorry.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Just one final question. Who is going to win the Oscar this year for Best Actress?
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JUDI DENCH: I have no idea.
HELEN MIRREN: That's a terrible question!
MERYL STREEP: It's such a shocking question.
HELEN MIRREN: We're going to throttle him! DENCH: You throttle him and I'll go. Bye!

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Thanks to Phil Watson for sending the link to Take the Space, An Arts Provision Company, which was "Set up by professional actors to offer a repertoire of activities comprehensively informed by their training and professional experience." Among the people involved is our own Moira Brooker. To read more about this company click on the link.

Moira Brooker
With twenty five years as a professional actress - experience of performance in the West End and virtually every regional theatre in the UK together with numerous tours abroad and a national profile from films, TV and commercials, Moira has also a comprehensive involvement in the world of corporate workshops and coaching at every level.

Her specialist knowledge of vocal technique and personal presentation skills completes the overall Take the Space package, having worked closely as a team with Chris Barnes and Siobh�n Nicholas on many previous occasions in professional theatre as well as on the corporate level.

Moira will be best known to TV viewers as Judith in As Time Goes By with Judi Dench

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Thanks to Keith for telling me that Judi is scheduled to be interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning on CBS this coming Sunday morning. They always have a video available after the fact in case you miss it.

I'm sure there will be many sites showing interviews with Judi since this is just the beginning of awards season. Here's the interview she did with them last year around this time to promote Mrs. Henderson Presents. Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV - U.S.A - Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 15:38 (PDT)

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Thought this might be of interest on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 12th January at 14.15 the afternoon play is Adrian and the Blair - Mole Project starring Jenny Funnell as Pandora. As well as Rory Bremner playing Tony. Written by Sue Townsend and produced by Gordon House. Synopsis: Adrian Mole, as a 'representative voice from Middle England', is commissioned to present a feature on Tony Blair's 10 years as Prime Minister. Adrian, not surprisingly, has a somewhat idiosyncratic view on the Blair legacy.
Gem
United Kingdom -Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 5:38 (PDT)

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Happy new year to everyone and a big thank you to Bonnie for providing us with a great site! The lady in question (the one with the green hat; the one that bears watching :>) is named Mrs. Thrup. And the cracker Jean popped for her didn't have everything in it that should have been there. That whole episode was a real laugh feast!
Jan in Bend
OR - U.S.A - Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 8:54 (PDT)

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New Year's greetings to all! I had the pleasure of living in Canada for nine years. Crackers were a much loved tradition that were brought out on many occasions, especially on Christmas, but I could never get the gist of putting on the paper hats. They were great fun though. Just finished viewing my ATGB DVD's, again. I still laugh as if I were seeing them for the first time. Perfect cure for the post holiday slump. As always, thank you, Bonnie, for this website and all of the time that you spend on it.
Kathy Nuwayhid
El Paso, TX - U.S.A - Friday, January 5, 2007 at 21:33 (PDT)

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I think the episode where the senior citizens are treated to a tea (and Alistair's semi-striptease) feature crackers. Jean and the grim woman in the green hat -- the name escapes me right now -- pull on a cracker, with Jean getting the prize.
Marla
Euclid OH - U.S.A - Friday, January 5, 2007 at 14:39 (PDT)

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Although I am not British, I am familiar with Christmas Crackers. There was a reference or two made to them on my website. I have tried to anticipate the questions that someone unfamiliar with British culture might have and have often put links in the episode guide to explain these things. You might try just entering Christmas Crackers in the blue google box, checking atgbcentral.com and doing a search to find references on my site and on others. (If you do that you will also get Ads by Google in a separate box and if you click them you will be supporting the site. I checked a few moments ago and you will see places to purchase them).

We have lots of Christmas Crackers that were purchased here in the US and inside them are puzzles and odd looking hats and other surprises and we have used them for many years while opening Christmas gifts.

And congratulations to Judi on her SAG nomination! The awards will be presented on TBS/TNT on January 28th just after the Golden Globes, for which she is also nominated. The Golden Globes will be televised on live on NBC Monday, January 15th.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV - U.S.A - Friday, January 5, 2007 at 10:47 (PDT)

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I saw Notes on a Scandal yesterday. I found it mildly disturbing to experience Judi as a predator of lonely women. Of course it speaks to her effectiveness as an actress that she made this vulture real to me. Sandy's phrase, "I shall never think of you in quite the same way again", comes to mind.

I have a question for British visitors to this site. The Christmas dinner scenes in the movie show adults and children sitting at the dinner table wearing paper hats or crowns of some sort. What is this tradition about and is it common throughout England?
Sue
Portland, OR - U.S.A - Friday, January 5, 2007 at 4:55 (PDT)

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A big thanks to Phil Watson for sending me the link to the transcript of Judi on the Parkinson show a few weeks ago. I got somewhat tired of putting in [sic] to account for misspellings and confusion, so I stopped looking after a while. In any case it is mostly understandable. Lenny Henry who is wonderful in the TV series Chef! was also on the show. Happy New Year to all!
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV - U.S.A - Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at 10:31 (PDT)

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Judi Dench & Lenny Henry on Parkinson
December 23, 2006

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Michael: My next guest is by common consent a great actress, as she demonstrates in a new film called Notes on a Scandal. But first of all let's be reminded of her as M seen here showing James Bond just who is the boss. (Excerpt from Casino Royale) (Applause)

Michael: Welcome Dame Judi Dench. (Applause)

Michael: I've got to say that I thought that new Bond film was wonderful. It's my favourite film apart from Russia With Love, of all the Bond movies, it's great.

Judi: Well I'm thrilled that you should say that.

Michael: He was good too.

Judi: Isn't he wonderful?

Michael: I mean all that stuff about him before. It was barmy wasn't it?

Judi: I know, before he'd even done one shot on the film. How did he get on and do it? He did it with great wit and style and fun.

Michael: But he's a very good actor.

Judi: A very good actor.

Michael: But then if you'd seen him before you'd know he was a good actor, so what was all the hullabaloo about?

Judi: Well I think probably because we're so proprietorial about Bond. Everybody has a different idea about what he ought to look like. And if somebody doesn't fall into that category they're up for this kind of criticism. It's wrong though, isn't it?

Michael: Piers [sic] Brosnan was your Bond too wasn't he?

Judi: He was yes, we were new together in Golden Eye.

Michael: What's the difference?

Judi: Well the difference between the two is that they're two totally different actors. And both of them self-deprecating and both of them with a great sense of humour. And that's the most important thing of all. If you have a great sense of humour you can laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously and yet do a serious job.

Michael: But what about when comics make feeble jokes about you? About the way you speak, should you laugh at that?

Lenny: Have you got a thing about comics at the moment?

Michael: What a good woman you are Dame Judi.

Lenny: She is a good woman.

Judi: (to Lenny) We don't say rude things about each other do we? We speak about Shakespeare.

Michael: Oh do we?

Lenny: Brush up your Shakespeare. Carry on.

Michael: Let's talk about your new film because it's a very powerful film and a very powerful performance from you. You play an extraordinary character, she's very unlikeable and yet you feel sympathy for her. She's this spinster school teacher who is respected at the school but not loved. And to the school comes Kate [sic] Blanchett as the art mistress and she does something which puts her in the power of your character and the film is a development of what happens. I should imagine you thought when you read the script, you read the book first, you thought this part is marvellous.

Judi: Yes I read the book before hand. I don't read a script! Geoffrey Palmer gave me the book I think. And I read it some years ago but it never occurred to me that it was going to be a film. So then when it came up and Patrick Marvel was adapting the book and Richard Ayre [sic] and I love working with Richard, was directing it. And then I heard it was going to be Kate [sic] and I found it irresistible to do. But hard.

Michael: Hard in what sense?

Judi: Well a lot of the filming takes place in a school. And I'm quite frightened, I still have a phobia about a lot of school children together. I don't know, it's just one of those things.

Lenny: You're frightened of school children?

Judi: Yes, yes.

Michael: Frightened of school children.

Judi: Yes, I am still quite now. But this was a very, well a tough school in the north of London and I was frightened of them all. And we made such good friends there that the children were just wonderful, really helpful and wonderful.

Michael: What about the look of the character?

Judi: Yes, it's not attractive. She's not the kind of girl you'd ask around for tea, or anything else really.

Michael: And this is part of her problem that she is lonely. She had this great wall of loneliness around her that people don't perceive really. But people just see her as this very powerful person at school but you are a very vulnerable and lonely person.

Judi: Well you've got to make a sense of somebody and I think if we must all know people who are lonely and don't have anybody, don't have affection. And I think somebody said to Zoe Heller, what is the greatest thing she would have wanted? And she said to share with this woman and probably wash her back in the bath. And I think that's desperately sad. There's a line in the film where she says on a bus, just the touch of a bus conductor's hand sends a jolt right to your inside. Just for some kind of great physical warmth or affection.

Michael: Well I suppose every person has the capacity to think of that in their own lifetime don't they? I mean some more than others. I mean your case when Michael died you must have been lonely. And would that have been part of the reservoir you drew on when you did the part?

Judi: I suppose that would have been part of it yes. I always thought is [sic] was so wonderful to have a happy marriage and it's so dreadful when it finishes. And I'm not saying it's more dreadful than people who lose somebody they've not known for a very long time, you know it's just as dreadful. But I think the thought of going so solitarily through life and I mean I, we have a lot of friends thank god, and that is the redemption.

Michael: And you have work of course. Well let's look then, we've talked about the part now so let's look at the film now. The situation is that you've more or less insinuated yourself into this teacher's family and Billy Nye who plays her husband is not pleased at the sight of you. You've gone to the vet who tells you that your cat has to be put away and let's pick up the scene there. (Excerpt from Notes on a Scandal) (Applause)

Judi: Actually you don't see a lot of the cat though we did do a lot of filming of it. And this cat was very, very nice and I did get very used to it. And then one day I got there and there were two cat baskets and I asked, 'What's that cat?' And they said it was the stunt cat! And one day the director said that I could sit down for a while as they were going to the film running to the door, stopping, looking back at me, pausing and then snarling! Well I said, 'Do we have till September?' (Laughter) But the stunt cat never appeared because the cat we were filming with was this size and the stunt cat was a big brute.

Lenny: Well you have to be if you're stunt cat! You've got to eat if you're going to jump off buildings and stuff. (Laughter)

Michael: How much time did you spend on deciding on the look of the character?

Judi: We spent quite a long time actually. And we had, I had an argument with Patrick because I said, 'I hope this flat isn't going to be too dingy.' Because at one point it said the cat does [sic] through her draws of grey bras and pants. And I said, why should she have grey underwear and a dingy flat, she's got a good job. Anyway , it wasn't so dingy and they weren't so grey.

Michael: It's interesting that that becomes so important to you, playing the part.

Judi: Well look, it's one of the only parts that I've ever, at the end of the day I've been very, very glad to leave kind of hanging up in a trailer. That terrible wig and terrible look. Not at all attractive.

Michael: Not attractive at all, my dear. But now you're off to Stratford. You're at Stratford in a musical, the musical version of the Merry Wives of Windsor.

Judi: Yes, please come and see it. With Simon Callow and Alistair McGowan and good friends.

Michael: And you sing in it?

Judi: Oh yes, try and stop me! (Laughter) Three good songs.

Michael: What are they?

Judi: Well it won't mean anything to you.

Michael: Can't you sing a little bit now?

Judi: No, you'll have to wait till the single comes out!

Lenny: Twelve inch version! (Laughter)

Judi: Don't even start!

Michael: And then Stratford where you spent many, many happy years with Michael when you were part of the company there. That must bring back great memories there.

Judi: It does bring back great memories and what is lovely is that we're going to be doing this musical before the old theatre closes. Before they do the alterations and there are some things that are going to be changed and some things that will be kept the same but we are going to be the very last night that we play will be the last night in that theatre. And you know, for years I went in the fifties and saw Michael Redgrave and Peggy Ashcroft and you know, I love the thing of continuance. That somehow you know that within those walls all that has happened and all those people have been and you're lucky enough to be part of it.

Michael: Are there any particular memories that you have?

Judi: I remember with Ian McKellan playing Macbeth there.

Michael: And you played Lady Macbeth.

Judi: Yes but not in the big theatre, that was in the other place. You know, when it was just a corrugated iron roof and a lot of cracks and wind coming in through places and everyone sitting round and a very good thing happened that Roger Reece broke his ankle and we had no understudies for Macbeth and Roger Reece as playing Malcolm and because it was so heavily booked we decided we'd have to do it so we somehow adapted it so that he came on in a wheelchair and we all sat round in this circle. And Griffith Jones who played Duncan had a limp and was helped into this circle and then one of the witches, Suzie Doore used to drag her foot slightly and dribble slightly and she pulled herself round. And as Mhari Keene who played one of the witches passed me she said, 'This is the Lourdes production!' (Laughter)

Michael: You haven't done pantomime have you?

Judi: No I've never done pantomime.

Lenny: He's obsessed with pantomime.

Judi: Is he obsessed with pantomime?

Lenny: He is, I don't know what's the matter with him tonight. I don't think they've given him his pills tonight.

Michael: What was that about pills?

Lenny: I was just saying that I don't think you've had your medication tonight.

Michael: I'm in panto at present in Windsor, the Theatre Royal, Windsor. I'm the man in the mirror, the voice of reason.

Judi: Twice nightly?

Michael: Twice nightly this is. You know when Snow White asks the mirror, 'Who is the fairest of them all?' I am that face.

Lenny: And do you go er, er, er. (Laughter) Do you say 'before we go any further, have you ever thought of doing pantomime?' (Laughter)

Michael: Just ignore him, it will only encourage him. Now what I'd like you to do, would you be my star. Would you say, 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' When I tell you.

Judi: You're making me very nervous. And Lenny.

Lenny: No I'm not in this bit, this is your bit love, you carry on. I'll be over here! (Laughter)

Michael: Are we ready? This is a great moment for me, starring with Dame Judi Dench.

Judi: Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all? (Clip of Michael playing 'the mirror')

Judi: That's a very big part!

Michael: Isn't it awful?

Judi: It's a big part and I can tell you're reading it!

Michael: Oh no!

Judi: Are you a lady or a man?

Lenny: Don't open that bag of worms now! (Laughter) He's managed to convince us all over the years Judi!

Michael: Notes? Any notes?

Judi: No notes.

Michael: I did that for my grandchildren. He lied, they'll probably never speak to me again! They'll run in horror

Lenny:: Are you really doing pantomime?

Michael: It's in the (sic), they would have had a hologram but they couldn't afford it! Dame Judi good luck with the musical. How long does it run for?

Judi: It runs at the Royal Shakespeare Company until February 10th, is that a Saturday? I think.

<Michael: Great, wonderful. Ladies and gentlemen, Dame Judi Dench. (Applause).

I have frequently enjoyed your site and appreciate the work that you put in to building it.

I just made a connection that explained some dialogue from the series and thought that I should share it.

I was viewing some typical tourist photos of London and saw a monument inscribed "England expects that every man will do his duty" and recognized that the lines for Lionel's father charging him before he goes to Korea in the mini-series (in episode 10, season 4) begin "England expects..." This is clearly an invocation of this famous message from Nelson to his naval forces before the battle of Trafalgar.

Wikipedia has a good brief article on the quote and its place in English language today.
Alan
Indianapolis, IN - U.S.A - Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 18:00 (PDT)

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Well, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for 2006 has been shown on Australian TV, so it must be New Years Eve!

A very Happy New Year to all the fans of ATGB, but especially to Bonnie, who continues to improve each year (like old wine!), bringing a lot of joy and news of the cast of ATGB, to what must now be a following of tens of thousands fans. Thank goodness that the world has people, such as Bonnie, who surely must devote many hours each day to this website. LONG MAY SHE DO SO!!!

So, if you enjoy things English, try to see "The Last Night of the Proms", a great English celebration of music, with 73 concerts spread over 8 weeks.And, if you just enjoy music and good cheer, I'd recommend a dose of Andre Rieu.

Again, many thanks to Bonnie.

Kind regards,
Ross
Mapleton. Qld. - Australia - Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 19:10 (PDT)

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THE ACTOR'S CRAFT
Empathy, even to the darkest character

By Kim Murphy, Times Staff Writer LA Times,December 24, 2006

Stratford-upon-Avon, England -- SHE is probably the most popular British actress in a generation, a standing earned less by her storied appearances here on the Shakespearean stage, possibly, than by her years as reigning queen of the sitcoms on BBC. It has been estimated that an election for queen would send Elizabeth II packing and put Dame Judi Dench in Buckingham Palace.

Is it modesty, then, that leaves the 72-year-old actress, recipient of nearly every acting award that Hollywood, New York and London have to offer, perpetually afraid of being out of work? Reluctant to take a break, shy to ask for parts, working till her knees go out because she's afraid she'll get stuck waiting for the phone to ring?

"It's just wanting to be employed in my case," she says simply. "Trevor Nunn once said to me: 'You're always in tears on the first night.' And I said, 'I'm so frightened that nobody's going to ask me to do the next thing.' I get so fearful about that kind of thing. You know, when you get in your 70s, there's lots of other people waiting there, just here �" and she flutters a hand to a place behind her shoulder, just out of view, to an apparently familiar presence. "And they're all waiting, waiting for just � that � little � push�."

Needing to be needed, sudden loss and loneliness � Michael Williams, her husband of 30 years and habitual costar, died in 2001 � these are emotions the unremittingly sociable actress brought to "Notes on a Scandal," the story of a spinster's monstrous loneliness and the calculated damage she inflicts in her search for connections � a story that might have been Dench's first cinematic turn as a grand villain. Except that Dench injects the admittedly nasty role with her own improbable vulnerability.

Adapted from Zo� Heller's Mann Booker Prize-shortlisted novel, "Notes on a Scandal," opening Wednesday, also stars Cate Blanchett as the bohemian young art teacher who serves as both catalyst and victim to the elder Dench's predatory friendship.

Anyone who has followed the Mary Kay LeTourneau saga on the West Coast will recognize the gritty, delirious affair Blanchett's Sheba plunges into with a 15-year-old student, the dark secret that serves as the vehicle by which the aging, battle-ax history teacher played by Dench catches her newfound friend in a web of obligation and unspoken threat.

Clash of expectations

SET in a decaying London secondary school, the plot, under the direction of Richard Eyre (who also directed Dench in "Iris"), swoops toward disaster almost from the first halting, touching encounters between the two women, each needy in their own way, each propelled by conflicting passions that spin them like pinwheels into inevitable and disastrous conflict with each other.

The elderly Barbara Covett's life of serial solitude in the throb of busy London, in which going to the laundromat can constitute a weekend's events and the casual brush of a bus driver's hand sends spasms through her groin, comes up against the warm chaos of Sheba's domain, a large, fashionable flat shared with her much older husband, petulant teenager daughter and son with Down's syndrome.

Even before Barbara's discovery of Sheba's affair begins to render them, as she hopefully reflects, "bound by the secrets we share," her arrival at Sheba's apartment for an introductory Sunday lunch in a stiff, newly bought dress and carefully coiffed hair puts her painfully out of place amid the casual jeans and sweat shirts of her hosts � a small point, but one Dench plays with painful precision.

"We took a long time over the look of her," Dench said last week in an interview at the old Royal Shakespeare Company theater here, where she is playing in "Merry Wives � The Musical."

Dench herself manages to be elegant at 5 feet, 3 inches, wearing a soft-draped cream cashmere jacket over a brown wool sweater and trousers. (She still makes many "sexiest actress" lists, not only because of her blazing film role as Lady Macbeth some 27 years ago, but also in no small part thanks to her relentless humor, warm intelligence and often-intimidating blue eyes.)

For the colorless Barbara, Dench pulled a cap over her lustrously silver pixie top to create the impression of bald spots under thin, flyaway frizz. The script called for Barbara to have gray underwear in her drawer; Dench balked, arguing that women with flawless underwear, not to mention great manicures and good cars, can be deeply damaged nonetheless. But the clunky shoes, the shapeless skirts � they created the foundation on which Dench fashioned a woman almost everyone would find a way to dislike.

"The actual physical kind of demeanor of her. I mean, if you wear a kind of type of shoes and you wear a type of clothes, it informs the way you move. Your surroundings inform the way you move. The awkwardness of her, you know. She felt very awkward in Sheba's house. There were those terrible clothes she got dressed up in, and obviously she'd just been to the hairdresser's. The daughter saying, 'Are you going out somewhere?' And her having to say, 'I'm going out somewhere later on.' The unbearable thing of knowing that you've misjudged entirely."

But sweet in its way, no?

"Not too sweet. Sad. Sad for her."

Dench's previous cinematic roles bear not the slightest resemblance. She won an Oscar for her eight minutes as Queen Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love"; more recently, she portrayed author Iris Murdoch during her descent into Alzheimer's disease, the sexy spymaster M in "Casino Royale," and the irrepressible wartime theater owner in "Mrs. Henderson Presents."

"Judi Dench is universally loved, and people usually identify with this magnificently generous, beautiful and brilliant person who often plays monarchs and has tremendous personal dignity," Eyre said in the production notes. "So to experience Judi Dench being caustic and acerbic and rather ungenerous we felt would be a wonderful, bracing shock. I mean, her portrait of Barbara is still deeply vulnerable, but this is not a nice woman, and I think from an audience's point of view to see Judi playing that will be quite refreshing."

Dench said the devious Barbara was merely a different character, not a different process.

"People say do you like the character or dislike her? It isn't a question of liking or disliking. You just try to make the person real. Understandable," Dench said.

"That's our job, of course. I mean, do you do crosswords? Well, you know how you can look at a crossword in the morning, and then put it down and come back to it in the afternoon, and suddenly fill in about four or five clues? Well now, that's not a coincidence. That's because you've seen it, and that incredible subconscious takes over. It's like the way we can come to a decision about something when you wake up after having had a very good night's sleep. Somehow, it works things out for you.

"I've known it when being directed, and somebody says something. With a lot of directors I have a shorthand, a code with. And they can say just one word, and I'll know exactly what they mean, and that's fed in and it kind of goes through like your computer, it kicks through something, and it might just bring out the shade that they require in a performance."

Stephen Frears, who worked with Dench on "Mrs. Henderson Presents" and a couple of theater productions, counseled her with two words: "Just careful," he'd say, and then tell her what she was supposed to be careful on. "And it's enough to just inform each little thing�. As I say, I can't do it without help."

Likewise, she said, she learned from Blanchett.

"She's got film acting," said Dench, who has spent most of her career � and the happiest moments of it � on stage. "She has, somebody said to me such a long time ago: Less is more. But you only have to work with somebody like Cate to realize that less is more. My first job as Ophelia [in 'Hamlet'] at the Old Vic, I was the maddest, mad as a cut snake I was. But in actual fact, I need only to have chosen a very small thing to do to signify her madness. And Cate has that down to such a degree. You just know how to play a scene with her. I think she's sublime, I do."

Common sense of loss

IN the role of Barbara, Dench clearly finds her character unappetizing yet can empathize with her need for human contact, having lost her husband, a costar in the long-running BBC comedy series "A Fine Romance." Of course, she says, that loss came after a lifetime of comfortable companionship, whereas Barbara never had a husband.

"She's had friendship she's obviously overpowered. You hear about her friend she's had in the past. She obviously kind of smothered her with affection, and in fact sometimes people have such a need in them, not only to be cared for, but to care for somebody. She needs a friend, but she also needs somebody to do things for, who needs her in return."

All roles, Dench has come to believe, have to start from somewhere inside, the mental memory chip of emotion without which, her late husband always counseled, it was impossible to effectively project emotion on stage. Dench, for years, argued with him. Then she realized he was right.

"Michael said your vision can't be greater than what you understand as a person. You understand within your vision � anger, jealousy, greed, whatever you have � it's the subconscious that does that. You hope that a kind of picture-book person inside you is taking those things down that you can then call on."

Coming back to Stratford, where Dench lived for more than a decade as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she raised her daughter and where her closest family members are buried, has been a comfort, she said. So has playing to a live audience, which so far has responded enthusiastically to Dench's Mrs. Quickly, who in a departure from the traditional "Merry Wives" is hankering after fat Falstaff.

"Somebody asked me not long ago, does the audience make any difference? I said, the audience is the only person you're doing it for. Otherwise, I'd be at home. I wouldn't have to come out this evening," she said.

"Every audience is different. It's as if they get together beforehand and conspire. It's as if they think, 'We're going to be a very quiet audience,' or, 'We're going to be a very, very noisy audience.' They take on a personality, and you always know within a few minutes what kind of audience it's going to be. And they teach you something. They teach you everything about how to play. You listen to them like mad."

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Judi was on radio & TV here in the UK today. This morning she was in "Lenny & Will Act 2" in which Lenny Henry learned more about Shakespearean acting from Judi and others. Listen online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio 4 and follow the link to the Listen Again page.

