#Yorkshire Television

[georgefairbrother]

Iconic British actress Diana Dors, ‘the English Marilyn Monroe’, and 'Siren of Swindon’, was born Diana Mary Fluck, on October 23rd, 1931.

She enjoyed great success in British films, her first role in 1947, and later had a limited career under contract to RKO in Hollywood. In her later years she was a favourite on chat shows, and had character roles in a number of British films, including Steptoe and Son Ride Again, as well as guest turns in television programmes such as The Sweeney, The Two Ronnies, and Hammer House of Horror.

She passed away from cancer in 1984, at the age of 52.

This great clip is from her Yorkshire Television sitcom, Queenie's Castle (1970-72) in which, as the family matriarch, she unwisely confronts her son, 'Our Raymond', over having been seen at the pub with a 'right tarty blonde...'

[rollcake-rock]

reposting shit from deviantart

[thedepartmentofdiscoveries]

Trisha Penrose as Gina Ward from Heartbeat.

[captainfreelance1]

DeviantArt Description- Alan B'Stard

'Alan Beresford B'Stard MP was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, but He was brought to live by actor and comedian Rik Mayall in the British ITV sitcom The New Statesman. He was a mainly satire of several Tory Politicians of the time, B'Stard served as both a member of British Parliament and later European Parliament.

Alan's list of crimes include no particular order but are not limit too.

Maiming and Murdering his opponents.

Blackmailing and Bribing several Colleagues

Dumping Radioactive Waste under a primary school.

Various lewd and immoral sexual escapades.

Also the brutal torture of an innocent Teddy Bear.

Just name a few his crimes it's safe to say B'Stard was far more evil then several politicians at that time ever thought of being, Marks, Gran and Mayall would revisit their creations years later in a 2007 Stage play. We would find that Alan had crossed the floor joining the Labour Party and had been secretly pulling the strings of the then current cabinet. Alan B'Stard would finally pass away in 2014 a fate that would coincide with the death of his actor Rik Mayall. Sadly both Comedically and somewhat Chillingly the character is more relevant now then when he was first created, as many politicians across world can calm to be the real life B'Stard.'

[tfbsattic]

CW: loud 1970 ident; sexual content involving ITV regional company logos

[the-busy-ghost]

Me normally: Let people love what they love

Me, after a Test Match Special commentator expresses their belief that the new All Creatures Great and Small is somehow "better" than the 1978 version: This is pure insanity and TMS can no longer be trusted on anything, how can they even be trusted to know about cricket, do they have no TASTE

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Hours (2002, Stephen Daldry)

14/08/2024

[charliespringverse]

there is so much wrong with being british but we went tf off with our tv shows. 10/10 top marks five stars no notes

[she-is-ovarit]

By Sean Coughlan

BBC News

A diary written by a Yorkshire farmer more than 200 years ago is being hailed as providing remarkable evidence of tolerance towards homosexuality in Britain much earlier than previously imagined.

Historians from Oxford University have been taken aback to discover that Matthew Tomlinson's diary from 1810 contains such open-minded views about same-sex attraction being a "natural" human tendency.

The diary challenges preconceptions about what "ordinary people" thought about homosexuality - showing there was a debate about whether someone really should be discriminated against for their sexuality.

"In this exciting new discovery, we see a Yorkshire farmer arguing that homosexuality is innate and something that shouldn't be punished by death," says Oxford researcher Eamonn O'Keeffe.

The diaries were handwritten by Tomlinson in the farmhouse where he lived and worked

The historian had been examining Tomlinson's handwritten diaries, which have been stored in Wakefield Library since the 1950s.

The thousands of pages of the private journals have never been transcribed and previously used by researchers interested in Tomlinson's eye-witness accounts of elections in Yorkshire and the Luddites smashing up machinery.

But O'Keeffe came across what seemed, for the era of George III, to be a rather startling set of arguments about same-sex relationships.

Tomlinson had been prompted by what had been a big sex scandal of the day - in which a well-respected naval surgeon had been found to be engaging in homosexual acts.

