Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAFIA BOSS GOTTI DIES IN JAIL AT 81
Brother of ‘Dapper Don’ had been in ill health
MOBSTER Peter Gotti, the one-time Gambino crime boss and successor to notorious brother John ‘Dapper Don’ Gotti, has died in jail aged 81.
Gotti, who was sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of racketeering and other charges in 2003, died of natural causes at the Federal Medical Centre in Butner, North Carolina, US.
He spent more than 17 years behind bars and had recently been seeking an early release because of his poor health.
His attorney James Craven said even “Stevie Wonder could see” the former mob boss was not dangerous.
Writing in court papers in December 2019, he added: “We are truly afraid he is dying now, he feels he is.
“As his lawyer, I am afraid this will all become moot soon if nothing is done.”
Gotti, who was blind in one eye, had been suffering from thyroid problems, according to Lewis Kasman, a former confidant of Gotti’s brother John.
Kasman described Gotti as a “regular knock-around guy who didn’t let his title go to his head”. He added that his kindness meant he was not cut out to head the Gambino crime family.
“He was trying to do his brother’s bidding and had a tough task,” Kasman said. “A lot of the captains were very upset with him because he wasn’t a strong boss. The Lucchese family walked all over him.”
Gotti served as Gambinos boss from 1999 to 2002 after brother John was jailed for murder and racketeering.
John, known as the ‘Dapper Don’ because of his expensive suits and silvery swept-back hair, was serving a life term when he died of cancer aged 61 in 2002.
STOCK Fun started in the mysterious fancy dress shop
Mr Benn, one of the nation’s favourite animations, celebrates his 50th birthday this week. Despite the fact only 13 episodes of the TV cartoon were ever made, it aired almost continually for 30 years from 1971 – helping it become one of the UK’S best-loved shows.
Bowler-hatted Mr Benn was created by illustrator David Mckee and despite the character’s ordinary appearance, he was a rather adventurous chap.
His favourite pastime was visiting his local fancy dress shop where a magical portal in the changing room would transport him to a different world.
From the shop, Mr Benn was able to travel through time and experience the world through the eyes of the person he was dressed as, whether it was a hunter, knight, gladiator or caveman.
The Fez-wearing owner of the shop was always seemingly one step ahead too, knowing just what attire Mr Benn would need for the land which lay ahead.
In the years since it was first released, the show – which was narrated by actor Ray Brooks – has become a cult hit for its style of animation.
The simple theme tune, featuring a clarinet and bassoon, is also instantly recognisable.
Mckee, the show’s creator, lived in Putney, South West London, and was very much inspired by the area when creating Mr Benn.
The illustrator lived at 54 Festing Road but changed the name to Festive Road for his character because it sounded more appealing.
He also changed the house number to 52 for reasons unknown – and today, an inscribed paving stone marks the spot between the two houses in the real-life street.
Mckee, now 86, says Mr Benn’s formal look – which consists of a black suit, shoes and bowler hat – was partly inspired by Laurel and
Hardy and Charlie Chaplin. The shopkeeper’s Fez was based on one owned by Mckee and the shop itself was inspired by an antiques store he once visited in Devon. Mckee had no experience in the world of television when he was asked to create the show.
He said: “It was much simpler back then, I was given a free hand by the BBC.
“Mr Benn endures, I think, because people like the idea of being able to escape to another life. At their heart, Mr Benn stories are just old-fashioned stories and the elements that make up the films – the voice, the music, the story – are all simple.
“A lot of adults have introduced Mr Benn to their children rather tentatively, as it doesn’t have the crash-bangs of modern animation, but have then been surprised to find children putting the DVD on themselves.” All 13 episodes of Mr Benn are being re-released on DVD to mark the 50th anniversary of the show, as well as the original books.
There are also said to be plans for either a Mr Benn film or an opera, with Johnny Depp rumoured to be in talks about the lead role. Mckee said: “I’m excited to see what people make of the new products.
“I hope a new generation of children enjoy them.”
■ The Mr Benn: 50th Anniversary Edition DVD, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage is out now. All episodes are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Mr Benn: Red Knight and Mr Benn: Big Game, will be re-published on March 4 by Andersen Press.
WILD RIDE Show entertained generations
SMART Look was based on icon Chaplin
RARE Only 13 episodes were made
Weekends are my favourite time to get in the kitchen and bake something sweet. Recently I’ve been hankering after recipes from the past, so this weekend I’m planning a bit of retro baking.
These recipes take me back to my childhood – a simple vanilla sponge topped with sprinkles and covered in custard was a staple on the school dinner menu, and black forest gateau was a special treat for the weekend (although it usually came out of a box!).
Manchester tart is something I discovered a little later in life, but with its thick layer of custard, raspberry jam and maraschino cherries, I’d say it falls firmly into the retro treats category!
PREP: 15
MINS
COOK: 45 MINS PLUS COOLING AND 1 HR SETTING SERVES 12-15
COOK: 40 MINS PREP 1 HR PLUS COOLING SERVES 8 - 10
175g salted butter, plus extra for greasing
200g bar dark chocolate 300g plain flour
375g golden caster sugar 25g cocoa
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 medium eggs
200g buttermilk or natural yoghurt ingredients, add 100ml boiling water and whizz briefly with an electric whisk until the cake batter is lump-free.
3
Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 25 mins, swapping the tins around after 20 mins if they’re on different shelves. To test they’re done, push in a skewer and check that it comes out clean.
4
425g can pitted cherry, 2 Prick the cakes a few
tbsp juice reserved, rest times with a skewer. Mix
drained together the 2 tbsp reserved
100g morello cherry jam cherry juice and the kirsch (or
more juice) and drizzle over
4 tbsp kirsch (or more juice
the cakes. Cool the cakes.
from a can if you want it to
5
be non-alcoholic) Mix together the
remaining drained
500ml tub double cream
cherries and jam. Tip 200ml
3 tbsp icing sugar
of the cream into a small pan
1 small punnet fresh and heat until just below
cherries (optional) simmering point. Chop the
remaining chocolate and put
1
Heat oven to 180C/160C in a heatproof bowl, pour over fan/gas 4. Grease and line the hot cream and stir until the base of 3 x 20cm cake tins. melted. Set aside until
Boil the kettle. Put the butter spreadable.
6 and 75g chocolate broken into When the cakes are cool, chunks in a small pan and whisk the remaining gently heat, stirring, until cream and the icing sugar completely melted. together until softly whipped. 3
Mix together the flour, Spread over two of the cakes, sugar, cocoa and then spoon over the jammy bicarbonate of soda with a cherries. Stack the cakes pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. together. Spread the chocolate Whisk the eggs and buttermilk cream over the third cake and or yoghurt together. Scrape sit on top of the other cakes. the melted chocolate mixture Pile the fresh cherries in and and egg mixture into the dry around the cake and serve.
TO ASSEMBLE