Victoria was one of a kind
LAST week I caught the tail end of a tribute show to Victoria Wood and found that I featured giving an interview about her Christmas sketch when she donned a black wig and pretended to be me.
I was wearing a blue suit which actually looks quite good when I am standing in front of a long mirror but I failed to realise that the top pulled quite badly when I was sitting down.
If just one member of the crew had told me I could have loosened the jacket and it would have looked normal. But, no, they carried out a lengthy interview and said not a word about what a wreck I looked.
I think Victoria might have taken a more considerate approach. After all she and Ken Dodd were the only comedians in all my time in politics who rang me up to ask if I minded what they were about to do.
I didn’t because Victoria was not only very funny but also kind. What a pity there are not more like her.
I just had this ghastly thought
YAY! The old blue passport will return. Since 1988 I have hidden my EU passport in a fake cover showing the old British design and it is a delight that I shall once more have a real one. However my passport runs out in February 2019, a month before Brexit.
As most countries demand six months left on a passport, that means I shall be seeking renewal next September. Will I have to have another ghastly EU passport?
Children’s joy despite grief
WHAT do I like about being in pantomime? The sheer joy of listening to a theatre full of children laughing their socks off – and posing for photos with them and seeing the excitement in their faces.
On Christmas Eve I had a sadder experience when I smiled into the camera with two delightful children. Their mother told me their grandmother had been so looking forward to coming with them because she was a fan of mine but that sadly she had passed away that very morning.
I can only hope granny was watching the panto from Heaven and enjoying both the show and the sight of her grandchildren laughing, shouting back at the cast and dancing to I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. Well done, mum, for not allowing grief to spoil their fun.