Dead Sexy, My Dear Watson

I found this in an old Reveal magazine.  Jane Ellis, the editor, and her feelings about a certain Mr Cumberbatch...

  Benedict Cumberbatch, the award-winning actor who plays TV's Sherlock Holmes, recently topped a sexiest man national newspaper poll ahead of David Beckham

  Now several of my colleagues cannot see why this should be.  He certainly is not conventionally handsome and has said of his win: 'It makes me laugh.  I don't know about being the sexiest man in the world.  I'm barely the sexiest man in my flat and I'm the only guy living there.'

  But this is all wrong thinking on the part of my colleagues and false modesty on Benedict's part.  The guy is hot. Anyone who saw the Sherlock episode entitled A Scandal In Belgravia will attest to that.  And, by the way, this episode has been viewed 2.5 million times, making it the most watched show on BBC iPlayer.  

  People have said it's because actress Lara Pulver gets her kit off, but it's Sherlock's reaction to her nudity that makes the show so damn sexy.  Plus, I have actually seen Benedict himself in the nude playing Frankenstein's monster at London's National Theatre and I can tell you, it was far from being a shabby experience. Seems quite a few readers agree with me. You are tweeting things like: 'He shouldn't be sexy but he is', 'Epitome of sexy geek', and 'Prefer him to Mark Wright any day'. 

 Am I too old to have a poster of him up on my bedroom wall?  (Don't answer that!)

Nicely said, David!

Sherlock at the Movies!

Yes, I made this. Enjoy!!


♫ Sherlock at the Movies! ♫ from XxLadyClaireXx on Vimeo.

Star Trek : Into Darkness

Cannot wait to see this!

The 2012 Cheltenham Literary Festival or The Evening I Met Benedict Cumberbatch...

Once upon a time there lived a woman.  A woman who was a little bit Sherlocked and little bit Cumberbatched.  
Since she first saw this wonderful actor Benedict Cumberbatch on TV and film, her mission had been to try and meet this fantastic actor.  

So, onto Cheltenham, the final frontier....
These are the thoughts and actions I can remember from the Sherlock talk at the Centaur that day.

Cos on that night of Saturday 6th October 2012, all my wishes came true...

  

After a good 4 hour journey to reach Cheltenham (and almost getting lost), my friend Jackie and I arrived there in plenty of time for the Sherlock talk we were so looking foward to.
There were numerous Sherlock-clothed fans around, and numerous Harry Potter-clothed fans around too (as J K Rowling was on beforehand).

After we had a look around the racecourse (ok, after I dragged Jackie around to look at the course!) we then went back in and waited in the bar area to go and take our seats.
We did have quite a lot of time to kill as JK's talk had to go first.  So it was a case of saying hello to various other Sherlock fans and just being patient.

Finally, people started to move and we were let in and took our seats.  We had an ok view, but considering the trouble I had getting the tickets I couldn't complain.

After the warm-up man started to outstay his welcome the show commenced.

Louise Brealey (aka Molly Hooper) came on stage first.  She got a huge round of applause but not a patch on the one her 'interviewee' got next....

Ben came on stage to massive cheers (and yes, some screams) and he actually had to wait a little while for the crowd to stop applauding him.
I had a fairly good view of him.  It was a shame he was sitting on the stage turned away a little from the side of the auditorium I was sitting, but like when I went before in 2010 (to see Derren Brown), there was a big screen, which I did have to use quite often to see Benedict properly.

Loo was obviously nervous but did a good job, even going so far as to say how freaky some of her dreams had been recently because of her nerves. Benedict did turn to her at one point and say that he wanted to hear more about her dreams!
But I think Benedict was quite nervous too.  One of the first things he did after he'd come on stage and the applause had died down, was to get us all to stand up, say hello to everyone sitting near us, to shake our limbs etc, and then sit down.  He made some comment about us all feeling better after that!

I also loved the bit when later on in the talk Benedict suddenly realised he hadn't taken his coat off.  Of course, as soon as he removed his duffel jacket the wolf whistles etc, started.  So Ben stands up and starts to pretend to do a striptease with the buttons on his blue shirt!  Loo said something like, "Oh, one more button" and Benedict sort of looked at her and she came over all embarrassed and said she was starting to blush!  Haha, it was great!

