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Martin Parr is a unique photographer in that he captures images that most of us simply wouldn't even register. He's worked all over the world but his special interest is two aspects of Englishness - working class fortitude and middle class aspiration. This documentary is an extension of Parr's photographic work. He seems to have been given a free hand to travel the UK filming moving picture versions of his stills and asking people what it means to be English. He appears to have been incredibly lucky to film in so much bad weather (which he loves). At one point passers-by walk almost horizontally against gale-force winds. He also likes rubbish cluttering the streets, and there's plenty of that too. Nobody says anything particularly scintillating, but it's not that kind of a film. The most notable moment is when an old bloke says that the blacks should be sent home, something we rarely hear today. At this point - again with astonishingly good timing - a black woman wanders into shot and says how much she loves living here. Did Parr get clearances from all the people who wandered into vision - I'm thinking particularly of the woman who lifts up her top several times - or wasn't it necessary back in 1999? I doubt if there will ever be another documentary quite like "Think of England", which makes it a must see. But I fully appreciate that it may not be your cup of tea. It was revived on BBC4 in the UK on 1.9.25 to tie in with a new Parr doco "I Am Martin Parr." That's a French production, which gives some idea of how highly Parr is regarded throughout the world.

This episode of "The Charlie Drake Show", which allegedly "no longer exists", was shown 15 June 2025 on BBC4. It's very much a curate's egg. The strangest element for present-day viewers is the long pieces to camera by a historian describing a fictitious battle. The information is irrelevant and has no jokes. The scenes with Charlie Drake as a jester, hitting everyone, including King Cnut, on the head with his bladder, show why Drake became a big star in the UK. His is a unique comic character with inimitable delivery. He wasn't noted for his wit, but he was a great clown. The battle scenes, with opposing armies lobbing cardboard boulders over castle walls at each other, are great knockabout. There's a pay-off involving the incident on a beach for which Cnut is most famous. The credits list the entire cast, even extras, and I was surprised to note the appearance of my former boss, director Pete Walker, here credited as Peter Walker. I re-ran my recording. Mr Walker is seated on the right in the banquet scene. Hope this is all of some interest.

"Carry On Laughing", semi-forgotten TV series from 1975, is currently back on TV again (in UK on Rewind TV). It's funnier than you might expect and this is one of the best episodes. It's one of several featuring Lord Peter Flimsy (Jack Douglas) and his man Punter (Kenneth Connor), a parody of Dorothy L. Sayers' characters. Douglas is miscast as the aristocratic sleuth, and it doesn't matter in the slightest. The plot is ridiculous; ditto. What's surprising is that Dave Freeman's script is far better than the one he wrote for the dreadful "Carry on Columbus", last in the film series. The innuendos are clever and, what's more, there's a preponderance of rude poetry and tongue-twisters. A very long one that Joan Sims is saddled with is perfectly delivered. I nearly applauded at the end.