Historian Eamonn O'Keeffe says the diaries provide a rare insight into the views of "ordinary people" in the early 1800s

A court martial had ordered him to be hanged - but Tomlinson seemed unconvinced by the decision, questioning whether what the papers called an "unnatural act" was really that unnatural.

Tomlinson argued, from a religious perspective, that punishing someone for how they were created was equivalent to saying that there was something wrong with the Creator.

"It must seem strange indeed that God Almighty should make a being with such a nature, or such a defect in nature; and at the same time make a decree that if that being whom he had formed, should at any time follow the dictates of that Nature, with which he was formed, he should be punished with death," he wrote on January 14 1810.

If there was an "inclination and propensity" for someone to be homosexual from an early age, he wrote, "it must then be considered as natural, otherwise as a defect in nature - and if natural, or a defect in nature; it seems cruel to punish that defect with death".

The diarist makes reference to being informed by others that homosexuality is apparent from an early age - suggesting that Tomlinson and his social circle had been talking about this case and discussing something that was not unknown to them.

Around this time, and also in West Yorkshire, a local landowner, Anne Lister, was writing a coded diary about her lesbian relationships - with her story told in the television series, Gentleman Jack.

But knowing what "ordinary people" really thought about such behaviour is always difficult - not least because the loudest surviving voices are usually the wealthy and powerful.

What has excited academics is the chance to eavesdrop on an everyday farmer thinking aloud in his diary.

Tomlinson was appalled by the levels of corruption during elections

"What's striking is that he's an ordinary guy, he's not a member of the bohemian circles or an intellectual," says O'Keeffe, a doctoral student in Oxford's history faculty.

An acceptance of homosexuality might have been expressed privately in aristocratic or philosophically radical circles - but this was being discussed by a rural worker.

"It shows opinions of people in the past were not as monolithic as we might think," says O'Keeffe, who is originally from Canada.

"Even though this was a time of persecution and intolerance towards same-sex relationships, here's an ordinary person who is swimming against the current and sees what he reads in the paper and questions those assumptions."

Claire Pickering, library manager in Wakefield, says she imagines the single-minded Tomlinson speaking the words with a Yorkshire accent.

There are three volumes of Tomlinson's diaries at Wakefield Library

He was a man with a "hungry mind", she says, someone who listened to a lot of people's opinions before forming his own conclusions.

The diary, presumably compiled after a hard day's work, was his way of being a writer and commentator when otherwise "that wasn't his station in life", she says.

O'Keeffe says it shows ideas were "percolating through British society much earlier and more widely than we'd expect" - with the diary working through the debates that Tomlinson might have been having with his neighbours.

But these were still far from modern liberal views - and O'Keeffe says they can be extremely "jarring" arguments.

If someone was homosexual by choice, rather than by nature, Tomlinson was ready to consider that they should still be punished - proposing castration as a more moderate option than the death penalty.

Tomlinson's former home was still there in the 1930s (bottom left), but has since disappeared beneath housing and a golf course

O'Keeffe says discovering evidence of these kinds of debate has both "enriched and complicated" what we know about public opinion in this pre-Victorian era.

The diary is raising international interest.

Prof Fara Dabhoiwala, from Princeton University in the US, an expert in the history of attitudes towards sexuality, describes it as "vivid proof" that "historical attitudes to same-sex behaviour could be more sympathetic than is usually presumed".

Instead of seeing homosexuality as a "horrible perversion", Prof Dabholwala says the record showed a farmer in 1810 could see it as a "natural, divinely ordained human quality".

Rictor Norton, an expert in gay history, said there had been earlier arguments defending homosexuality as natural - but these were more likely to be from philosophers than farmers.

"It is extraordinary to find an ordinary, casual observer in 1810 seriously considering the possibility that sexuality is innate and making arguments for decriminalisation," says Dr Norton.

Who was the writer of this diary?

Matthew Tomlinson was a widower, in his 40s when he wrote his journal in 1810 - a man of a "middling" class, not a poor labourer but not rich enough to own his own land.

"I try and imagine how he would have looked," says library manager Ms Pickering.