Lenny and Judy were guests on Michael Parkinson's ITV chat show tonight. Wearing a simple square-necked black dress, Judi first talked about Casino Royale, and how the press denigrated Daniel Craig before he�d even started the film.

After a little banter with Lenny Henry about Shakespeare, she spoke about Notes On A Scandal, revealing that Geoffrey Palmer first gave her the book to read, and that she disliked filming the school scenes, because �lots of schoolchildren together frighten me�. Excerpts from the film were shown, and she chatted about the film, mentioning the �stunt cat� that never arrived when needed, her argument with the director about props, and she said it was one of the few roles she was glad to leave at night, because of the character she was playing.

She then spoke briefly about �Merry Wives Of Windsor�,.saying that the last night of Wives will be the last night of the theater before it closes & undergoes major renovations, and said she was pleased to be back at Stratford.

The three chatted about working in pantomime (a British traditional theatre for children) and Judi confirmed she had never done panto, and Parky said he is appearing in panto at Windsor, and he got Judi to help him recreate his role, causing much laughter from Lenny Henry & the audience.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Saturday, Saturday, December 23, 2006 at 15:27 (PDT)

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Once again I was reminded -- thank you Evelyn -- that this collection of articles on Notes on a Scandal has some interesting points of view and will, undoubtedly, contain new content once the film actually opens. Be sure to take a look at it once in a while to see what has been added to the site and also be sure to visit Rotten Tomatoes to check out their latest reviews. They usually have them all.

I hope that everyone enjoys a safe and healthy and happy holiday season and I thank everyone for the wonderful support that you have given to my web site either by purchasing from the store, clicking a Google Ad or keeping this comments section alive or all three. I'm leaving town tomorrow and may or may not have access to a computer so if you send any comments and do not see them immediately, please be assured that I'll get to them when I get back.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV - U.S.A - Friday, December 22, 2006 at 16:55 (PDT)

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Just read the parade article, Judi looks so beautiful in those pictures! I was sorry to read that she has a ' 'bum Knee' and will need an operation, I hope it goes ok! and she gets well soon!. Her knee must be uncomfortable, but as usual she doesn't show it. Shes one remarkable, brave lady! and thats one of the reasons why she deserves the title of a dame.

To all who write comments and to Bonnie have a wonderful xmas! Best wishes for the new year!
Gem
United Kingdom England - Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 8:34 (PDT)

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The photos at parade.com are worth viewing. As in the photos of her at the James Bond opening, I think she has a much a happier, vibrant look than we've seen in several years.
Sue
Portland, OR - U.S.A - Monday, December 18, 2006 at 6:14 (PDT)

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Of course, Judi Dench was nominated for a Golden Globe in the category BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA for her role in Notes on a Scandal. She is up against a brilliant performance by Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth. I haven't seen any of the other performances, but I've heard that Penelope Cruz did a fabulous job in Volver. Read the list of nominees at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association .
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV - U.S.A - Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 18:15 (PDT)

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A big thank you to Marla for letting me know about the article below which appeared in today's Parade Magazine. I accidentally typed the play as The Messy Wives of Windsor, which is a mistake I'm glad I didn't post even though I know Meggie would have found it in the first few minutes, but I'm still glad to have discovered it myself. The article refers you to parade.com where you can see a slideshow of Judi's newest pictures.

Thanks to Heather for sending me one of the few pictures of Judi Dench as she appears in Notes on a Scandal that I am willing to print. I posted it here because she looks so interesting. I guess the character of Barbara is not meant to be attractive, but I'm sort of sorry she took that role and I'm wondering whether or not I should see it at all, but since I'll be in LA when it opens I might see it just because I have the chance. If you live in the Las Vegas area that chance usually doesn't come often on Judi Dench films. I read the book Notes on a Scandal and the trailers for the film make the Judi Dench character look even scarier to me.

Thanks also to Heather for that suggestion about sending a Christmas card with news of a present down the road. Interesting. Judging by the sales of last year's "ATGB Complete Collection" that is what lots of people will be receiving for Christmas this year, too. And, last, there is no need to thank me for posting the pre-order link. (I hope you are aware, Pauline) that I haven't posted a UK link for DVDS that are formatted for Region 2). I hate to lose an order because you ordered something that won't play on your DVD player unless you have all-region players. Maybe I'm out-of-date because more and more players do play other region's disks, but if yours doesn't play Region 1 DVDS and you are out of Canada or the US, make sure you are ordering something you can actually use. I appreciate the pre-orders and thank everyone for making them and since each one makes money to support this site I have an interest in posting the links.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV,U.S.A - Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 11:55 (PDT)

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Thanks Bonnie, have ordered the DVD collection from Amazon of Judi's BBC plays, email from them states that it will arrive in UK middle of April. Happy Christmas to you and thanks for a great site. Pauline,
Pauline B
Midlands, UK - Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 10:15 (PDT)

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I was so pleased to see that you have a link to pre-order the Judi Dench collection. I've been trying to decide on just the right gift for my mom and thats it! I'm going to pre-order it and print the Amazon.com page and enclose it in a card. She'll have a present she'll love when it ships in the Spring. Perfect. Thanks!
Heather B
Utah - Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 11:04 (PDT)

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In Step With Dame Judi Dench
By James Brady

BRADY'S BITS: I'd interviewed Dame Judi Dench four years ago for PARADE over tea in a Manhattan hotel. Back then she was up for an Academy Award for Iris. Despite having already taken an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, she assured me I ought to put my money on someone else! That's how Dame Judi is -- playful, self-deprecating -- no diva attitudes from an actress honored by the Queen. With Christmas coming, I asked her if she had ever done any of the traditional seasonally staged slapsticks the English call "panto" for pantomime. "No. I never have, but I would love to," said Dench. "I want to play one of those large grotesques in overalls." Then she added, "Or else the bad fairy."

In South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein once wrote, joyously and memorably, "There is nothin' like a dame." And there's nothing like Oscar-winner Dame Judi Dench, who just wowed audiences in the new hit James Bond Film, Casino Royale, reprising her role as M, head of the secret service. How did she like the new 007, Daniel Craig? He was delightful, just delightful," said Dench. "It was a very tantalizing film to do."

On the heels of that action flick, Dame Judi will star in a new picture, Notes on a Scandal, about obsession and blackmail, with Cate Blanchett, so I asked Dame Judi what it was like to work with her.

"Oh, she's terrific," said Dench. "I'd never worked with her before, but I'm a huge admirer. There was this one scene that I dreaded doing, and she dreaded doing it as well, so we shared that. Then when we got through it, that night we shared a bottle of champagne."

Despite Dench's hectic film schedule, when we spoke, she was preparing for a role onstage as Mistress Quickly in a new musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor. A musical? Would Shakespeare be spinning in his grave? "It's a lovely company," she said. "I hope he would be smiling."

And will she take on yet another role after Merry Wives -- The Musical ends its run in February? "No I've first got to have an operation ono my knee," Dame Judi informed me. "They took out some cartilage, and it's bone on bone now, so we'll have that taken care of."

"Is that your football kicking knee?" I asked, using the British term for soccer. Totally deadpan, the great Dench said, "Ye [sic], that's the knee I used to score a hat trick in the [World] Cup." "England could have used you," I assured her.

"Yes," she agreed modestly, "they could have.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV,U.S.A - Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 8:44 (PDT)

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I've just pre-ordered the Judy Dench Collection from Amazon & received an e-mail stating the collection will be shipped April 2nd. Thank you, Bonnie.
Evelyn
San Diego CA - USA - Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 1:04 (PDT)

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In Canada, you can Pre-order the Judi Dench Collection from Amazon.ca for $80.44 CDN by clicking this link.

Don't forget that you can order anything else from Amazon Canada or from Amazon UK by going to my shopping page and doing a search for that item in the appropriate search box. At the moment there is not a link for that item at Amazon UK, but I will keep a watch for it. Thank you to those who have written to me about their good experiences with AbeBooks. Last week I mentioned that I was bidding on a book at Ebay, but I wasn't worried because I had found it at AbeBooks. When I actually DID lose the auction, I immediately bought it for a lower price in much better condition. I had the book in my hands on Wednesday. Not a bad turn around time.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV,U.S.A - Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 19:55 (PDT)

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As promised, I've posted the link to pre-order the Judi Dench Collection at the unbelievable price of $69.99 from Amazon.com.

The direct link is on the home page and above on this page. You can also order it from my Amazon store -- it is the first listing. It will not be available until March of 2007.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV -- U.S.A - Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 10::49 (PDT)

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"Merry Wives - The Musical" was reviewed on the Radio 4 programme "Front Row" tonight with a snippet of Judi singing. Go to Radio 4 Click on "Listen again" and find Front Row for Wednesday - it's the 1st item on the show.
Aaron Gregson
Redditch, UK - Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 14:47(PDT)

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The Guardian's Andrew Dixon was interviewed by phone just as he left TMWoW [The Merry Wives of Windsor] for BBC Radio 3's Arts programme Night Waves.

Q: Did you love it?
A: I have to say I so much didn't love it, I absolutely hated it, it just didn't work at all for me.

Q: But Simon Callow as Falstaff, how can it fail ?
A: How can it fail, well let me count the ways. There is so much that is really good here, the cast fantastic and some of the lyrics are very witty, very deft, very funny, the music isn't too bad, it's not wonderful, but it's not too bad. But the whole thing just feels like a complete mess.and I think sometimes there is a sense that musicals are easy to do, you just need to have some nice tunes, you can write some lyrics on the back of an envelope and it'll work and I think what this production demonstrates is that it isn't easy to do, it's very difficult to do, and this just didn't work on any level for me.

Q: Give us a sense of what we see, we walk into the theatre, the actors come on stage, are they in modern costume, Elizabethan dress, what does it look like ?
A: It looks wonderful actually, there's a kind of topsy-turvy dress, some people are in Elizabethan costume, there's a bit of Victorian going on there as well, it's all quite messed up, which is very nice, the costumes are great. And the set is wonderful too. It's all very funny, quite broadly done, quite cartoonish at times, and I think the look of it reflects that. And at times some of the funniest things in it are the visual gags. You mentioned Judi Dench, she sings very lustily, she puts her heart & soul into it, ands she also gets some great visual gags as well, you mentioned the cartwheel she does, which I found astonishing, probably she did too, it's done obviously with a body double but it is very very funny. But the actual play itself, what comes out from it, is it's very laboured, slow, and it reminded me of nothing so much more than Christmas shopping in Debenhams, too much going on, too noisy, too busy and it looks expensive but not worth very much at all.

Q: But how close is it to the original Shakespeare, have they adapted completely away, does any of the original text remain ?
A: Yeah quite a lot remains but it's hamstrung between these songs which instead of heightening where the script is funniest & fleet of foot, all of a sudden a character breaks out into song every two and a half minutes at a time. So you get this very unlikely marriage between the two. In a way, you wish they'd just adapted the whole thing and just made it work in a different medium but it just falls between the two stools much of the time.

Q: In the history plays we meet Falstaff and his gang, they're a great galumping chorus, are they not working in this production ?
A: They are actually quite funny, there's a wondeful moment, they in costume terms they look fantastic, you have Pistol played as a Russell Brand character, all high heels and tight trousers and fantastic crazy hair, they are quite funny but somehow the script has been pared and tweaked in a way that just doesn’t trust the original material, and the thing with this play is that it is difficult to do, it’s a very Elizabethan comedy and the updating is difficult to bring off. I feel that the way to do that is just to trust the play as much as you can and try and make it work. This is too much of an MDF style of production where you add something on the top and make it look a bit better and hope it works, which it doesn’t.

Q: An image many people will have of MWoW will be the double cuckolded Falstaff with stag’s antlers on his head in Windsor Great Park around Hearne’s Oak (sp?). Did any of that fairy magical night-time stuff work in this production? They must have thrown money at it.
A: Plenty of money at it, and a wonderful Hearne’s Oak comes into view, a great big moon behind it, it looks again fantastic. In a sense that last scene had more to it, there’s a bit of a chill in the air. The play in production struggles to reconcile these two things, the Elizabethans found it easier to reconcile these broad social comedy and the mysterious, slightly mischievous world of night-time fairies. This is just a musical chorus, and in those terms it works very well but it doesn’t leave you with very much really. It just evaporates.

Q: Briefly, do you believe it might mature into a good night out at some point ?
A: Well, there are wonderful things here, great individual performances, Simon Callow, wonderful pantomeister, but somehow I think it’s not gonna fly, it’s never going to fly.

You’re not gonna send people there, Andrew, I can’t persuade you.

.................
It sounds like a good night out for Joe Public but not Shakespeare fans or critics !! You can listen online at Radio 3 then go to the Listen Again page and look for Tuesday's Night Waves. The 6 minute interview is the last item, so forward the player until the end.

Phil Watson
Blackpool, Lancs - UK - Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 1:04 (PDT)

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Just thought I'd mention the ad for AbeBooks which appears towards the top of this page. I happen to be bidding on an item at eBay at the moment and it closes in a few hours and I won't be home to bid any higher than I've already bid. But there's really no worry because I've found many copies of the book at Abebooks and I'm assured of getting a good price for the book, probably in a better condition, without having to bid on it at all. If you click on this link it will lead you to a great finder of rare books. I just clicked on it and did a search for the Author "Jacobs" and the Keyword "Dench" and came up with 18 listings for Gerald Jacobs' A Great Deal of Laughter -- the "first" biography of Dame Judi. The prices ranged from about $40 to $302 and there are usually quite a few listed at any given time. I bought mine for about $70 from them in 1999 and it is in great condition. If you want to buy something that's usually hard to find for someone special during the holidays, this is the place to go. Also, it would surprise you to do a search for "Judi Dench" and see what you can pick up for a couple of bucks. These low priced items are used, but include DVDs and books and are really well worth the price for the casual collector.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV,U.S.A - Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 11:44 (PDT)

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Enjoyed seeing the "Merry Wives - Musical" clip as well. Oh for the chance to see the play in person. Those of you who go, please report back to us your thoughts.

Nice to learn there is another DJD fan in San Diego, Evelyn.
LeeAnna <lmoore@ucsd.edu>
U.S.A - Monday, December 11, 2006 at 9:20 (PDT)

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I stumbled on an ad for Notes on a Scandal today that led me to a promotional video at this website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/NOAS/. There is a link at the website to promotional free screenings around the country. To my surpise it will be screened in my hometown January 7 and I can attend for free on a first come first serve basis. Others should check it out. There were a dozen or more screenings listed in various USA cities.
Sue
Portland, OR U.S.A - Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 15:42 (PDT)

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I'd like to thank Phil Watson for bringing me news of the upcoming (3/27/07) release of the Judi Dench Collection.

Dame Judi Dench is one of the most celebrated stars of stage and screen. She is the winner of an Academy Award�, two Golden Globes, an unprecedented seven Olivier Awards, and numerous BAFTAs. At the BBC, she has appeared in a dazzling range of material from sitcoms to Shakespeare. This collection contains ten star-studded BBC productions spanning four decades and ranging from the Feydeau farce Keep an Eye on Am�lie to Ibsen’s Ghosts with Kenneth Branagh, Michael Gambon and Natasha Richardson and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard with John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Holm. Dame Judi appears opposite playwright Harold Pinter and Jeremy Irons in Pinter’s Langrishe, Go Down. It’s a glorious testament to one of the greatest performers of our time.

The 8 disk set, which runs about 25 1/2 hours, includes the following productions: The Cherry Orchard (1962), Talking to a Stranger (1966), Keep an Eye on Am�lie (1973), Langrishe, Go Down (1978), The Cherry Orchard (1981), Going Gently (1981), Ghosts (1987), Make and Break (1987), Can You Hear Me Thinking? (1990), and Absolute Hell (1991)

The special features include: Three Radio Plays, With Great Pleasure (1991, RT: ~44 min), Are You Still Awake? (1994, RT: ~15 min), Amy’s View (2000, RT: ~123 min), Judi Dench talks to Richard Eyre (2002, RT ~59 min), Judi Dench sings “Send in the Clowns” and discusses her 1996 Olivier-winning performance in A Little Night Music (RT: ~12 min), Favorite Things: Judi Dench (1985, RT: ~30 min), and a BBC profile of Judi Dench in which she discusses her passions.

This is 3 months before the release and surely will be offered at Amazon.com at a price much more reasonable price than the suggested retail price of $99.99.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV,U.S.A - Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 8:44 (PDT)

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Glenda...Thank you for the link to "Merry Wives-the Musical". I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Evelyn
San Diego CA, U.S.A - Sunday, December 8, 2006 at 12:55 (PDT)

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Click to view video of “Merry Wives-The Musical” rehearsal.

It is delightful.
Glenda
NC, U.S.A - Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 8:47 (PDT)

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Hi all. Couldn't let today (the 3rd) go by without wishing Moyra Fraser (Penny) a happy 83rd birthday! She's one of my favorite aspects about ATGB. The episode where she wants to build a villa in Spain is probably one of my all-time favorite Britcom episodes - ever.

Speaking of favorite Britcoms, I'll chime-in and say that my partner & I have started our own Britcom night. We have a line-up, just like local PBS, but *we* get to choose the shows! The first line-up just ended, which consisted of Good Neighbors, Butterflies and The Vicar of Dibley. We were only able to watch the first two series of Butterflies, as that's all that's available on Region 1. Can't say we were sad to see it go. Now we're looking forward to a new line-up of Good Neighbors (still more episodes to watch), Yes, Minister and Rising Damp (a really great Britcom).

Hope you're all having a nice winter so far!

Matthew Gladney
Champaign-Urbana, IL, U.S.A - Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 21:51 (PDT)

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I've been watching ATGB since 1999. I own all the series on DVD including the reunion shows but I still like to watch ATGB Saturday nights on PBS along with My Hero, Keeping up Appearances, and My Family which kind of reminds me of Married with Children. My family's OK, but if they took it off and put Bless Me Father back on, I would not mind. I also own all of Keeping up Appearances and Bless Me Father plus series 1-3 of Coupling.

NBC sure dropped the ball when they tried to make an American version of Coupling a few years back. They promoted the show like it was going to instantly be the new "Friends" (Which was leaving the schedule) and when it was not a Major hit after only 4 or so episodes they yanked it off the schedule.

It probably did no worse then Cheers in it's first year. The difference being that Cheers was given more of a chance to grow and develop an audience and as I remember that show turned out alright. If NBC had pulled Cheers like they did Coupling, imagine what we would've missed (And that's not even counting Frasier). Anyway, "Hey Hey!" to everyone.
Michael
Salem, Oregon, U.S.A - Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 17:00 (PDT)

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1) Not to rain on the parade, but I'm afraid I don't believe Julius either.
2) Another ATGB sighting--Frank Middlemass appears in Season III of "Upstairs, Downstairs" as "the purveyor of fine fish and poultry" to the Bellamy household at Eaton Place. Invited to a meal in the servants' hall, he is a charming cad and, of course, ends up by breaking Mrs. Bridges' heart.
3) I'm still a strong supporter of "Mulberry." Do view it if you can.
Joan in PA
Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 13:08 (PDT)

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First I don't believe Julius.

Second, I want to thank the wonderful Jan M for sending the photo of the Korean Casino Royale Poster which you can scroll down to see below the two photos I posted yesterday. She's also sent several other pictures which I've posted here. She sent more but I must admit I'm a sucker for a nice closeup and the rest are just all over the net and, to me, they all look the same.

Third, doncha think the photo of Judi Dench with Paris Hilton looks like a shot of the back room at Madame Tussauds? Think about it.

And last -- take note, producers -- I am amazed at how many copies of the complete series are being sold every day. Thank you to all the wonderfully loyal people who have purchased it through this web site and helped to keep it and this show alive.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, December 3, 2006 at 8:59 (PDT)

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Hi Again I see that there are fans of Stephanie Cole here, so just to let you know that Stephanie is in the cast of 'Doc Martin'. She plays Aunt Joan.

I am really enjoying reading the posts here at the ATGB Message board. Well done!
Patty
Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 5:46 (PDT)

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During the pledge break here in northeast Ohio, Julius (sorry -- missed his last name) from the BBC said twice that it's understood there will be more specials, maybe one or two a year of ATGB. Philip Bretherton, Moria Brooker, and Jenny Funnell have spread the word to Judi, Geoffrey, and Bob Larbey that ATGB is enormously popular in the US and, apparently, there is agreement to continue. No time frame was mentioned. Also, the specials will be made for UK audiences and each PBS station will have to buy them. I can't believe this would have been said unless it was pretty much a done deal.
Marla
Euclid OH USA, Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 15:43 (PDT)

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Hi All, Thank you so much for all of your suggestions..I have made notes of the titles that I haven't seen or heard of and will check and hope that they are available on DVD..What I have so far and am thoroughly enjoying: Darling Buds of May
Lovejoy
Born and Bred
Last of the Summer Wine
To The Manor Born
The Vicar of Dibley
The Bounder
Midsomer Murders
Rosemary and Thyme Doc Martin (The Doc is seriously cranky but the characters and scenery are brilliant..I highly recommend this program)
Bergerac

ATGB, Keeping Up Appearances, Are you Being Served, Chef!, Waiting For God, and Good Neighbors we get on our PBS affiliate every Friday night and I love them all..

Thanks Again,
Patty <avalondriftisle@aol.com>
Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 13:06 (PDT)

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On Friday, Charlie Rose interviewed David Hare, the man who has written two plays for Judi (Breath of Life and Amy's View). Its a terrific interview. I hoped Judi would be mentioned, but she wasn't. You can see the interview in full for free at charlierose.com. I appreciate Phil's telling us about the BBC programs. I enjoyed listening to Finty's play. I'm glad to see she is working. I hope she is getting her life together. Finally, have the rest of you noticed how genuinely happy Judi looked at the premier of Casino Royale. So many of the photos we've seen of her in the past year have shown her to be exhausted. I thought this was different.

NOTE FROM BONNIE: The photos were taken at the World Premiere of Casino Royale at the Odeon, Leicester Square in London at which she seems to have wandered away from her publicist at some point in the festivities.

Sue
Portland, OR - Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 7:19 (PDT)

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I would like to thank Phil Watson for his postings regarding BBC Radio's Listen Again feature. I really enjoy listening to the programs late at night before going to sleep. Cheers Phil!
Kathy Nuwayhid
El Paso, Texas - Friday, December 1, 2006 at 8:46 (PDT)

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this show ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is the best show EVER!!!!!!!!!!
kyla konecny
- Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 14:39 (PDT)

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More thanks for the Judi/Jeffrey piece.

My Other Half and I are off to see "Merry Wives" in January and he said "Is Jeffery Dench any relation to Judi ?" and I said "Naaaaahhhhh" !!
Aaron Gregson
Redditch UK - Thursday, November 29, 2006 at 10:31:21 (PDT)

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The interview with Patricia Routledge was excellent. Thanks, Phil, for bringing it to our attention. On one of her "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" programs, she sings a very moving version of "The Old Rugged Cross."

Can you imagine the degree of acting ability and skillful talent that she possesses to sing so atrociously as Hyacinth on KUA?

As to the question of whether anyone from ATGB can sing, we can't forget Alistair's notion for the "Songs of Kenya" to be recorded by Lionel. Just the thought of it has Judith practically falling off her chair.
Joan in PA
USA - Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 8:32 (PDT)

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I wholeheartedly agree with Phil in his recommendation to listen to Stage and Screen Legends on BBC Radio 3. If you like Patricia Routledge you will love the interview of her, which is interspersed with cuts from her singing appearances on stage. I did not know she had won a Tony. I guessed she had a pretty good voice but never dreamed she had a beautiful voice - and could take the roof off. Wait til you hear Climb Every Mountain - I'm off to see if I can download any of her recordings from iTunes or wherever. There were clues in Keeping Up Appearances that she could really sing but who knew?

I wonder if any ATGB cast members are singers?
Roger
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 1:27 (PDT)

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Finty Williams plays novelist Daphne Du Maurier in today's episode of "A Room Of Her Own", the daily Woman's Hour drama this week. Go to the Radio 4 website and then the Listen Again page and look for Woman's Hour Drama for Tuesday.

A very, very surprising programme I found which may be of interest to fans of Britcoms is "Stage & Screen - Legends" which was on Radio 3 yesterday. This week the featured performer was Patricia Routledge. She won a Broadway Tony award in 1968 for "Darling Of The Day" and was in Alan Jay Lerner's legendary 1976 flop "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue". Recorded in front of an audience at the Menier Chocolate Factory (?) in London, she talks to Edward Seckerson about these and other productions. It's a fascinating hour. There's a lot more to Ms. Routledge than that irritating Mrs. Bucket. Go to the BBC Radio 3 website and then to the Listen Again page.
Phil Watson,
Blackpool UK - Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 10:28(PDT)

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I am not sure which picture you are talking about but probably it is the one with Judi and Jeffery. It was in the Times online article and appeared with the story in the Sunday Magazine. You could order a copy of the magazine, scan it ( it is on the Times website) and make all the full-sized copies you want. You can probably go to a library and Xerox the page for just a few cents. I also saw it for sale on Ebay. If someone wants to scan the picture, full-size, and email a copy to me, I would be happy to post it on a separate page, but it is way too large for the comments page.

