Darren Light - Roaming Brit Blog

I've had a busy day today. My blog has taken up a good percentage of my time, after publishing my first interview, with a fellow blogger. The feedback I have had so far, has been particularly positive.

Darrell is home tomorrow evening, flying back from his six weeks in the UK. He has had an interesting time; it was nice for him to catch up with friends while he was there, attend Weddings and finish paperwork, needed for settlement in Spain. Battle half won, as they say. We still have much to do on his return, finalising documents for the authorities.

It's been another gloriously hot day again today, perfect for getting all the washing done and letting Lily out for a while, on the solarium. Nearly all the housework completed, I am looking forward to having Darrell back home. Had a brief call with him today, just to confirm he is bringing the biggest jar of marmite, he can find with him and thankfully both our tax returns from the UK are finally completed; the cheques are in the post!

Just have a few loose ends to sort out here, then we should be ready for the busy summer season, can't come soon enough!

This morning, at Casa Gay Caprice

Sunset this evening

Welcome to my first interview, in a new regular feature, on 'Spanish Views;' questions and answers from the good and great, who have influenced me and my writing; people who will be of interest to my readership, including the Expat community in Gran Alacant, where I live. Featured, will be, Bloggers, artists, writers and entertainers, both here in Spain and abroad, who have dedicated their time and creativity to bring a little happiness into our lives.

I have been lucky enough to speak to Graeme, owner of the popular blog, 'Carry On Blogging.' As the title suggests, this is a blog about the 'Carry On' films and the lives of those who played a part in creating a British institution. You can safely say that Graeme (34) is a devotee of these much loved, popular, British films, that defined a generation and more.

Like Graeme, I am a big fan of the carry on films. In a previous life, I used to be a philographist, a collector of autographs. This hobby brought me into contact with many famous people of the time. I even had the opportunity of meeting Kenneth Williams, just before his death in the 1980s.

As a child I was brought up on the 'Carry On' culture and have a similar sense of humour myself; comedy that never dates, which is why these films remain as popular today, as they were when they were made. It is important that people like Graeme. keep the memory of these cinematic greats alive. Not only do they express the comedy of the era, but they also document our social history, from times, long since gone.

I would like to thank Graeme, for taking the time to answer my questions; I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your answers, as I know readers to my blog will. Do take a look at 'Carry On Blogging', I know for me, the memories came flooding back, the more I read. This is one of my favourite blogs; I know it will be one of yours too.

Thank you to Graeme also, for supplying photographs, of himself with some of the 'Carry On' stars, I hope you enjoy the interview below!

What made you decide to start blogging?

I started blogging on a completely different subject. I was brought up watching the soap opera Coronation Street and have always loved the show. I had started reading a blog on the show, the Coronation Street Blog and I saw a post looking for new contributors. I had never done anything like it before, but I sent in a piece of writing, the editor liked it and I joined the team. It has been a great experience, I’ve made some terrific friends through the Corrie blog and I’ve even been invited to attend some special press events at ITV in Manchester, meeting some of the cast and crew and getting onto the set. You can check out the Coronation Street Blog here: http://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.co.uk/

How long have you been blogging for?

I joined the Coronation Street Blog team towards the end of 2012. I started up my own blog on the Carry On films in March 2015.

What made you decide, to start blogging about all things ‘Carry On?’

I have been a fan of the films since I was a child. I loved the pantomime element to the films when I was young, long before I understood all the innuendos! I’ve always been fascinated by the lives and careers of the team and have read lots of stuff about them and decided to have a go myself. When I started writing the blog I had no idea I’d still be doing it two years later, that I’d have met and interviewed several of the surviving stars and that I’d have nearly 10000 followers on Twitter!

What is your favourite Carry On film and why?

That’s a really difficult question! It tends to vary depending on my mood and of the 31 films there’s only one or two I really don’t enjoy. I did a blog series on my top ten Carry Ons about a year ago and my number one was Carry On Cabby. I love Hattie Jacques and Sid James in it, they are great together. I also love the “kitchen sink” feel to the film, I think it’s really well written and I have fond memories of it as a child as I was car mad and cars feature quite prominently! So probably Cabby, for nostalgic reasons.

Do you have a favourite Carry On actor/actress?

Always Joan Sims! I love them all but Joan was the best. Such a talented actress and incredibly versatile. By all accounts she was a lovely lady but lacked confidence and even towards the end of her life didn’t really believe in herself, which is a great shame. I wrote to her the year before she died and I got a lovely letter back and a signed photo which I’ll always treasure. I think she could have had a much wider career as she was capable of straight roles as well as comedy. I love her as Lady Ruff Diamond in Up The Khyber, Belle in Cowboy and Miss Allcock in Carry On Teacher. Wonderful. My favourite male actor in the team is Peter Butterworth. Under-appreciated, a complete scene stealer and a great performer.

I am personally a big fan of the Carry On films, having been brought up on them, as a child. I was lucky enough to meet Kenneth Williams, before he died. Have you met any of the original cast?

Sadly most of the original main team are no longer with us. Through writing the blog I have been lucky enough to meet or interview several surviving stars. One of my highlights has been meeting Fenella Fielding several times while she’s been performing excerpts from her new audio book of memoirs. She’s a fascinating lady and extremely kind, gentle and gracious. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting Anita Harris, Jacki Piper, Sheila Hancock and Amanda Barrie.

Somehow, despite not being a trained journalist, just a fan, I’ve also managed to secure interviews with several people who were involved in the Carry Ons. So far I’ve interviewed Angela Douglas, Valerie Leon, Jacki Piper, Fenella Fielding, Anita Harris, Amanda Barrie, Christine Ozanne, Sally Geeson and Madeline Smith. It was also a thrill to interview Hattie Jacques’ son Robin, who now lives in Los Angeles. He spoke very fondly of his mum and his dad, the actor John Le Mesurier. Earlier this year I also spoke with a lady called Tessa Le Bars who was for many years Frankie Howerd’s agent. It was fascinating to hear her memories of the great man.

Would you like to see the Carry On films, return to our screen?

A big NO from me on that one. There have been several attempts over the years to get the films up and running again, many of which were driven by the late producer Peter Rogers. The only time it came to fruition was Carry On Columbus in 1992. I saw that in the cinema as a 10 year old and hated it! I think we should really just enjoy the original classic films which just get better with age. You can’t replace the talented actors who made them and much of the humour wouldn’t work today if you made new films. There are so many funny people around today doing their own thing and that’s great but very few of them would work in a Carry On. There was only one Sid James, one Kenneth Williams and one Joan Sims, let’s just enjoy their fine legacy.

What was the one moment, that got you hooked on Carry On Films?

It’s really hard to pick one moment! I think the first Carry On I ever saw was Carry On Matron, on video tape bought from Woolworths (remember them?!) I think I just liked all the slapstick, outrageous performances and funny voices. It wasn’t threatening or violent, it was endearing, innocent and good fun.

Finally, can you tell readers, to my blog, ‘Spanish Views’, a little bit about your blog

Carry On Blogging is an affectionate tribute to the Carry On films and their stars. It’s a fans take on the films and a mix of opinion pieces, interviews and classic clips from the archives. I love to share little known facts, turn the spotlight on some of the actors who don’t normally get the coverage they deserve and really just keep their wonderful legacy alive. It’s a real labour of love and I get a huge amount of pleasure from writing it and interacting with fans all over the world.

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8 May 2017

Interview with Graeme, from 'Carry On Blogging'

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