They both mentioned halfway through the talk about the signing afterwards, and they said it would only be for an hour.  And not long after that, with the talk a good 30 mins or so from finishing, I noticed some girls leaving.  Then I kept hearing more seats flipping up and even more people departing.  I could see them disappearing all around the place.  
Speaking personally, I totally understood why they did it.  It even crossed my mind to leave then too and get in line along with them to make sure we got to meet Benedict after.  But we'd paid to hear a talk on Sherlock.  We'd paid to hear what Benedict had to say about playing him.  And really, if it meant not meeting him after, then so be it.  It was a shame they left, because they missed the floor being opened up to Benedict, and even he picking the questions himself.  I just found the various people leaving early a distraction more than anything.  
But it was noticed, because Benedict actually said something like,  "Where are all those people going?"  Some people in the audience did shout out to him the most obvious reason, but I don't think he responded to it.

Loo did ask Benedict about the 'present that Molly give to Sherlock that Christmas'.  Now, I did tweet Loo to ask Benedict that question.  So I'm assuming it was my question she was (sort of) putting to him (she'd asked people on Twitter a few days ago to send in questions for her to ask Ben).  But she proceeded to tell him what she thought was in it, whereas I wanted his own ideas on what the present contained.  Anyway, it was quite funny seeing/hearing his response to it being a green mankini!  He even made a joke about wearing it outside his cycle gear the following week (when he did that 45-mile charity bike ride).  Now, I'd pay to see that!

When the talk was over (far too soon, it seemed), everyone shot out to get in line for the signing and the chance to meet Ben.
We found the line and stood.  I must admit that I really wasn't sure if we were going to get to meet Benedict or not.  We couldn't see how long the queue was (as it went off into another room) and it was a bit disconcerting to keep seeing girls walking past, obviously having met him and had their books signed etc.  Most were in differing states of giddiness.

The queue was moving but very slowly.  It took us a good 30 mins or so to get up towards the end of the corridor (managing to see Ben through the window in the other room where he was signing as we made our way.) But when we entered the other room... good Lord!   The queue snaked upwards, back on itself, then around in a horseshoe, then it was all barriered and twisty-turny near the table where Benedict was sitting down signing!  We just couldn't see that we'd make it to meet Ben in the hour he'd given.
Anyway, we continued to queue knowing that sooner or later one of the organisers was surely going to come along the line and inform us that Ben had finished signing for the hour and that was it.  But it never happened.....

We ended up standing in line for approx. 90 mins until we got near to where he was (it actually felt much longer than that to me).  
When I could actually see him clearly at the table, I took the one and only photo I actually managed to tell my befuddled mind to take.  It's just a shame he blinked.....

Yes, my heart was thumping a bit but funnily enough I was fairly calm.  I had in my head a couple of things to say to him but I still couldn't believe he was actually sitting there not far from me!  It was kind of surreal.

We had been told to only have the one item and have the page ready where you wanted it signed.  And when I got right near him, feeling quite self-conscious, I handed it to a lady close by who then passed it along to Benedict quickly, ready for when I stood in front of him.

The first thing I said to him, which didn't quite come out how I intended it (I wanted to remark on how tiring all this signing etc, must be), but I ended up blurting out, "You must be knackered?!" to which he said, quick as a flash, "I am a bit".  He had been about to sign my book at that point but after what I said he chose then to have a drink.  He had two glasses of differing substances on the table.  One was clear and fizzy, but he drank from the other which was a liquid of a differing colour.  Ben was drinking whisky on stage (well, so he said), but whatever he drank when I was standing there made him grimace and pull a face.

When he got back to signing my book I asked him if he was going to do any more Cabin Pressure.  To which he said that he hoped to record some more in December.  I noticed that he really does look at you when he speaks, he doesn't just give you an off-hand response whilst signing, he actually stops and looks right at you. And, naturally, I came over all shy (as usual!)  He did look quite pale, I thought, and yes, very tired. 

I really don't know what I said in response to that but I did say to him that I loved the show, and that it's helped me get through some difficult days at work.  I also mentioned that John Finnemore had put on his blog that he'd already written S4 etc.  Benedict seemed to soften and relax a little then (I suppose even he gets a little nervous about meeting lots of different people).  But he praised John, calling him 'brilliant' and repeated that they hoped to record the next series in December.  He said this as he looked at me with a smile and a small wink.  Yes, a wink!

