Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw is 70 today

I first saw Martin in Doctor in the house, but it was his role in the professionals that I have stronger memories of.  I watched it initially as the new vehicle for Gordon Jackson as my mum had me sitting through Upstairs, Downstairs and I soon grew to love the dour scot.  However in the professionals he had real competition in Martin as Doyle and Lewis Collins as Bodie, (which has to be said in a dour scot's accent even now).

Martin was a theatre actor first and continued with that but he has given us some enjoyment when he has ventured into TV, Judge John Deed, Inspector Gentle, Cranford he has played Dalgleish twice, it would have been nice if he had given us more, but he seems to come across as an actor who wants to keep moving on, trying new characters and switching between stage and TV. He has given us voice overs and even done a music video, not bad for an old Thespian. 

My favourite was when he was Chauvelin in the Scarlet pimpernel, with his long hair, very handsome. I am slightly biased as it is also one of my favourite books, I have a very old tatty copy that I picked up at a jumble sale years ago. 

           Happy Birthday Martin       

Alan Rickman

"That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas."

Truly Madly Deeply, is how much I will miss Alan Rickman. All the films he has been in.  I know he has become  known for his role in Harry Potter, but (Shock Horror) I haven't  seen any of them yet.  Not actually sat down to watch them purposely for my own enjoyment that is. When  there is so much coverage of  films it actually puts me off watching them I dare say I will get there eventually.  Rick like David has been battling cancer privately and was also 69 when he died. 

 He has such a mesmerising voice, I can totally see why he became a  Shakespearean actor, fortunately for us he moved into television and films, I loved the deliciously over the top Sheriff of  Nottingham in Robin Hood, and as Hans Kruber in Die Hard. I love Jane Austin so to have him in Sense and Sensibility was to me perfect.

He has been in so many films  and is just wonderful to watch, he also did  voice over  work, and as his voice is so distinctive, that crooked little smile, and that wonderful personality  shines through, you always know it's him. Goodbye Alan Rest In Peacexxx

David Bowie

I was gutted this morning to hear that David Bowie had died, days after celebrating his 69th birthday.  He has been suffering with cancer for the last 18 months and only his family and close working friends knew about it. and that is how it should be.  Too the rest of us he was working on a new album Blackstar, released on his birthday, this is obviously his swan song his parting gift to us.

At school in 1972 - 74, everybody loved Mark Bolan, these fitted in well with the long hair and flairs of the 70's, then their was Bowie, with his styled short hair and his Oxford bags style trousers and the slim fitting jackets that barely hit the waist line. Not very flattering for chubby teenager girls, but none the less it was a look soon adopted by many.  In our school it was very much Bowie or Bolan and you couldn't sit on the fence as the styles in fashion as well as music was wide apart. 

I loved Bowie he was so individual and was not afraid to try out different musical genre and fashion styles, different persona's, and as soon as I started working I was able to buy his albums Hunky Dory Aladdin Sane, and others. They are still in my collection so I will be dragging out the old turn table for a crackle and a sing a long with 'The man who ruled the world', at least my world. 

Bowie's producer Tony Visconti wrote:

He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way.  His death was no different from his life - a work of art. He made Blackstar for us his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry.

The legend that is David Bowie R.I.P

8th January 1945 - 10th January 1947