Author Archives: admin

Why vet and author James Herriot never got rich

Posted on February 24, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett The stories of veterinarean James Herriot, who wrote “All Creatures Great and Small” and died 20 years ago today aged 79, remain immensely popular and they attract many tourists to Yorkshire but they did not make him … Continue reading →

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The time Jack Palance winked at me

Posted on February 18, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Jack Palance, who was born on this day in 1919 and died on Nov. 10 2006, had one of the scariest physiognomies in movies but my favourite memory of him is of a wink.

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Jon Stewart should listen to Johnny Carson

Posted on February 13, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Count me among those who will hate to see Jon Stewart walk away from “The Daily Show” and I wish he could have heard what Johnny Carson told me about his own temptations to quit “The Tonight … Continue reading →

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My interview with rock star Gene Vincent did not go well

Posted on February 11, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Rockabilly star Gene Vincent, who was born on this day 80 years ago and died on Oct. 12, 1971, had a huge influence on my musical tastes with ’50s tracks such as “Be-Bob-a-Lula” and “Right Here on … Continue reading →

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Warrior Andy McNab loves a good story like ‘Mamma Mia’

Posted on February 2, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Things you might know about Andy McNab: He was a highly decorated SAS soldier; he wrote the bestselling “Bravo Two Zero” about his time in combat in the Gulf War; and he writes action thrillers, the latest … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’

Posted on January 29, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett “Kingsman: The Secret Service” could put the nail in the coffin of secret agent movies just as “Blazing Saddles” put the kibosh on westerns in the 1970s. It takes the increasingly absurd violent action of recent James … Continue reading →

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London Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards highlight fringe

Posted on January 27, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Fringe and repertoire theatres triumphed at the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards today as prizes went to productions at the Almeida, Chichester Festival, the Young Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and the Bush Theatre. … Continue reading →

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Theatre news: Spacey as Darrow, Suchet as Lady Bracknell

Posted on January 23, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett Latest casting news in London’s West End includes Kevin Spacey’s return as Clarence Darrow at The Old Vic, Lara Pulver and Peter Davison with Imelda Staunton in the transfer of “Gypsy” and David Suchet as Lady Bracknell. … Continue reading →

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‘Boyhood’, ‘Under the Skin’ top London critics’ awards

Posted on January 19, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett The London Critics’ Circle Film Awards on Sunday shared the plaudits among several films including “Boyhood”, which won three prizes, and “Under the Skin”, which won two.

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FILM REVIEW: Damien Chazelle’s ‘Whiplash’

Posted on January 16, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett “Whiplash” is a cracking little picture that draws on the philosophical notion that you can achieve anything so long as you’re willing to sacrifice everything else, including blood. A sort of “Full Metal Drumkit”, in which percussion … Continue reading →

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