There are no pictures of Tomlinson, who is thought to have lived between about 1770 and 1850.

"Very dour," she suggests. And a "bit of a hypochondriac".

There are thousands of pages of handwritten journals - but some volumes appear to have been lost

"I imagine if you stopped him at his gate for a chat he'd talk about his gout more than anything else.

"I'd love to have a conversation with him about what Wakefield was like at the time," she says.

No-one knows how these private diaries, covering 1806 to 1839, ended up in Wakefield Library, but they were there by the 1950s and are presumed to be part of an earlier acquisition of old books and local documents.

There are three surviving volumes and at least another eight are missing.

But they show vivid detail about life in Wakefield in the early 19th Century.

Tomlinson, from his home at Doghouse Farm, recorded the life of nearby Wakefield

During elections, Tomlinson was appalled by the corruption, the rum drinkers having to be carried home in wheelbarrows and the "hired ruffians".

And at Queen Victoria's coronation he was sceptical about expensive ceremonies and celebrations, calling them all "humbug".

This was not a closed world. His social circle seemed to be avid readers of books and newspapers, following reports of revolutions abroad and riots and insurrections at home.

They saw elephants marching through Wakefield in a circus parade and military bands who had competed to hire the most talented black musicians.

We know where he lived - Doghouse Farm in Lupset, because he carefully wrote it on the front of his journals.

The farm, at the edge of the landowner's estate, is now under a housing estate and a golf course. All that survives are his diaries.

[georgefairbrother]

All This and Christmas Too was a one-off play produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast Christmas Eve, 1971.

It starred Sid James as Sid Jones, patriarch of a happily chaotic and likeable family dealing with Christmas, an impending birth, ghastly in-laws and a troublesome mouse.

Sid's friend and neighbour was played by Kenneth Connor...and the general setting probably sailed as close to Sid James' own hit series, Bless This House, which had first aired that February, as could be without receiving some terse correspondence from Thames Television lawyers...

[eastons-creations]

My ultimate fic recs

Made a poll and a lot of people said they would want this sooo here we are! These are the best fics I’ve read (: The og post

Top 3

1- To Be Alone With You By Shay_Fae

In the summer of their sixth year, Remus Lupin tried to kill himself.

2- Something Just Like This By shadow_prince

a fake dating modern AU where Sirius has been telling Mrs. Potter he's dating someone for 9 months and she demands his "boyfriend" comes on their family vacation. Queue: shenanigans between wolfstar and jily as they lie their asses off.

3- Text Talk By merlywhirls

Sirius is in boarding school, Remus is in hospital, and they don't know each other until Sirius texts the wrong number.

Other recs bellow break (in no order)

Wading in waist high water By colgatebluemintygel

Remus is a PhD student and hobbyist baker who finds himself adrift following his father’s death. On a whim, he enters the Great British Bake Off and is swept up in a flurry of curdled custard, shrunken souffle, and under-proved dough. Remus expects to be challenged and to embarrass himself on public television. What he doesn’t account for are the friendships he develops with the other contestants and the deep connection he forms with his teenage crush, Sirius Black: charming ex-boy band member and Bake Off host

Beneath a big blue sky by @eyra

The four-by-four heaves its way down long, twisting lanes, little more than dirt tracks scuffed into the surrounding fields and hemmed in by serpentine walls of flat, grey stone. They truly are in the middle of nowhere: the countryside rushes past, all rolling green hills and vast, endless skies, and it's odious. Sirius wants to murder James with his bare hands. Sirius and James accidentally find themselves on a Yorkshire farm during lambing season. The farmer’s son thinks that’s a bit annoying, actually.

