Colin Firth

[Crusoe]

Towards the beginning of this programme, there was a little that I didn’t hear clearly, but I don’t recall hearing anything of Mr Firth’s upbringing, which I thought odd. In fact, family matters, generally, only seemed to be cursorily dealt with: I would have liked to know more about his fifteen year old son.

The whole programme did seem a little bit “shallow” to me, like the sort of interview that appears on the television when someone has a new film to promote. He doesn’t have a new film out, does he?

I was, however, impressed with his dedication – being prepared to sleep on people’s floors during his training showed a commitment that not everyone would have shown. Clearly he has a real passion for his job, which is not always the case.

As for the music, I loved the Fela Kuti and the Tom Waits but could pretty much take or leave the rest. Interestingly, Sue suggested he’d struggled with getting his choices down to eight records but I didn’t get the feeling that he was a particular lover of music. I may have been wrong, though.

[L A Jones]

I thought we were in for a scorching programme when he commenced with Curtis Mayfield’s We People Who are Darker Than Blue, but alas it wasn’t to be. Yes, he did speak about his parents and upbringing living between Nigeria, Essex and Missouri, but he didn’t really convey how this affected him (this article is more interesting:

Background

I suppose female listeners would be more interested in the sex symbol issue, but not really the kind of topic to stimulate the imagination of the radio listener. The reference to his ‘A’ levels and listening to the radio/music captured my attention and I’m always interested in what people listened to when they were at school.

Ironically, I seem to recall that he spoke about story telling during some part of the programme, yet I didn’t find his story telling particularly inspirational and couldn’t detect any interesting thread to his life throughout the interview. You could be right with the comment about shallowness, so perhaps the blame wasn’t really his? I’d contrast that with Chris Evans who I loved because he communicated the great pleasure of listening to the radio with such conviction at an early stage of the programme.

I got the impression that his earlier relationship was put off limits, so perhaps that’s why we didn’t hear much about his son?

There probably was an interest in music during teenage years, but I didn’t feel that this was still active. I’m always suspicious when famous people choose anything by Tom Waits – a common choice with previous DID guests.

A disappointing programme and I believe it’s a mistake to assume that actors are always interesting. I’m sure DID would be a far better programme if the presenters and producers were employed on fixed tenure contracts.

[Lux Interior]

I enjoyed thisp rogramme - it was typically comforting, with brief moments of excitement.

As usual, I was half asleep during most of it, but was pleased about his choice of Tom Waits track. It was from my favourite album by Mr Waits, and I do think that anyone who likes the "whoomph" bits in that track probably does like music. It has an effect I haven't yet found in any other piece of music.

At least he's listened to Tom Waits, and if he's picked something old - well, pieces of music from our past may have more meaning than recent ones. Mr Waits is still making music, but DID is about past rather than present or future, on the whole, is it not?

Likewise the fact that he chose Fela Kuti makes me think that he has actually listened to a variety of stuff, and paid attention.

More attention that I've paid to his programme. I suppose I ought to go and check the website to see what else he picked which I slept through.

[Lux Interior]

Ah, yes, Little Feat's "Willin'". I knew there was something else.

I give this one a thumbs up.

[L A Jones]

Lux said:

Ah, yes, Little Feat's "Willin'". I knew there was something else.

I give this one a thumbs up.

Thanks - forgot to mention Willin’ which I haven’t heard for years and I love that bit where one can start to harmonize (in the privacy of one’s study/bedroom/tip/bathroom/car of course). He chose The Stealer as well didn’t he? Love that song soooooo much. I was annoyed when they cut if off so quickly – typical R4!!!!!! Paul Rodgers - definitely belongs to the Good Blokes' school……..but what on earth was he playing at joining Queen?

If I find out that Mr. Firth grew his hair down to his backside when he was 16 and doesn’t own a tie, then I’ll like him and issue him with a Good Bloke card when he arrives on the island.

[L A Jones]

Lux said:

I enjoyed thisp rogramme - it was typically comforting.

I know what you mean about a comforting radio programme - The Archive Hour has the same effect on me. Did you notice how John Lennon refered to Aunti Mimi as 'Auntie' in last week's AH. Loved that!!!!

