Emma Fielding, that hat lady from Cranford

To me the most interesting thing about Cranford is the hat lady, sorry milliner lady, Miss Galindo played by Emma Fielding. Her story is the interesting one. Until now I thought the only way for early 19th century ladies to make their way independently in the world was to be come a governess (e.g. Jane Eyre). But now a second occupation opens up: making hats.

There needs to be a spin-off show about Miss Galindo and the adversity she faces in the hat-making world. Will the new railway increase the opportunities for her to market the hats? How will the industrialisation of hat-making affect her business? Will she find love with someone who doesn't look down on hat-making?

I did fear for Miss Galindo over the Christmas episodes recently shown on the BBC. They killed off Francesca Annis as Lady Ludlow and I thought a hat-making accident would be on the cards. Fortunately Miss Galindo survived and my hopes for a spin-off stay alive.

Failing that I would like to see Emma Fielding on TV more frequently. She was in that Ghost Squad thing about a secret police investigation unit a few years back, A Respectable Trade and one episode of Waking the Dead. Other than that I can't think of anything else I have seen her in.

Here's to more Emma Fielding/Miss Galindo in 2010!

Felicity Jones Cemetery Junction Photos

There's a few photos of Felicity Jones from her new movie, Cemetery Junction, at movies.about.com

Ruth Wilson in Sunday Times Magazine

Today's Sunday Times Magazine has a 16-page photographic special on the stars of British theater. I'm happy to report that Ruth Wilson is included. I have scanned in the four Ruth-flavoured pages.

Felicity Jones in Vanity Fair

Felicity Jones is in the January 2010 issue of Vanity Fair magazine pictured with her Cemetery Junction co-stars Christian Cooke and Tom Hughes.



Photo credit to the Ricky Gervais' website: http://www.rickygervais.com/vanityfair_cj.html

And many thanks to Tim for letting me know about the article.

Ruth Wilson and Small Island Update

There's an interview with Ruth in the Scotsman newspaper. It's a good long article. You can read it at http://www.scotsman.com/features/Interview-Ruth-Wilson-actress.5888017.jp


Small Island part 1 was broadcast on Sunday night. It was a solid piece of work and if the two lead actresses are not nominated for everything next year I will be very surprised. I am looking forward to part 2 next Sunday.


The following article has word on the healthy viewing figures: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/07/small-island-bbc-ratings

Thanks to Barbie.

Masterpiece Theater will be showing Small Island in April 2010:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/index.html

FlashForward Mid-Season Finale

FlashForward has turned into quite a good show. Good enough that I'll miss it now that it's gone away for a while. Some of the last few episodes were solidly entertaining.

Of particular interest is the fact that the future is not set, it can be changed. There was a wonderful irony that the characters were given hope from the suicide of one of the FBI agents who had seen his future and discovered he caused the death of a mother.

Last week's episode was very "Lost" in style with flashbacks explaining why the young doctor dude was about to kill himself on the pier just before the flash forward and why he changed his mind. There was another nice irony in the fact that he couldn't find his Japanese gal in Japan but she has travelled to LA, at least in part to look for him.

I guess with the abduction of Jack Davenport Penny, sorry, Olivia will end up looking after his kid and that puts things in place for the Penny, sorry, Olivia-Joe Fiennes split-up.

And will Joe Feinnes really shoot Mr Sulu? I bet someone else uses his gun. He doesn't even have it anymore.

I have my own theory on what is going on: Everyone has had the flash forward to the specific date in April 2010 because on that date the experiment is going to be repeated. Most of the inspiration for that idea is from a movie I saw on TV years ago, The Philadelphia Experiment, where a tunnel in time is created when an experiment is attempted in the 1940s and then again in the 1980s. So, we'll see.

Final note, I had assumed actress Sonya Walger was American, despite her turn as Penny in Lost. However in the show Channel Five had on after this week's episode there she is talking in an English accent. Is everyone on that show English?