A brief history of dragons by @eyra

It's lovely up here; all meadows dotted with wildflowers, wind-beaten tracks criss-crossing this way and that through the fields, weaving inland to the pinewoods. The sun's hot on his back as he passes ramshackle stone walls, long since crumbled to piles of ancient rubble and scree, and then the path winds downwards, still following the line of the coast until Sirius finds himself outside an old white cottage, tucked away behind the hill with a rose garden that faces out to the sea. Sirius moves to Cornwall for the summer and meets a rude, beautiful boy who is writing a book that may or may not be about dragons

Let’s play pretend by MsAlexWP

After James and Lily died, Sirius Black's therapist told him not to date for a year. And that's just as well. He's got a 13-month-old baby now and quite enough to deal with, thanks. But the nosy neighbors in his building keep trying to set him up and won't take no for an answer. Enter Remus Lupin, another single dad who pretends to be Sirius's boyfriend, just to get the old lady brigade off his back and nothing more. Nothing more at all.

Forever in a state of mind by orphan_account

Deaf Dance Choreographer, Remus Lupin, has a simple life. Working, taking care of his son, and running his YouTube sign channel. When he unwittingly becomes involved with Deaf Pride Activist, Fleamont Potter, he doesn't realise how much his life will change. Especially after he meets YouTube star and makeup artist, Sirius Black.

Sugar rush by Stricklymarauders

James, Sirius, Peter, and Dorcas have been best friends for years and are starting their senior year of highschool. To Sirius' dismay he doesn't have any friends in his history class, but after eventually showing up, he finds he sits next to a tall curly hair boy who takes his breath away, Remus Lupin. He decided right then and there that he must make this boy fall in love with him and recruits James to be his wingman, until James is distracted by Remus' best friend with a personality as fiery has her hair, Lily Evans.

Dating Remus lupin by Children_of_the_Shadow

Remus Lupin is a mystery to the whole school; the boy who's quiet, aloof, and cold. He also happens to be queer, which is enough to gain Sirius's interest. What Sirius never realised that dating Remus Lupin wasn't quite as easy as it looked.

Blends by rvltn909

Words got in the way sometimes, but Remus got the sense Sirius knew what he was trying to say. Another coffee shop au.

Camp Casanova by Farquad

All lonely 11 years old Remus Lupin wants is a friend. But when he arrives at Slughorn's summer camp for teenage boys his world turns upside down since he finds himself sharing a cabin with three other boys; James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black. As the years pass by Remus finds himself birthing friendships, fighting bullies, but above all battling his own feelings which soon gets out of control. He struggles to keep his biggest secret, and he wonders how he could've fallen so deeply in love.

Turn on my charm by Bethanlovescoffee

Sirius Black is a YouTube phenomenon. A YouTube phenomenon who develops a crush on his video editor.

Those who commented:

@maraudersarecanon @sunflower-vol-9

[hayaomiyazaki]

hannah hauxwell — the farmer who lived a humble life in the unforgiving high pennines, who found her purpose in living amongst the unfertilised grasses and the sheeps and cows, who asked for nought but appreciated every moment — passed away today, january 30th, six years ago. she embodied the spirit of the dales and was one of england's most beautiful examples of living not on the land but with it. despite the intense solitude she faced living alone for decades with no running water or electricity, neighbours miles away, unbearable cold and ever declining health, making due on a couple hundred pounds a year for most of her life, she never looked at her home or her circumstances with a moment's bitterness. in fact, when she was 60 years old and accepting the reality her fragility, she said, with tears in her eyes,

The time will come, perhaps pretty near. But it is a proper...a big upheaval, emotionally, physically, mentally. It's just as if my world was falling to pieces. Everything I've known and I'm sure of. Security, everything. I don't know how I'll leave here. Or how I'll feel after I have left. It's my world and its lovely, lovely scenes. The moonlight on the water. I think it's one of the loveliest things. I stood and watched sometimes even when I was tired. In the wintertime — I don't like the winter — it's marvellous. I'm very lucky to live in such a lovely place. [...] The beauty, to me, there's nowhere like it, never will be. And whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life. And if there's a funny old person in years to come, a ghost walking up and down here, it'll be me. A big part of me, wherever I am, will be left here. That's me. There's nowhere else. There's nowhere like it.

