Look at David Icke's before and after he turned "strange". One of his colleagues at BBC Sport, Alan Weekes - another carpentator from way back when who enjoyed a similar level of E-list fame when he, Icke, Brough Scott et al. were sent off to cover the synchronised crown-green bowling from Darlington or the skittles decathlon live from Crewe's premier venue, the recently refurbished Ointment and Ferret - today gets a whopping 158 Google hits. David Icke gets nearly a million.

Don't knock the Ickester. He found a way to avoid a career path of Partridgean tragicomedy, with its final scenes no doubt set in Norwich, and managed to become very famous and no doubt very rich. Perhaps Noel has a similar scheme planned for his golden years. Orbs in close pursuit, shape-shifting royal families. . . whatever it takes to avoid that sad, rain-soaked bowling green.

for bashing his long standing old employer to get a headline for his utterly crap new series. It is far from a note that should be placed under his pillow.

and Icke...I get the feeling Icke was pipped at the post when the job of Michael Jackson's advisor / guru went to Uri Geller. And I liked Uri Geller for the prepubescent frisson he was responsible for when, on a Blue Peter appearance, he divined the contents of an envelope that Lesley Judd had decided to hide in her long boot - and which she had to raise her skirt somewhat to retrieve.

The day after Public Enemy's recent Brixton Academy gig the venue played host to "David Icke: Exposing The Dream World We Believe To Be Real", 12 - 8pm. That's a full eight hours of exposing! It was sold out.

Used to live down the road from me where I grew up in Hereford in the 70's and 80's. He was Hereford United'd goalkeeper.

That explains a lot

(Catchy, eh?)