Cbak

The second series has been running for a few weeks. The series opened with Jeremy Paxman (for those who don't know him, he's very well known in Britain as the most hard-nosed, cynical, bullying, political interview around). He was most humbled by his family's less than spectacular background.

I am posting now because last night's show featured Stephen Fry (a highly intellectual speaker, presenter and comedian). He uncovered ancestors on his father's side who were in prison or a poorhouse, and probably dies of TB. Worse, he proved that some relatives on his mother's side had been murdered in Auschwitz, and that the only evidence of his family in Surany (now in Slovakia) is an old headstone in an often vandalised Jewish cemetery. This town was once a thriving Jewish community, but now has just one Jew, a remarkably upbeat old man.

Stephen Fry found a plaque an the wall outside a block of flats in Austria, which mentioned the names of former residents taken to Auschwitz. The plaque mentioned the names of members of Fry's family. This plaque, the run down cemetery, the discovery that his relatives had died in Auschwitz, and a letter written by the old man still living in Surany, all moved Stephen Fry (and me) to tears.

This was a brilliant programme.

Some of our American friends have made some quite OTT digs at this. Calm down, Guys! Does Spice World try to pierce your inner feelings with serious plots and depth of character? NO. Is it one of the best films ever made? Of course not! Does it have errors? YES. The bus chase at the end is funny for Londoners because when you've passed Buckingham Palace, you're only a couple of minutes drive away from the Albert Hall. You don't go via Tower Bridge! What the Hell, this film sets out to entertain, and does. There's a commercial in the UK with the catchphrase" It does exactly what it says on the tin". The same can be said of Spice World!