more because of Grundy than anything else. In the context of the riots this year and the current soul-searching going on about why predominantly young kids took to the streets and committed crimes wilfully I increasingly find it's the authority figures who are the ones refusing to be honest about why "the kids" did it. Yes, they should be punished but the government thinks it has the right to condemn and apportion blame but accept no responsibility. They point their fingers, they goad the parents, they bandy about words like "morals" and like Grundy they act aloof and prod away until they get a reaction that "proves" their prejudices are well founded, knowing full well that they have the advantage of experience that could, nay should, be being put to better use than ring-fencing people like cattle and hitting them with a stick.

The government blamed the parents and that is now being questioned as a valid reason for why many acted as they did. But being typical of government they don't realise the irony of their whole stance is that is symptomatic of a form of bad parenting. As a society we are blighted by paternalism in authority, currently personified by this current government's absentee parent stance.

Look, all that polemic and no swearing!

Sorry to digress.

since April it's not really surprising is it? Seeing Jonesy smoking is the bit that looks most outrageous now. It's also very amusing that Grundy presumes they have an 'anti-materialistic' stance...why would they? Trying to accuse them of selling out is hilarious.

and I hope you are too

but I can't ever remember anyone mentioning the swastika armband being worn here as being offensive.

Different times I guess.

Best. Swearing. Ever.

I hereby propose that the phrase becomes the board's sole permissible piece of catch-all cursing.

that's 35 years ago. Go back 35 years from that interview and it's 1941. So from the perspective of ver kids today, this defining moment of my youth is as far away a thing as the Second World War was to me. Their Sex Pistols is my Glenn Miller.

Now I'm pretty sure I may be getting old.

the bloke off the butter ads?

its the bloke from Judge Judy

(echoing Topical Tim above) JP declined to comment on the 25th anniversary of Sgt Pepper on stating that at the time of its release he hadn't been interested in the music scene of 25 years previous (Glenn Miller again).

But ee dun't time fly?

at the time as a prepubescent whippersnapper. I must admit I was quite shocked and a bit embarrassed as my father was watching too. As an awkward silence followed, I couldn't quite bring myself to look at him but as the credits rolled he offered the considered opinion "well, they certainly are a colorful bunch".

one of the most important moments in British TV history. Steve Jones claimed to have drunk two bottles of Blue Nun before they went on. I used to admire that sort of thing.

Could it also be argued that Bill Grundy is one of the greatest TV tossers of all time? Another thread beckons perhaps.