Darcey Bussell in Radio Times

I'm not remotely interested in ballet dancing and I don't follow Strictly Come Dancing, but I do have a lot of time for Darcey Bussell. Here she is looking typically lovely in the current issue of the Radio Times...

Small Island article in Radio Times

Here are the four Small Island pages from the current issue of the Radio Times. I've actually been meaning to scan this since the weekend but kept putting it off due to the less than expected Ruth content. Small Island is also covered in most of the other TV listings mags this week. Anyway, here are the scans...



Remember, part 1 is on next Sunday!

Felicity Jones Albatross synopsis and Wonderland photos

Thanks to Enrique for sending in a Felicity Fix. First of all here is a synopsis of her new movie Albatross:

Seventeen year old force-of-nature Emelia starts a new job at The Cliff House, a small hotel run by the dysfunctional Fischer family. Beth Fischer, also seventeen, is cramming for her exams in a desperate bid to escape to University. Dad Jonathan is an author. Once the bright young thing of the literary establishment, he is now suffering interminable writer's block. Wife Joa runs the hotel Jonathan bought with earnings from his first book. She resents it, him, and everyone around her as she gave up her 'promising career as an actress' for this.

Emelia is an aspiring writer; believing she is following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Jonathan sees promise in Emelia and begins to tutor her, but their relationship quickly crosses the pupil-teacher line and they embark on a love affair. At the same time, Emelia and Beth strike up a surprise friendship: Emelia's free-spirit helps Beth learn to let her hair down and Emelia is inspired by Beth's determination and focus.

Secrets are revealed as the threads of the story collide and unravel. Can Emelia get rid of the Albatross that hangs round her neck and rewrite herself?

Credit: http://www.britfilms.com/britishfilms/catalogue/browse/?id=54F6C8051b7192C37BGhQ24C61A0

And here are eight photos of Felicity Jones in WONDERLAND magazine. I believe it is the November 2009 British talent special.






Credit: http://www.gosee.de/news/photo/office36-actrice-felicity-jones-in-wonderland-illus-fuer-vogue-nippon-lx-mag-spirit-of-hope-kollektion-und-cook-it-baby-agentur-kochtour-8132

Kelly Sotherton article in yesterday's paper

Yesterday the Mail on Sunday had an interview-type article on my favourite heptathlete Kelly Sotherton.

In the article she discusses how an injury prevented her from taking part in the 2009 world championships. I don't care much for sport but I make an exception for Kelly so hopefully she'll be back on top form very shortly.

I really don't have anything to add other than to include the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1229855/Kelly-Sotherton-targets-great-rival-Jessica-Ennis-complete-comeback.html

Ruth Wilson in Streetcar and Small Island broadcast dates

Thanks again to Lorna who send me the following scans of Ruth Wilson from the A Streetcar Named Desire programme.



The RUTH WILSON Appreciation Society on facebook reports the broadcast dates for Small Island are December 6th and December 13th, 9:00pm on BBC 1.

Ruth Wilson, Streetcar, Prisoner, Small Island

Thanks to Lorna for sending in these photos of Ruth Wilson in A Streetcar named Desire.



The new version of The Prisoner has been just been shown in America. No news yet on when ITV will show it but in the meantime there is a lot of content over at http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-prisoner/.

Beware of spoilers, but here are three fairly non-spoilerish photos of Ruth that I have "borrowed".



I'm quite a fan of the original so I'll be interested to see what they have done with the new show. I have noticed that the episode titles are one-word titles based on the some of the original ones.

And finally a reminder that Small Island should be on the BBC in December. I have just found this article about the series at
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/production/on-location/small-island-bbc1/5006581.article.

Ruth Wilson's Small Island NI Shoot

I found an article today about the filming of Small Island earlier this year in Belfast and Dublin. I had been wondering what locations they were using and this article answers the question.

With varied locations, shooting facilities and crew, the Northern Ireland shoot was a pleasure for the producer: “We were amazed at how fortunate we were in that we found pretty much all the locations we needed in Belfast. One of my favourite locations was a street at the back of the main shopping centre which we turned into an old-London street. It looked amazing in the fog, very atmospheric.

