Olthwaite

Southport Visiter sign on brown stone background, plus windows.

The old Southport Visiter (correct spell) office.

OH GOD WE DON’T HAVE A DUKE
*panic, tourism ensues*

Gorgeous!

BBC One - Leonard and Hungry Paul, Series 1, Episode 1 Leonard begins to open up his world with the help of his best friend, Hungry Paul.

Well doesn't this look grand.

In the Radio Times and everything.

My mum would have been well chuffed and to some degree making up for the disappointment of not becoming the second English Pope.

We published in 2019.

@thebookseller.com
@northernfiction.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I'm very well Daniel. I hope you are in fine fettle.

Ooh yes, there's a raft of Keaton films I haven't seen and I haven't watched Annie Hall/Reds in yonks.

CM Eastwood sign on a grand old building near Wakefield Kirkgate.

Clint Eastwood was, of course, born in Wakefield and here is where his family's old business operated. It was a butcher's where there was a weekly offal raffle. In an early example of advertising, customers were asked: 'Feeling lucky with the offal raffle?'

I'd forgotten about the ciggy smoking in Alien. Hurt sparks up, Dean Stanton lights a crafty one.

'She had even tried the peculiar unstructured writhing that seemed to have replaced the formal dancing of her generation to see if it brought any benefits.' Enjoying Clare Chambers' Shy Creatures.

Fella in the lavs informs everyone that the Oates urinal we're using is collectible and worth £10,000. Calm down Marcel Duchamp.

Bingley, by Mik Artistik's Ego Trip from the album Pop

Here's blues classic Bingley. mikartistiksegotrip1.bandcamp.com/track/bingle...

Fab start to Halifax's Town Festival with the mighty Mik Artistik at The Grayston Unity. I haven't seen Mik in 10 years. He's funkier. He's soulful. He's daft as a brush - still covering himself in a cloth and singing about his secret cloak of invisibility.

'I have had a lot of trouble with my visionary oeuvre.'

New book is out soon. @shugmcgowan.bsky.social is to blame. It is an absolute cracker. Love every single word in it.

Plaque text: 'In medieval times, women holding opinions that rocked the patriarchal boat were accused of witchcraft and tormented on a ducking stool near this site. In 2022, Greater Manchester Pagan & Witches Chaplaincy invited Manchester communities to honour the women of Back Pool Fold by working together for a healthier, happier, safer city for women.'

I don't think I've ever been down Back Pool Fold before today - a snicket-esque lane in the centre of Manc - and I definitely haven't seen this plaque before. I expect a few frothers would love ducking stools to come back.

🧵Some real Jilly Cooper quotes from her Rutshire Chronicles, the series of books that Rivals is from.

1) "Her breasts swayed like party balloons when the front door opens"

Captain Birdseye, you fiend. You stole my fish finger recipe and now you will perish in my vat of hollandaise. #girlsowncc

Enjoy the Sunday caption contest. Give away ❤️s, retweet to encourage more competitors, include #GirlsOwnCC

More American football/NFL puff pieces - yet to see an article about why it's better than rugby league (or rugby union). A group of fellas charge into each other, another fella gets the ball, chucks it to a third fella who runs a bit. Echoey announcer gives long explanation. Cheers, pause, repeat.

Take care Leigh. You've done some great work.

Brown baggy Gilberty cap

M&S Gilbert O'Sullivan range. 'Are you alone again? Naturally, you'll want one of these hats for any dog-based songs.'

Lovely piece Neil

Meeting Patricia Routledge Patricia Routledge - 17.2 1929-3.10.2025

New on The Noise of Art…

Meeting Patricia Routledge

Following the passing of the grand dame of British stage and TV, an archive piece from 2007 when the star of Keeping Up Appearances was touring in an Alan Bennett double bill.

open.substack.com/pub/neilcoop...

#nicherugbyleaguechat I'm hoping St Helens win this game if only to cheer up coach Paul Wellens. Every time the camera pans to him, he looks miserable on his walkie-talkie - like Richard Burton 'Broadsword calling Danny Boy'-ing in Where Eagles Dare.

'I've just had my TV mended. Well I say mended, a
shifty looking youth in plimsolls came and waggled my aerial and wolfed my gypsy creams but that's the comprehensive system for you.' Patricia RIP

Happy birthday!

Unexpected early showing of Dr Terror's House of Horrors on Legend Xtra now. Still think 'Fluff' Freeman's character doesn't deserve to be attacked by a plant. Roy Castle - yes, the drum riff theft, the chirpy whistling.

Gave up after overlong and obvious customs sketch in Ep 1, but reckon there is a still a place for a sketch show. A Smack the Pony, Goodness Gracious Me or Big Train-type show would still work.

Love the Mike Latham piece about the 1897 Millom v Barrow rugby league match report by Nemo in the fab @forty20magazine.bsky.social. Apparently, a lot of sports reporters used nom de plumes at that time. Mike writes Nemo's true identity remains hidden: 'No one ever did find Nemo.'

Edwyn Collins and three of his bandmates. Backdrop screen of 'Edwyn' in lights. Glitterball above him. Emergency exit sign reflected in mirrored pillar.

Edwyn on top form at the Brudenell, Leeds.