Of course you can just right-click on the picture with the mouse and save it to disk. This is true of most pictures on any website. By the way, I do not feel that because a picture appears on my site it is owned by me or that I have somehow inherited exclusive rights to it. This is even true of the hundreds of words and "original" photos which appear in the episode guide. Everything in that guide was written and captured by me personally. If you like a photo particularly well, by all means make a copy.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 8:59 (PDT)

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Love that photo! Any way we could get copies?
Joan in Pennsylvania USA - Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 5:17 (PDT)

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This is one of the best articles I've read in a long time, especially because it gives us a peek into the Judi/Jeffery relationship. Thanks to Jan for sending it.
Marla
Euclid OH USA - Monday, November 27, 2006 at 12:11 (PDT)

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Thanks to Jan M for sending this article, which appeared in todays Times (UK). It was written by Ann McFerran.

Judi Dench and her brother Jeffery

In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Dame Judi Dench, 71, has been acclaimed for her leading roles in both theatre and film. She also starred with her late husband, Michael Williams, in the TV sitcom A Fine Romance. She lives in Surrey with her daughter, Finty, 34, and grandson, Sammy, 9. Jeffery, 77, joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 and has built a reputation as a respected character actor. He has three daughters and lives in Stratford-upon-Avon with his wife, the designer Ann Curtis. Both Judi and Jeffery are appearing in Merry Wives — The Musical, which opens at the RSC in Stratford on Saturday. They have an older brother, Peter, 81, a retired doctor.

JUDI: I’d never have thought of being an actress if it wasn’t for Jeff. He only ever wanted to be an actor, and after I was taken to see him in Shakespeare at his boys’ school, acting was all I wanted to do. I was bewitched when I saw him playing Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew. Then he played Cassius, and he’d come home from school and say his lines. I can recite those lines to this day.

For me, acting was like catching measles. I caught it off Jeff. That’s why I hate it when somebody says to him: “Are you anything to do with Judi?” Because acting was his idea in the first place, so I think that kind of comment is very unkind. I’ve never seen any resentment in Jeff. And that tells you the kind of person he is — he’s hugely good fun, and someone who hides his feelings a lot. But he’s a very present help in trouble.

Jeff and I grew up in York. We had a very Swallows and Amazons childhood. We rode bikes and roller-skated, and I was always dressing up. We’d play in other people’s gardens and rig up phones with soup tins. And Mummy would play the piano and we would sing. We didn’t have a TV until the coronation; now I think how lucky we were. Daddy had studied to be a doctor, and Mummy was Irish and quite fiery. When Daddy bought her an Electrolux vacuum cleaner, and the man came to see if it was working, she stood at the top of the stairs and threw the pieces at him, saying: “I’ll tell you what I think of your Electrolux! Give me back my Hoover!” I think Jeff was more like Mummy. I was more like Daddy.

The boys went to St Peter’s School and I went to The Mount, a Quaker boarding school. Our parents were madly keen on the theatre. When I was quite young I was taken to see Ben Travers’s Cuckoo in the Nest, and I laughed so much I made myself ill. My first real taste of acting, and my first experience of being part of a company, was when we all became involved in the York Mystery Plays. The first couple of years we children played angels and citizens; Mummy was the wardrobe mistress. And then Daddy was Joseph the year I played Mary. We had huge fun.

I love acting, the whole business of being with lots of people. I couldn’t do a one-woman show because I wouldn’t know how to get ready on my own. It’s like being part of a family: you have such a wonderful time because you have such wonderful jokes. After Jeff left drama school he went into the army, and when they saw him acting he was put into a company of actors. So he didn’t do any square-bashing at all!

In the early 1970s, Jeff and I were both in the Royal Shakespeare Company. By that time I’d met Michael [Williams], who was also in the RSC, but there was nothing more to it than that. Then, just before I went on tour with the RSC, he came up to Stratford to recuperate after an injured knee. A small explosion erupted between us! But then Jeff and I went off on tour to Japan and Australia. Back in England, Michael decided he had to come out to Australia. And for me that was it! He’d said he was coming for a week, and at the end of that week he said goodbye. But when we arrived back from the theatre, Mikey was still sitting there in the hotel. He did that every week for six weeks. Then he came home with me. When Trevor [Nunn] saw Mike and me together he cast us in London Assurance, with Jeff too. That play was such a happy time. Mike and I got married, then I got larger and larger, with Finty. Over the years I’ve done some terrific plays. I was very, very lucky.

But in 1999 I was in New York doing David Hare’s play Amy’s View when Michael became very ill. It was cancer.

I had to go home, of course. Finty and I brought Mikey back to our house in Surrey so we could look after him. The build-up to his death was ghastly. We watched him getting weaker and weaker.

Yet now I think that time was also rather extraordinary. We could say everything we wanted to each other. Michael was Catholic and shortly before he died he was made a papal knight.

I thought it would be wonderful to invite all his friends and family to be with him, and Finty had a brilliant idea that made it possible. She reversed the baby alarm so everyone downstairs could hear Michael being made a knight upstairs.

The following day, January 11, 2001, he died. I’m sure he hung on for that day. A year later to the day, Jeff’s wife, Betty, died. He had come home to find the door locked. She was dead in bed after a heart attack. The shock of it. Golly! At least we had time to say goodbye to Michael. Poor Jeff wandered around afterwards, totally bewildered.

Today I’m delighted because Jeff has remarried, to someone who knows him very well. And I have lots of really good friends. And then there’s work. That’s been essential. Since Michael died, more of me goes into work. And acting is my social life as well. Just over a year ago, Greg [Doran, associate director of the RSC] said to me he wanted to do a musical of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Greg came to my house and we sang the songs. “What larks!” we said. “What larks!” Then Jeff rang me and said: “They’ve asked me to play Shallow in Merry Wives.” Well! To work with my brother — how lovely and lucky.

JEFFERY: Putting my nose out of joint. That’s how I first remember Judi. First as a little girl — and she’s been doing it ever since. I might try doing something, like going into the theatre, and then she comes along and goes not one, not two, but three better! As a little girl she was sweet, but for a boy of seven like me, she was “Yuk!” Our mother had a great sense of fun — and a temper — which Judi and I have both inherited. I was at drama school by the time Judi played Mary and our father played Joseph. Even then she had that very special spark. I then went into rep, which was fantastically hard work. Meanwhile, Zeffirelli directed Judi as Juliet. She was staggeringly good. She went on to do all the Shakespeares.

In 1971, when I played Ratty in Toad of Toad Hall, Michael Williams was Toad and Judi a very pregnant rabbit, and there was a spark between them. Then Judi and I went out to Australia with the RSC, playing Twelfth Night. I was Aguecheek and she was Viola. We were very naughty, trying to make each other laugh on stage.

But then something terrible happened. There was this chap in the company who was playing some leading roles, who I think was madly in love with Judi. She was fond of him, but not in that way. Then he committed suicide just before we opened. We were all terribly upset. Mike Williams flew out. I liked him. He was good for Judi. He was a northerner and quite religious. He would cross himself when he walked past Roman Catholic churches. There’d been something between him and Judi before, but now there was far more. When we came back to England, we were all in London Assurance, and Judi and Michael got married during the run.

When Michael became very ill, Judi kept it all very much to herself. I don’t think anyone apart from Finty knew what she was going through. Michael died in 2001, which was terrible, and very bad for Finty. Judi had to go on working, and it was fortunate for her to have that. But then Judi has never not worked. She not only enjoys working, she needs to work.

A year after Michael died, to the day, I found my wife dead in bed. I’d come home from a job to find the door was locked. It was terrifying. But I was glad she didn’t suffer any pain.

Now I’ve remarried and I’m very happy. And Judi lives with Finty and Sammy, Finty’s son, in this lovely big house in Surrey. Judi is much loved and she still has that special sparkle. But she’s somebody you wouldn’t cross. There’s that much of my mother in her. I mustn’t err beyond the erring limit.

She is still a workaholic, and I wish she’d give herself a little more time between jobs. Our father would have said: “Come on, Judi. Slow down a bit.” She’s never listened to most people, but she’d have listened to him.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Sunday, November 26, 2006 at 15:38 (PDT)

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Regarding " Born and Bred"....if you keep watching there is a story line where the policeman and his wife, the nurse, pursue adoption and/or fostering and Finty plays the woman who decides if they are suitable or not.
Jan Stewart
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - Friday, November 24, 2006 at 14:43 (PDT)

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Hello everyone

Just thought I’d add a belated addition to the request from Patty for Brit feelgood entertainment. Sorry for the delay!

In addition to all of the excellent ones already mentioned, you might like to have a look at the less well-known “Love On A Branch Line”, “Outside Edge”; “The Beiderbecke Tapes”, “Affair” and “Connection”; “Blott On The Landscape”; “The Rise and Fall Of Reginald Perrin”; “Fairly Secret Army”; “Butterflies”; “Upstairs, Downstairs” ; “The Duchess Of Duke Street”; “The House Of Eliott”; “Campion” and the “Mrs Bradley Mysteries”.

Not all of these are comedy per se , but I would describe them, nevertheless as “feelgood”. I have dozens more to recommend if required! That lot should take a while to work through though…

Enjoy Patty!

My very best to you all…
Helen <info@helenayres.com>
Tenterden, Kent, England, UK - Friday, November 24, 2006 at 13:35 (PDT)

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Yes Roger, we've been listening to these shows on BBC4 and BBC7 with regularity thanks to the postings of Phil Watson. I have been recording their programs for years. If you go to the radio sites and sign up for the newsletter you can get your own weekly guide and can listen either with the BBC's own player or Real Player or any other software capable of getting the channel.

Thanks to everyone for coming to check on things every day even though there is not too much to report. I am particularly thankful to those who have been ordering things through the web store at my site. Even if you don't see what you want at Amazon, you can always buy a gift certificte and let someone pick his or her own present. There is a link above (just below the Atgbcentral Store link) which will let you do just that!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 19:52 (PDT)

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Aaron posted on November 8th regarding "Listen Again" on BBC, Channel 4, and wasn't sure if those outside Britain could get this channel. I listen regularly here in Texas, via the internet, and have heard such gems as To The Manor Born, Good Neighbors and Yes, Prime Minister. It's fascinating to hear the radio versions of shows such as these.
Roger
USA - Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 18:17 (PDT)

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Ronnie Stevens popped up in the remake of "Goodbye Mr Chips" the other day. Another actor who appeared in GMC as one of Petula Clark's boyfriends, was the actor who played "Ben" (the fella Laura meets in Brussels who turns out to be a cad) in "A Fine Romance". How young they both looked!
Jan in Sydney
Australia - Monday, November 20, 2006 at 17:48 (PDT)

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Ronnie Stevens, who played Eric the bookseller, the elderly boyfriend of Judith, died on November 11th at 81. He must have been around 70 when he played Eric in 1994/5. Ronnie seems to have popped up in hundreds of films & TV shows since the 50s and was a founder member of The Actors Company with Ian McKellen.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/14853/comedy-veteran-ronnie-stevens-dies-at-81
Phil Watson
Blackpool UK - Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 17:25 (PDT)

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Tonight (Wednesday), between 9:00-10:00 p.m., the TV Guide Channel is broadcasting Bond is Back, a preview of Casino Royale.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 9:40 (PDT)

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I added a link above to the new Atgbcentral Amazon Store which has been dressed up for the holidays.

That link leads to a variety of Judi Dench/ATGB items -- there are now 6 pages and 54 items shown. Additionally you can order items in categories ranging from Apparel and Accessories to Toys and Hardware at reasonable prices. If you do a DVD search for As Time Goes By you will get a listing with the individual series DVDs. When you read about one of these recommended series here the comments section, just click on the link and do a DVD or VHS search to see if there is an available video. The nice thing about the store is that it goes directly to a page with reviews and reader comments.

Thank you to those who continue to support the site even though we've all been disappointed by the lack of new information and new programming. And a big thank you to those who have just discovered the site and who write to me personally. I always appreciate it and I'm always surprised that people are still surprised that such a site exists. And while we're talking about feel-good series, I'd have to recommend Vicar of Dibley, Good Neighbors and No, Honestly. I love Waiting for God and Fawlty Towers as well, which are feel good in the sense that they make you laugh a lot, but they aren't necessarily warm and fuzzy.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 8:53 (PDT)

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I can thoroughly recommend 'Lovejoy' and 'Porridge'.
Margaret
USA - Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 4:36 (PDT)

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Don't forget Are You Being Served.

ATGB is the best of the lot...
Anne
Jacksonville, FL USA - Monday, November 13, 2006 at 12:25(PDT)

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I love Waiting for God, although it's not to everybody's taste. In fact, I wish my local PBS would return it to the schedule -- guess it's about time to ask again.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Monday, November 13, 2006 at 11:27 (PDT)

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Additionally, I will say:
Some Mothers Do Have Em is another short lived funny series. I have only seen a few, but it was cute.
Waiting for God
Are you Being Served AGAIN (more feel good than the original AYBS series)
I also like Last of the Summer Wine and a series I haven’t seen for sale called May to December.
Sherry
Macon, GA USA - Monday, November 13, 2006 at 10:52 (PDT)

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Must have Britcoms include the standards:
A Fine Romance
Vicar of Dibley
Mr Bean
Fawlty Towers
Mulberry (as stated)
Keeping Up Appearances
To the Manor Born
However, even though most of these are in my collection, ATGB is the best.

Great movies you may enjoy include On a Clear Day, Billy Elliot and Possession. The original 1995 Pride and Prejudice was fantastic as well.
Sherry
Macon GA USA - Monday, November 13, 2006 at 10:35 (PDT)

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I hope all of the ATGB loyalists didn't leave Patty hanging! I responded to her personally, suggesting "Mulberry" and "Good Neighbors." She had heard of "Born and Bred", which is delightful, but I don't think it's out on VHS or DVD.
She had a good question. Did others have different suggestions?
Mark me curious,
Note from Bonnie: Born and Bred is out on DVD and probably VHS as well. Click on any link to order to order from Amazon.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Thursday, November 12, 2006 at 15:38 (PDT)

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Hello, I have recently finished "The Darling Buds of May" series and I loved it..Could someone recommend another feel good similar series? Thank you..
Patty <avalondriftisle@aol.com>
- Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 16:19 (PDT)

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Jenny Funnell was in a Radio 4 play today (November 8th) called "Dr Brighton & Mr Harding", playing a character called nancy.

You can Listen Again via the Radio 4 website - not sure if those outside the UK can do so.

Non-UK listeners probably won't have a clue what it's all about as the play is about the life of Gilbert Harding, a UK television personality of the 1950s.
Aaron Gregson
Redditch, UK - Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 14:22:21 (PDT)

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I already responded privately to the person who asked about the custard tarts.

If you want suggestions about where you might buy them, click Read the Archives in the Blue Google box above and you will get the full archive page. Then do a search in your browser for "custard" and you will get all references to them in the last several years and there are a couple of places mentioned. Also you can look up "Custard Tarts" (with the quotes) in the Google Box itself and it will show you many, many recipes to make them at home.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 10:31:21 (PDT)

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To the person who mentioned Custard Tarts....I too would love to know where I could purchase at least one box to find out what the heck they are.

This was a show that my Mom & I loved to watch. I bought the entire collection on DVD including the Reunion Special. It was my mom's favorite show and it reminds me of the great times we had watching it everytime I play the dvds. My favorite episode is the throwing carrots one!

Thanks to the cast & crew and of course Mr. Larbey for his awesome writing talents!

Have a Great Day!
Jen Sturdivant <stir113@bellsouth.net>
Snellville, GA. USA - Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 10:21:21 (PDT)

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CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE THE TRAILER
FOR NOTES ON A SCANDAL

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Daniel Ryan (Harry two) is also appearing in an episode of the BBC America drama, The Street. He is excellent as a lower middle class husband caught in a tragedy. The show is excellent. Each story is about a different family on "the street" getting drawn into human dramas. Jim Broadbent plays one of the residents of the street and is in several of the episodes.I enjoy seeing the uniquely English habits of the characters, such as their use of the local Pub as a social and entertainment hub and their use of a "pot of tea" to deal with stress and tension between the characters.I can't think of a drama on American TV as good as this.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 7:59:21 (PDT)

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If any of you fans of ATGB get a chance to see the British program "Born and Bred," a pleasant comedy-drama set in a small English village, you will see two ATGB characters. One is Mr. Partridge, the British Telecom technician who adds the telephone line for Jean's internet service, as a thoroughly obnoxious, reprobate con man. The other is Daniel Ryan (Harry two) as an illiterate dairy farmer. Both parts are very well done and very different from their roles on ATGB.

Incidentally, Clive Swift, (Poor Richard, Hyacinth's husband from "Keeping Up Appearances") plays the local vicar, a role which allows him a much wider range than his somewhat stilted and predictable role as Richard.

As always, it's fun to see our friends in other parts.

Also, many thanks to Phil Watson for his timely alerts about BBC radio broadcasts.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 14:41:21 (PDT)

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Next Friday 3rd November at 9pm UK time, on BBC Radio 4, Geoffrey stars in Charles Wood's radio play "A Conspiracy at Sevres". The Radio Times blurb says "From Charles Wood, the writer of Iris and The Charge Of The Light Brigade, a conspiracy play that uncovers an illicit pact that ignited the Suez crisis, and proposes that prejudice, secrets, plotting and misdirection lay at the heart of Britain's actions in the middle east." Others in the cast include Corin Redgrave, James Fleet, John Standing, Lee Montague and Harry Towb. Listen online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 and for a week later on the Listen Again page.

BBC Radio 4 are airing many dramas and documentaries about the 1956 Suez crisis when President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal, owned by a British company. In one of the most shameful incidents Britain tried to take control of both the canal and Egypt, failing in both.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 8:52:21 (PDT)

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Check Bruno Press (brunopress.com) for photos of Judi and Finty at the "Dirty Dancing" first night in London. Judi certainly loves that outfit she's wearing.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 15:12:21 (PDT)

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My wife and I recently discovered ATGB on BBC America and have fallen in love with the series. I've not had time to read all of the comments and this has probably been asked and answered already, but...does anyone know where you can buy custard tarts here in the States? I've checked several online British shopping sites and haven't been able to find one that carries custard tarts. If you can provide some information please drop me an email at: rustydixon@fastmail.fm
Thanks!
Rusty
USA - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 10:59:21 (PDT)

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Sorry about the problem that some people had with the several guestbooks I've posted during this past week. If you are looking for the correct one, you've found it.
Bonnie Rottstin
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 09:04:21 (PDT)

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Hi, everyone,
Sometime back it was suggested that reading the archives is fun and entertaining. So, on one of my insomniac evenings that is what I did. Yes, it was fun and it was entertaining. However, when I came to some comments that said that Judi was, "not exactly the best looking woman in the world, has a rough look, and would not have been successful as a Hollywood actress because of her lack of beauty." I was incensed. How dare anyone!

Well, it was momentary. I should have had more faith. Between Bonnie and the rest of the individuals with high integrity who post on this website; put in their place is putting it mildly. Not only was this person shown the correct path, it was done with class and style!

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Thank goodness the vast majority of us her have the right one, lol. Thanks again, Bonnie for putting a little more fun, enjoyment, and albeit, temporarily a little fit of pique into my life.
Kathy Nuwayhid
El Paso, TX USA - Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 16:56:21 (PDT)

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In response to the inquiry about Absolute Hell, I recently found a copy for sale on EBAY. The quality is not first class but it is very enjoyable.
Glenda
NC USA - Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 10:20:27 (PDT)

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As far as I know, Absolute Hell, is not commercially available in either the US or UK. It was a made for TV film in the UK, so there were many copies in many collections.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 07:06:31 (PDT)

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Thanks to whomever mentioned Last of the Summer Wine. We are getting it in Oregon, as well, and I am looking forward to seeing more of it. Jenny Funnell said in an interview that it ran for more years than ATGB. Does anyone know if a video is available of Judi in Absolute Hell? She mentions it as one of her favorite roles. I have the radio play she was in but find the characters diffcult to follow on the radio (so many of them).
Sue
Portland , OR USA - Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 06:59:17 (PDT)

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Hello Bonnie
I too have purchased the full set of dvd's including the reunion specials and like everyone else on this site love them all. These actors have certainly brought their characters to life for us and I thank them for that. Also what great writing from Bob Larbey, quite beautiful at times. Although it has been indicated that the reunion specials were the last and fair enough if that is the case, but should other specials (series) be considered, why not include Geoffrey Palmers interest in fishing and go to the country for holiday and Lionel can go fishing which becomes his new hobby in retirement, with romance & warm hearted scenes of Jean & Lionel in the country with comedy surrounding the fishing adventures. I guess this is just wishful thinking on my part. Thanks so much for your wonderful website. I love reading the comments and keeping up to date with your latest information.
Best Wishes
Jenny W.
Perth, Western Australia - Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at 09:08:11 (PDT)

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Ah, yes. Those very distinctive British voices. Last night I too saw episode 2 of Last of the Summer Wine. Had I not been so familiar with Rocky's voice, I would have been wracking my brain, trying to figure out who that dark-haired, balding actor with the big nose was. On a recent episode of Born and Bred (another BritCom), it was only the voice that allowed me to recognize Stephanie Cole from Waiting for God. She had gained quite a lot of weight. Looks may confuse us, but the voices never let us down.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Sunday, October 15, 2006 at 11:56:57 (PDT)

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Maryland Public Television is currently showing the very first episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. In the second episode, which my husband was watching while I was doing something else in the same room, I suddenly thought I was hearing Rocky's voice. Sure enough, the ending credits confirmed that it was a much younger Frank Middlemass as Judd the barber. We were charmed to see him, however many decades ago, in another classy and convincing portrayal.
Dee Benson
Elkton , MD USA - Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 16:02:41 (PDT)

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And wouldn't that be a typical gift from Lionel? A bottle of Brown Sauce--something completely inappropriate for children. Lovely prank!
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 16:01:27 (PDT)

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I just returned from holiday in London and was lucky enough to have time to walk thru the neighborhood where ATGB was filmed. Upon return to the States I told my two children, who watch the show nightly with me, that I was walking by Lionel and Jeans house when Lionel happened to open the door...to which he gave me something for the children at home. At that point I pulled out a bottle of brown sauce, the little ones stood their with their mouths agape and said "a present from the big guy!!"...we all had a big laugh (and they still think that Lionel sent a bottle of HP brown sauce home for them).

I have to throw my two cents in regarding another reunion special. Personally I was somewhat disapointed in the last reunion. I didnt think the writing was of the same quality of the series, as the best part of the show was the ability to find comedy in the seriousness of life. At some point someone has to say no more, and if GP has decided that enough is enough, then I applaud him and the rest of the crew, for a job so very well done. Life is too short!!
john roy
acushnet, ma USA - Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 13:23:43 (PDT)

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There are new photos of DJD in rehearsal for “Merry Wives” posted on Wireimage.com this morning.
Glenda
USA - Monday, October 09, 2006 at 12:58:42 (PDT)

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Like Mr. Gregson, I too would be "over the moon" if GP wants to do another ATGB. If you read the last couple of interviews he has given, and have seen the interview he did on the Region 1, Series 8 & 9 DVD, he wanted to end the series while it was still on top. I think it was a wise decision.

There are not many tv shows that run for 10+ years-English or American. They also gave us a reunion special. I think we should be grateful for the many shows the cast and crew gave us and not pressure anyone for more.

Also, like Mr. Gregson said, GP deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labours, whether it be fishing (my husband and I are also avid "fishers") or some other enjoyable activity.

I just want to thank the cast, crew, and all who were involved with ATGB for giving us such a classy, heartwarming, enjoyable series. I, for one, will probably never see the likes of it again.
Chris
ID USA - Monday, October 09, 2006 at 08:00:10 (PDT)

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I'm going to go against the grain here at the risk of being shot down !! Personally, I would love another ATGB special, however if GP doesn't want to do anymore we as his fans should respect his wishes.

I think Judi was probably making a generalisation when she said "all he wants to do is go fishing" and if the right project came along such as another one-off ATGB then he would possibly agree to do it. However, Geoffrey is now in his mid-70s - surely he deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labours and have a relaxing "retirement".

He's given us all years of pleasure with his successful career and ATGB had a very good run compared to some UK sitcoms, so if he wants to wind down then we should let him and not pile on the pressure and say he is letting the fans down etc.

