TWO charities have raised around £5,000 from a quiz hosted by Matt Lucas from ‘Little Britain’.
Harrow hospital radio station, Radio Northwick Park and the Alan Senitt Memorial Trust joined forces to organise the fundraiser held two weeks ago.
Proceeds from the event were made through tickets sales, a raffle and an auction with a framed ‘Alice in Wonderland’ film poster signed by Matt Lucas up for grabs. The total amount will be split equally between the two trusts.
Half will go towards the £25,000 studio refurbishment for Radio Northwick Park and the other half will go on the £150,000 Alan Senitt Hillel Student Centre.
Comedian Matt Lucas who is also a patron of the Alan Senitt Memorial Trust said: “I grew up in Stanmore so Northwick Park is a hospital I have visited relatives in, so it’s a hospital I know. So it’s nice to be able to help these two charities.”
He added: “It’s really nice in these difficult times that people are still able to come and support charities and so we’re really heartened by the fact that over 300 people turned up.”
Chairperson of the Alan Senitt Memorial Trust, Emma Senitt said: “The event has gone really well and been very successful.
The quiz consisted of 10 rounds with general knowledge questions on food and drink, currents affairs, and film and television.
There were 30 teams made up of 10 people on each. The wining team was Quiz Team Aguilera who won a trophy.
One of the members of the winning team and Radio Northwick Park volunteer, Malcolm Clarke, 54, Warden Avenue, Rayners Lane said: “We won because the team really gelled together to account of our strengths and weaknesses.”
Radio Northwick Park provides entertainment for patients at Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road. The Alan Senitt Memorial Trust promotes interfaith dialogue and the education of Israel.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Matt Lucas and the ethical dilemma
As an aspiring journalist I am learning to manoeuvre through the minefield that can be interviews.
One should never let their emotions or personal feelings get in the way of an interview.
Although Adam Boulton showed that this is not always possible earlier this week in his live cat fight with Alistair Campbell.
As part of a piece that was rejected by my local paper I recently interviewed Matt Lucas of ‘Little Britain’ fame.
The interview was minimal to the story which was about a charity fundraiser organised by two community-based charities near me.
Matt was hosting the event and I wanted to get a couple of quotes about the evening.
Before the event I had mentioned to a lecturer that I was trying to interview Matt. It was suggested that I should try to find out his thoughts about the loss of his ex-husband, Kevin McGee back in October last year.
If I did so, I might have an exclusive on my hands that could set me on the path to tabloid stardom and beyond.
But when it came down to it would I be able to summon up a Paxman-like aura?
On the evening I flagged Matt down. He told me to “walk with him” in ‘West Wing’ style as he nipped out during the interval for a moment’s respite.
I followed him eagerly: unwittingly looking more puppy dog than news hound. I wasn’t fazed by the fame I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
I asked him the typical questions: Why he had decided to take part? How he was finding the evening? How long he had been involved with the charity?
Despite keeping my dictaphone steady, at the forefront of my mind was the encyclopaedic knowledge of his personal life.
Most of us retain our right to grieve in private but here was someone who had very publicly lost his partner.
It’s funny how the paparazzi descend like flies at the first scent of a dead body. Yet when my moment came to rip off the mourning veil, I just couldn’t do it.
He was calm and softly spoken: a complete contrast to the loud, rude, energetic personas of George Doors or Vicky Pollard.
Our interview was over in a matter of minutes and I left. I would never have asked him about how he felt. Yet there was a part of me, the human instinct that sought to comfort him.
In the end I managed to muster a “take care”, trying to exert my sympathy through pursed lips which I forced into a smile and lingering eye contact. I wonder if my expression translated.
I suppose this was my lesson in impartiality.
One should never let their emotions or personal feelings get in the way of an interview.
Although Adam Boulton showed that this is not always possible earlier this week in his live cat fight with Alistair Campbell.
As part of a piece that was rejected by my local paper I recently interviewed Matt Lucas of ‘Little Britain’ fame.
The interview was minimal to the story which was about a charity fundraiser organised by two community-based charities near me.
Matt was hosting the event and I wanted to get a couple of quotes about the evening.
Before the event I had mentioned to a lecturer that I was trying to interview Matt. It was suggested that I should try to find out his thoughts about the loss of his ex-husband, Kevin McGee back in October last year.
If I did so, I might have an exclusive on my hands that could set me on the path to tabloid stardom and beyond.
But when it came down to it would I be able to summon up a Paxman-like aura?
On the evening I flagged Matt down. He told me to “walk with him” in ‘West Wing’ style as he nipped out during the interval for a moment’s respite.
I followed him eagerly: unwittingly looking more puppy dog than news hound. I wasn’t fazed by the fame I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
I asked him the typical questions: Why he had decided to take part? How he was finding the evening? How long he had been involved with the charity?
Despite keeping my dictaphone steady, at the forefront of my mind was the encyclopaedic knowledge of his personal life.
Most of us retain our right to grieve in private but here was someone who had very publicly lost his partner.
It’s funny how the paparazzi descend like flies at the first scent of a dead body. Yet when my moment came to rip off the mourning veil, I just couldn’t do it.
He was calm and softly spoken: a complete contrast to the loud, rude, energetic personas of George Doors or Vicky Pollard.