The only problem encountered was in recreating Georgian London houses as the red brick used in Belfast didn’t really suit the brief. Therefore, the crew moved shop to Dublin for three days to capture the look of elegant Georgian London. “It was tricky to find a street that would look like war-torn Georgian London,” says Vicky, “but then we found Great Queen Street in Dublin.” The interiors needed were created in Belfast’s studio the Paint Hall.

The article goes on to report that the BBC is expected to broadcast Small Island in December.

Source: http://www.iftn.ie/broadcast/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4282665&tpl=archnews&force=1

Felicity Jones' Albatross starts shooting on the Isle of Man

Sebastian Koch, Julia Ormond, Felicity Jones and Peter Vaughn will star in coming of age drama Albatross, which starts shooting on the Isle of Man tomorrow (November 3).

Written by Tamzin Rafn, the feature is being directed by Niall MacCormik, whose credits include Margaret Thatcher TV biopic The Long Walk To Finchley.

CinemaNX, the film financing and production company backed by the Isle of Man government, is behind the project.

The film is being produced by Adrian Sturges, who also produced The Disappearance of Alice Creed for CinemaNX earlier this year.

Source: http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/uk-ireland/niall-maccormicks-albatross-starts-shooting-on-the-isle-of-man/5007602.article

Justine Waddell 2002 magazine article

I was going through some old magazines in the attic at the weekend and I discovered a Justine Waddell article in the 27 October 2002 issue of The Mail on Sunday's You magazine. I don't see very much material on Justine online so I thought I would share it with you...

Emily Blunt in Philip K Dick adaptation

Another piece of news caught my eye on the Daily Mail site today:

Emily Blunt has had her pins en pointe preparing to play a ballerina who catches Matt Damon's eye.

The two star in The Adjustment Bureau, a movie based on a short story by Philip K. Dick. The London-born actress studied with the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, based down in the Chelsea district of Manhattan, and worked on several pieces of choreography to prepare for the part.

In the movie, Damon plays a politician who falls in love with the dancer. However, he gets the feeling that his romantic liaison is somehow being 'controlled' by otherworldly forces.

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk

I must dig out my PKD books and read that story again.

Felicity Jones in Albatross

Just seen this on the Daily Mail webpage:

Watch out for... Julia Ormond, Sebastian Koch and Felicity Jones, who are in negotiations to star in a movie called Albatross, which will be directed by Niall MacCormick, who made the TV drama about young Mrs Thatcher, The Long Walk To Finchley, with Andrea Riseborough. Albatross is about a failed writer, a beach house and a young woman. Filming will take place on the Isle of Man. Mr Koch was in the award-winning film The Lives Of Others.

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk

Ruth Wilson in Sunday Telegraph magazine

I'm in the habit of checking the magazines that are included with newspapers on Saturdays and Sundays. Sometimes it pays off as it did this morning. Today's Sunday Telegraph magazine came with a Ruth Wilson cover and four page article.

Here are the inevitable scans:



The article covers most of Ruth's work paying special attention to Capturing Mary and A Real Summer. The Prisoner's "difficult" shoot and Small Island also get name-checked as does Ruth's continuing theater work.

Emma episode 1

The first episode of Emma aired on Sunday night and I finally have the time to write down a few thoughts. I won't give a plot summary as you've either seen it or an earlier version or read the book.

The episode did leave me feeling a bit "meh". It wasn't bad by any means. I just think it was very much a scene setting exercise. (I wonder if a three part adaptation might have been better...)

Romola did a good job playing Emma as a little unlikable. She's being selfish and mean but doesn't realise it. We don't hate her but we hate what she is doing. At the end of the episode Knightley gives her a good talking to and she perhaps starts to realise that somewhere along the way she has done something wrong.

(Actually I was waiting for him to say "it was badly done, Emma" but he never did. Mark Strong got to say that line twice in the Kate Beckinsale version. Hopefully we will hear it after the picnic scene.)

