samkydd

This week's Drama Connections is House of Cards

Tuesday 18th October on BBC 1 - 10:35 to 11:05 pm.

"This series revisits classic drama programmes and tonight looks at the political thriller House of Cards. Adapted by Andrew Davies from former Conservative party chief of staff Michael Dobbs's novel, it imagined a time when Margaret Thatcher was no longer prime minister - which came to pass four days after the first episode aired. The programme uncovers why PM Francis Urquhart spoke directly to the audience, and reveals why Michael Dobbs removed his name from the TV version of the third book, The Final Cut."

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Fellwanderer

Francis Urquart - the man who tried to give tories a good name [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/innocent.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

samkydd

If it was made today you wouldn't know if Francis Urquart represented the Tory party or Labour! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif[/img]

After seeing Jenny Agutter play the role of Allan Clarke's wife I would have thought you'd have become a staunch Tory supporter anyway!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Fellwanderer

Unfortunately, there is more truth in your words than I'd like there to be.

"Hell", "freezing" and "over" come to mind!

Having prempted expulsion from the Young Liberals over Vietnam by resigning seconds before the move to expel me and anticipating expulsion from the Labour Party over a similar matter and others, you may appreciate that even Miss Agutter's undoubted charms would not suffice to turn me to the dark side - though I'm quite willing to let her try [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img]

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/innocent.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

samkydd

Well I like a good cause but unfortunately politicians rarely get involved in matters of principle, unless it affects their immediate financial interests. Their own cause is the pusuit of wealth and status and a seat on the board of some oil company or building society, followed by a long and prosperous retirement with a cosy lecture and after dinner speaking career at a few thousand pounds a go depending on seniority, or more importantly, notoriety!

Following a political party is like following a Premiership football team, you give them your support, emotional as well as financial, sit in the freezing cold having paid a king's ransom for a season ticket to see them perform, get ripped off for more money on so-called refreshments, ripped off for a programme, get treated like a scumbag by the stewards, and then there's the overpriced made in some far eastern sweat shop merchandising, while the players and the Board live the life of obscene decadence and couldn't give a toss if you lived or died!

The only politicians I have admired for their honest principles have been Dave Nellis, Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner, but not necessarily their political views. I have heard that most senior Labour cabinet ministers have become millionaires since 1997, but I don't know how true this is, probably just a co-incidence! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

But all the spin doctors and media coaching techniques in the world cannot hide their eyes. Just one look face to face and you can see it in their eyes that they know that you know that they are self-centred and greedy individuals.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Fellwanderer

Oh, for a few more Harry Perkins [to keep it vaguely on topic!]

I should point out that I have no reason to believe that Miss Agutter is on the dark side and, given her support of certain subjects, every reason to believe she is not.

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/innocent.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

samkydd

And after all that I missed the bloomin' programme anyway! Still, I have my 20 years of Tory conference tapes to watch instead! Oh Maggie you were divine! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"