By now he'd signed my book.  Sadly not dedicated but I wasn't too bothered.  After all that happened in trying to meet him in London that time, and then selling some tickets to another talk he did at Cheltenham and missing the opportunity there, it was just lovely to finally meet him face to face.  And to talk to him too!

 

I made a point of remembering to thank him as I took my book back and left, to which he said something along the lines of, "You're welcome, and thank you".

And, yes, I fangirled!  I never thought I was like that, but after Jackie and myself had left, I practically skipped out of the Centaur in a daze.  I've always thought it was a myth saying that people 'walk on air' but truly, I could well have believed it that night because....

I'D FINALLY MET BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH!

I found out afterwards that he'd fully intended in the end to sign for everyone.  That was approx. 2,000 of us.  And he didn't finish until 12.40am.  Amazing cos that queue was huge, behind me and in front.

Ok, some things didn't pan out.  
I regret that I didn't take many photos.
He wasn't posing for any due to time issues which was fine.  I just wish I'd hung around as some of the other people did, and stood at the side snapping him like a pap.  I had my really good camera on me too with a great zoom, but it's a little bit cumbersome to carry etc, so I didn't bother.  I do kind of regret that.

Jackie, who I went with (and who I was meeting for the first time) was perfectly lovely, she did video me with Ben but it didn't come out all that great.  It was difficult because we were a little squashed up when you got close to where he was sitting.  The table being in a kind of 'L-shape' there.  
But I did manage to take a couple of video snapshots of Ben when he was talking to me although you can't really see me in them (which isn't altogether a bad thing), just my shoulder.

So all in all it was a fabulous day/evening, full of lovely people, a wonderful Sherlock chat and topped off by the splendiferous cherry on the proverbial cake by meeting Benedict himself.  Something that even now, as I blog this almost 6 months later, I still can't believe I've actually managed to do.

Mission accomplished.

In A Land Of Myth And A Time Of Magic, The Destiny Of A Great Kingdom Rests On The Shoulders Of A Young Man. His Name... Merlin.

A programme I love.  Aside from the legend we all know & love, this BBC drama had everything and I enjoyed it more and more as it progressed.  Right up until the very sad news that proclaimed it would be no more...

Colin Morgan was quite wonderful as the sorcerer, Merlin.  Having to fulfill his destiny in protecting Camelot & Arthur, and yet also having to hide the fact he has this most wonderful gift of magic.  For him, a blessing and a curse.  And yet I was watching it, aching for the moment when he would finally reveal his true self to Arthur.

Bradley James as Prince/King Arthur displayed the right amount of arrogance which goes with someone of privilege, but was also someone who you ended up caring about.  Arthur became someone who matured, especially when he finally became King and learnt about all the responsiblities which came with that title.

 
Richard Wilson was a revelation as Gaius, the court physician.  I suppose Victor Meldrew is a hard character to shrug off, but there was absolutely no sign of him here.  And he played Gaius with the right amount of knowledge & assurance for the role he held at Camelot, and yet with tenderness & care for Merlin, the son he never had.

Katie McGrath as Morgana was equally as good playing the evil sorceress.  Her character getting progressively more obsessed in trying to defeat Arthur and claim the throne for herself.  Her journey from being the kind but strong-willed King's ward to the witch she became was one of the highlights for me of the Merlin drama.

And then there was good Queen Guinevere.  Another character who had a real journey in going from a maid to ending up ruling the land of Camelot.  Beautifully played by Angel Coulby.  Guinevere was feisty but compassionate with a heart of gold.  It didn't take Arthur long to know where his heart lay.  And, once Lancelot perished, Guinevere gave her heart freely to Arthur in return.

There were so many other great characters, ranging from Arthur's noble Knights, to the lovely Lancelot, from Mordred to Uther Pendragon. All wonderfully played.  Even Kilgharrah (the great dragon), superbly voiced by John Hurt, had a hugely important part to play.  In fact, John Hurt's voice used as the narrator at the start, as well as the dragon, was another enormous highlight of Merlin for me. 

The drama was aimed at a family audience.  Although some story lines were quite dark, there was enough wit & humour to more than balance out any of that.
The 'bromance' which Arthur and Merlin played out was so lovely to watch.  The banter they displayed on screen was a joy and was the glue which kept the entire show together.  