Our interview was over in a matter of minutes and I left. I would never have asked him about how he felt. Yet there was a part of me, the human instinct that sought to comfort him.
In the end I managed to muster a “take care”, trying to exert my sympathy through pursed lips which I forced into a smile and lingering eye contact. I wonder if my expression translated.
I suppose this was my lesson in impartiality.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The limited roles of Asian actors
Everybody was talking about it or so the adverts would have you believe. It was supposedly “the best episode in the history of the series” according to one avid viewer. It even made a feature on BBC Breakfast.
I am referring to ‘Eastenders’, in particular the episode where devout Muslim, Syed Masood’s (Marc Elliott) gay relationship with Christian Clarke (John Partridge) is revealed.
It’s mostly a shock to Syed’s wife Amira (Preeya Kalidas) and Amira’s father Qadim Shah (Ramon Tikaram) who promptly beats his son-in-law several shades of blue.
However, the biggest surprise for me was seeing Ferdy (Tikaram) from ‘This Life’; Monica (Kalidas) (aka girl no.1# that gets called a slut) in ‘Bend it like Beckham’; the deplorable Mr. Kholi (Nitin Ganatra) from ‘Bride and Prejudice’; and Nina Wadia from ‘Goodness Gracious Me”. I felt like I was playing a game of “Where have I seen them before?”
There may be more Asian roles in film and television than ten years ago but only a stock set of Asian actors are getting them.
If you want a generic Asian guy why not call in Jimi Mistry? For the strict auntie Meera Syal is perfect, or for some light comic relief there is always Sanjeev Bhaskar.
All these actors are fantastically talented but surely their appearance in British entertainment would have opened up the door to other young hopefuls? Apparently not.
But it is not their fault instead it is the limited vision with which roles are cast. Why can’t an Asian person be a goth or a drug dealer or a footballer or even a prostitute? There is no logical reason, it may be more unusual but not impossible.
Unfortunately, all these roles are falling foul of racial bias. Asians are doctors, corner shop owners, terrorists or caught in arranged marriages which explains why I suffer from déjà vu whenever I watch any Anglo-Asian productions. I had one such case while watching “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife”.
I have clearly overestimated the Asian revolution in the British media. I was so hopeful that “Goodness Gracious Me” and “Bend it like Beckham” would signal the beginning of a new era for Asians on television and film but it just hasn’t happened.
The so-called “Goodness Gracious Me” trickle down effect which was believed to increase Asian prominence in British media has dried up.
It doesn’t help the BBC Asian Network is shutting up shop. Not even “Slumdog Millionaire” has really helped the cause but then again it was always more the offspring of India than Britain.
All I can say is that I hope to one day see an Asian actor as the lead in an action film or a romantic comedy or a horror flick which has nothing to do with their ethnicity. For now, if you want a suicide bomber then Riz Ahmed is your man.
I am referring to ‘Eastenders’, in particular the episode where devout Muslim, Syed Masood’s (Marc Elliott) gay relationship with Christian Clarke (John Partridge) is revealed.
It’s mostly a shock to Syed’s wife Amira (Preeya Kalidas) and Amira’s father Qadim Shah (Ramon Tikaram) who promptly beats his son-in-law several shades of blue.
However, the biggest surprise for me was seeing Ferdy (Tikaram) from ‘This Life’; Monica (Kalidas) (aka girl no.1# that gets called a slut) in ‘Bend it like Beckham’; the deplorable Mr. Kholi (Nitin Ganatra) from ‘Bride and Prejudice’; and Nina Wadia from ‘Goodness Gracious Me”. I felt like I was playing a game of “Where have I seen them before?”
There may be more Asian roles in film and television than ten years ago but only a stock set of Asian actors are getting them.
If you want a generic Asian guy why not call in Jimi Mistry? For the strict auntie Meera Syal is perfect, or for some light comic relief there is always Sanjeev Bhaskar.
All these actors are fantastically talented but surely their appearance in British entertainment would have opened up the door to other young hopefuls? Apparently not.
But it is not their fault instead it is the limited vision with which roles are cast. Why can’t an Asian person be a goth or a drug dealer or a footballer or even a prostitute? There is no logical reason, it may be more unusual but not impossible.
Unfortunately, all these roles are falling foul of racial bias. Asians are doctors, corner shop owners, terrorists or caught in arranged marriages which explains why I suffer from déjà vu whenever I watch any Anglo-Asian productions. I had one such case while watching “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife”.
I have clearly overestimated the Asian revolution in the British media. I was so hopeful that “Goodness Gracious Me” and “Bend it like Beckham” would signal the beginning of a new era for Asians on television and film but it just hasn’t happened.
The so-called “Goodness Gracious Me” trickle down effect which was believed to increase Asian prominence in British media has dried up.
It doesn’t help the BBC Asian Network is shutting up shop. Not even “Slumdog Millionaire” has really helped the cause but then again it was always more the offspring of India than Britain.
All I can say is that I hope to one day see an Asian actor as the lead in an action film or a romantic comedy or a horror flick which has nothing to do with their ethnicity. For now, if you want a suicide bomber then Riz Ahmed is your man.
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