Xanderl

This is the first of four joined-up stories about my journeyings for The Little Drummer Girl, between 1981 and 1983. My subject was the Palestine-Israel conflict. The drummer girl in question was

Charlie, a character inspired by my half-sister Charlotte Cornwell, who is fourteen years my junior. 'Drum-mer' because in my story Charlie roused the combative emotions of protagonists on both sides to the conflict. At the time of writing, Charlotte was a well-known stage and television actress (the Royal Shakespeare Company, the TV series Rock Follies), but also a militant advocate of the political far left.

Back in England, I am more than ever determined that The Little Drummer Girl is to be a movie. My

sister Charlotte must play the part of Charlie she inspired. Warner Brothers buy the rights and sign up George Roy Hill of Butch Cassidy fame. I put her name forward. Hill expresses enthusiasm, meets her, likes her. He will talk to the studio. The part goes to Diane Keaton, which may be as well. As George himself, not a man known to mince his words, later put it: 'David, I fucked up your movie.'

It’s a great story. From Le Carre’s memoir The Pigeon Tunnel …

I love the fact that Le Carre based the character on his sister Charlotte Cornwell, who auditioned to play the role based on herself and didn’t get it.

Ellen Price, best known as Mrs. Henry Wood (1814-1887), came from a family of manufacturers and grew up afflicted by a number of childhood ailments, the worst of which were an almost complete lack of strength (she could carry nothing heavier than “a small book or a parasol")

I think Mrs Henry Wood (author of East Lynne) had the ultimate 19th Century health condition

Peter Davison, a fair-skinned blond man, as the fifth Doctor, circa 1982.

It occurs to me that the Doctor's polyethnic identity in recent times recontextualises Peter Davison's casting in quite an interesting way.
(For context, although you'd be unlikely to guess it by looking at him, Davison's paternal family is Guyanese. He has close relatives who are visibly Black.)

... and as she's not that established a character they have recast. #thearchers

As I understand it none of #TheArchers actors have a contract and are just brought in on a month by month basis when they are required - so if any of them are offered a regular commitment elsewhere they would be daft not to take it. In this case I guess it conflicts with a big story plan ...

Jimi Hendrix and Jeremy Thorpe

24 / 30 / 3 Jimis #popmaster

a man with long hair is playing a saxophone and wearing sunglasses Alt: Supertramp - a man with long hair is playing a saxophone and wearing sunglasses

30 on round 2 #popmaster

a woman is standing in front of a window in a dark room with a blue light coming through it . Alt: Bonnie Tyler is standing in front of a window in a dark room with a blue light coming through it .

24 on round 1 #popmaster

a group of women are standing next to each other on a city street . Alt: The Spice Girls half-heartedly jiggling

27 / 27 / 3 Spice Girls #popmaster

a group of three women are walking down a city street . Alt: Bananarama

27 on round 2 #popmaster

I'd love one of these retired #popmaster contestants to give the answer I'd give regarding what they are doing now .... "just pissing about basically"

a man in a costume is dancing in a dark room and says `` make me feel mighty real '' Alt: Sylvester is dancing in a dark room and says `` make me feel mighty real ''

27 on round 1 #popmaster

They both run on two different external services, looks like one is currently broken! #thearchers

Doesn't Josh have a girlfriend who's in a band? Can't remember what her name is. Possibly this is her? #TheArchers

fleetwood mac rumours album cover with a man and a woman on it Alt: fleetwood mac rumours album cover with a man and a woman on it

36 / 33 / 3 Fleetwood Macs #popmaster

The Summarise Proust competition from Monty Python

33 on round 2 #popmaster

a man in a brown shirt is standing in a crowd of people Alt: Mike Nesmith running away from some women

36 on round 1 #popmaster

I think the quote has been lifted from here, and it makes more sense in context (which is that LWT was trying to prove it wasn't just producing Light Entertainment for weekend viewers)

transdiffusion.org/2006/02/01/l...

Definitely felt wrong having a multiple choice bonus question. Otherwise I guess its fair if both contestants have a multiple choice one. #popmaster

a man in a plaid hat is talking into a microphone and the words oh my god are visible Alt: Paul Weller being interviewed

33 / 27 / 2 Wellers "as a named solo artist" #popmaster

a black and white photo of a man and a woman Alt: harpo marx

27 on round 2 #popmaster

a cartoon hand is pointing at the word tiscas Alt: a cartoon hand is pointing at the word tiswas

33 on round 1 #popmaster

... although only because BBC Four edited the episode for time. #totp

Dollar in ludicrouse outfits

David Van Day and Therese Bazaar are pre-Hartnell Doctors #totp

Mike Read's been reading my posts! #totp

Fun fact - after his tribute records Adrian Baker ended up in the touring bands of both the Beach Boys and the Four Seasons for a while #totp

a red warning light is lit up in front of a building ALT: a red warning light is lit up in front of a building

Calm down BlueSky Dads! #totp

That's not true - I've only seen Toyah in one play (Trafford Tanzi) which she was very good in #totp

a man in a suit and tie is smiling with the words i see what you did there above him ALT: a man in a suit and tie is smiling with the words i see what you did there above him

The Birdie song followed by Budgie! #totp