If GP wants to come back and do more ATGB I would be over the moon but i'm also fine if he doesn't and I will enjoy his huge catalogue of work for years to come.
Aaron Gregson
Redditch, UK - Sunday, October 08, 2006 at 10:25:06 (PDT)

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I agree with Joan in Pa re: "Iris". I didn't think I could watch the video again - it was so powerfull. But I did, without the sound. That's when the acting is so very powerful. I have watched ATGB many times, sometimes without sound. That's when the acting comes through!
Evelyn <tygger2004@bellsouth.net>
SC USA - Saturday, October 07, 2006 at 17:26:55 (PDT)

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On Tuesday 10th at 2.15pm UK Time, Jenny Funnell appears in the Afternoon Play on BBC Radio 4. It's available online live at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 and for a week afterwards on the Listen Again page.

Jenny plays Peggy, a character in "Paul & Yolanda". On the Cote d'Azur in the 1950's a penniless upper-class woman cannot forget the man she could never marry. Linda Grant's play dramatises what may have happened to Yolande Jackson after the end of her relationship with Paul Robeson.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Saturday, October 07, 2006 at 07:36:13 (PDT)

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I can certainly understand Geoffrey Palmer's reluctance to start a new and unfamiliar project.

But, AS TIME GOES BY? Surely he could be persuaded by the millions of adoring fans to come away from the lake just for a few weeks? I once heard the Marlon Brando refused to learn any lines in his last films. He supposedly insisted that all of his lines be written on objects on the set so that he could read them when the time came.

I am not saying that this could be done, but given the expertise of all of the actors involved, surely this would be a cake walk. I am rambling, but I think that I had given up on more episodes and the idea that they are possible is exciting.

Keeping my fingers crossed!
Kathy Nuwayhid
USA - Friday, October 06, 2006 at 08:47:48 (PDT)

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I am one of those fans that would like to see another ATGB special. I think that they should address the fact that both Madge and Rocky have died. Bob Larbey surely could come up with some way that they have passed on. Maybe one dies and the other one dies of a broken heart. That sometimes happens with elderly married couples. Then Lionel would have the country house and all of Rocky's assets. There could be grandchildren running around this large house. I think this would be a great special! I loved the fact that Judi mentioned that she would do another ATGB if she was asked. I would love to go to the filming. I was so jealous of everyone that went the last time.
. <Carolyn cqbee1@gmail.com>
USA - Friday, October 06, 2006 at 08:45:18 (PDT)

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It almost sounds optimistic in this article that Judi would be up to doing another ATGB reunion! There is hope! And if Judi were to be in favor of doing it, I'm sure she could stir up some enthusiasm with the rest of the cast and crew! If Judi can't get you going, nobody can. Just the fact that she mentions it in this article is something wonderful. I had resigned myself to the fact that ATGB was over and done with.....but we can put out our collective positive vibes and see what happens.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Thursday, October 05, 2006 at 15:25:31 (PDT)

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I hope the ATGB distributors who monitor this website read the article about Judi posted today. She has no work lined up for next year and is open to doing more ATGB!!! I don't believe that GP only wants to fish. He's obviously still working occasionally. Perhaps another few episodes. I for one am going to hope!
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Thursday, October 05, 2006 at 12:06:44 (PDT)

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A bitch of a job for Dame Judi
By Mike Goodridge, Evening Standard (UK)

Bitter, bitchy, manipulative and backstabbing. Judi Dench's latest role, as a treacherous school teacher, is something of a departure. "But I understand her," says the 71-year-old actress. "She's desperate. A lonely woman who craves some kind of warmth. Who hasn't experienced a need for affection?"

Notes on a Scandal is a deliciously tart film adaptation of Zoe Heller's best-selling novel. It's an ugly, often hilarious, portrait of the north London middle-classes; there's selfishness, malevolence and some pretty raunchy scenes of sex between an adult woman and a 15-year-old boy. But while none of the characters is easy to like, they are all compelling to watch.

Dench is utterly convincing as Barbara Covett, a formidable teacher who rules by tyranny and whose habit of stalking younger women has earned her at least one restraining order. Her hair is thinning, she has lousy dress sense and her only significant other is an ailing cat. It's a brave physical performance and the actress has never looked so grim, all dark nylon suits and sensible shoes. She even has a scene in the bath in which she nearly bares all. It's a far cry from her allpowerful, self-possessed roles of Mrs Henderson, Mrs Brown, Queen Elizabeth I or even Iris Murdoch.

It's a shock meeting Dench in person the morning after seeing the film. Smart, in a green linen suit with her trademark short, grey haircut and topaz jewellery adorning neck and fingers, she's as sophisticated as Barbara is drab. But while there are the obvious differences, Dench was able to draw on painful personal experience to give her convincing portrait of the desperate, damaged woman.

Five years ago, Dench's husband, Michael Williams, the actor she married in 1971, died from lung cancer at the age of 65.

"What you lack is that thing of somebody simply putting their arm around you and, you know, being able to hold you when you need it. A need for physical contact can become obsessive, but you have to say to yourself, I've got lots and lots of friends, and that's vital," Dench says, pausing for a moment to compose herself.

"But Barbara Covett is somebody who hasn't got that, who needs that contact and who has no friends, either. I mean, she's not a person you'd rush to know, or ask to a party, is she? I wouldn't have her near me anyway, but I understand why she does what she does."

The character intrigued Dench from the first time she read Heller's 2003 Booker-shortlisted novel. In it, Barbara befriends a new art teacher at her school, called Sheba Hart (played by Cate Blanchett in the film), and develops a crush on her. While Sheba embraces Barbara as a friend and confidante, Barbara gets the wrong idea and believes they could become lovers. But Barbara gets the upper hand when she discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a 15-year-old Irish pupil (played with admirable poise by 17-year-old Andrew Simpson) and uses her knowledge of the compromising secret to further her own relationship with Sheba.

Dench thought it would be fascinating to try to bring Barbara to life, so when she was offered the role by director Richard Eyre, she leapt at the chance.

"I wore a bald patch on my head first before the wig was put on, so you could see how thin her hair was," says Dench. "We did many tests on the way she looked, but at one point in Patrick Marber's script it said that Sheba goes through Barbara's underwear drawer and finds grey underwear. I argued that she doesn't have to have grey underwear. Why would she? Why would she have an unattractive flat? Just because she's an unpleasant person? I know lots of really unpleasant people who live very, very well and dress very nicely. I am not trying to exonerate her. She's deeply unpleasant, but I am trying to tell the story of a person who is real flesh and blood."

Marber has made some key changes to the original book. He has ironed the narrative complications of the novel, but he's retained Barbara's point-ofview telling of the story with her voiceover. Dench, however, seems not to agree with some of his choices. "He changed the ending of the book," she says. "He must have had a very good reason for doing what he did. He's made it much bleaker for both of them."

Marber also makes Barbara's lesbian tendencies more obvious in the film; he includes scenes of her predatory nature with younger women and more information about her previous relationship with another teacher.

Heller, Dench says, kept her distance from the film production. "She came down to the set once and was absolutely charming but it must be very difficult for her to pass it over to someone else. It's like giving your baby away. It must be a very unsettling experience, and then to have somebody else do the screenplay must be doubly upsetting. She never came near us again but she was at the end of a phone line if we needed her. It's not like some people. David Hare, for instance. When you're doing a David Hare play, he can't stay away.

"I asked Zoe, though, what this woman's greatest expectation is, and she said her greatest expectation is to have the delight of sharing a flat with somebody and perhaps being able to wash their back. The idea of her as a serialised picker-upper is not in Zoe's original book."

But, continues Dench, "I don't think this film sets out to be judgmental in any way, and, for me, [sexuality] makes no difference at all. That's people's bag, you know. I just happen to be somebody who was married for a very, very long time and has children and grandchildren and that's my bag."

Dench's professional fulfilment obviously comes from playing these complex characters, bringing them to life. But that hasn't stopped her flirting with less serious roles. The younger generation will know her best from her turns as M in the James Bond movies. She has taken up the part again, for the fifth tme, in the next 007 film, Casino Royale, along with its new star Daniel Craig. So what of her new co-star? "I had a wonderful time with Pierce [Brosnan]," she says, "but it was very nice being with Daniel. He is very different but I think he'll be frightfully good. He's a very good actor. I know things are loaded against him but I think people will be pleased with him. And I'm not just being diplomatic." After years of dominating stage and small screen, Dench came late to her movie career, which properly began in 1997, when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein decided to back BBC TV's Mrs Brown, turning it into a major film for cinema. She is already being talked about for an Oscar nomination - her sixth in a decade - for her performance as Barbara Covett.

Born in York, she made her acting debut in the city's cycle of medieval mystery plays, then moved on to London's Central School of Speech and Drama and, seamlessly, into the Old Vic's Hamlet in 1957, when she played Ophelia.

The next 40 years were distinguished. She played Sally Bowles in the original West End staging of Cabaret, in 1968. She was a staple of the Royal Shakespeare Company for most of the Seventies and Eighties. She was a TV favourite in A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By. In 1988, she was made a Dame.

She was already in her sixties when she got that first Oscar nomination in 1997, followed by a win for Shakespeare In Love in 1998, another nomination in 2000 for Chocolat, one in 2002 for Iris and one last year for Mrs Henderson Presents. Weinstein distributed all those films and mounted her awards campaigns.

"I'd done a few films before I met Harvey but I owe an entire film career to him because he saw Mrs Brown and said it should be a movie. That's what changed everything for me and I came back to America for the first time in 38 years, having been there with The Old Vic in 1958 and '59.

"I had loved [America]," she smiles, "and I was asked back a lot of times, but I didn't go because, like a love affair, you don't want to come back and spoil it. But now it's happened all over again. I joke that I have Harvey's name tattooed on my bum and one time I got my make-up girl to actually do it and showed it to him at a lunch at The Four Seasons. It was his birthday and I showed it to him, so I hope he appreciated it."

Now that Notes on a Scandal is finished, Dench is returning to theatre and is about to start rehearsing her role as Mistress Quickly in Gregory Doran's Royal Shakespeare Company musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor, which opens in Stratfordupon-Avon in December.

After that, Dench insists, she doesn't know. Somewhat disingenuously, she says she fears she will never be offered work again. She says As Time Goes By is finished for good ("I'd do it if I was asked, but Geoffrey Palmer just wants to go fishing all the time") and she has no future film projects lined up.

Work, as well as friends and family, are keeping her occupied in the aftermath of Williams's death, although her daughter, Finty, has coped less well, falling into a public battle with alcoholism and depression that landed her in court last year for a car accident in which she was found to be three-and-a-half times over the legal limit. She was given a suspended sentence.

Although Dench demurs from discussing the specifics of Finty's recovery and her personal struggle to recover from Williams's death, she nonetheless has her own way of talking herself out of her dark patches.

"I am a born optimist," she says in her no-nonsense delivery. "After a while, if things get too black, I just try to be rather optimistic about them. I've never had to go to anybody to talk about my grey areas, which is a great relief to me, but I just try to think there are always people worse off than you are. I have many blessings."

Notes on a Scandal opens in February, 2007.

Many thanks to Anne Marie Bourdon for sending this article.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, October 05, 2006 at 07:28:40 (PDT)

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The Scotsman newspaper published an obituary for Frank Middlesmass which was published on September 14, 2006:

FRANK MIDDLEMASS - Actor
Born: 28 May, 1919, in Eaglescliffe, Yorkshire. Died: 8 September, 2006, in Brighton, aged 87.

FRANK Middlemass was an actor whom everyone liked. Colleagues speak warmly of him both professionally and personally and audiences responded to his avuncular charm. Apart from a distinguished career on stage Middlemass wove his way into the nation's affections with two enchanting performances. Firstly as Dan Archer, the patriarch of Ambridge, in Radio 4's The Archers, and then as Rocky in As Time Goes By on television. In the latter Middlemass had to contend with competition from two of the nation's most-loved comedy actors, Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.

As Palmer's dotty rock 'n' roll loving father, Middlemass was a treat. Middlemass was also an original member of the popular Sunday evening ITV drama Heartbeat in which he played the local doctor. However he had had a long and distinguished career in the theatre before such renown came to him. Middlemass, blessed with a crusty and fruity voice, was an actor of effortless style who gave the impression of loving what he was doing.

Frank Middlemass was educated at Stockton-on-Tees Grammar School - his father was a director of a shipping company - and on the outbreak of war he joined the army and served with distinction throughout the hostilities. He just escaped from Dunkirk and at the end of the war he was a lieutenant-colonel. Middlemass then spent a further four more years in the army, mostly in Egypt.

He was keen to get into the professional theatre and for most of the Fifties was in repertory companies. His first important role came in 1961 when he joined the Old Vic Company to play Toby Belch opposite Vivien Leigh's Viola in Twelfth Night. Numerous other repertory and West End appearances followed before, in 1984, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and was seen in a variety of leading Shakespeare roles - most memorably as Polonius in Roger Rees's Hamlet.

In the Seventies, Middlemass was regularly seen on television and was in the BBC's acclaimed 1973 adaptation of War and Peace; the central role was played by the young Anthony Hopkins and Middlemass gave General Kutuzov a reserved vulnerability. Numerous cameo roles followed (Dr Finlay's Casebook, Soldier, Soldier, Yes Minister etc) but in 1980, Middlemass was cast as the bumbling headmaster of a public school in R F Delderfield's To Serve Them All Our Days. The First World War drama made excellent television and Middlemass created a wonderfully rounded and sympathetic character.

In 1982 (already 63), Middlemass took on the Dan Archer role. Not only did he have to cope with avid listeners who hated a new voice, but the cast were mostly long-standing regulars who had been sorting out Ambridge and Brookfield Farm for years. Middlemass remained delightfully unfazed by the weight of traditions and carefully delivered a much loved Dan Archer who was loved by everyone in Borsetshire and beyond. When it came to his dramatic demise in 1986 (saving a sheep when he had been advised not to do so) Middlemass went out with a flourish. "You'd have thought he'd have known better," Middlemass remarked.

Heartbeat saw Middlemass once again play a benevolent pillar of the community. The series brought him back to his beloved Yorkshire Dales and again Middlemass carved out a character of much energy and understanding. After 21 episodes, he was killed off and it left him free to join Dench and Palmer in one of the BBC's most loved shows.

The boisterous and eccentric Rocky was meat and drink to a character actor like Middlemass. His exploits on his motor bike and his relationship with Joan Simms made a wonderful foil to Dench and Palmer. Middlemass's delighted screams of "Rock On" became the show's catch phrase, and he had fun riding the motor bike in his crash helmet with rock music blaring out.

However, it was more sober theatre that brought Middlemass to the Edinburgh Festival. In 1964, he was in the Bristol Old Vic's production of Henry V. Five years later, he was with the Nottingham Playhouse's production of Shaw's Widowers' Houses and in 1972 he was in Ian McKellan's Actors' Company in 'Tis A Pity She's a Whore and a Feydeau farce, Ruling The Roost. Middlemass was last seen at the festival in 1992 in William Gaskell's production of The Voysey Inheritance at the Lyceum.

His career was extensive and extraordinary: he appeared with Bette Davis in Madame Sin and Ryan O'Neal in Barry Lyndon. Aged 84, he toured The Importance of Being Earnest, enjoying himself hugely as Canon Chausuble.

Middlemass never married.
Aaron Gregson
UK - Monday, October 02, 2006 at 08:12:15 (PDT)

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We all enjoy the light , funny and sometimes peculiar Jean Pargeter Hardcastle. She has brought us much pleasure. But--if you want to see Judi Dench at her stunning best as a dramatic actress, please do yourself a favor and watch "Iris." Her face expresses confusion, sorrow, longing, anger, loss and intelligence in a way no other can. What talent!
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 07:42:57 (PDT)

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On Sunday 1st October at 7.45pm, on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4, in the first of the series "Original Shorts", there is a repeat from July 2005 of Judi's reading of "a touching and witty tale of a woman's obsession with a gorilla in her local zoo, "Pangbourne" written by novellist Jane Gardam." It will be available for a week after broadcast on the BBC Radio 4 Listen Again page.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 07:42:03 (PDT)

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I didn't know this site existed. By chance I clicked into the Internet while I was watching an episode of ATGB here in the US. I try to watch all of the episodes faithfully (they are shown twice on Fridays on PBS, and once on Saturdays on another PBS channel here in NY). I have seen all of the shows several times over, but never grow tired of them. They remain fresh and funny each time I see them. I can only count three American shows that I've looked forward to as much as I look forward to ATGB. And guess what? Surprise, surprise - those American shows were cancelled. I love the chemistry of the ATGB characters , the excellent acting, and great writing. The show has never ventured into the field of smut. I agree with one of the comments posted here - such a show would have never survived on American TV. I was saddened to read about Ms. Sims and Mr. Middlemass. I had hoped there would be at least another (two, three, or...) reunion show on the horizon. The characters are wonderful - the type of people with whom you would like to be neighborly.
Anonymous
USA - Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 07:40:03 (PDT)

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This message is for Carolyn. The name of the quilt pattern on Jean and Lionel's bed is "Pinwheel". It looks like a vintage quilt. There is another larger block in the center but I can not tell you what it is. Hope this helps. From another Carolyn.
Carolyn <cqbee1@gmail.com>
- Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 12:54:17 (PDT)

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For those of us who enjoy other work by the cast of ATGB, Geoffrey Palmer's in a radio play next Saturday. "David Hare’s drama “Plenty” is set after the war in a Britain trying to come to terms with changing values and the loss of Empire. All this is mirrored through twenty years of the life of a woman who helped the French Resistance, only to find her post war role a struggle in comparison. Miranda Richardson stars in this powerful portrait of disillusionment, a play that was originally staged at the National Theatre. The Globe Theatre’s John Dove directs, and there’s a guest appearance from Geoffrey Palmer in “Plenty”, our 90 minute Saturday Play next week at 2.30pm." Listen online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 or for a week afterwards at the Listen Again Page, clicking on Saturday Play.

And for LeeAnna, all three series/seasons of "On The Up" are available separately or in a box set of 3 DVDs in R4 format ... If you can't play R4 DVDs, multi-region players are available in the US quite cheaply from Amazon etc (using the link on Bonnie's site).

NOTE FROM BONNIE: This is the Amazon UK link for the first season of On The Up. If you click on it you will see links for other seasons as well. Actually, all you ever have to do to purchase something thru my link is go to shopping and type the show title into the search box.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 08:32:09 (PDT)

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Just thought I’d post this in case anyone’s interested and happens to be in the UK over the next month or so.

Philip Bretherton will be starring in the Oscar Wilde play, An Ideal Husband at Mold’s Theatre Clwyd, Wales, opening Thursday 19th October and running until Sat 11 November; one of my pals is in the cast, hence my advance notice! There is also talk of a possible West End transfer at some point but that is still very much up in the air at present…

Here is a direct link to the Theatre’s website: http://www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk/dsp_page.cfm?texttableid=2

They have only just started rehearsals and playing opposite him is Sophie Ward, daughter of Simon Ward.

Best wishes
Helen Ayres
Tenterden, Kent UK - Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 15:35:11 (PDT)

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Does anyone know the quilt pattern name of the quilt on Jean and Lionel's bed? I would like to try and make a similar quilt for my bed. Thank you in advance.
Carolyn Phillips <momago@cox.net>
Scottsdale, Arizona USA - Saturday, September 23, 2006 at 15:31:25 (PDT)

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I found an interesting Biography of Judi Dench at Tiscali Film and TV. It's pretty detailed and might interest those who haven't read it.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, September 22, 2006 at 18:14:27 (PDT)

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Thanks to Glenda for the wireimage.com and corbis.com references. You can always look there and at Getty and other services that have been mentioned to see the most recent photos of Judi. I don't post them primarily because I don't purchase the right to use them. This photo, however, was not found at any of those sites and it will give you an idea of what Cate and Judi looked like at the event. The two of them were in California to drum up interest in Notes on a Scandal.

You might want to check out the video, too.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, September 22, 2006 at 17:52:08 (PDT)

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I have revised my Michael Williams-Dame Judi Dench music video “A Fine Romance” and it can bee seen at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5359488861411770487&hl=en and also at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQ9NvleTHI p I hope you all enjoy the video.

There are some lovely photos of DJD taken at the Premier Women of Hollywood Awards this week posted on wireimage.com. She presented an award to Cate Blanckett. There are also photos on corbis.com.
gpryor
USA - Friday, September 22, 2006 at 16:25:16 (PDT)

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In response to the earlier posted comments about ATGB actors appearing in other britcoms ...

I have a video collection of three episodes of The Good Life or Good Neighbors, with Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal and Penelope Keith. All three are probably available on the complete DVD set.

On one episode, THE WINDBREAK WAR, the job foreman that gets an earful from everybody is played by the actor who played Reg the "bumptious" security guard in the episode where Jean shops for her "wedding clobber" and is almost arrested for shoplifting.

On another episiode IT'S SILLY BUT IT'S FUN (the Christmas episode), the delivery man is played by an same actor from the Stephen/Penny anniversary episode - the one who was married to a woman named "Bloody Belinda".

Sometimes my mind, with its many, MANY completely useless details about many MANY things, is a scary, SCARY place .. :)

Oh and by the way, I'm not "Anonymous" from a few postings ago :)

I'm Gordon.
Gordon
- Friday, September 22, 2006 at 12:11:42 (PDT)

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Phil, Thanks for the info. re: "On The Up." Yes, I recognized the other two actors from ATGB, but Joan Sims is my favorite especially with her, "Just the one." When I contacted our PBS station to get more information about the series they advised me they only had two tapes and knew nothing else. I tried to find a source where I could buy the series (DVDs) but no success.
LeeAnna
San Diego, CA USA - Friday, September 22, 2006 at 10:32:42 (PDT)

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The October/November issue of IN BRITAIN magazine reports the result of "The Great British Menu," a competition among 14 top chefs in Britain to create the perfect four-course meal, which was served to the Queen at a luncheon to mark her 80th birthday.

The starter was smoked salmon with blinis, woodland sorrel, and cress. The fish course was pan-fried turbot with cockles and oxtail. Mains was loin of roe venison with rosti, celeriac and game gravy.

And the sweet was -- -- -- custard tart!
Larry Lain <Lain@udayton.edu>
Dayton, OH USA - Friday, September 22, 2006 at 07:56:00 (PDT)

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There were actually 3 series of "On The Up", LeeAnna, 19 episodes from 1990-1992. ATGB connections other than Bob Larbey and Joan Sims include Fiona Mollison (Sally Curtis in ATGB) who plays Tony Carpenter's new girlfriend in series 2 & 3, and the chap who plays the gorillagram in ATGB who plays an incompetent car hire driver.

It's a show that grows on you, I love it, it's my favourite sitcom, surpassing ATGB, and that's saying something !
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 14:56:25 (PDT)

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Anonymous is correct. Bob Larbey did write for THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY. We are watching another British Comedy on our PBS station called "On the Up." It also stars Joan Sims. It is delightful. The series only ran for two seasons, but it is funny.
LeeAnna
San Diego, CA USA - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 16:55:08 (PDT)

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For all the fans of Bob Larbey's writing, and for fans of British television in general, something that just registered for me the other day ...

Bob Larbey did the script / adaptation for the first two episodes (at least) of THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY, a very popular series from the 80's/90's based on a series of popular novels. They made a huge star out of Catherine Zeta-Jones, who played one of the leads. The writing is gorgeous.
Anonymous
- Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 14:00:29 (PDT)

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The radio script for ATGB clarifies Bob Larby's thinking regarding Jean not recognizing Lionel's name. Jean says to Judith : (paraphrased) Get round to that hotel to talk to the man who has been shouting at Sandy...his name is Horncastle ...no Sandcastle...well Sandy can tell you his name. I don't think we must suspend logic to guess that the temp Jean fired had repeated problems and therefore, she didn't need to talk to the complaining customer himself.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 12:48:55 (PDT)

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I want to thank Glenda for posting the video "A Fine Romance" dedicated to Michael Williams & Judi Dench. I just viewed it and it is indeed lovely. Thanks, again, Glenda.
Evelyn
Reno, NV USA - Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 12:47:47 (PDT)

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As much as I love to analyze the various aspects of the different episodes, one thing constantly springs to mind, "Suspend disbelief." There are many inconsistencies and if we sit and pick them to death it somehow lessens the mystique for me. I love all of the episodes. They are wonderful stories. Are stories supposed to make sense 100% of the time? I don't know. Do I love them, definitely, and will continue to do so.
Kathy Nuwayhid
USA - Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 18:35:57 (PDT)

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Hello Bonnie!

Just found your wonderful dedicated ATGB website while searching for information about Joe Fagin and his rendition of "As Time Goes By," and then I also happened upon the pencil portraits you posted of Dame Judi Dench by Richard. I viewed his page also and said, "Wow!"