i implore anyone and everyone to watch the documentaries about her modest life, and her wide-eyedness and gentleness and informed wisdoms:

too long a winter (1973) — the yorkshire television production that began it all, following hannah's daily life during a brutal winter

hannah goes to town (1977) — at the age of 51, hannah takes her first ever trip to london to accept 'woman of the year' at a charity luncheon

a winter too many (1989) — over 15 years since the first documentary, the same film crew revisits hannah and her farm, where some things have changed but most are just the same

hannah hauxwell: innocent abroad (1992) and hannah: usa (1993) — hannah, who is finally retired from farming life, travels the world

she collaborated on multiple books about her life, all of which i recommend, starting with daughter of the dales.

because hannah's farming techniques were completely traditional, void of re-seeding and fertilisers, the fields around her farm maintained a rare, rich floral composition. now considered a site of special scientific interest, they are aptly named hannah's meadows and are operated by a local wildlife trust. i believe she still walks those hills today. rest in peace, hannah ❤️

image

[kinonostalgie]

Sir Michael Palin, a revered figure in British entertainment, is celebrated for his remarkable versatility as an actor, writer, comedian, and travel documentarian. Born on May 5, 1943, in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Palin first gained fame as a member of the groundbreaking comedy group Monty Python. His work with Monty Python, which began in the late 1960s, is iconic, with Palin contributing to some of the most memorable sketches and characters in British comedy history.

Palin's talent for comedy was evident in his various roles in "Monty Python's Flying Circus," where he showcased his ability to deliver both absurd and subtle humour. His performances in sketches like the "Dead Parrot" sketch and the "Ministry of Silly Walks" are legendary. Monty Python's transition from television to film further cemented their status, with Palin playing key roles in classics such as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Life of Brian," and "The Meaning of Life."

Beyond Monty Python, Palin's career flourished in diverse directions. He became an acclaimed travel documentarian, known for his engaging and insightful travel series. Beginning with "Around the World in 80 Days" in 1989, Palin embarked on a series of epic journeys that captivated audiences. His warm, personable style and genuine curiosity about the world and its people made series like "Pole to Pole," "Full Circle," and "Himalaya" hugely popular. These travelogues not only showcased his wit and charm but also his respect and fascination for different cultures.

In addition to his television work, Palin has authored several travel books that complement his series, offering deeper reflections on his adventures. His writing extends to fiction as well, with novels such as "Hemingway's Chair" and "The Truth" showcasing his literary prowess.

Palin's contributions to entertainment and culture have been widely recognised. He was knighted in 2019 for his services to travel, culture, and geography. This honour reflects not only his impact on comedy and television but also his role as an ambassador for cultural understanding and exploration.

Sir Michael Palin's career is a testament to his extraordinary talent and versatility. Whether making audiences laugh with his brilliant comedic performances, enlightening them with his travel documentaries, or engaging them with his writing, Palin's work continues to be cherished by fans around the world. His enduring legacy is one of creativity, curiosity, and a profound appreciation for the richness of human experience.

[neil-neil-orange-peel]

S2E1 of The New Statesman really has it all in terms of what you want from an episode of TNS:

*Opens on Alan being truly despicable on national television (plus declaring himself a shark)

*He threatens Piers with a drill

*Alan is so racist in this episode, but I think generally they do a good job of making him look the fool for that

*He corrupts Georgina like the devil on her shoulder (and don't get me started on the way he delivers "I think they must be right. Whenever I hear it I get all horny." SIR-)

*Rik doing his Yorkshire accent

*"Larry! What a very good idea!"

*The way Bob Crippen lists every disadvantaged demographic under the sun is really funny to me

*Alan's poll tax speech is legendary - I have used it before to introduce people to him

*Also on Alan's poll tax speech - he looks so delightfully ghoulish and his hair is so slick in that scene for some reason oof

*Funny little gag with the still of Alan winking at the audience from the TV

*Is this the first appearance of Alan's London residence? Possibly? Can't recall at the moment if it appears in S1

*Mr Whippyyyyyy

*"The country will be forced to choose between the royal family and the Conservative Party. Can't you think what a trauma that will be for the millions who don't know the difference!"

*God the way Georgina pulls Alan up as she's explaining how she beat him at his own game (everyone read this fic by @frankenbolt)

*More sadomasochism with Alan and Piers!

