The british Weekly, Sat. January 5, 2019 Page 1 I’m near the end but I don’t fear death, says Big Yin - page 5 California’s British Accent ™ - Since 1984 Saturday, January 5, 2019 • Number 1764 Always Free Tributes flood in for Dame June Whitfield n Comic actor whose career ranged from Take It From Here on the radio to Terry and June and Absolutely Fabulous on TV TRIBUTES HAVE FLOODED in for Dame June Whitfield, one of Britain’s best-loved comedic actresses, who has died aged 93. The London-born actress generation as Jennifer the notes of the show she was a regular fixture on Saunders’s vague but sponsored. I cried then British TV and radio for sometimes acerbic mother too.” seven decades, her best- in Absolutely Fabulous. Television producer Jon known roles coming in Shane Allen, controller Plowman, who worked Terry and June, in which of BBC Comedy, said: on episodes of Absolutely she played half of a “June Whitfield was Fabulous and the 2016 film middle-aged, middle-class the North Star of British version, said: “There was suburban couple, and as comedy. Her spectacular no one with more warmth A LIFE WELL LIVED: June Whitfield’s career spanned seven decades, Jennifer Saunders’s mother career is unparalleled in or a better ability to just from the Golden Age of Radio to the TV comedy classic Absolutely Fabulous in Absolutely Fabulous. its longevity, with seven ‘place’ a line, always an She also appeared in Carry decades of being a key act of utter precision. Hit On films, Hancock’s Half element in numerous after hit! Take it from Here, Hour, and even had a part high-profile and successful Terry and June, Absolutely in Friends. Whitfield’s shows. She was the go-to Fabulous over seven agent confirmed her female comedy performer decades. A great loss.” “peaceful” death on of her generation and Trained at Rada, Friday. On radio, she was always in demand Whitfield took her first was Eth to Dick Bentley’s from the cream of British role in 1944 and went on Ron in radio’s Take It comedy.” to become a fixture of from Here in the 1950s; stage, screen and radio, partnered Roy Hudd in ‘a great loss’ appearing in hundreds of The News Huddlines on Comic actress Miranda productions. Her sense Radio 2 (1984-2000); and Hart tweeted that of comic timing kept her was Agatha Christie’s Whitfield’s death was in demand from across Miss Marple for Radio 4 “so very sad”. She added: the entire canon of British (1993-2001). She partnered “I once sent a letter to comedy. Arthur Askey on television many actors as a budding Whitfield was given for six years and played comedy actor to ask a Lifetime Achievement Terry Scott’s wife in for sponsorship for the Award at the 1994 Happy Ever After, then Edinburgh Festival. Dame British Comedy Awards 1985 she was made an summed up her life: “Not a unhappy childhood, only in Terry and June, for June replied. Fifteen years and inducted into the OBE, in 1998 a CBE, and rags-to-riches story, or one a life full of love, affection an astonishing 13 years. later, when I met her, she Royal Television Society’s in 2017 a dame. In her bursting with revelations; and laughter, of gigs, gags And she captivated a new had all my letters and Hall of Fame in 1999. In autobiography (2000), she there isn’t even an and a couple of gongs.” News from Britain 2-5 • Meet a Member 8 • Crossword 8 • Stargazing 9 • Sudoku 9 • Brits in LA 10 • Sean Borg 11• Sport 18-20 Page 2 The british Weekly, Sat. January 5, 2019 News from Britain EU chief blasted after branding British ‘unreasonable’ n “Get your act together and then tell us what it is you want,” says Juncker as Brexit stalemate drags on CHIEF Eurocrat Jean- Mr Juncker said it was they know best for us. Claude Juncker faced up to the British to decide “I hope this is a wake- a furious backlash if the final decision is put up call to our Government this week after back to the people in a that we are dealing with branding British voters second referendum but impossible people. He is “unreasonable” over denied Brussels was trying the top of the elite of the Brexit. to stop Brexit. He told elite.” The European the Welt am Sonntag: “It is Fellow Brexiteer Commission president being insinuated that our Andrew Bridgen said: slammed UK voters, aim is to keep the United “The EU have been so saying it was time to “get Kingdom in the EU by all unreasonable during the your act together” over possible means. That is not negotiations that