This wonderful heartwarming program ONLY airs on my PBS station at 10:00 p.m. every Sunday night. I drink an extra cup of coffee to be sure and stay awake and not miss a thing. I wonder if Dame Judi and Geoffrey Palmer know how much we Americans enjoy their performances? It would appear from the cities and states listed in your comments that 98% of their fans are Americans. Bravo to them and you!
Jenelle <jpchad61@aol.com>
Dallas, TX USA - Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 18:35:11 (PDT)

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I always assumed the clients name on the sheet of paper was Allister's Publishing company.
Anne
Jacksonville, FL USA - Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 18:33:05 (PDT)

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Jean not knowing the name of a dissatisfied client used to bother me a lot. She handed Judith a sheet of paper with his name on it when sending her to placate Lionel. This is a woman who has just fired a secretary for incompetence and talks about the importance of her firm's reputation, so logic (mine, at least) would have her checking out the name. But if she had -- and I'm one of those who believe the name Lionel Hardcastle would have set off bells -- then they would have met differently and a number of story lines (Judith's crush on Lionel, for one) wouldn't have happened or been very different. My theory is that Bob Larbey wanted them to meet early on so he didn't concern himself with the inconsistency of Jean not knowing a disgruntled client's name. That allowed him to include two of my favorite scenes: the one where Jean and Sandy are going through the scrapbook and, especially, the one where Jean explains to Judith about her romance with Lionel, including the line, "I loved your father" sets up so many of the themes we love.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 14:45:50 (PDT)

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I haven't watched the first show in a long time, but the fact that Judith knows his name doesn't have anything to do with why Jean doesn't remember him -- Judith doesn't know him as her mother's boyfriend -- she only knows him as a disgruntled customer. I don't think Jean really knew what the customer's last name was and sort of stumbled over it and didn't realize it was THE Lionel Hardcastle. I just looked at the archives and saw at least 3 times that the question had been raised and there was no definitive answer because no-one really knows what goes on in the head of Bob Larbey, who wrote the series. It could be as simple as an inconsistency, but it isn't as though no-one ever questioned it.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, September 15, 2006 at 19:32:42 (PDT)

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A question which has been unanswered although we've watched ATGB over and over again...

In the first episode Jean sends Judy out to a client - that client, of course, is Lionel. And Judy, when she meets him, obviously knows his name - Lionel Hardcastle.

So, if Judy knows his name, then it seems that Jean should have known it, also. Would not Jean have recognized Lionel's name?

And, therefore, why is it a surprise when Jean sees Lionel for the first time when he comes to call for Judy?

Have any idea about this?

Thanks
Frank Berglas
South Salem, NY USA - Friday, September 15, 2006 at 19:01:34 (PDT)

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I'm just back from vacation and find that we've lost the one and only Rocky. With no disrespect to Alistair and Lionel, my first thought was of Alistair's comment that he and Lionel were "outclassed" by Rocky. Frank Middlemass brought so much energy and joy into every scene and he and Madge ... what a great pair!
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Friday, September 15, 2006 at 13:54:22 (PDT)

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Frank Middlemass as the same with Joan Sims ......excellent, excellent actors who will be so missed. I have seen them both in other BBC productions and felt their performances were "top of the line". Thankfully, I have the DVD of ATGB and Last of the Blonde Bombshells with Judi Dench and Joan Sims.
Barbara Borders
Montgomery County, Maryland USA - Friday, September 15, 2006 at 09:41:35 (PDT)

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Rock On...it's a tremendous loss to ATGB fans that we face. Each character was portrayed to perfection...it's as if they created a world that we were privileged to visit. When Madge passed on, the fans were assured that she was off on some bizarre quest for adventure, and we were able to accept that. She was sorely missed, but we knew she was irreplaceable and moved on with the series. Then the series ended and eventually we were able to regain our delightful excursions to Holland Park through DVD's...then a reunion finally occurred, which left us with the hope of another...my hopes of a Christmas Reunion with Grandchildren of Rugby age knocking about while driving Lionel insane through the holidays still exists, but now Rocky will have joined Madge somewhere in Borneo or maybe a return to Andes...while the family gathers in the country to celebrate an "old time Christmas"...what we here in the US enjoy about ATGB is the quality of the acting that makes each character so real, with plots that leave us wanting more. We've been spoiled by the PBS no-commercial distraction presentations that we enjoy, and we've never been disappointed by a performance. We wish there could be more episodes, before the Time has Gone By.
Joe Burdick
Rockville, IN USA - Friday, September 15, 2006 at 07:51:04 (PDT)

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I was also saddened to learn of Rocky's death. I thoroughly enjoyed him in the ATGB series. A couple of us were hoping that the As Time Goes By producers would do another reunion show before more of the cast passes away. But, as has been mentioned, those of us that have all the shows on DVD can enjoy Rocky and Madge for years to come.

Thank you for posting Frank's obituary.
Joe Wisniowski
Charlotte, NC USA - Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 17:07:35 (PDT)

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I was saddened to learn about the death of Frank Middlemass. He looked much more frail in the reunion specials then in the past. When I told my 7&8yr old children, big fans of the show,about his death my son commented "rock on"....which I am sure is the way ole Rocky would have wanted it.
john roy
Acushnet, MA USA - Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 11:00:52 (PDT)

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I am truly saddened by the loss of Frank Middlemass. His energy and spirit were part of the reason I so adore ATGB. His never ending digs at his sometimes curmudgeonly son were part of his charm and his wit. His on-screen romance with Joan Sims was adorable and memorable. The British theatre and television community has truly lost a gem.
Ira Steinberg
Congers, NY USA - Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 07:53:03 (PDT)

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Thanks for posting Frank Middlemass' obituary. It seems likely that he and Geoffrey were learning their trade in Rep at the same time, since Frank was 8 years older than GP but was in the military for 9 years to GP's 2, I believe. I'd love to know if they ever worked together or played in the same companies.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 07:51:45 (PDT)

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Rocky,
You are the epitome of a real English gent.
Thanks and of course
Rock On
Dick
USA - Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 16:42:04 (PDT)

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I have just posted a music video entitled "A Fine Romance" honoring the longtime romance of Michael Williams and Dame Judi Dench at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV_xVU0d3S8

It is my first attempt at this sort of thing but I thought some of the fans might enjoy it.
Glenda
USA - Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 09:35:17 (PDT)

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As Sandy says of Rocky in Season 3, Episode 2: "What a lovely man!" And Judy adds her "Isn't he gorgeous?"
Dee Benson
Elkton, MD USA - Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 07:29:37 (PDT)

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I am shocked and saddened at the news of the passing of Frank Middlemass, his performances as Rocky in as Time Goes by were superb. His legacy will live on forever. The pairing of Frank and J. Sims (who is greatly missed too!) as Madge and Rocky was perfect casting!.

My thoughts and prayers are with Franks family and his fellow collegues.
Gem
UK - Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 07:28:38 (PDT)

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I am truly saddened by the death of Frank Middlemas. As my Irish grandmother would say, "May God be good to him." I thank him for the many hours of enjoyment that he has given me and will continue to give through the miracle of DVD's. A wonderful man with a wonderful legacy.

Thanks again, Bonnie, for all of your work and efforts.
Kathy Nuwayhid
USA - Monday, September 11, 2006 at 17:15:14 (PDT)

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Just a few housekeeping notes...

I moved the announcement of the death of Frank Middlemass to the top of this page because I wanted it to be visible. Otherwise it would get pushed down as comments are added. The obituary link is in the announcement and it has been moved to the Curiousities section on page 36.

I moved the link to shop in the Amazon Canada store to the shopping page..
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, September 11, 2006 at 10:53:46 (PDT)

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First, thank you for the compliment, Donald. And second, it has been mentioned here that the Roman Numeral error exists and I believe that's all it was at the time was an undiscovered error. To read about it you can click "Read the Archives" (above) and then do a search for Roman Numeral.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, September 11, 2006 at 10:10:51 (PDT)

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My wife and I enjoy the show very much. I appreciate the content of the web site and the great effort it must take to maintain it.

Thanks.

I have been curious about why the copyright date in Roman numerals for the 1995 episodes are missing a "C"

MCMXV instead of MCMXCV

Is this just a typo that went undiscovered for the entire year? or is there some other significance?
Donald Fortnum <dfortnum@earthlink.net>
Gettysburg, PA USA - Monday, September 11, 2006 at 10:00:40 (PDT)

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In response to the query about the painting in the entry hall, as I recall nobody knows who did it. I seem to remember there was speculation a long time back (now in the Archives) that it might have been the work of DJD herself.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Tuesday, September 05, 2006 at 17:45:26 (PDT)

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I'd like to know the name/artist of the painting in the entry hall in the later editions of As Time Goes By. If anyone has the answer, please e-mail me.
Mary Ann <maryann1@comcast.net>
USA - Saturday, September 02, 2006 at 19:34:45 (PDT)

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The two young people pictured are Judi's daughter, Finty, and Geoffrey's son, Charles.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, September 01, 2006 at 15:26:27 (PDT)

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I am curious as to whether or not the desk pictures at the startup of the show are actually pictures of a young, 'Judi Dench & Geoffrey Palmer' or, are they just unrelated props?
Ed White <edwhite1146@gmail.com>
Preston, MO USA - Friday, September 01, 2006 at 15:18:32 (PDT)

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I know it's been mentioned here before, but now, having seen the whole series, I would like to recommend Mulberry to all ATGB fans. Bob Larby is one of the writers and his light, humorous touch is apparent throughout. It's available on two DVDs and is thoroughly enjoyable. And don't forget Waiting for God one of the best Brit Coms ever. Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 12:37:35 (PDT)

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Thanks to Joan, Marla and Glenda for recommending that people go back and have another look. It's really worth your while and I have been at such a distance from it that everything seems new to me. The older I get the more I forget. Probably a good thing.

Right below the blue search box is a link to the Atgbcentral Amazon.Ca store. It is a direct link with recommendations for merchandise in Canada. It's similar to the US Store except the prices are given in Canadian dollars.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 17:29:32 (PDT)

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Bonnie, I too would like to thank you for this wonderful site. It is truly a great resource for info on our favorite dame.
Glenda
USA - Monday, August 28, 2006 at 17:08:48 (PDT)

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It's also great fun to go back through the Curiosities section, which is full of gems I'd forgotten about every reading or seeing. I second the"thanks" to Bonnie.
Marla
Euclid , OH USA - Monday, August 28, 2006 at 11:37:23 (PDT)

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Yesterday afternoon was cloudy and rainy where I live, and I spent a good part of it re-reading large parts of the Archives. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading these many comments, questions, replies, suggestions and passing remarks, I would strongly urge that you do so. Great fun--and if you have read them, go back and read them again. You'll be bound to find something you missed before. Thanks, Bonnie.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Monday, August 28, 2006 at 08:37:57 (PDT)

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Bonnie I would like to thank you for providing the mailing address for Geoffreys� agent. Yesterday I received a lovely hand written and signed card from Geoffrey with an autographed photo enclosed. It appeared that Geoffrey hand wrote the entire card and also addressed the envelope. How

Also wanted to say that the on line store is very nice.
Glenda
USA - Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 12:36:45 (PDT)

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Yesterday I received my Multi-region DVD player and was able to watch The Compleat Angler.

It was worth the wait! I've watched two episodes of the Compeat Angler and can only add to Phil's earlier comments that seeing Geoffrey talk about his love of fishing is a bonus.

If you love the outdoors and are interested in nature and history, you'll enjoy this series. The scenery is beautiful. They filmed in National Parks. They talk about the fish, the rivers and fishing techniques. I'm someone whose father wanted her to be a fisherman but never had any success and lost interest early in life. This series could tempt me to try again.
Sue in Portland
OR USA - Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 08:35:35 (PDT)

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You might have noticed that the banners on the shopping and Britcom pages now reflect the nature of the orders on my site. It actually shows what has been purchased and/or viewed by the people who visit my site. This is quite an improvement and I'd like to thank those who have ordered through atgbcentral. I'm also working on the store for the site and you can view that by clicking above the blue search box where it says in green AMAZON.COM -- it's not just books any more! If you do that or if you click here you can get a preview of what the website store will look like and it features ATGB related products as well as all products offered by Amazon. You can click on a "featured product" such as the Charlie Rose interviews or you can do a search for anything at Amazon. If there are product reviews at Amazon they will appear right on the website. These items can be purchased without leaving my site or you can go directly to amazon.com by clicking on a link in the upper left-hand corner of the page. And I'd appreciate if you'd let me know what you think about these features.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 20:22:37 (PDT)

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Check out this site http://www.chichestercinema.org/ and click on Film Festival. They are honoring DJD this year with several screenings of her work.
Glenda
USA - Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 20:16:03 (PDT)

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Esquire magazine has designated Daniel Craig the "best dressed man in the world". In this month's article about him playing James Bond, he was asked "about his fantasy choices for Bond girls". To the interviewer's dismay, he began talking about Judi Dench.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 10:57:27 (PDT)

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Google Images to the rescue. The proof is in this still photo.
Larry Lain <Lain@udayton.edu>
USA - Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 16:11:43 (PDT)

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There isn't an England soccer fan who couldn't identify Bobby Moore in the opening clips, Bonnie, it's burned in the national psyche as England's greatest ever soccer moment.
Phil
UK - Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 16:08:09 (PDT)

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Thanks to everybody who corrected my Roger Bannister answer with the correct one, Bobby Moore. I do love this site!
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 18:45:19 (PDT)

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I'd cast my vote in favor of Bobby Moore as the person receiving the trophy only because Roger Bannister, who is included in a running sequence during the opening credits is shown before and not after Harold Wilson. Also the three people from the UK all seem to agree with that answer. At any rate, I had to go check the DVD and here is the picture of the person in question. There are many photos of both Bobby Moore and Roger Bannister on the internet so you can compare them to the photo below.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 16:04:43 (PDT)

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I think the trophy is at a cup final (football) and it could be Bobby Moore, I'm not into football, maybe the men will correct me?.
Pauline
UK - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 15:17:02 (PDT)

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I think that the scene in the title sequence after Harold Wilson is of the Queen presenting the football world cup to Bobby Moore the captain of the only England team to win it in 1966.
Margaret
North London, UK - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 15:16:13 (PDT)

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The opening credits comprise clips of:

The Queen's Coronation, PM Harold McMillan, Roger Bannister's four minute mile, President Kennedy, PM Harold Wilson, England soccer Captain Bobby Moore receiving the World Cup in 1966, Mini-skirts, the Beatles, the Space age, Pres. Carter & PM Brezhnev , The Iranian Embassy siege, Charles & Diana wedding, Falkland Islands War,Solidarity in Poland, PM Thatcher & Pres. Reagan, Thatcher & PM Gorbachev, The Berlin wall, PM John Major, PM Tony Blair
Phil
UK - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 15:14:24 (PDT)

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I believe the trophy is being given to Roger Bannister for breaking the four-minute mile. If memory serves, Roger Bannister was a topic of conversation between Penny and Lionel during one episode.
Marla
USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 09:13:58 (PDT)

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Many thanks to Glenda who passed along this photo of one of the billboards which are currently dotting London. There's another photo and an article on the same subject which I posted in this section on May 27 of this year, which describes the marketing campaign featuring Judi and Ewan McGregor.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 07:50:44 (PDT)

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I found a website which has an episode guide for the Compleat Angler. Also the BBC posted the audio for the Philosopher, Fish and the Dove at their website and it looks as though each episode is still available online at the linked page.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 07:36:31 (PDT)

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I had a question from a reader which reads as follows:

Maybe you an help me with this one. In the opening of the episodes after Harold Wilson I believe it's the Queen handing a trophy to a young man. I'm sure all Brits easily recognize this as something significant.

What is it? And who is it?

I don't have the opening credits close at hand and wonder whether, if I had them, I'd even know the answer. Can anyone provide the answer?
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 07:26:13 (PDT)

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I received "The Compleat Angler" a couple of days ago ... it turns out to be a 10 episode x 24 minute TV series made by The Discovery Channel in either 2004 or 2005. Part of it was filmed in an October, but I'm not sure which year - it was screened this year I believe. It's a delightful way of spending four hours even if you're not interested in angling. A most relaxed Geoffrey and Rae Borras chat about angling, and the banter between them is affectionate and fascinating.

In each of the ten episodes they meet an expert on a particular stretch of water and discuss the fish available. One of the experts is a master baker and Geoffrey takes a lot of ribbing from Rae about wanting to sample the cakes the baker makes, and the tray he is offered at the end of the day's fishing is a sight to see - and not one custard tart ! Geoffrey reveals (or fibs) that he never went abroad in the Marines as he was an instructor and too valuable for active service.

I can highly recommend this 2-DVD set to any Geoffrey fan who wants to see a new side of him.
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 20:09:43 (PDT)

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I'm posting this link for The Compleat Angler DVD from Amazon UK (Region 2). It is not yet available in the UK and as of 5 minutes ago there were only 2 new copies left in stock. There are also some used copies. It is not yet available in the US.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, August 14, 2006 at 18:39:28 (PDT)

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Thanks to Phil Watson re The Compleat Angler. I missed it on Radio 4 and have been looking for it since. Most because of GP but also my husband was an ardent fly fisherman. I think Region 2 is UK. Please let me know if and when the DVD is available in the US. Thanks,
Evelyn
Clemson, SC USA - Monday, August 14, 2006 at 18:27:12 (PDT)

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You'll know that GP is a great angler and perhaps that he made a 5x15m radio series about Izaak Walton's "The Compleat Angler" a couple of years ago. Some may even have heard it.

It's now been remade as a four-hour DVD where he and another angler Rae Borras, talk about Walton's legacy. An online review says:

"The immortal charm of The Compleat Angler has ensured its place in literary history. Written by Izaak Walton in 1653, it concerns the efforts of an experienced fisherman as he imparts his wisdom to a novice, eager to learn. The delightful way in which the lore of the river is conveyed has made it as popular with lovers of literacy as it has with anglers keen to gain insight from the lifetime's experience of a true master.

Now, for the first time, two avid fishermen with a sense of history retrace the journey of the book and explore the locations, the fish and the methods that Izaac so beautifully describes. Geoffrey Palmer, one of Britain's best loved actors, with his dry wit and endearing charm, is perfectly complemented by the encyclopaedic knowledge of rough diamond, Rae Borras. Together they explore what remains of the world of Izaac Walton. They visit some of his favourite haunts and try methods that he would have used 350 years ago.

As much about two great characters who share a passion as it is about fishing, the warm, often humorous series will ooze a gentle charm that will enthral and seduce fisherman and non fisherman alike."

It's a Region 2 DVD available from the usual online sellers. My copy's on order !!
Phil Watson
Blackpool, UK - Wednesday, August 09, 2006 at 14:34:48 (PDT)

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Just a comment regarding Geoffrey's agent - I wrote to Geoffrey via Conway Van Gelder about 2 years ago requesting a signed photo and I received one dedicated to me "with best wishes" within 5 days. I didn't send a photo, Geoffrey signed one of his own.

I enclosed a stamped addressed envelope with my letter which Geoffrey used.

I may be cheeky and write to him for another as I have the previous one on display and his autograph has faded slightly!
Aaron
USA - Monday, August 07, 2006 at 17:34:34 (PDT)

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Thank you Bonnie for the information on GP�s agent. I know agent you have listed for DJD is correct as I have used it recently to send DJD a set of mini-sharpie pens and she acknowledged receipt of them by letter and in person.
Glenda
USA - Friday, August 04, 2006 at 15:12:23 (PDT)

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The last I heard, these were the addresses I had for agents. I have not used them and if anyone has anything to add (or any corrections), please send me a comment and I'll post it.

Geoffrey:
CONWAY VAN GELDER LIMITED
3rd Floor 18/21 Jermyn Street
London SW1Y 6HP

Judi:
Julian Belfrage Associates
46 Albemarle Street
London, W1X4PP
England
(her long-time agent died, but I think she is still with the same company)

Philip:
Tim Scott
Personal Management
284 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8EB England

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, August 03, 2006 at 18:07:13 (PDT)

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Does anyone know how to contact Geoffrey Palmers agent? I want to send a photo for autograph and have been unable to find his agent info.
gpryor
USA - Thursday, August 03, 2006 at 14:48:46 (PDT)

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Bonnie, you are correct the man in the photo is my sweet husband of almost 29 years, Mike. I took him over to celebrate his birthday July 30�or that was the excuse I used. We all know I just wanted to see DJD and Hay Fever once more before it closed this Saturday.
gpryor
USA - Thursday, August 03, 2006 at 11:47:41 (PDT)

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Thank you for your pictures, Glenda. I was waiting patiently for them. What a lovely picture of you and your husband. I envy you for being able to go not once, but twice ! It's almost like being there though because of your generosity in sharing with us.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Thursday, August 03, 2006 at 11:47:14 (PDT)

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I just returned from a weekend trip to London to see �Hay Fever� once more before it closes this weekend. Again it was a delight.

We met DJD at the stage door on Saturday night and again on Monday night after seeing the play. She recognized us from our recent trip there and thanked me in person for the flowers that I had sent to her thanking her for taking the time to sign all my books and for the collection on mini-sharpie pens that I sent to her since she was so taken with mine.

Joan Plowright, (pictured right) widow of Sir Laurence Olivier and co-star with DJD in �Tea with Mussolini� was at the Monday night performance and sat in the Box Seat right next to us. She was very cordial and spoke to us when we entered and exited the theatre. It took us a few minutes to realize who she was. She looked wonderful.

It has been announced in the UK that the Queen has chosen �Casino Royale� to be this years� Royal Premier film which means that some of the Royalty will attend the Premier in London.

I asked DJD if she will be able to come to the states for the premiere of �Casino Royale� an �Notes on a Scandal� and she advised she is not sure yet as those premieres will take place while she is rehearsing and appearing in �Merry Wives�.

Glenda

NOTE FROM BONNIE: Thanks to Glenda for having sent these photos which appear in her account. Since the photos were titled London with Mike, and since we've posted photos of Glenda, I assumed that the man in the photo is her husband, Mike.

gpryor
USA - Thursday, August 03, 2006 at 08:57:17 (PDT)

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Sue and Ross: I thoroughly agree with the IWM and V&A. I found the IWM very moving and far less militaristic than I'd expected. I've been to the V&A a number of times and always enjoy it thoroughly, although the Raphael cartoons were put away last time I was there.

But that's the trouble with Top Ten (or Twelve!) lists -- in order to put something in, you have to leave something else out. My list unaccountably didn't include long walks along the canals, which is one of my favorite things to do ... or the quirky Sir John Soane's Museum ... or a picnic of wine and cheese in the rose garden at Regent's Park before an Open Air Theatre performance ... or the range of music from jazz evenings at Ronnie Scott's or Pizza Express in Soho, to choral Evensong at St. Paul's, to Vivaldi by candlelight at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Church ... or exploring the gritty streets of the Southwark and Lambeth of the two Charlies: Chaplin and Dickens ... or Kew Gardens ... or -- Oh, my! Where to stop? And I haven't even mentioned wandering around in Holland Park and spotting places familiar from ATGB. (I should make at least a nominal effort to tie the post to the website so Bonnie doesn't bounce me!)

Thom is going to London for the first time ... and the nice thing about that is that he knows the best days of his life are still ahead of him.
Larry <Lain@udayton.edu>
Dayton, OH USA - Friday, July 28, 2006 at 11:02:01 (PDT)

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I agree about seeing the Victoria and Albert Museum. They have a wonderful exhibit currently about the technology of making stained glass windows as it has evolved through the centuries. They showed samples of the stained glass made in each century and explained the changes in the process over the years. It was fascinating.

We also enjoyed the Imperial War Museum. We wouldn't have gone were it not for "the letter". It was more than tanks and things. They had a wonderful exhibit about trench warfare (WWI), surviving the Blitz in WWII, and then a very interesting exhibit on conflicts throughout the world since WWII.It served as a great reminder for me of the factors that have created the current conflicts we are reading about in our newspapers today.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Friday, July 28, 2006 at 07:28:14 (PDT)

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There's one more suggestion, Larry, that I'd make as a "must-see" in London for the first time - the V & A, or, to give the correct title, the Victoria & Albert Museum. They're adding to it all the time, even clothing & furniture from recent years.

Someone mentioned looking for custard tarts at Fortnum & Mason, which reminded me that a good friend of ours suggested to my wife, before our first London visit in 1972, that the ladies loo at Fortnum & Mason was the best she'd ever seen. My wife agreed, on inspection. Don't know whether it's still in operation.

