Dirty Digest #16: Early May 2024
I hope you're not going to spoil things with lower-middle class humour
Well, it had to happen eventually. This should, of course, be the April newsletter. That’s what happens when you get sick on the last day of the month. Bah.
Let’s get on with it. No newsletter-specific articles or long introductions, but I do have a bumper set of links for you this time round.
Last Month on Dirty Feed
A reasonably busy April!
The Voice of the Balls - My favourite thing I’ve published so far this year. I don’t really talk much about my job on here, but I thought I’d allow myself this fun tale of something that happened to me in BBC presentation a decade ago. Warning: this is vaguely heartwarming.
The Bucket List - The cumulation of my obsession with sitcom recording dates. This time: Keeping Up Appearances. (Make sure you read the comments for EXCITING NEWS about the 1995 Children in Need special.)
The Dave Nice Video Show, Part Two - The next part of my ongoing series on stock footage in Smashie and Nicey: the End of an Era. This time: Smashie’s cop-tastic acting roles. “Sorry…”
I’m trying to keep on a monthly schedule with the End of an Era pieces, rather than dragging it out for a whole year like last year’s Young Ones stuff. So hopefully more nonsense on the pair’s pirate ship shenanigans later this month.
Not on Dirty Feed
Duncan Newmarch, 20 years of introducing stuff on BBC TV - My friend Duncan is good at television. To me, it really means something to have the same person talking to the nation for two decades. (I was directing BBC One during his brilliant intro to Strictly at 2:33, an announcement which got a surreal amount of attention.)
Will You Be My Friend? The Making of Parallel 9 - Jonathan Bufton completes his wonderful set of articles looking at the much-maligned Saturday morning series, this time in its third and final incarnation. This is gold-standard stuff on how to write about the TV programmes of your youth: interviews, paperwork, and examining the actual material properly.
Shopping Day: a 24-hour look at J. Sainsbury - A fascinating short from 1963 showing a day in the life of the supermarket. What I find notable about this is the entire lack of narration, letting the pictures speak for themselves. If I made documentaries, I’d love to be brave enough to still so that.
The Secret Army - I know I mentioned this documentary about a lost 70s IRA documentary in my last issue, but it deserves another. One of the best things the BBC has broadcast in the last decade. (The moment at 23:04, where the music kicks in from the original doc, is almost absurdly hauntological.)
Models All The Way Down - The nuts and bolts about how current generative AI models work. I’ve not talked about these much on Dirty Feed - I actually had an article ready to go on them, but decided it was too simplistic. Read this instead.
That mysterious font is Festive, not Stymie - Fun with mid-20th century fonts, by Ray Newman. And to go with it:
How I Choose Typefaces - by Dan Mall. I love how this is resolutely practical advice, which anybody can use.
The Full Interview: Björk and Julia Davis - From 2016, but I missed it at the time. Come for the unexpected meeting of minds, stay for them being unexpectedly honest. (via Lee Thompson)
Granada Goals Extra, the (partially) lost story - By Mike Whalley. Standard disclaimer: fascinating even if you hate football. Absolutely begging to be a BBC Four docudrama c. 2008.
Hyacinth Bucket’s Bookshelf - Sadly, it’s Lewis Pringle who has the most interesting Keeping Up Appearances FACTS in this newsletter.
Friends shocked to learn Princess Diana is dead (Historic 1997 video) - Description from the uploader: “Friends playing cards learn that Princess Diana was injured in a car accident, then react when TV news says she has died. I recorded this home video in 1997 and it sat in a box for many years. This is the full, unedited version as I recorded it that night, from the original videotape.” Beyond that… just watch it.
Bill Matthews Comedy Rarities - Some absolutely incredibly, ultra-rare comedy here, although beware of Dalek voices on some of the uploads. Still: the Cambridge Footlights Revue 1977! (via Billy Smart)
Power Rangers: The “Lost” Second Pilot - By Shamus Kelley. And I thought Amy Jo Johnson was the only thing about Power Rangers to give me an erection.
If Miyamoto Never Said His Most Famous Quote, Who Did? - Got to love a quote investigation, and this is a particularly good one. (via Flap Jack on G&T)
The Wi-Fi only works when it's raining - Predrag Gruevski with one of the most satisfying stories you will ever read. (I also rather like the idea of April Cools’ Club, less because I think April Fools’ Day is a “worldwide cringefest”, and more because I do like the idea of making it a day where people publish things outside their usual wheelhouse. I already have an idea I can contribute in 2025…)
Oh, and if anyone knows anything about the whereabouts of these Children’s BBC animations, then I’m sure the original creator Jeremy Ruston would love to hear from you.
And that’s your lot. See you later in the month. In the meantime, here’s a glimpse of the VERY VERY IMPORTANT article I’m working on at the moment: