John Fleming (I)

Who was Stanley Unwin?

In 1980, I wrote an article, based on interviews, for Marvel Comics' Starburst magazine about the little-remembered 1969 Gerry Anderson series The Secret Service.

The lead role was played both by the 'real' live version and by a puppet version of eccentric performer and 'professor' of gobbledegook Stanley Unwin.

The series only lasted for 13 episodes. ATV/ITC boss Lew Grade apparently thought the Americans would have trouble understanding 'Unwinese'.

In the next two days, I will be posting my 1980 article on The Secret Service as a two-parter.

Douglas Adams talks. Part 4

After Parts One, Two and Three, the final part of my 1980 interview with Douglas Adams...

Douglas Adams talks. Part 3

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this 1980 interview, Douglas Adams told me about how the radio, stage and book versions of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy came into being. In Part 3 (of 4), he talks about how the TV and movie versions did and did not happen.

Douglas Adams talks. Part 2

In yesterday's blog, Douglas Adams talked about his life before success. Today, the interview continues. I talked to him for Marvel Comics in 1980.

Douglas Adams talks. Part 1

In 1980, I interviewed writer Douglas Adams for Marvel Comics. The result was published as a two-part piece in the March and April 1981 issues of their Starburst magazine. I am republishing the interview in four parts in this blog. Here is Part One...

Mr Twonkey pays tribute to Ivor Cutler

Influences are always interesting. Malcolm Hardee Comedy Award winner Paul Vickers is currently preparing for his new show - Twonkey's Night Train to Liechtenstein - at the Glasgow Comedy Festival next Friday (9th March). Paul performs as Mr Twonkey, definitely one of the more eccentric acts in British comedy. He reminded me that today (3rd March) is the anniversary of the death in 2006 of Ivor Cutler - Scottish poet, songwriter, humorist and arguably the eccentric performers' eccentric.

Worldwide comments on Louise Reay's husband court case

I don't think the current court case could easily be the subject of some future TV documentary. More a TV sitcom.

Louise Reay, her husband & destructiveness of publicity

Last Friday, I blogged about Louise Reay being sued by her estranged husband over an Edinburgh show which, let's face it - Louise is good, but - only a small number of people had ever seen. On Saturday, the Chortle comedy website picked up the story. On Monday, the Guardian newspaper was reporting it. On Tuesday morning, it was on Channel 5. By Tuesday teatime, it was on the BBC World Service. By this morning - Wednesday - on a very superficial search (excluding blogs and social media mentions) these outlets (listed alphabetically) had reported the story.

Becky Fury proposes marriage while chatting to me

Yesterday's blog was about my first stage appearance at Martyn Sadler's new comedy club in East London. Malcolm Hardee Award-winning comedian Becky Fury had performed there a month before - on its opening night. I had tea with her at a branch of Pret a Manger yesterday afternoon. I thought we were going to talk about the new club - and we started on that - but then the subject changed unexpectedly.

Noel Faulkner reviews John Fleming's first performance

Last Wednesday night I took to the stage for the first time. I appeared doing a 10-minute spot in a Valentine's Night special at Martyn Sadler's new comedy club in East London. It was, perhaps, a rather rowdier audience than I would have preferred. But, sitting in the audience, was comedy promoter Noel Faulkner, who founded the Comedy Cafe - now at its new venue in Shoreditch. He was kind enough to share this review of my act via social media the next day.