*"But you're a millionaire already! You don't need the money!" "Yes, but, you see, Piers, I want it! Because I'm very, very greedy, Piers! That is why I became a Conservative!"

*Alan using his piss poor sexual prowess as a hook to pull the Chief Whip in always makes me wonder if he is actually aware he's a shit lay (and probably just doesn't care)

*"Boy, have you made a big mistake!" He's evil EVIL I tell you

All in all this is a really great episode. It's a good contender for THE episode to show someone if you wanna introduce them to TNS. A solid ep to start a solid series. Only thing it's really missing is Sarah.

[silver-screen-divas]

VERONICA CARLSON

Legend of the legendary production company Hammer Films.

Carlson was born Veronica Marie Glazer in Yorkshire, England, and spent most of her childhood in West Germany, where her father was stationed. She attended Thetford Girls' School and later High Wycombe College of Arts and Technology, where she studied art and took part in college amateur productions. In his twenties, Carlson had several supporting roles in films and television shows.

James Carreras, head of Hammer Films, saw a photo of her in a newspaper and offered her a meeting with Christopher in 1968's Dracula Has Risen from the Grave. She also starred in two other Hammer horror films, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969). and The Horror of Frankenstein (1970). She also appeared in the 1969 Randall and Hopekirk (deceased) episode "The Ghost of Saving Banks in Monte Carlo" and in El Santo ("The One Who Gambled Their Lives") with Roger Moore, and the Apartment S episode ( "The Double Death of Charlie Crippen"). Along with Anthony Ironley, Roger Lloyd Parker and Patricia Katz, Carlson was one of the 4 main characters of the television thriller series Spyder's Web (1972). She had a small role in the 1975 episode Public Eye.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Rory McCann born 24th April 1969 in Glasgow.

Six foot six inches tall, with brown eyes and dark hair, Rory McCann began his working life at the top - as a painter on the Forth Bridge. He came to notice in a television commercial for Scotts' Porage Oats, in which he appeared as a scantily-clad hunk in a vest and kilt and little else wandering snowbound streets but warmed by the inner glow of the porage. He claims that as a consequence he was often approached by people demanding that he "lift his kilt", I can quite believe that as who out there among us has never had that asked of us?

In 2002 he was seen in the TV comedy-drama 'The Book Group' playing a wheelchair-bound lifeguard, a part for which he won a Scottish BAFTA award for the best television performance of 2002. Since then he has taken television roles as Peter the Great and a priest in 'Shameless'. He made his Hollywood debut in Oliver Stone's 'Alexander'. Rory has never been in Taggart but did appear in another well known Scottish show, Monarch of the Glen.

Of course the role he is most famous for is, apart from the porage ads,that of Sandor "The Hound" Clegane in the popular Game of Thrones.

Film role have included, Beowulf & Grendel, Hot Fuzz and xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Rory used to be the frontman of a defunct band called Thundersoup in the early 90s. In 2017 he made a musical appearance as the drummer of Texas, a Scottish rock band, in their music video of Tell That Girl. He also plays the piano, banjo, guitar, and Mandolin.

Rory divides his time between homes in London and Glencoe, eh hates technology and loves being cut off and is known for living a solitary, transient lifestyle, he describes himself as such "I'm a man's man. I go out climbing and live outdoors." He used to solo rock climb and broke multiple bones in a near-fatal rock climbing accident in Yorkshire when he was 21. And ladies he is single, he says "I don't have a mortgage, I don't have a wife and I don't have kids, so I'm quite happy bumbling along."

I have found hat he mentioned a wife to someone in a bar in England last year, saying she set up his social media account as he wasn'ttechnically minded. Rory is normally quite a private person and I can find no evidence that he is actualy married, so who knows!

In 2019 Rory was seen in the Jumanji movie with fellow Scot Karen Gillan. In 2022 he became the narrator of the ITV1 series DNA Journey., We last saw him in the film Jackdaw a british action thriller set in North East England. He has a couple of projects ready for release, The Damned set in Iceland, and voice in a new animated mini series Knuckles, based on the video game Sonic the Hedgehog.