Just finished a great book by Joanna Trollope - "Second Honeymoon". The main character, "Edie", must have been Judi Dench about 20 years ago!
Ross
Mapleton, Qld Australia - Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 20:43:08 (PDT)

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On a trip to London six years ago, it was a "mission" to locate the Custard Tarts as seen on As Time Goes By. We looked in the food section at Harrods, which is a wonderful adventure if you have never visited this particular section of the store. I looked everywhere and asked a clerk but was told they did not carry them. I went away thinking that they were probably a thing of the past. On a trip several years later we ventured into a Marks & Spencer near the apartment we had rented for our stay. While looking for food items we could cook or microwave I came across a package of 4 to a box in an open cooler display. I was so surprised and delighted at my good fortune. I don't know if anyone has ever purchased a food item with as much enthusiasm as I did the four boxes. We popped them in the microwave for about 6 seconds and enjoyed them with a cup of tea or coffee, but they can be eaten right out of the box as Lionel does. I was determined to bring some back to the states so I bought a special container to help secure and preserve the wonderful crust and shape of the tarts for the trip. It worked and we enjoyed our custard tarts for three days thereafter. So, if you are ever in London and fancy a custard tart, try Marks & Spencers.
Anonymous
USA - Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 14:24:35 (PDT)

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Thank you to Larry and Aaron for the perfect answers to questions people have asked. I can't tell you how long we've actually been waiting for someone to answer the question about the custard tarts with specific references to chain stores or bakeries and refrigeration. Someone wrote to me asking for a source for the bread crock and I looked up the reference that has been in the archives for some time. I see that it is no longer for sale at the Country Lover's Store. If someone knows of another source, be sure to post it.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 08:04:45 (PDT)

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Another post ! In reply to Marj - I have always wondered that myself, why the custard tarts are in the cupboard.

Following one from what I have said about them previously - although you can buy them, non-refrigerated, from the bakers, they have to eaten same day really otherwise they will go off. You can't just plonk them in a cupboard and forget about them ! Put them in the fridge and they will last a day or so longer .Even ones found in the chiller at the supermarket only have a very short shelf life - maybe a couple of days at most.

Perhaps they are bought for Lionel the same day and put in the cupboard for easy access !! I'm sure with him around they'd soon be gone anyway !
Aaron
UK - Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 07:53:30 (PDT)

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Hi Sue (and others discussing the custard tarts)

As a CT lover myself (way before GP made them trendy in ATGB !!) I enjoy the refigerated and non-refrigerated ones and there's not a huge amount of different.

I've only seen "boxed" ones in chillers in our supermarkets such as Tesco or Asda. If you go onto any high street - probably much harder to find in Central London though - try and find a bakers who should will have non-chilled ones on display prominently as they are very popular.

We do have chains of bakers such as Greggs, Three Cooks or Baker's Oven who definately sell non-refrigerated custard tarts daily. As I say, in Central London these bakers may be hard to find but in any other town or city centre high street across the UK you will very easily spot them.
Aaron
UK - Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 07:51:37 (PDT)

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I have not checked the guestbook lately because our 4-year-old grandson from NYC has been visiting and I've been too tired to do anything! So I am very behind in a few comments I wanted to make.

A -- As much as I would like to see more episodes, I fear they could be anticlimactic. If Bob Larbey has more to say, fine, but I wouldn't want to have them do more just for the sake of doing more. It's sad to see an aging slugger or ace pitcher who retires one year too late. Far better to be Sandy Koufax and retire too early than Steve Carlton who diminished himself by staying too long. (Apologies to those from outside the U.S. for a baseball analogy. I know that Bonnie, as a fellow long-suffering Cubs fan, understands. I could be the guy in the Hawaiian shirt she referred to a little farther down on July 19.)

B -- I saw Thom's original post about his proposed trip to London, asking about what to see, etc., and wanted to respond at once but could not. I'm a Yank who has written three books on London and it remains my favorite place on the planet, so even though this question sometimes gets asked here and at least once a month (and sometimes twice a day) on a usenet group I often contribute to, it's irresistible to me. So here is my own very personal list.

These are in alphabetical order, because numerical order changes on every trip ? or several times within each trip!

1. British Library Exhibition Galleries: original documents and signatures of centuries of British monarchs, Shakespeare, a Gutenberg Bible, the Magna Carta, plus more contemporary one-of-a-kind items from every major literary figure, composer, and world leader you can think of.
2. British Museum: Yes, it's plunder to some extent, but there are few other places in the world where you can see so much of the historic and cultural artifacts of human civilization. The quantity and quality and humbling and mind-boggling.
3. Courtauld Institute: The Tates, National, etc., are wonderful art galleries, but I love the Impressionists. This is the place to go to see them.
4. Fringe Theatre: I enjoy theatre of any sort and go to West End shows on every visit. But the Fringe is enticing for its creativity, vitality, surprise, and price. I?ve seen a musical about The Plague, a play based on a Yeats poem, kabuki plays, offbeat looks at modern life. Always fun.
5. Globe Theatre: I've never enjoyed Shakespeare more than as a groundling in front of the stage at the Globe.
6. Hampton Court Palace: Get there when it opens, or after the crowds leave and you can sit in the Clock Court in solitude, almost expecting Henry VIII to ride in on horseback. From Henry?s wing to George?s to the gardens, there?s enough to see to last you all day.
7. Roof Gardens: Almost unknown to tourists, it?s one of the most romantic places in London, atop a building off Kensington High Street. Quite a good (if pricey) restaurant in the evening, too, and an after-dinner glass of wine and stroll through the gardens is hard to beat.
8. St. Bartholomew the Great Church: Grand cathedrals are, well, grand, but smaller old churches have great charm and evocative power. I like St. Olave's, St. Helen's Bishopsgate, and Temple Church, but this, with its wonderfully medieval feel, is my favorite.
9. The Thames: Barb and I probably spend more time just walking along the river, anywhere between the Isle of Dogs and Richmond, than doing any other single thing when we visit. It's interesting and changing, but constant, and of course the vista through central London is pure eye candy.
10. The Tower: It's touristy, but it's for good reason. Try to block out the crowds and push your mind back several hundred years to see it for what it was and what it meant. Actually the best way to do this is to arrange to come back at night, after it closes, for the Ceremony of the Keys, when it can be quite otherworldly.
11. Eleven? I thought this was a Top Ten list. Tough! It's my list and I can do what I want. I can?t stop at ten. (Actually, I can?t stop at eleven either.) Walking almost anywhere, but especially places foreign visitors don't frequent: the old East End, Islington, Clerkenwell, Tube-accessible villages right at the edge of the city like Radlett to Letchmore Heath.
12. I could go on and on, but this will have to do. So: Westminster Abbey: Hard to choose between this and St. Paul's but I prefer the Abbey because of its greater age and historical associations. Besides, I'm a medievalist at heart.

Enjoy your trip, Thom!

--Larry
Larry Lain <Lain@udayton.edu>
Dayton, OH USA - Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 15:52:41 (PDT)

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When I was in London I continually looked for the boxed, non-refrigerated custard tarts that are shown on ATGB. I found none. I did find the ones in the cold case and they were a treat. From reading others comments, I must have looked in the wrong places for the non-refrigerated ones. (I also missed Holland Park...wandered aimlessly around Hyde Park looking for scenes I'd recognize-no luck).
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 20:13:34 (PDT)

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Hiya
Just catching up on the comments. Thankyou to Anne Marie for sharing the Kevin Spacey Blurb from the PR website. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to witness Judis reaction when the ping pong table arrived! It is a lovely story!.

A toast to Bonnie for doing a grand job with this website!
Gem
England, United Kingdom - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 16:56:13 (PDT)

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In answer to Marj, ~ ~ the custard tarts I've seen in grocery stores can be kept in the cupboard because they contain preservatives. That may also be the reason why some people dislike the taste. If you buy them in a proper Bakery or Pastry Shop, they are entirely different in consistency and in taste, ~ they are wonderful ! Good bakeries prepare just enough for one day's sales, and the smart shoppers get there early in the day before they're sold out! At home, you eat them the day they are bought. Bakeries pre-bake the crust first so it does not get soggy, then they add the filling, top with nutmeg, and finish the baking. The result is a perfect custard tart, and they are entirely different from the prepackaged ones.
Meggie
USA - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 16:54:58 (PDT)

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ATGB has become my most favorite TV show of all. Love Judi Dench, and all the rest of the cast.

My question is: why are the custard tarts kept in the kitchen cupboard, and not in the refrigerator? Don't they require refrigeration?
Marj Sheridan
Chillicothe, OH USA - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 10:04:47 (PDT)

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Glenda,

I wasn't sure if gpryor was you or not. I read your comments from June 22 and enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for sharing with us. What a wonderful opportunity to see Judi in person. I think I saw a comment that you are going back already this week? Lucky you !
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at 08:37:26 (PDT)

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Response to Cathy � Woodstock IL
Scroll down to June 22, 2006 and you will find a commentary and photos taken at the stage door after �Hay Fever�. I am the one wearing black.
Glenda
NC USA - Monday, July 24, 2006 at 16:50:55 (PDT)

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It would be fun to hear the cast talk about their ATGB characters: Are there people in your life who resemble the character you play and did you "borrow" from them? Do you share any qualities with your character? As an actor, do you think you have more to tell us about your character or have we seen it all?

As was said earlier, Bob Larbey's scripts drive ATGB. Is he open to suggestions from the actors about character development or lines?
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Friday, July 21, 2006 at 08:14:16 (PDT)

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Thanks, gpryor,
I am motivated now to get the cross stitch done and get it sent ! It would be nice to think of something I made for her being in her home somewhere, hopefully. She does needlepoint for gifts, so I'm sure she would appreciate the time and sentiment involved. Do you have any pictures to share, or have you already posted them?
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Friday, July 21, 2006 at 08:13:15 (PDT)

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I have a question for Judi: When will she be appearing at the Old Vic? Her ping pong playing buddy has been receiving alot of criticism and pressure from the London Press to produce better results as the theatre's Artistic Director. I've been surprised that Judi has not been able to schedule herself into a play there. Her presence would certainly assure a sell out and take some pressure off Kevin.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Friday, July 21, 2006 at 08:11:53 (PDT)

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In reply to Cathy-Woodstock, IL.

I recently attended Hay Fever and DJD was kind enough to sign all 4 of my books so I had roses delivered to her at the theatre. I received a very nice thank-you note from DJD signed personally by her.
gpryor
USA - Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 14:24:30 (PDT)

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Hi Bonnie -

I guess my question would be to Bob Larbey. Good acting comes from good writing.

I always wonder where writers get their ideas -their own lives, ideas from cast members or is he just an astute observer of people. I oftened wondered if Bob had a degree in psychology - he seemed to work out the characters personalities with all their foibles. The characters always interacted the way normal people do.

The characters of Rocky, Mrs. Bale and Lol were so interesting as well as the other supporting players. Were they based on anyone and who?

I'm sure I would have more questions once these were answered for Bob. Give me a minute and I'll come up with questions for all the other members....
Gisele Pozark
Wakefield, MA USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 18:21:43 (PDT)

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There are some other interesting little bits at that PR inside website. Judi says she took the Bond M role because Michael always thought of her as a Bond girl ! Just do a Judi Dench search and there is a page of quotes by or about her.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 18:13:29 (PDT)

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Thanks to Anne Marie for sending me this blurb about Judi's pal, Kevin Spacey. It appeared online at PR-inside:

Hollywood star KEVIN SPACEY only makes one demand when he signs his film contracts - a ping-pong table on set.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS actor is a table tennis fanatic and even taught acting pal DAME JUDI DENCH to play the sport on the Canadian set of THE SHIPPING NEWS.

Spacey says, "Unlike a lot of stories that you hear about actors who demand lots of things in their contract and lots of people and chefs and all that jazz, I'm not one of those. All I want on location of a movie is a ping-pong table in my living room in the hotel. That's all I want.

"In fact, a couple of years back I went to London and Judi invited me out to dinner, and I said, 'Oh good, we'll get to play ping-pong again.' She said, 'Oh please, I don't have a ping-pong table.' I said, 'You don't have a ping-pong table?' "So I went out that day and I purchased a ping-pong table and I got a truck and a couple of hefty guys and I drove out to her country house - some people bring flowers, some people bring wine, I brought a ping-pong table."

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 12:16:44 (PDT)

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I'd point out that there is so much that is already written about Judi that my interest in watching another interview with her is not as great as my interest in watching interviews with the others. As you can see by looking at the Curiosities section of my website there are 36 pages containing over 1000 articles and photos and roughly 83 per cent are almost exclusively about Judi. The other 17 per cent involve ATGB itself, and the rest of the cast and crew. There is one article about David Michaels, Frank Middlemass, Moyra Fraser, a couple about Joan Sims and several about Michael Williams who was never involved with the show. In fact there were many more articles about Michael than all the Curiosities about Jenny, Moira, Philip and Geoffrey taken together. I would much rather see and hear those other members of the ensemble about whom information is scarce and I would particularly enjoy listening to their experiences as it relates to the making of the program and working with the others.

And, as far as questions are concerned maybe this would open an interesting thread. Let's see how it would play out. If you had the opportunity to ask a question of anyone connected with the program, what would you ask and to whom would you be directing the question? I hope I haven't scared you away because of what I already said and I promise that I will not be critical of any questions you might submit nor will I allow anyone else to be. I'm just curious.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 09:28:37 (PDT)

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I agree that it's a good idea to just be grateful for the ATGB DVD set and and the many books that are out about Judi. Her. "Scenes From My Life" and "Darling Judi" pretty much cover everything. If we could ask her questions, I really don't think any of us would insult her with inquiries about bread crocks or ties. We all know she was not in charge of set decoration or wardrobe. Maybe a personal interview, something along the lines of an hour with Barbara Walters, would be nice. A quiet time with a tour of her home and property and intelligent discussion about things personal to her. I would like to see her teddy bear collection and items special to her. It seems she is very busy lately and booked up full in the near future. Maybe the lovely lady is a little tired of all the fuss and would appreciate being left alone. I'm still working on my cross stitch rose project I plan to send her. If I get it done before the year 2010, maybe I would get a nice note from her!
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 08:36:22 (PDT)

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I used to have a copy of an editorial cartoon that was framed and hanging in my hallway. It was entitled Hope Springs Eternal and it showed the crowd at opening day at Wrigley Field. Everyone else was bundled up because it was so cold -- there were a lot of people with lots of layers of clothing including large hats with earflaps and scarves and gloves. Front and center, though, there was a grinning man in a Hawaiian Shirt. You don't ever have to explain hope to a Cub Fan.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 08:08:58 (PDT)

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I am not in agreement with those who do not want another episode. I think these actors are fun to watch at any age. Its all up to Bob Larby creating more situations for them. I vote for MORE!
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 08:03:53 (PDT)

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Bonnie, I take your point, but also think that the questions selected would not be the of the headboard/cookbook holder variety, but more along the line you're thinking of. I've never seen the Sundance interviews ... it would be terrific to have Judi interview Geoffrey, etc. Hope springs eternal, right?
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 07:53:05 (PDT)

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I rather enjoy the chatter about, bloopers and reunion specials. That is part of the fun of reading the comments. Until I discovered this site I was certain I must be the only person that wished for more ATGB. Now I check everyday to see what the latest talk is about. Some day if the decision is made to put out a blooper dvd or another reunion special I will be pleasantly surprised. Until then I am very happy what has already been done.
Margaret
Lawrence , KS USA - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 18:15:25 (PDT)

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I would just rather that they did something interesting like interview each other. The Sundance Channel ran the documentary Iconoclasts in which two celebrities that ordinarily you would not think of in the same paragraph -- like Renee Zellweger and Christiane Amanpour -- are paired in an informal setting . The shows were wonderful and informative and the interviews are not what you think they might be. In fact it was Renee Zellweger who primarily did the interviewing in the case I just mentioned.

I expect, because I've been present at fan-initiated question-and-answers that pre-determined questions would take away from the spontaneity that I am suggesting and that (2) that the questions themselves would tend towards the type of question we get here all the time -- about regimental ties, bread crocks, maiden names, etc. There's nothing wrong with that but how many interviews with Judi Dench have you read that contain the phrase "menopausal dwarf"? I'd like to know more than where did you get your start because I already know where she got her start. The problem with asking this type of question is that the answers are known to most of the die-hard fans and available with simple look ups to anyone who cares to find them. I am much more interested in her pranks and how she played them and I want to hear her laugh when she tells tells people about it. I want her to take her time and be thoughtful about what she is saying.

I want to know much more about Janet Henfrey and Vivienne Martin and Frank Middlemass -- but, most particularly, about how they relate to As Time Goes By as opposed to their non-ATGB affiliations because the career information is readily available on IMDB. The kinds of questions, I think, which should be asked are those which evolve from the interview that they are giving.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 15:49:53 (PDT)

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If there is a Blooper show, plus interviews, wouldn't it be great if ATGB fans could submit questions for the cast to answer?
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 15:00:49 (PDT)

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I am in full agreement with Bonnie. We have a treasure trove of ATGB episodes, then they came back and did another year and crowned it all with the reunion special. Taking into account ages, and various commitments in theater and movie work, I really believe it is beyond unlikely that there will ever be another event. Even a blooper one, which would absolutely be much loved and appreciated by all of us.

We are fortunate to have such a beloved series to watch again and again, to the point where we know the furniture, the kitchen equipment, the paintings, the jewelry - it really is a riot how devoted we are and the level of detail we have garnered while watching the episodes over and over ! I am in favor of anything more they offer but I don't expect much if anything. I am happy to content myself with the reruns, the articles and photographs that Bonnie provides for us and the additonal information and pictures that are sent in to the site.

Three cheers for Bonnie for her outstanding work on the website and the fact that she has allowed us all to take part, individually, in this large "fan club" of the ATGB players!!!!!!
M. P. Butterfield
Boston, MA USA - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 06:14:46 (PDT)

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For those who don't own the DVDs of ATGB, its worth mentioning that there are interviews with some of the cast on the later DVDs. Series 8 and 9, and the Reunion Special have interviews with cast members, as well as Bloopers and a video on the making of the show. This makes the purchase worthwhile, in my view. There are no interviews with Judi Dench, Paul Chapman, Moyra Fraser, Jenny Funnel, Frank Middlemass or Janet Henfrey. I would buy an additional release that interviewed more of the cast and showed more of the Bloopers.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 06:11:19 (PDT)

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This is certainly not the first time that Bloopers have been mentioned. If you take a peek at the archives you will see that there have been many references to Bloopers and a couple of pleadings for a blooper reel. Geoffrey has, on many occasions, referred to bloopers and outtakes and there have also been comments regarding Auntie's Bloomers, which -- I gather -- is a UK show devoted to bloopers provided by the various shows. I don't think that there is any question that the show would be tremendously popular with ATGB Fans. As for the popularity of such a show as the subject of a True Story kind of thing I can't imagine that it would pull in a sizeable audience. Maybe a show like Friends or MASH or Frasier or something that was big here in the U.S., but ATGB is a real jewel, known to many, many people who watch PBS. I'm still waiting for a biography show on Judi Dench and I'll be pleased if and when it appears, but we're probably more likely -- if it hasn't happened already -- to see a Biography show featuring Anna Nicole Smith than Judith Olivia Dench. Unless she is found driving drunk in a car with heroin in the glove compartment. Judi, that is.

I know there have been many calls for another episode -- a Christmas Episode, a Grandchldren Episode, a Spinoff Episode featuring the Deacons, but I am not one of the people who would be excited at those premises. I think there is a time when it is good to realize that you have something which is almost perfect and you wrap it up with dignity instead of jumping the shark.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, July 17, 2006 at 09:40:03 (PDT)

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Regarding "Blooper" DVD: I meantioned in my Jan. 12th comment how much I enjoyed the bloopers on the Reunion Special dvd, and hoped a dvd would be made of more bloopers. I never saw anything meantioned about it until now. (I was hoping the producers would take the hint.) Maybe if more people voiced a "yes"in this matter (both from America and the UK) someone with clout would notice. (Strength in numbers.) It's worth a try...
Christine
Boise, Idaho USA - Monday, July 17, 2006 at 08:55:33 (PDT)

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I am one of the "newbies" to this site as you may remember. I have been totally addicted to it since I was sick this past spring and was consoled everyday by this wonderful show. Your idea of boopers or outcasts is great. Although, I am going to go one step further, although I do not that that it will make dear Dame Judi Dench happy. There is a show that I have watched here and there when, it is called some thing a long the lines of the "True Story of ......." It is quite interesting and when it is about a good tv show can be wonderful. Maybe we can get the producers to do one on one interviews with the cast over a months time and fill it in with out cuts of the show. I think that there would be genuine interest as it would be the first time that the cast would sit down and really talk about the show, the characters, what the show meant to them, working opposite of the others, how the show has effected their life. I would love to hear what it was like to work on the show, write it, etc. Ok I have gone way too much, yet as you can see from my comments and others, there is a strong interest in this idea. Let us all hope and pray that one of the wonderful people from the show is still monitoring this site and gets motivated for this. It would be a brilliant way to really close the books on a show that will always be close to all of our hearts.
Kathleen M.
USA - Monday, July 17, 2006 at 08:52:56 (PDT)

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I think if we could get one DVD similar to the one I suggested then we would be very lucky indeed. If we were able to get 64 DVD's that were full of bloopers (considering that one DVD can hold hours and hours of material) we'd probably not love the show as much as we do and it probably would have taken weeks to produce each show.

Normally I don't like Blooper Shows. That's because obviously they are really cheap to produce and they have a lot of silly banter between the host (why do they have a host?) and guest stars (when they have them). And they have no theme and they have twenty or so unrelated shows featured on the special. I've never seen a Blooper reel that was devoted to only one show, but I think if it was a show in which I was interested -- particularly if that show was no longer in production -- I would, as I said, eat it up. Clearly I would not be the only one. One of the advantages, one would think, of using bloopers is that they are already owned by those who made the film in the first place and most of them have not been seen by people who are the fans of the program so what they'd be getting would be new material and if I were an actor or anyone who could profit from the sale of such a product or the publicity it would generate for the original series I'd be more than willing to participate in the making of the DVD.

Seems like a nobrainer. Win-win. Cast happy. Crew happy. Fans happy. Amazon Associates happy.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 11:30:36 (PDT)

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Hiya
The idea to put the outtakes of ATGB on a CD or DVD would be fantastic with interviews of the cast in between would be great. To be able to see more of Judi's beautiful country home would be lovely! and Geoffrey aboard the Mayfly would also be lovely too. How about an individual DVD and CD of outtakes of each series then there would a whole collection to enioy!.

The Blooper shown on Parkinson (a popular chat show here in the uk) when Judi was a guest on the show, the blooper was shown of ATGB the scene was -- Jean stood at the kitchen sink. Judi should have said to Geoffrey Palmer (Lionel) 'you knew about Alister's toe' but by mistake she says thumb and Judi bursts into hysterics. Then theres a shot of Geoffrey who says to the audience 'had she known this line," Geoffrey makes a gesture, Judi says to the audience 'all night hes been doing this and Geoffrey carries on doing his gesture and then theres more giggling between the two of them.

To have a CD or DVD full of Bloopers like the one shown on Parkinsion, showing the camaraderie between Gefforey and Judi, as well as the rest of the cast would be incredible and a sellout that's for sure. Judi said in an article that asked celebs how they would like to be remembered and Judi was quoted as saying she would like to be remembered for 'having a great sense of humour' and this CD of outakes of ATGB would stand as a true testiment of her 'having a great sense of humour' As we know she has. Three words" 'the black glove'. Maybe there's outtakes of her playing her famous practical Jokes! on ATGB and knowing how important be able to have a laugh to Judi is I'm sure she would love the idea of an outtake collection for all of us to enioy!.

To the producers if u still read these comments please please consider putting an outtake cd collection of ATGB together.
Gem
England, UK - Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 11:08:32 (PDT)

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Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 09:32:12 (PDT)

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Add my "Amen" to the previous comments. I predict a CD with this programming would be a knock-out sellout. We have taken these fictional characters to heart because, as Judith says of Alistair's proposal, somewhere,somehow they have said the right thing that has touched us deep down. I hope that in the future all the public television stations would air the series in its entirety. In this day and age of stress, anxiety and the frantic everyday pace when we hardly take time to "smell the roses", a hefty dose of the Hardcastles would be better than any tranquilizer.
Evelyn
Reno, NV USA - Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 08:30:11 (PDT)

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Add me to the list of people who think this is a great idea. It would be wonderful to catch up with Gwen Flack, Lol, Mrs. Bale, Rocky, Daisy, and Penny and Stephen, as well as our much-loved Hardcastle family. As for the out takes, they were worth the price of the Reunion Special and we know there are many more. Thanks, Bonnie.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Saturday, July 15, 2006 at 08:45:33 (PDT)

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Bonnie, I love your idea. Wouldn't it be great if Syd Lotterby, Bob Larbey, and other crew members were also interviewed for this special? I especially want to know if Judi ever played any of her pranks while taping was going on.
Nancy
Columbia, MD USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 19:15:03 (PDT)

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Bonnie, your ideas below are Brilliant !! I do hope that the ATGB "Powers that Be" are still monitoring this site, because I think you've come up with the perfect solution to our yearning for more of our favourite program. We would love to know more about all the cast members, and also about Bob Larbey, Sydney Lotterby, and all the other people who brought this magical program to life. Perhaps we could see Judi in her garden, Geoffrey fishing, the other cast members at home, or doing whatever they are doing now, etc. This series will live on forever in the hearts of its devoted fans, and will continue to weave its spell for new viewers as long as PBS is willing to keep showing it. And as for bloopers, our thirst for them is insatiable!
Meggie
PA USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 19:12:56 (PDT)

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I'm pretty sure I'm not so brilliant as all that, but I do recognize that this website is the ideal place to pitch an idea directly to the people who can choose to act on it.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 14:21:59 (PDT)

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Bonnie, You are Brilliant ! The bloopers at the end of the reunion specials are the best part. I laugh out loud every time. They give you much more insight into to the real people. Geoffrey is absolutely charming in "real" life. And I could watch Judi say, "What's the play, what's the part" forever. Individual interviews done in a more casual style would be great, mixed in with outtakes and bloopers. They must have hours of outakes. Maybe they could even film the interviews at their homes. Wouldn't we all love to see Judi's home...or at least the garden or lawn...or driveway!! Wonderful idea, Bonnie. You have saved me from a no reunion depression. Thanks.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 14:12:14 (PDT)

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I mentioned Fawlty Towers just a few hours ago and it made me think. Although it has been out of production for more than 25 years and I've seen each of the twelve episodes at least a dozen times, I laugh every time I see it. I have the BBC Radio Special and the series on tape and the series on DVD. I have books that have been written about it and I've introduced people to it who are much younger than I was when I first saw it and I've seen them grow to love it and ask me to play it again. And again. And again. This year there was a special which was devoted to it and which ran here about the same time the ATGB Special Reunion Show ran and even though there was nothing really new I think it was probably a very popular PBS show -- one that was able to increase the ratings over the course of the Pledge Drive. There were clips from the show, interviews with the cast and almost everyone was there with the exception of its writer and supporting actress, Connie Booth, who played Polly.