now how the country will leave our intention.” the only solution that the EU. But Brexiteers Conservative MP James delivers the Brexit we said his comments were Gray said he was “certain” have promised the British “ridiculous” and should Mr Juncker’s approach people is to leave with a “It is not us who are leaving the United Kingdom. It is the United Kingdom that is be a wake-up call to the had made the Brexit talks managed no deal. leaving the European Union,” - Jean Claude Juncker Government that it was more difficult and attacked “What the EU have dealing with “impossible the official for criticising forgotten is they sell us people”. British voters. He said: twice as much as we sell “It will be very, very companies, but at the end one than she has got. “It’s a ridiculous thing to them. nerve-wracking for of the day we will get a “That’s where I think it “entirely unreasonable” say. It doesn’t surprise me “That means we are some people and some deal and it will be a better will go.” Mr Juncker told because they don’t want to the customer and they a German Sunday lose us. have forgotten that the newspaper that it was customer is king.” Reject May’s deal and Brexit “entirely unreasonable” to “‘elite of the elite” MPs are due to vote on expect Brussels to come up “He makes these very the withdrawal agreement with solutions over Brexit. unhelpful comments and in the week of January is only 50/50, warns Fox He said: “It is not us who he’s a difficult individual. 14 after Prime Minister BREXITEER Liam Fox MPs are due to vote on we vote for the Prime are leaving the United “We should have boxed Theresa May ditched the has warned that Britain the exit plan in the week Minister’s deal then it’s Kingdom. It is the United them round the ears planned vote in December has only a 50-50 chance of January 14 after Mrs 100 per cent certain that Kingdom that is leaving from the beginning and over fears that she would of leaving the EU if May ditched the planned we will leave on March the European Union. they might have realised face a humiliating defeat. MPs reject the Prime December vote over fears 29. “I find it entirely that they were fighting a Former Brexit Secretary Minister’s deal. she would face defeat. “If we do not vote for unreasonable for parts of formidable opponent.” David Davis said he The International Dr Fox warned that that, I’m not sure I would the British public to believe Tory Brexiteer Peter expected the deal would Trade Secretary said Parliament would shatter give it much more than that it is for the EU alone to Bone said the EU elite be defeated and that backing the withdrawal faith in democracy if it 50-50 [chance of success]. propose a solution for all had always been intent on would force the UK and agreement Theresa May took the “incendiary” “And for me that future British problems. offering the UK a bad deal EU back to the negotiating has struck with Brussels decision to reject the would induce a sense “My appeal is this, Get to deter other countries table to strike a new deal was the only way to agreement. that we had betrayed the your act together and then from trying to leave before March 29. guarantee the UK quits He said: “What you people that voted in thre tell us what it is you want. the bloc. He said: “The He said: “They will have the bloc on March 29. can be sure of is that if referendum.” Our proposed solutions European elite has always to come back and deal have been on the table for said they know best. They again. The deal she’s got is months.” know best for Europe, no good. New EU fish quotas blasted EU rules which came into sub-committee has heard police the rule, creating a 171 Pier Ave. Ste. 121 • Santa Monica CA 9005 effect on New Year’s Day Tel: (310) 452 2621 • Fax: (310) 314-7653 evidence that the rule could temptation for fishermen [email protected] could have a “devastating” mean fishermen reaching to flout it in the knowledge www.british-weekly.com • Twitter/BritishWeekly impact on the UK fishing their annual quotas much that their chances of being industry, a parliamentary earlier in the year, with caught are “slim to none”. Managing Editor: Neil Fletcher committee has been told. an estimated £165million Committee member Lord Deputy Editor: Nick Stark The “landing obligation” worth of fish remaining Krebs said: “Maintaining Contributing Writers: Sean Borg, Alan Darby Drake, requires boats to bring to uncaught in 2019 as a result.