opening event

Film industry. Keep music live! The concert that I’ve discovered Netflix late in life, and now stays with me was in 1995 when I sat on stage spend winter evenings glued to my laptop, WHAT TURNS ME ON with the Grateful Dead, and Bob Dylan was the watching everything I’ve ever missed, warm-up act. It was just before Jerry Garcia selecting films on the principle that I recognise died, and one of their last concerts ever: etched in the name and that if they have four stars or more my mind like the death of Kennedy. they must be good – by and large they are. The star system works better for films than for books, where Music interested parties so easily up or down ratings. I’ve always treasured Judy Collins’ Wildflowers My all-time favourite film is The Wizard Of Oz, [1967, right]. I’m a sucker for female singers lost to first seen in 1939 when I was eight, and love and melancholy. Singers are my life was full of wicked witches I angrier now, though women thought better dead. have a lot less to complain about. My favourite song is Que Books Sera, Sera, which Doris Day Life After Life by Kate made famous in 1956. Cheerful Atkinson is a brilliant acceptance as I got through evocation of alternative the self-imposed crises of my universes as they affect a younger years. single life. The ups and downs I have a soft spot for Lily Allen, of rebirths, re-endings and and am glad she is back on the scene upsetting restarts! All-time favourites? They people by not toeing any party line. Her Hard shift from day to day. Aldous Huxley’s Out Here is biting, sexy satire. I don’t care if she’s After Many A Summer Dies The Swan came ‘privileged’ – now a sin apparently. I like her looks instantly to mind; strong plot, pure thought, social and her attitude. I’m astonished, though, by John comment. Huxley’s shockingly neglected these Lewis’s Christmas ad, which uses a very different days apart from Brave New World. song of hers. How can it cost £7 million? In the Sixties I made TV ads for the Egg Marketing Board TV with a Moviola, a razor blade, and a plink-plonk Borgen continues to absorb me, backing track – £500, in old money. though I’m sorry Sidse Babett Knudsen [below] has changed Art from a harassed mother trying to Ursula Leach’s abstracts of the Cranborne Chase run Denmark, to a slim-hipped chalkland, currently at the Art Stable in Blandford, divorcée with an unconvincing Dorset. Bold, stark, and world-class. English lover who she addresses My all-time favourite show was William Blake at in someone else’s voice. My all- the Tate in 1947; my mother dragged me, bleating time favourite is The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil, in protest. y ba n k s /g etty a ‘cult classic’ which screened in 1986. I would FAY think that, wouldn’t I, it being based on my novel, Theatre but Ted Whitehead did the screenplay, Philip I’m looking Saville directed: it was TV drama, before prudence WELDON forward to and script editors took over the BBC. seeing our friend She-devils, wicked witches Nigel Planer Radio in Charlie And I like the The Moral Maze on and Lily Allen. Powerful The Chocolate Radio 4 – always interesting (if women loom large in the Factory [right]. not a bundle of laughs). In my The best thing youth I liked The Brains Trust novelist’s cultural life I ever saw was

l am y /h elen ma JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE/EYEVINE/a – same programme 60 years Olivier in The ago. Its star, the philosopher Entertainer Professor Joad had a Gigs in 1957 [at catchphrase when presented Try finding one – I live in Dorset. Half the pubs London’s Royal with any proposition: ‘It all have closed, what with the price of beer, police Court]. Being old has some advantages. depends what you mean by sitting outside and no smoking. Those that remain ‘The New Countess’, the last book of Fay Weldon’s (this or that)’. I find it useful to can’t afford the licence for live music. It’s a ‘Love And Inheritance’ trilogy, is published by Head this day. takeover by the money makers of the digital music of Zeus at £14.99. fayweldon.co.uk

5 FABULOUS FACTS (& a massive fib*) about... matt smith

ryan he failed who’s that he was he nearly gosling the on the old fated to became a is his new audition ivories? play the professional best mate for dr Matt’s an doctor footballer Floppy-haired Smith, watson accomplished Getting the Doctor Smith wanted to kick the quintessance Smith doesn’t pianist: that’s Who role was a football for a living, of restrained have a 100 per cent him playing written in the stars. rather than Englishness, has record with doctor roles: he was on Robbie Smith’s agent act, and was scouted by been picked by the turned down for the Dr Watson role Williams’s Wendy played Leicester City, then in the action-loving Drive in TV’s Sherlock. No matter: if they guest-strewn Zoe Herriot, the Premier League. But a and Gangster Squad ever remake Wyatt Swings Both Second Doctor back injury at 16 put paid to star for a new film, Earp he should have Ways – laying Patrick his ambitions and he ended How To Catch A a chance at the down a mean Troughton’s up a Time Lord. Bad luck, Matt. Monster. Doc Holliday boogie-woogie on companion Matt Smith’s final outing as ‘Doctor

role. Minnie The Moocher. back in 1963. Who’ is on Christmas Day, BBC1 *The massive fib? No 3 – though Matt is noted for his guitar-playing skills guitar-playing his for noted is Matt though – 3 No fib? massive *The

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