It would seem to me that it would be profitable to design an ATGB special that would not require that everyone be in the same place at the same time. Certainly we've all heard of the outtakes that exist and we have even had a taste of them on the Reunion DVD. Even better, they already exist. They can't and don't need to be reshot. Still better, Joan Sims can be a part of it. I'm sure she's made a blooper or two or three in her day.

Cast interviews would be something that everyone would love. It would be wonderful to watch and listen to them reminisce either singly or together. Actually no-one would have to go anywhere, no special wardrobe would be needed and the crew could come to them. That is to say, if Geoffrey didn't feel like learning new scripts or reeling in his fishing line, or even getting off the fishing boat, he could easily give an interview to a single interviewer and cameraperson. If Philip were out of town he could be interviewed on the spot without having to return to London. If Moira were giving the baby a bath, she could talk about the show without having to leave the house. It would be great if all of those interviews were brought to a central point so that they can be stitched around the outtakes by an editor. And I'm not talking about just the top five characters, but about as many as can be found. It would be great to hear from Janet Henfrey or Tim Wylton or David Michaels. I'm guessing that if they all got paid, they'd all be willing. And I'm sure we'd just eat that up.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 12:49:40 (PDT)

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I don't know if I am still regarded as a "newcomer" or if I have become a regular, but just thought I'd join in today. It has been a little quiet lately. As Bonnie said though, there hasn't been much going on. I guess I have almost given up on the idea of another reunion. By the looks of Judi's schedule, she won't have time for much else. Geoffrey must be off to his fishing holidays. It's very sad. I would have loved to see them all together once more, with the 2 new babies. But I suppose I have to accept the fact that they have lives of their own ! I have just read "Darling Judi" and "Scenes From My Life" again. I especially love the photos of Judi's home in the country. Maybe I'll just go to Amazon.com and order what DVD's and books about Judi that I don't have already. I must be great to be able to go to London and see Judi in her play and go the the restaurants and museums, etc, in the area. Have a nice weekend, everyone.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 12:03:07 (PDT)

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This morning I got an email from one of our regulars, which said: I've been trying to think of an interesting thread for the discussion, but am drawing a blank. It would be great if some newcomers would surface and ask those questions the rest of us have heard before. That always generates comments. We have "Merry Wives" and "Notes on a Scandal" to look forward to.

I'm afraid that there seems to be nothing new on the horizon as far as the series goes. It would be wonderful if I could say that there would be another special, but I can't. I haven't heard from the producers in quite a while and everyone, particularly Geoffrey, seems to have moved on. The thing is that if everyone was healthy and a new series WAS in the mind of Bob Larbey, I would guess that everyone would be willing to come back to the drawing board for the short time it actually takes to put the series in the can. They sure got a lot of mileage out of last year's reunion series with what looked to me like a minimum of effort on the part of the cast and crew. I suppose I could say that there will be another special and get the ball rolling, but that would be a lie. There are Britcoms like Keeping Up Appearances and Fawlty Towers that have long been out of production, but they are as popular with today's fans as they were with yesterday's and judging by the number of visitors to this site ATGB is going the same way -- as people discover the show they fall in love with it, tell people about it and more people come and discover and fall in love with it. Not everyone can tell you what kind of couch they have in the living room or what pattern the china is but everyone who visits knows the storyline and feels as though they are part of the family and most of us make room for 1/2 an hour on Britcom night to sit back and relax with them. Even more of us have the entire series on DVD or tape and can do this anytime we want to. I'm pretty sure that there is not going to be a real surge in comments until there is some sort of announcement regarding the future of the show and until then it might just be the ten or fifteen "regulars" who enjoy responding to the comments of newcomers.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, July 14, 2006 at 08:41:47 (PDT)

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I am surprised that Geoffrey said he did not know why ATGB is such a success as I have heard him say it is due to its brilliant writer (and I would add great actors).

Also, as to the discrepancies in the series over nine seasons, I would say that they never expected so many to watch it so many times.
Marilyn J. Hassan <GIGI1406@aol.com>
Plymouth, MA USA - Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 14:27:31 (PDT)

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Yesterday I was listening to a Geoffrey Palmer interview where he was asked why ATGB has been so successful. His response was "I don't know". He seemed truly baffled by its success. If he would visit this website and read the comments, he would understand. I've also been imagining topics for future episodes. For example, what if Allister took them all on a cruise?
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at 18:07:04 (PDT)

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I just wanted to add to the other numerous kudo's for "As Time Goes By." The episodes were shown spottily but now BBC is showing them in order so I am taping every one. I am a youngish 60 but feel I can relate to Judi Dench in the character Jean, she plays. She's real and it shows real is attractive. All of the actors are believable and I adore every one. It probably is a generation thing but the smut that passes for comedy here in the States most of the time has put me off most of TV. Of course there are other precious comedy series like " One Foot in the Grave", and others, but this one tops them all. Thanks for the opportunity to express my thoughts and appreciation of these actors.
Kathy Muir
Renton, WA USA - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at 07:48:34 (PDT)

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The Corrections is a novel by Jonathan Franzen about a dysfunctional American Midwestern family. The book won the National Book Award and the author received notoriety when he refused to particpate in Oprah's Book Club. I've read that Judi is going to play the matriarch of the family. The play is being written by David Hare.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 06:13:25 (PDT)

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At the moment Judi is, according to that same IMDB, rumored to be in that movie which is scheduled to go into production in the fall of 2006 in London. I know nothing more about it and it either will or won't star Judi (and Kevin Spacey and Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti and John Michael Higgins -- any of whom I'd go to see). The summary is: Joe Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole. Sounds like a dream cast. I can't count how many things she's been rumored to be in and how many were only rumors. (She was also rumored to be in Stephen Fry's directorial debut -- Bright Young Things -- and she wasn't in it. I saw it a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. I tried to figure out who played her role and came to the conclusion that it was Imelda Staunton).
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 06:09:59 (PDT)

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Hello
I was on the imdb website (international movie data base) and out of curosity i looked up Judi Dench and listed was a film called Joe Claus to be released in 2007 and stated that she was rumoured to be playing a character in this film (maybe she will play santa clauses wife1). Judi in a christmas film that would be really cool!. I was wondering if anybody had any more infomation about this possible project?......it also listed that she would be in the film called the corrections next year too..
Gem
England UK - Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 05:53:23 (PDT)

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NOTE FROM BONNIE: I received this comment this morning and the first paragraph or two mentioned that Judi's audio version of Lark Rise at Candleford -- a 14 part series that depicts a vanished world of rural culture in England duruing the 1880s -- is currently being broadcast and is running part 3 of the series at Oneword Radio today. I went there to check on it so I could make it easier for you to listen and learned that there is apparently some law which prevents it from being heard outside of the UK, so I won't post the specifics. For those of you in the UK it can be heard when you click the link. I guess that you can "listen again" but that service does not appear to be free. Once before someone had suggested we go to the Oneword site which, at that time, was free.

this is my first post! I love reading the comments on this website its wonderful to know that Judi and her fellow collegues are held in such regard. Judi and her collegues so derserve the love and support that u all give . To sum up how we all teel about judi is the comment made by a reviewer that is printed on the back of the book Darling Judi It 'is not just her greatness as an actress but her greatness as a person'. and so say all of us! (lol) I am fascinated by the interest in the comments made about as Time Goes by. Its a wonderful show Gefforey and Judi are a perfect partnership as Lionel and Jean. I am 22 and adore the show it gives me hope that there is somebody out there who will love me like Lionel and Jean love each other.
Gem
England, UK - Monday, July 10, 2006 at 08:31:55 (PDT)

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A question - Last night (Sunday) I was watching Miss Marple, Murder in the Vicarage, and the Director was listed as Charles Palmer. Could this be Geoffrey's son? He was a camera man at one time. His daughter is a teacher. I have been watching ATGB a LONG time!
Evelyn
SC USA - Monday, July 10, 2006 at 07:55:47 (PDT)

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GP is a General Practitioner or Family Doctor.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Saturday, July 08, 2006 at 20:38:14 (PDT)

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One quick question regarding the JD article....

What does "GP" stand for in the line "Her Irish mother Olave and GP dad Reginald.."?

I was unable to find out on several US/UK online dictionaries.

Cheers,
Mike T.
New York, NY USA - Saturday, July 08, 2006 at 20:36:30 (PDT)

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Let's all raise our glasses tomorrow in honor of Michael Williams' birthday (July 9, 1935).
Marla
Euclid , OH USA - Saturday, July 08, 2006 at 08:35:29 (PDT)

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Thom,

We have not stayed at the Vicarage Private Hotel, but in her Great Sleeps London, Sandra Gustafson describes it thoroughly, almost room by room. She says, "For the price and the value it represents, [it] is a good buy in this part of London." We've come to rely on her information after following her recommendations in several European cities over the last decade or so. She describes hotels and restaurants (Great Eats) fully enough that you can choose what sounds like your kind of place. And she visists them all herself.
Dee
USA - Tuesday, July 04, 2006 at 10:11:31 (PDT)

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Hello Bonnie, Sue, Pauline, Dee, Joan, and all the folks with whom I have interacted over the past few weeks. I have been furiously making notes from all the tips and hints about what to do and what to see on my first trip to London. Many thanks.

I was overwhelmed by the number of replies on ATGBCentral and the Yahoo Group site. I don't know that I have ever met a more friendly and truly helpful group of people in the whole of my life.

Taking a boat trip to the Tower of London, doing a walking tour, and visiting the Silver Vaults have all made it onto my list of things to do. LOL... my significant other, Steve, may go with me, and I think we would both enjoy the Silver Vaults. ;-)

Here's a little bit of fun. I work for the Federal Government in a rather serious minded office. To break the daily grind I have been playing As Time Goes By on my computer. To my surprise several of my co-workers have stopped by to say they love the show, and even stay for a bit to see which episode is playing.

I recently got a recommendation for a hotel called The Vicarage. Anyone familiar with it?

Bit of trivia: Season 4, Episode 6 When Aunt Penny arrives at the anniversary party, planned by Uncle Stephen, she is wearing double dangle rhinestone earings. Later when Penny and Stephen are talking to Jean and Lionel, Penny is wearing a different pair.
Thom in DC
USA - Tuesday, July 04, 2006 at 08:06:39 (PDT)

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This article appeared in the Yorkshire Post on June 29, 2006 and thank you to Kevin for sending it to me and to Marla for directing me to the photo of Judi and Daniel Craig:

"I won't retire. They'll carry me out feet first."
"I feel 29 inside and silly with it"

She feels adulation and awards create ever more expectation of her, but it's a weight she seems able to bear. Sheena Hastings talks to Britain's favourite actor, Judi Dench.

"SO, what's she like, then?"everyone asks. The question is unavoidable. It's provoked by the fact that, more than any actor who's so familiar, we know little of the woman behind the many disguises. Scarcely anything has come from the horse's mouth. People don't just want to know what Judi Dench, our most prominent, prolific and loved British thesp and late-blooming international movie star, is like. They're breathlessly curious as to which of her alter egos most closely reflects her own character. Is she as haughty and domineering as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, as vulnerable and grief-stricken as Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown, as capricious as Laura Henderson in Mrs Henderson Presents, or the sad, misunderstood spinster of Ladies in Lavender? Is she like dominatrix spymaster 'M' in the Bond movies, or the fabulously coquettish Lady Bracknell? High-octane diva or pussycat? It says a lot about the truth and intensity she brings to each role that so many believe what they're seeing on stage or screen has to be a shard of Dench herself. But let's not overlook a universally acknowledged truth: Dame Judi is the finest of her generation. She squirms at such words as "national treasure" and "legend". "People have to label you, but I certainly don't associate myself with those terms� and, as Gielgud said to me: 'You're only as good as your last role. People have short memories'."

"I don't do intellectual, I do instinctive," she says. She is, instinctively then, a consummate technician who also uses emotion and imagination to spin a web and make us believe practically anything � even, on occasion, that she is much taller than her neat 5ft 2in. Judi Dench is currently starring with Peter Bowles in Noel Coward's Hay Fever, directed by Peter Brook and the hottest ticket in London. She says it's all about comic timing, not heavy emotional switch-back. "Phew, no," she says. "I couldn't do that on a hot night."

She's curled up on a divan in her dressing room, the one that so frequently hosted John Gielgud. She has her own brass plaque on the door, and a small kitchenette and bathroom, although we're not talking luxury here. The air is heavy with the scent of expensive flowers, and the dressing table framed by the faces of family and friends. Her dresser, Ursula (an old friend from childhood dance class in York) has served up potted shrimps, salad, yoghurt and a cup of tea as fuel for the evening ahead. JD is about as unstarry as a grande dame of British theatre can be. She is quick in her movements, wit, and laughter. Yet she seems to be conserving restless energy, keeping gestures small and compact. Her voice has the familiar jagged edge to it, and that choppy, staccato delivery.

Her earliest memory is of watching the trees from her pram in the garden in York, before the family spaniel jumped up and knocked the pram over. After that, she recalls being the youngest of three and being sent to bed while her brothers played cricket in the garden. "I hated that feeling of missing out on the fun � whether it was cricket or my ma downstairs playing the piano and everyone singing. My childhood was full of laughter and dressing up."

Her Irish mother Olave and GP dad Reginald were keen amateur thesps, and part of the community group in York which revived the York Mystery Plays back in 1951. Three of the family appeared in that first revival, and Judi went on to play in them twice more, rising to star as the Virgin Mary in 1957, the summer she graduated with all the garlands from the Central School of Speech and Drama. "They are remarkable plays, extraordinary," she says. "Some are so funny, with a wonderful na�vet� about them, and great language. I still remember great passages of them." She demonstrates, launching into a speech she made as an angel more than 50 years ago. She is patron of the Plays, which are about to be staged again in York.

Judi Dench's family was Methodist, but she was sent to The Mount, a Quaker school. She espoused the school's ethos enthusiastically, and still attends Quaker meetings near her home, a rambling old farmhouse in Surrey. "Quakerism gave me everything. It was exactly what I needed. I'm not comfortable with my own company for long, but Quaker meetings mean that you settle quietly and think. As a school it was the best place I could have gone, with its non-competitive sense of sharing and community."

The sense of community was recreated when she and her late husband, the actor Michael Williams (her co-star in the TV sitcom A Fine Romance) lived for many years not only with his parents, but also her mother and their own daughter, Finty, plus a menagerie of pets. "It was terrific, and Finty never forgot it." Her daughter, now 34, lives with her nine-year-old, Sam, in a village up the road. "It wasn't always easy," she says. "But I do so love being part of a family or a company. That's why I could never do a one-woman show � and wouldn't know how to prepare for it, either."

She famously doesn't learn scripts before rehearsals, relying instead on "osmosis" once the cast has got together. When the chips are down, she gets in the bath. "That's Mikey's trick � I get in a hot bath, and don't get out until I've learned at least three pages, no matter how cold the water." She has a way of minimising both her talent and hard work. So much success is about being in the right place at the right time, she says. After that: "You have to explore the character using things you have experienced or observed, or you use your imagination. But the director and others tell you anyway�" She's quick to point out that her meteoric rise straight from drama school, subsequent portrayal of every meaty female role in Shakespeare, and success in many other classic and contemporary roles, has featured bad reviews. "Oh yes, I can steer you towards them, if you like. I got some stinkers." Her main ambition was to take on a wide variety of roles and to confound people by tackling the unexpected, including Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and the more recent action movie appearance with Vin Diesel in The Chronicles of Riddick. She was a sexy Cleopatra at 50, having got over the idea that she might just appear as, to use her words, a "menopausal dwarf." When she and Michael were asked to do the suburban A Fine Romance in the early '80s, their friend and theatre director Trevor Nunn advised against it. "'You don't want to do that,' he said. 'That'll bring no-one into the theatre.'

"He was wrong," she says, with a chesty laugh. "Although when people later came to see us in A Pack of Lies in the theatre, some of them did think they were coming to see Mike and Laura from the TV." She maintains there is nothing more difficult for an actor than sitcom. "It's not like doing a stage comedy, where you get previews. With TV, you rehearse for a week, then meet the audience and do it. You have to get it right, there and then. "On stage, you come in night after night, and the audience teach you about it, showing you where there are laughs. After weeks and weeks you get it right. Of course, with the TV shows I worked with fantastic writing, and I had Mikey, then Geoffrey Palmer (in As Time Goes By). He doesn't put a foot wrong."

Her main criterion for choosing work, even tragedy, is laughter. "I've had a huge laugh with most things I've done. It's not worth doing otherwise. I'm not going to do it if someone's going to be all solemn about it." There's an infectious girlishness and vivacity about Judi Dench. She's also a renowned prankster, once pulling open her negligee on stage to show her American co-star a little note only he could see. It read: "Yankee go home."

She undeniably likes her trophies."It's lovely when people like you, but they (awards] mean audiences expect you to be better afterwards." She has strings of Oliviers, BAFTAs, Tonys, Golden Globes, Oscar nominations and a best supporting actress Oscar for her shortest film role, in Shakespeare in Love. Getting dressed up for the biggest night in Hollywood is. "Great fun. Finty and I went this year and had such a laugh getting locked out. We arrived at the theatre with Morgan Freeman and his wife, but the doors were already closed. "Eventually, Charlize Theron came and made a fuss, so we followed her in. We had seats in row C, but Morgan was given those, and we were told to stand at the back." A slight recognition problem then, despite her win. Her other favourite Oscar story turns on a brief encounter with Jack Nicholson as she came off stage after presenting an award. "As I brushed past him, he drawled, 'Gooooood job, Jude.' I felt six foot tall and didn't care about anything after that."

Learning lines gets harder and stage fright gets worse. So does shyness. "I'm no good at just being myself." She's open yet touchingly diffident. "I can't walk into a room full of people alone. It's really is awful." She gets angrier these days � about the Iraq war (she marched against it), about litter, about apathy, and what she calls "The 'don't care' attitude of those who don't believe they can change things".

Michael Williams died in 2001 after a long battle with lung cancer, but he is all over her conversation. His role as her adviser and mentor has to some extent been taken over by Finty, who is also an actor. "I like people I know like Finty or Trevor (Nunn) or Peter (Brook) or my agent to suggest things that would be good for me. "I still talk to Mikey all the time at home, and especially in the garden, which he was passionate about. The house is too big, but I find it difficult to think of leaving. For a long time I couldn't move anything, not even to decorate. Now I can, partly because I hear him nudging me, saying, 'Now come on, this house needs doing'. It's a lovely place, but being without him is grim." Her laughing eyes are momentarily dulled by pain. Work has been full-on in the last five years. We'll see our Dame Judi in two films over the next few months, and she's off to Stratford to do the musical of The Merry Wives of Windsor this autumn. She loves the stage as passionately as ever, it seems � even though she describes it as "going into free-fall every night".

Did I mention that Judi Dench is 71? No? Well, that shows just how unimportant numbers are. "I won't retire. They'll have to carry me out feet first. Why should I retire when I feel 29 inside, and silly with it?"

A good question, Dame Judi.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, July 03, 2006 at 11:33:19 (PDT)

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Lyn, Thanks for the tip about the Michael Parkinson radio show. If you fast forward one hour and fifteen minutes, you'll get the Judi Dench story in about 13 more minutes. It's a delightful little anecdote.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Monday, July 03, 2006 at 09:43:15 (PDT)

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Hi Bonnie,
I listened today to BBC Radio2 Michael Parkinson's show. Michael's main guest is Tim Pigott-Smith, talking about his role in the play SEE HOW THEY RUN in London's West End. He mentioned Judi so I thought you would be interested in what he had to say. (Available on listen again to this show on BBC web sit) About 1hr 28min into the programme he said that he and Judi have a game they have played with each other over the last 20 years concerning a black glove. They have to get the glove to each other and he got it to her on stage in Hay Fever a couple of weeks ago.
Lyn Dorset
UK - Sunday, July 02, 2006 at 16:07:01 (PDT)

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Greetings, Thom, I've only just caught up on all the ATGB comments, & I noticed your query about what to see in London. If you'd like a dose of ongoing English history, I'd suggest the Ceremony of the Keys, the traditional locking-up of the Tower of London by night. They've been doing it in much the same way for the past 700 years. It's a short ceremony, starts at 7 minutes to 10 o'clock every night, & is all over by 10 p.m. From memory, they only allow an audience of 6 people during the summer, but during the off-season, it goes up to 15. You have to book about 2 months ahead. If you're interested, I'd suggest you go to GOOGLE & look up "Historic Royal Palaces". There's no charge, but they like a donation. To see the Chief Warder in his long red coat & Tudor bonnet, his escort provided by one of the regiments of the Foot Guards & their progress along Waters Lane to Traitors Gate, on a dark night, is really something. It's guaranteed to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, particularly when you stop to think about the figures of history who made their (mostly one-way) journey to the Tower, & entered by way of Traitors Gate.
Ross
Mapleton, Qld. Australia - Sunday, July 02, 2006 at 09:08:21 (PDT)

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This article will appear in print in tomorrow's New York Times. It was sent to me by someone who wishes to remain anonymous and it was written by Stephen Farber.

Hollywood Awakens to the Geriatric Demographic

WHEN Hollywood marketing gurus speak about "the older audience," they generally don't mean older by much. Box office tallies, for instance, are often reviewed with an eye to the percentage of moviegoers over and under the age of 25.

Studio specialty divisions like Fox Searchlight, Sony Classics and Focus Features might stretch the definition of "older" audiences to moviegoers between 35 and 50. Viewers in that range helped to make movies like "Sideways" and "The Constant Gardener" successful.

But where does that leave truly older audiences, fossils over 50 or 60 or even 70? To Hollywood these have been the perennially invisible men and women. Yet change is afoot. Some filmmakers and smaller distributors have discovered a secret society of mature moviegoers, and they have decided that this audience may actually be worth courting.

One of the most striking recent forays toward the older audience comes from Susan Seidelman, 53, who established herself as a hip young director when she made "Smithereens" in 1982 and "Desperately Seeking Susan" with Madonna in 1985.

Last year Ms. Seidelman made "Boynton Beach Club," a comedy about romance in a community for the elderly in Florida, starring a raft of 60-ish performers like Dyan Cannon, Sally Kellerman, Brenda Vaccaro, Len Cariou, Joe Bologna and Ren�e Taylor. Ms. Seidelman financed the movie independently, then tried to sell it to one of the studios.

"They all said to me, 'It's a nice movie, but we don't believe there's enough commercial potential in that demographic,' " Ms. Seidelman recalled. "That didn't compute for me. I'm over 50, and I go to the movies at least once a week. My mother is over 70, and she goes twice a week. My 16-year-old son barely goes at all. He's online all the time. I think people over 50 are the most under-represented audience." (Statistics compiled by the Motion Picture Association of America show that moviegoers 50 and older accounted for 23.9 percent of the total audience last year, up slightly from 21.3 percent in 2001.)

The film got the attention of audiences in South Florida and Palm Springs, Calif., when Ms. Seidelman engineered a limited release in those regions. Now, "Boynton Beach Club" will be seen around the country when Roadside Attractions releases it on Aug. 4.

Richard D. Zanuck, a veteran producer who is now 71, learned some lessons about the senior market 17 years ago when he and his wife, Lili Fini Zanuck, produced "Driving Miss Daisy" with Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. No one wanted to finance it, but the movie went on to earn more than $100 million and won the Academy Award as best picture of 1989.