Arthur giving Merlin all these mundane, grotty jobs because of his royal standing, and yet Merlin doesn't complain, knowing that he's destined to be there for Arthur no matter what, so therefore he serves him openly and yet protects him privately.  He asks for no credit and gets none.  
But that all changed in that very final scene between Arthur & Merlin which had me weeping tears of sadness.....

And I shall be having the great pleasure of seeing Colin Morgan acting live on stage soon, in a production of The Tempest at the Globe Theatre in London.  I can't wait!

Merlin, series 1 trailer...

Merlin, series 5 trailer...

 

 
 

Shall We Take A Turn?

I've always had a big love for the period drama.  No particular era, although I do have a penchant for Georgian and Victorian times.  But I just adore watching a well-written drama from a bygone age.  Perhaps it's the manners people expressed in those times, the curtsey and bows that strangers used to say hello & goodbye.  Perhaps it's because back then, gentlemen were gentlemen and behaved as such.  Perhaps it's because people lived out their days more leisurely (I do, of course, refer to those who had money).  Perhaps it's the costumes, the ladies had some glorious dresses to wear, and the men, well, who could resist a handsome gentleman in a cravat and waistcoat?

I have enclosed a few of my favourite period dramas which I've enjoyed watching (some of them lots of times) over the years.


North & South, a novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, starring the lovely Richard Armitage, Brendan Coyle and Daniela Denby-Ashe.  I saw this years ago and have been smitten with Mr Armitage ever since.

Jane Eyre, starring Timothy Dalton & Zelah Clarke.  Still my absolute favourite version of this story.  No matter how many other ones I've watched over the years (and I've seen them all) this one is still the best.  It manages to make me feel every emotion there can be in a period drama.  I think Dalton is superb as Edward Rochester and, for me, no one has come close to his portrayal of the character.

 

Pride & Prejudice, whether it be the BBC version or the (latest) film version.  I wasn't a fan of the 'filmed' one first of all but it has grown on me, and I suppose it's quite nice seeing the story played out in a refreshingly short time.  Although, the TV version is probably the most definitive version there has ever been.  Played beautifully by the cast involved, it'll always be the one which other Pride & Prejudice dramatisations will be compared to. 

 

 

Hornblower was based on the seafaring stories by C S Forester, and starred the lovely Ioan Gruffudd.  A drama I watched by chance and was completely hooked on from thereon in.  Yes ok, the rather dashing Mr Gruffudd was an added incentive, but the hugely popular mini-films with its mixture of heroism and swashbuckling action sequences were a joy to watch.  I loved them.

Anne Of Green Gables, and I mean the Canadian version which was made in the 80's starring Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst.  Again, watched this purely by accident, catching it half-way through the series when channel-hopping.  I was instantly drawn first of all to the unrequited love which Gilbert Blythe held for Anne (Gilbert played by Jonathan Crombie who I ended up having a huge crush on back then) and then the other characters, and that was it.  I ended up watching the rest of it and then bought the video so I could see it from the very start.  I wasn't a fan of the 'continuing story' they made in the 90's.  Don't think that was necessary.  But the original is a drama which I still love, made me read the books, and is something which I still quote lines from even now.  A beautiful story of belief, hope, passion and love.

Well, that's a few to be going on with.  No doubt I shall think of lots more which I've forgotten about, but those mentioned here are the period dramas I can think of that I know I've watched countless times.

Now onto Catherine Cookson dramas...

Sadly they're not made for TV anymore, but back in the late 80's/90's, these dramatisations were on TV almost every week, with some of Cookson's books being made into a 3-part drama.  They starred actors/actresses who have since become big stars and I loved them and watched every single one.  Some I enjoyed more than others.

Here are a few of my favourites...

The Glass Virgin, which starred Brendan Coyle, Emily Mortimer & Nigel Havers.

 

The Cinder Path, which starred Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lloyd Owen.

The Tide Of Life, which starred Gillian Kearney, Ray Stevenson and the lovely James Purefoy.

 

The  Rag Nymph, which starred Perdita & Honeysuckle Weeks and Alec Newman.

Period drama, I just love them...

I have a Facebook Group here... I ♥ Period Drama