[Lux Interior]

L said:

I know what you mean about a comforting radio programme - The Archive Hour has the same effect on me. Did you notice how John Lennon refered to Aunti Mimi as 'Auntie' in last week's AH. Loved that!!!!

Taped it, L, and haven't listened to it yet. Will respond suitably when I have.

[rosalie]

I thought this could've been the the DID of any number of ordinary people. Loads of people have slept on others floors when you move around when you're young. We certainly had people sleeping on our floors for weeks at a time in the late 70s. I suppose quite a comforting DID which only goes to show that all celebrities don't have exciting and glamourous lives, in fact some of them like Mr Firth are less interesting than your own friends.

[Blanche Lucas]

rosalie said:

Loads of people have slept on others floors when you move around when you're young. We certainly had people sleeping on our floors for weeks at a time in the late 70s.

It was the the same in my household. I suppose floor altruism is alien to the majority of personnel within R4 because they're posh (the same would apply to a large section of the listening audience), so they regard it as quaint and worth a mention? The same applies to hitch-hiking – and I’d love to hear a DID guest telling stories about their hitch-hiking experiences.

[rosalie]

Blanche Lucas! heheee...my first pair of bellbottoms bought from there, and subsequently caught in the chain of me bike and ruined..sniff how traumatic childhood can be

[Blanche Lucas]

rosalie said:

Blanche Lucas! heheee...my first pair of bellbottoms bought from there, and subsequently caught in the chain of me bike and ruined..sniff how traumatic childhood can be

I’m afraid I was confronted by quite a few irate mothers in respect of bicycle chain damage during this period and many demanded refunds. I’d also ventured into a rather fashionable line of pencil skirt at about the same time. However the snooty residents of Childwall - who follow 'Woman's Hour' religiously - all complained that I was encouraging rough girls to visit my shop, so I had to return to the dependable A-line. I dread to think what would have happened if I’d attempted to sell wrap dresses.

Hope you managed to enjoy many happy cycling miles in your repaired bellbottoms.

All the best,

Blanche

[rosalie]

Thank you Blanche, but sadly they were irrepairable. After this failure to smarten me up, I went back to jeans, much better for cycling. I remember your hats though, and the one my mum bought for her sisters wedding...dead posh with a veil no less!

[Crusoe]

L said:

he did speak about his parents and upbringing living between Nigeria, Essex and Missouri, but he didn’t really convey how this affected him (this article is more interesting:

Background

Thanks for that, L, very informative.

L said:

The reference to his ‘A’ levels and listening to the radio/music captured my attention and I’m always interested in what people listened to when they were at school.

It’s an interesting subject – I wonder how formative such experiences are? I can’t actually remember particularly what radio stations I listened to whilst at school so perhaps they didn’t have much impact.

L said:

Ironically, I seem to recall that he spoke about story telling during some part of the programme, yet I didn’t find his story telling particularly inspirational and couldn’t detect any interesting thread to his life throughout the interview. You could be right with the comment about shallowness, so perhaps the blame wasn’t really his? I’d contrast that with Chris Evans who I loved because he communicated the great pleasure of listening to the radio with such conviction at an early stage of the programme.

Yes that was one of the greatest disappointments of the programme. And you are right about Chris Evans: whatever my thoughts on what his character may be, I was impressed by the love of radio conveyed and the story-telling relating to the ‘paper shop.

L said:

A disappointing programme and I believe it’s a mistake to assume that actors are always interesting.

Yes, a good summary, L.

[Crusoe]

Lux said:

At least he's listened to Tom Waits, and if he's picked something old - well, pieces of music from our past may have more meaning than recent ones. Mr Waits is still making music, but DID is about past rather than present or future, on the whole, is it not?

A good point, Lux. Another factor may be that Mr Waits has tended to become a bit more experimental with time and much of his more recent music, whilst interesting, is a bit difficult to listen to (to my ear, anyway).

[Crusoe]

L said:

If I find out that Mr. Firth grew his hair down to his backside when he was 16 and doesn’t own a tie, then I’ll like him and issue him with a Good Bloke card when he arrives on the island.

Hee hee. We’d best issue him with a large bottle of Desert Island hair conditioner, too.