"After the movie succeeded," Mr. Zanuck recalled, "one executive told me that 'Driving Miss Daisy' was a 'nonrecurring phenomenon.' Millions of people went to the theater to see it. Why is that nonrecurring?"

Recent films that have tapped the older audience include "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont," with Joan Plowright as a widow moving into a rooming house in London; "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Anthony Hopkins as a motorcyclist whose speed puts younger cyclists to shame; and "Mrs. Henderson Presents," with Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins playing unlikely partners in a burlesque theater during World War II. On Sept. 15 ThinkFilm will release "Keeping Mum," which stars Maggie Smith as a murderous housekeeper working for Kristin Scott-Thomas and Rowan Atkinson.

By some accounts it was "Ladies in Lavender," which featured Dame Maggie and Dame Judi as two sisters living on the Cornwall coast, that really opened eyes to the potency of this neglected audience. The movie was filmed in the fall of 2003 and played at the Toronto International Film Festival in the fall of 2004. Michael McClellan, vice president and film booker for Landmark Theaters, saw it and felt strongly that people who frequented his art houses would respond to the movie.

"But the studios didn't see a value in a film that would appeal to a niche audience," he said. "I was baffled by their response. I felt the cast and the period setting had a definite appeal."

Partly because of Mr. McClellan's prodding and partly because the film did big business when it opened in Britain early 2005, Roadside Attractions finally decided to distribute the film. Originally Howard Cohen and Eric D'Arbeloff, the chief executives of the company, had turned it down along with everyone else.

"We listened to all the naysayers who said 'Ladies in Lavender' was a plotless movie about two old ladies," Mr. Cohen said. The film grossed just under $7 million in the United States, which is impressive for a British period film. Mr. McClellan pointed out that since most of the admissions were at elderly discount prices, the actual number of paying patrons was larger than the grosses indicated. "It appealed to a more literate, literary audience," Mr. McClellan said.

"Mrs. Palfrey" opened at the end of last year in New York and Los Angeles in order to qualify for the Academy Awards. The initial reviews were only fair, and the movie got lost in the Christmas rush. To make matters worse, the marketing people forgot to submit Dame Joan's name to the academy for consideration as best actress, so the movie seemed doomed.

But when it played at the Palm Springs Film Festival in January, it won the audience award in that desert retirement community. The distributor, Jour de F�te Films, booked it immediately after the festival in two Palm Springs theaters, where it played for three months and grossed close to $100,000, with minimal advertising in the local newspapers. Jour de F�te began to open it in other cities around the country, and in cities where the reviews were good, the grosses were astonishingly high. It did big business in Seattle, Detroit, Boston, Minneapolis, Santa Fe and other cities.

On June 2 "Mrs. Palfrey" reopened at one of Landmark's theaters in Los Angeles and out-grossed three newer movies at the multiplex. It is now in its fourth week of reissue, and it will also reopen at the Quad Cinema in New York this summer. The film's director, Dan Ireland, commented: "How many films are made for an elderly audience? They respond because the film treats the older characters with humanity."

Most distributors, however, are still skeptical about this audience. When Ms. Seidelman initially found no buyers for "Boynton Beach Club," she decided to open the film herself in a couple of areas with a large elderly population. "I was calling the newspapers to place the ads," Ms. Seidelman reported. "My mother was handing out flyers and putting up posters in delis in West Palm Beach." (Her mother, Florence Seidelman, had suggested the story and is credited as one of the film's producers.) The movie earned $100,000 in its first week in just 10 theaters.

Mr. Cohen and Mr. D'Arbeloff had originally turned down the movie, just as they had turned down "Ladies in Lavender," but they started paying attention to the grosses. "The per-screen average jumped out at me," Mr. Cohen recalled. "And the movie was not just playing in art houses." In a mall in Orlando, Fla., Ms. Seidelman observed, the movie outgrossed "The Da Vinci Code." So Roadside Attractions decided to pick the film up for national distribution.

"It's an event movie for older audiences because it's about dating and sex," Mr. Cohen said. He noted that Dyan Cannon was in one of the emblematic movies about the sexual revolution of the 60's, "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice." "Now she's in an emblematic movie about senior sexuality," he observed. "This movie really shows that 60 is the new 40," Mr. D'Arbeloff added.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Saturday, July 01, 2006 at 10:02:48 (PDT)

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I've received emails from two people who attended Fond and Familiar and both, based on the clothing in the photo believe that the photo below was taken on the day of the performance.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 17:24:10 (PDT)

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I have received several questions regarding the photograph that I put in the comment that Jean wrote about Fond and Familiar. I do not know who the photographer is, but you can find the photo and article by clicking on the link. The questions that were asked had to do with who was the photographer, where was it taken, was it actually taken on the day of the event. So the answer is "I don't know" to all of them. If someone knows the answer, email and I will be sure to post this information. To those of you who attended: does this look like the dress Judi wore at the performance?
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 10:41:35 (PDT)

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Just to show that Lionel has such excellent taste....... The Queen was given a luncheon earlier this month to celebrate her 80th birthday. The menu for the luncheon was decided by a competition between 14 British chefs, drawn from the various regions of the UK. After much deliberation, the final, and ultimate, dessert was ......... (roll of drums) .......... CUSTARD TART with nutmeg!
Ross
Mapleton. , Qld. Australia - Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at 09:06:53 (PDT)

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Glenda, thanks for the feedback that I was correct in restraining myself from standing to applaud. I didn't realize it would embarrass them. As you said, it was very hard.
Sue
Portland, USA - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 17:12:29 (PDT)

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Sue � Portland�Pauline from the UK made me promise that I would not stand and applaud at the end of �Hay Fever� so I restrained. There were a few people in the audience who did stand and applaud. I must admit it was very hard to stay in my seat. In the States this is our highest form of praise but apparently in the UK they are embarrassed by it.
Glenda
USA - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 14:03:27 (PDT)

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Based on Bonnie's recommendation, I think, and other reviews posted on Amazon, I purchased Series 1 of "Waiting for God". I've thoroughly enjoyed it and was thrilled to see Paul Chapman playing a stuffy politician in the last episode. He would have been filming this in 1991 or 1992 when he was also working on ATGB (possibly at different times of the year). His role shows what great comedic talents he has. I'd love to see him in other shows.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 10:22:09 (PDT)

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Thanks for the posts including John Moffatt. I've been a fan of his for years, having listened to his series of Poirot adaptation for BBC Radio 4. He gives David Suchet a run for his money!

I intend to see "An Inconvenient Truth" when it opens locally this Friday, Bonnie. Thanks for the reminder!
Matthew Gladney
Champaign-Urbana, IL USA - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 10:18:06 (PDT)

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Thanks for the great pictures of Judi and Geoffrey. They look so good together. It's nice to see them together in recent pictures. Kind of like looking at the Hardcastle family album.
Linda <graylrrl@msn.com>
Johnston, IA USA - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 08:28:22 (PDT)

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A couple of people have asked me to explain what I mean by "result pages" in the paragraph near the top of this page. When you do a search in the Google search engine, the page that comes up once you click the "Search" button is a result page. That page not only gives you the results you asked for either on the Web or on my site, but it has some advertisers at the top (and bottom) of the page -- if there are any advertisers who have something related to your search -- and these are distinguished by the words "Ads by Google" on it. Every click from my site on any Google Advertier, whether or not you actually buy from them, is recorded as having come from my site and I am paid accordingly. Sometimes one of these advertisers is actually Amazon and, if you are going to buy from Amazon, my site will only be credited if you click from my links rather than one of these result pages. I hope I haven't made it too confusing, but a click once in a while would certainly be appreciated.

As an important aside, I've just come back from having seen Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. I encourage everyone to see it and to tell others about having seen it and to do whatever you can do to turn around what that film shows is happening more and more quickly than even scientists have imagined. If that something is recycling or changing just 5 light bulbs in your home to ones that are more energy efficient or unplugging the cell phone charger after it finishes charging your cell phone, it will make a huge difference.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, June 26, 2006 at 18:10:02 (PDT)

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And thanks to you too, Marla, for pointing out the fact that I linked to the wrong picture. It should be fine, now.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, June 26, 2006 at 09:59:29 (PDT)

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Thank you Jean for your account of the Fond and Familiar performance. Its wonderful to hear GP is doing so well at 79. I have a question for anyone who has been to a theatre event in London. Do audiences ever stand and applaud at the end? I wanted to stand and applaud at Hay Fever but restrained myself because no one else was did. I read that there was standing applause when Judi was on Broadway. Is this just an American thing?
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Monday, June 26, 2006 at 09:56:47 (PDT)

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In the original comment below the link for a photo of John Moffat led to photo of Judi, Geoffrey and Ian Richardson. Thanks to Dee and Pauline for pointing it out -- not only did I not recognize Ian Richardson, but apparently the near-120 degree heat here confused me so much that I was unable to read captions. Thanks also to Pauline for sending me a photo of the three of them which is now in place so that clicking the link will produce a photo of Judi, Geoffrey and John Moffat.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Monday, June 26, 2006 at 09:54:36 (PDT)

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I searched around and found this photo (below, in the comment) which was taken this last week of Judi and Geoffrey at the 2006 performance of Fond and Familiar. You might want to visit the Abbeyfield website and click on the "About Us Section." I'm sure that both Judi and Geoffrey who do so much work for the organizion would appreciate it if you did. And you can see a another picture of them which includes John Moffat by clinking the link.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 17:50:55 (PDT)

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These are Jean's comments as she originally wrote them on an email list and I thank her for sending them to me and for allowing me to share them with you:

Geoffrey Palmer, Judi Dench and John Moffat each gave a great performance at Fond & Familiar last Sunday. Interesting that the stage was from the set of Judi's current play, Hay Fever. Geoffrey led the way on stage, followed by Judi and then John. All looked nice � Judi wore a long black gown, John had a traditional black tux, as did Geoffrey, but Geoffrey was comfy in what appeared to be dark suede, soft soled shoes, and his tux jacket remained unbuttoned all evening. Not having attended previous events, I imagine many of the readings, songs, limericks, poems, may have been presented at previous F&F events. The readings were performed either singularly or by all three at once, and the variety of the readings was nicely mixed. But the three actors were great - they were in top form, prepared and obviously enjoyed what they were doing, as did the audience.

Judi was carrying Michael William's portfolio, which showed a few signs of wear; at one point, while seated, awaiting her turn, she ripped several pages out and then read from them, while leaving the portfolio behind. A few times, she appeared pensive, almost lost in thought. One time she appeared to lose her place, and after a few quiet, little giggles, Geoffrey and John came up, there were more giggles, and then we saw the familiar smile on Geoffrey's face that appears whenever Judi messes up her lines, and they all got back on place with it again. She was full of energy, it was reflected in her performance. Watching her, for the first time, was a treat - she really is fantastic, she so enjoys performing. Judi Dench's eyes just dance, her face is so animated and enthusiastic when she is on stage.

Geoffrey was incredible. He was tanned and trimmed. Geoffrey looked much healthier and younger than he did in the last ATGB tapping. Every once in a while, he'd look over his glasses and glance out into and over the audience. He seemed comfortable on stage and he'd lean back with his weight on his right leg while reading; sitting, he usually crossed one leg over the other. I did notice he appeared nervous, his right hand, which held his portfolio, frequently shook, but would settle down as he got into whatever piece he was performing, and he smiled like the old Geoffrey used to. During one bawdy ( or naughtie??) limerick, he got a little animated, and did a little kick and had a wicked grin! He knows his stuff, his voice was good, it was an excellent job! It was a joy to see the man perform and hear his voice in person. He and Judi have a great relationship, and it comes through when they are on stage together.

John Moffat is very a straight and serious performer. He pulled the readings together. His voice is excellent and it draws the audience in. I wondered if he had his pieces memorized? He was an interesting contrast to the familiar rapport I felt between Judi and Geoffrey.

It was a good night, the theatre appeared full. It was mainly an older, or more mature, audience, and there were lots of laughs. I was struck by how each of the actors waited their turn, and gave their attention to who ever was performing at the time, they didn't fiddle with their portfolios, or distract the audience with their behavior � they merely sat, listening, enjoying and reacting to the performance just as the audience was. The evening was a celebration of the founding of Abbeyfield. Attached to each program guide was a raffle ticket, and after the performance, the two winners were given a program guide signed by all three performers. Judi was presented with flowers, the men were each given a gift bag and it was followed with one curtain call.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 17:27:42 (PDT)

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I went to see Fond and Familiar. It was a fun night, and they so enjoyed performing, and Pauline was right, GP did look so much healthier, thinner and he enjoyed being with Judi on stage. Pauline loved GP's suede soft soled shoes!

I was lucky, Glenda was the lady who bought my extra set of tickets for F&F, we sat next to each other that night. She is really a nice woman, and so fond of Judi.
Jean Davis
USA - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 17:04:46 (PDT)

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My apologies to Thom. The publication I referenced earlier should have been "Time Out London" instead of Whats On. Both are entertainment guides. Check them both out.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 16:58:40 (PDT)

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Hi Thom, re: your visit to London, a nice relaxing way to start is to go to Westminster Bridge and take one of the boats down river to The Tower of London, you get to see many of the sites from the boat. You can then decide where you would like to go. To Jan M. I am the Pauline that Glenda met last weekend in London and a big fan of Geoffrey P. He looked very well and fit Sunday night in the Fond and Familiar readings, I think he had lost some weight, he was very tanned, did not look his age and had not got a limp, he looked wonderful, great to see him and Judi together.
Pauline
Leic's, UK - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 08:25:31 (PDT)

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Thanks to Glenda for giving us her account of seeing Judi in London. When I saw Hay Fever in April, I thought Judi looked exhausted when she took her curtain call. Pauline's photo showed the same thing. I worry about her working so much and the impact on her health. Another tip for Thom... be sure to look at a corner shop for the "Whats On in London" magazine. It has a day by day list of all the entertainment options in the city. We found a free jazz concert at noon one day at the Albert and Victoria museum. If we hadn't read the magazine, we would never have known about it.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 08:24:30 (PDT)

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Robert, there's a big difference between real time and ATGB time. In real time, Judy, who said she was 35 in season #1, would be in her mid-to-late 40s in the Reunion Specials, with Sandy probably not too far behind. But in ATGB time, I'd guess only three or four years have passed, so they're in their late 30s.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 19:05:01 (PDT)

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Thom, No matter what a London visitor's interests, we can recommend London Walks as a way to know the city. You can find the weekly schedule in your hotel or at other tourist information sites. No reservations are needed--you choose the walk you'd like to take and just show up at the proper time at the designated tube stop. The approximately two-hour tours are reasonably priced, the guides are fun and knowledgeable, and as you stroll about, you'll learn more about the neighborhood than you would poring over guide books and maps. For us, London Walks have been key in making the city our favorite destination.
Dee Benson
Elkton, MD USA - Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 17:27:37 (PDT)

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Hi, Thom:
I thought you would be flooded with ideas for your London trip, but since that hasn't happened, I'll make another suggestion. If you have any interest in fine silver and jewelry or if there is a significant other (female) traveling with you, you might want to look into the Sliver Vaults. It's been a long time since I was there, but I believe they are located near the Inns of Court. They are, literally, vaults, with huge bank-safe doors and are filled with remarkable representations, prize cups, tableware and so forth in the finest silver. Worth an hour or so of your time.
Joan in Pennsylvania
USA - Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 11:19:36 (PDT)

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Hello,
In Season 4, episode three, Mrs. Flack asks to speak to Jean in private. Mrs Flack tells Jean that she is going to have to resign from being Mr. Hardcastle's secretary and from the agency. She is going to live with her cousin in Dorset, "the one with the inflamed tendon who has a West Highland Terrier named Flora." Lionel almost ruins the whole thing by telling Mrs. Flack that he needs a secretary to go with him to Los Angeles, initially she accepts and then declines. One of my favorite episodes. Sincerely,
Kathy Nuwayhid
El Paso, TX USA - Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 10:17:13 (PDT)

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just curious but after watching the two reunion specials how old is Sandy and Judy? I don't know much about women's biological clock but aren't they in their mid forties? or is their characters in the biological clock range?
Robert F. Taylor
Chicago, IL USA - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 20:52:18 (PDT)

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To answer Carolyn's comment regarding the mantel clock, the ATGB crew must have caught on in later series. Tonight my wife and I were watching the 'surprise trip to Barbados' episode. I happened to notice that when Alistiar was pitching the idea to Lionel, the time on the mantel clock was 3:00 PM, as it was mid-afternoon in that particular scene. The crew always change the kitchen clock time to suit, and I guess they finally caught on to sync the mantel clock as well. Cheers,
Mike T. <mlt5961@earthlink.net>
New York, NY USA - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 20:10:48 (PDT)

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Mrs. Flack left town, I believe, to take care of her sick sister. I could be wrong about where she went, but I don't think she's the person for the job anyway. Daisy probably isn't either since she was a secretary and probably not experienced as a manager. I'll go with Sally Curtis.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 20:08:50 (PDT)

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I was wondering what ever happened to the agency in the reunion special Sandy or Judy didn't want to run it. maybe Mrs. Flack could run it or Daisy. the next reunion special could involve it.
Anonymous
USA - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 20:05:29 (PDT)

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Glenda, thank you so much for sharing the pictures and your experiences seeing and meeting Judi. And how wonderful that you and Pauline were able to meet up at last. A trip to remember for sure.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 17:41:35 (PDT)

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Hi Bonnie,
Just been catching up on the ATGB news as I haven't been there for a while. On cable in South Africa, we have just seen Series 1 - 3 and I noticed the carriage clock on the mantelpiece that always tells the same time. I can't find any reference to a carriage clock on the search and wonder if it has been remarked on before. I now have a similar clock which I inherited from my Scottish grandfather so noticed it straightaway in the recent episodes and it keeps catching my eye and it is always seems to be 9.30!

I'm visiting London in September and this time am planning to make a long tour around Holland Park and environs. One of your fan group gave me directions to the country house a couple of years ago when I was visiting England and, although I didn't actually go there, I travelled through the area by train and it was just as beautiful as we see in the relevant episodes of ATGB.
Regards
Carolyn
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 06:14:57 (PDT)

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I hate to be redundant, but I want to again thank Glenda for what you are about to read -- her description of those days she spent in London and the time she spent actually meeting Dame Judi at the Stage Door:

LONDON
6-16-06 / 6-19-06

FRIDAY: Arrived at Heathrow in London and went straight to the Corus Hotel to meet Pauline G from the UK. We met on a Judi Dench website and had been corresponding for about 3 months. I could never convey what an asset Pauline was to me on this trip. Pauline was waiting at the hotel. We had a snack and spent the whole afternoon �nattering� or chatting as we would say here in the states. Time flew by and before we realized it the time had come to go to the Royal Haymarket Theatre to meet DJD at the stage door to sign all of our DJD books. Pauline was smart enough to write to DJD and make arrangements for this. When we arrived at the stage door the door manager advised that DJD had left our names but that she would be running late due to a function in the theatre. We decided to wait for her which actually turned out to be a short wait. She emerged from the theatre dressed in her customary beige clothing and flat shoes looking very tired. She was very shy and meek yet so very sweet and kind. She took the time to sign all 4 of my books and 2 of Pauline�s books. I had taken her a very soft snuggly teddy bear and she kept thanking me for the bear and telling me how much she loved it. She kept the teddy snuggled to her chest the entire time she was talking to us and was signing the books. She also kept commenting on my Mini-Sharpie and said she did not think they are available yet in the UK. When I offered it to her she declined and said I would need it on Saturday night if I wanted her to sign my �Hay Fever� program. When we were leaving she was escorted to a waiting vehicle by her driver and got into the back seat. When they pulled away she was snuggling the teddy and waving good bye to us.

SATURDAY: Attended the Trooping of the Colours parade honoring the Queens 80th birthday. I actually was able to see the Queen as she rode by in her carriage. How exciting. On Saturday night I attended �Hay Fever� and had a front row seat for this wonderful performance. DJD is brilliant. Sitting so close I could see every movement she made with her face and hands. She did flub her first line upon entering the stage but since the audience was still applauding she just repeated the line and most of the audience never knew she made the mistake. Her energy on stage is unbelievable. It is amazing to see her run up and down the stairs on stage. She sings and skips across the stage and also does a fake swoon. I am 20 years younger than her but would never be able to match her energy.

SUNDAY: Took the boat ride on the river Thames and enjoyed seeing all the sights along the river and seeing Buckingham Palace. On Sunday night I attended �Fond & Familiar� starring DJD, Geoffrey Palmer and John Moffat. This program was wonderful. Geoffrey looked wonderful and did a great job. John Moffat was a delight. Of course DJD was again brilliant. She was dressed in a long black dress with black pumps and her customary jewelry. I did notice however that she was very hoarse and her voice was quite raspy. She drank water continually to sooth her throat. She did seen somewhat distracted or maybe just tired as every time she sat down for the others to perform you could tell by her facial expressions that her mind had wandered far from that stage but she was right back when it was her turn to perform. She was presented a huge bouquet of flowers at the end of the program. When the program was over Geoffrey was not seen any more. DJD was escorted out the front door and put into a waiting vehicle without signing autographs or speaking to the fans. It was after all her night off and she was very tired.

The entire weekend was a dream come true for me. Again I want to thank Pauline G from the UK for being such a wonderful friend and a true asset to me. I recommend anyone going to London contact Pauline for advice. She will save you tons of time and money.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 20:05:48 (PDT)

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We owe a thank you to Glenda Pryor for sending this photo which was was taken last Saturday, June 17 during her trip to see Hay Fever and Fond and Familiar. In the photo L to R: Pauline from UK, Dame Judi, and Glenda from North Carolina.

Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 07:25:12 (PDT)

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Last night I took a break from the Hardcastles and was watching my new DVD of the complete Mulberry series and who do I see? None other than Lionel�s Ex wife Margaret. What a hoot! Her character on Mulberry was very similar to Margaret-even speaking about Antigua. Needless to say, seeing her put me back in the mood to see ATGB so I popped in a DVD (at random) and enjoyed the rest of the evening with my favorite British family! Ahhh, life is good.
Sherry
Macon, GA USA - Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 16:42:32 (PDT)

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Thanks for correcting my note, Bonnie, about the crutch. I knew it was somewhere on this site, and I erroniously tend to think everything is in Curiosities. I love Jan's input about the rings and necklaces. I think we all believe that Judi is wearing mementos from her life in the same way.
Sue
Portland, OR USA - Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 09:25:57 (PDT)

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Don't laugh... I have always loved the miniature dollhouses that I have seen in the museum in Chicago. Recently I decided to buy a very nice dollhouse kit myself and give it a try (although a little late in life). I have been thinking about how to furnish it. Maybe it would be fun to furnish the rooms to copy Jean's home. I was wondering if anyone would have any ideas or suggestions on this? It could be a wonderful project. There are a million websites about miniatures. People take miniatures very seriously. Handmade items can be bought, or even I could attempt some. Even the brass bed. Just wondering if anyone would have any thoughts on this.
Cathy
Woodstock, IL USA - Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 09:23:06 (PDT)

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Jan, I think you've described Judi's jewelry situation perfectly. In one of the books or an article from years ago, she explained that every piece of jewelry she regularly wears was given to her by family or friends and each has a special meaning so, unless it's absolutely necessary to take them off for a part, she wears them all the time. Someone reminded me that in AFR her engagement and wedding rings are on her middle finger.
Marla
Euclid, OH USA - Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 07:02:11 (PDT)

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Hi. I rarely post a comment but always read everyone else's! Thanks. I was at the February 15th taping and Geoffrey was using a crutch "off stage". No mention was made about the reason for the crutch. He is a trooper!

About jewelry, I don't know about Judi's but I wear a gold chain given to me by my sister more than 30 years ago; along with another with a tiny diamond that belonged to my mother. I also wear my mom's wedding ring; her mother's wedding ring; a ring set with a diamond from my father's ring; my wedding ring next to my late husband's wedding ring; etc. It's all about sentiment; connection with my family; love. Maybe Judi's has something to do with that . . .
Jan M.
Bend, OR USA - Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 20:02:04 (PDT)

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The subject of Geoffrey Palmer's problem came up in Deb Read's first review of taping number 2, but nothing was said about the cause of the problem. However I looked in the archives of this comments section and see that, according to Joan Street, Geoffrey sprained his ankle. I did a search for "crutch" and found that she mentioned it on some email list, but I don't know who told me that or what email list it was on.
Bonnie Rottstin <rottstin@atgbcentral.com>
Henderson, NV USA - Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 16:40:17 (PDT)

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I don't know whether or not Geoffrey's limping was ever mentioned on this site in the recollections of someone who was at the taping, but I just wanted to correct the statement that these recollections are somewhere in the Curiosities section. They are not there, but they are where they always have been -- in the secton called "The Fans". If you click the link for the fans on the home page and then click The London Taping February, 2005 and then click on the second link on that page you can read the reports and see the pictures and tickets that were sent to me. Or you can