Jonny Lee Miller was fine but I thought he lacked the gravitas I think the character needs. I was thinking Toby Jones would slot in well, but then you may as well go the whole way and cast the wonderful Ruth Wilson as Emma!

Michael Gambon was brilliant with what little he had to do as her father.

Tamsin Greig was very good as Miss Bates. There was a little moment where she is about to read Jane's latest letter to her invalid mother. Her constant effort to fill the room with talk falters and a look of despair crosses her face as if she realises how empty her life is. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Jane Fairfax and the mysterious Frank Churchill were not in this episode.

I knew I had seen the actor who plays Mr Elton before, but I had no idea it was the guy who played Edmund in Mansfield Park 2007.

All in all, it gets a solid "not bad". Hopefully things will pick up next week.

Lucy Brown in Midsomer Murders and The Philanthropist

Arg! I missed seeing the lovely Lucy Brown (formerly of Primeval) in Midsomer Murders last week. I don't watch that show at all but I would make an effort for Lucy.

George sent in some photos of her in an American show called The Philanthropist.





George also sent me the youtube link to a bit of her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing: www.youtube.com

Romola Garai in Playlist - Emma scans

Right. I can't pretend I'm a Romola Garai fan. I'm not. Really.

But see, she's on the cover of today's Playlist magazine in the Times newspaper and it's a nice photo. She looks pretty in it. So I scanned it. But I'm not a fan. Really.

Here's the scan.

Emma is on BBC1 tomorrow night. I'll watch it. Because I like classic dramas. Not because I'm a fan. Really.

She looks pretty.

Update. I've added two more scans from the same magazine.

FlashForward episode 1

FlashForward arrived on channel five last night accompanied with a lot of hype. What a relief that it turned out to be actually quite good. I won't dwell on the set-up for too long. Basically everyone on the planet blacks out and has a vision of what they will be doing on 29 April 2010. When they wake up they discover the planet is a disaster zone because, well, everyone blacked out.

I have to say that the nearly post-apocalyptic aftermath of the blackouts was well presented.

The show gets to ask the continually interesting time travel question: If you know what's going to happen can you change things, or does your foreknowledge actually make it happen.

Lots of British cast members are in this show. I counted Joseph Feinnes, Jack Davonport and Alex Kingston. Dominic Monaghan is supposed to be in the show later. And special mention for Sonja Wagler. She's not British but played Penny in Lost, who was British.



(Actually I got great enjoyment from saying "Penny!" every time she was on screen. I tried to say it in a Desmond accent but was largely unsuccessful. She was also in the Terminator TV show but sadly got killed off. It's nice to see Sonja get a new show.)

Oh, the new Mr Sulu is in this also.

One question that wasn't answered was why did the visions of the future not have people going, "huh, deja vu."

Oh, and at least one person did not black out! I bet it was Dominic Monaghan!

So until the remake of V comes along this will do nicely.

Emma in Radio Times plus actual broadcast date

I knew that Emma would be on our screens soon, but I had no idea it would be as early as next Sunday, 4 October 2009. I discovered this fact when I had a look at the new issue of the Radio Times today which has actress Romola Garai prominently displayed on the cover.

Below are the my inevitable scans. They are a bit big, mind.









What else can I tell you? It's comprised of four episodes. It's written by Sandy Welch who did such a fine job on Jane Eyre 3 years ago. Johnny Lee Miller is in it which is confusing as he was in the Mansfield Park movie a few years ago. Christina Cole is in it but is not listed in the cast list for the first episode. Michael Gambon is in it and he's always good value.

There was an interesting fact in the article: Wuthering Heights sat unaired for a couple of years because ITV has to pay a big chunk of the production costs when things are shown and they couldn't afford it! In fact the article looks at the likelihood (or otherwise) of seeing costume drams over the coming years. Small Island gets a mention too.

Oh, by the way, I've just realised that I started this blog thing about a year ago. Happy birthday to me.