Author: Rix

RIP Bill Tidy

Bill Tidy, the beloved cartoonist renowned for his quick-witted and masterful artistry on popular shows such as Countdown and Countryfile, has passed away at the age of 89.

His devoted family, including his children Sylvia and Rob, were by his side and paid tribute to their “most brilliant cartoonist and the very best dad”. Tidy’s lasting contributions to the art world include his celebrated works The Fosdyke Saga and The Cloggies, which captured the hearts of audiences throughout his illustrious career.

Sadly, Tidy’s health had been in decline in recent years after he suffered two serious strokes. Nonetheless, he continued to inspire and entertain, earning the admiration and respect of all those he encountered.

Born in Liverpool in 1933, Tidy did not have any formal artistic training but began his working life in the Royal Engineers branch of the Army. He sold his first sketch to a Japanese newspaper in 1955 and went on to publish cartoon strips in numerous national newspapers, including The Fosdyke Saga for the Daily Mirror and The Cloggies for Private Eye.

The Fosdyke Saga was such a success that it was eventually adapted into a 42-part radio series for the BBC in 1983. In addition to his newspaper work, Tidy appeared on many television shows, including Watercolour Challenge, Countdown, Blankety Blank, and Countryfile, and illustrated over 70 books.

Tidy’s contributions to journalism and the art world were recognized with an MBE in 2000, and he played a pivotal role in establishing the British Cartoonists’ Association. His passing is a great loss to his family, friends, and fans alike, and his legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.

Big Finish review-Torchwood: We always get out alive

In “We always get out alive,” Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams are faced with a cataclysmic event and must flee as fast as they can. As Torchwood operatives, they’re no strangers to danger and uncertainty, but this time there’s something else in the car with them, heightening the tension and suspense.

The audio production is a testament to the perfect synergy between writer Guy Adams and director Scott Handcock. While the premise of two characters sitting in a car for 98% of the audio may sound dull, Adams and Handcock have crafted an imaginative and captivating story that is both epic and intimate in scope.

Through the course of the audio, we gain deeper insight into the personal lives of Gwen and Rhys, and their struggles to balance their duties as Torchwood operatives with their responsibilities as parents. The natural chemistry between actors Eve Myles and Kai Owen shines through, adding to the authenticity and emotional resonance of the story.

Adams skillfully uses the audio format to his advantage, leveraging the constrictive nature of the car and the medium of audio to create a gripping and immersive experience for listeners. The audio is a strong character-driven piece, with well-crafted dialogue and superb acting that draws you in and keeps you engaged.

“We always get out alive” is a must-listen for fans of the Torchwood series and audio dramas in general. It is a well-crafted and engaging production that showcases the talents of everyone involved, earning it a solid 5/5 rating.

Big Finish Review-Torchwood:Believe

The Church of the Outsiders is on a mission to lead mankind to a new era of evolution, one that takes them beyond the stars. But Torchwood’s Owen Harper believes they must do everything in their power to stop them. With the original Torchwood team back together in full-cast audio, fans have been eagerly awaiting this moment. Despite the actors recording their parts separately, the result is flawless. You won’t be able to tell the difference, and it’s a joyous reunion.

Set before the end of series 2, Guy Adams has perfectly captured the era, creating an episode that feels like it was plucked straight from 2008. The performances are outstanding, with John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, and Gareth David-Lloyd all shining. Each character is given the opportunity to develop, but the Owen/Tosh relationship is a particular highlight. Owen pushes Tosh to do unspeakable things while attempting to prove himself as a capable leader.

John Barrowman’s performance in this audio is absolutely fantastic. Despite recording his parts separately from the rest of the team, his chemistry with his co-stars is still palpable. He effortlessly slips back into the role of Captain Jack Harkness and delivers a performance that is both charming and commanding. Barrowman’s energy and enthusiasm for the character and the series shine through in every line, making it a real treat for fans to hear him back in action as the iconic Torchwood leader.

Prequel stories can be challenging, but Guy Adams’ script and Gareth David-Lloyd’s performance are so compelling that there’s one moment in particular where you’ll be genuinely concerned for Ianto’s fate. With such high quality, 2018 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Torchwood on audio. This is a must-listen, earning a 10/10 rating.

Spoiler-free Review-Rogue One: A Star Wars story

In this spoiler-free review of Star Wars Rogue One, I dive into the latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise. Join me as I discuss the film’s plot, characters, and cinematography, without giving away any crucial details.

I’ll explore how the movie fits into the larger Star Wars universe and whether it lives up to the high expectations of fans. Whether you’re a lifelong Star Wars enthusiast or a newcomer to the galaxy far, far away, this podcast is for you. So grab some blue milk and join me for an exciting discussion of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Suicide Squad-Stupid critics

Have you seen Suicide Squad? What do you think?!

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Vlog-MCM London, May 2017

Have a look at what happened at MCM in May 2017. Catherine Tate, Warwick Davis, The Original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and much much more… From Cosplay, to Comics… It is all in here! Enjoy!

Thanks to MCM for inviting me to experience this event, I had an absolute blast. For all information about future MCM Eventes, click here.

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Vlog-MCM London, May 2016

This weekend, I Attended the MCM Comic Con it was a fantastic experience. Each year is better than the last. Have a look at what I got up to and some of the wonderful people I met.

Thanks to MCM for inviting me to experience this event, I had an absolute blast. For all information about future MCM Eventes, click here.

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Vin Diesel confirms new fast and furious trilogy

Rumours hit the net last week that Vin Diesel was being difficult, when it came to the Fast and Furious Franchise. Apparently he and Universal Pictures couldn’t see eye-to-eye on who should be given directing duties on Furious 8.

Well, it seems the rumour was a little unfounded. Diesel took to his Facebook account this weekend to clear a few thing up. He also confirmed a new trilogy.

He said:

“The fans of the Fast & Furious SAGA are the best fans in the world. Since I became the Producer in 2008, you have been with me every step of the way. Literally giving me feedback that proved invaluable. Thank you.
My producing partner Neal would love for me to just sign off on a director, but this is too special a franchise, so these matters have to be very carefully handled. To be clear, NO ONE has been offered to helm Fast 8 yet, let alone seen a script. Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision… they have been like family… I promised the studio I would deliver one last Trilogy to end the saga. I will announce the directors on my next post.”

Review- Big Finish:Terror of the Sontarans

Terror of the Sontarans concludes the trilogy of main range stories for the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel (Bonnie Langford).

The adventure takes place on a mining facility, which is now acting as a Sontaran research base. The Doctor and Mel are responding to a distress beacon and have arrived to find the base seemingly empty. Deep down in the depths of the facility, they stumble across the original crew, whom are being held prisoner.

Something is picking the crew off one-by-one and even the Sontarans are running scared.

I’ll admit, I am one of the Doctor Who fans that doesn’t like how the Sontarans have been handled on the TV series recently. But, with this the writers have found an intriguing balance between the seriousness of the classic Sontarans and the silliness of modern Sontarans and the end result is a perfect blend of the two ideologies.

Bonnie Langford and Sylvester McCoy are flawless here, they sound exactly the same as they did in the 80’s, at times it’s as if they’ve just finished recording an episode for the BBC and entered the recording booth for Big Finish.

Langford really suffered on the TV series, but Big Finish have given her some solid material, that really allows her to shine. She is fast becoming my favourite Big Finish companion.

The direction is also spot-on, by the ever-reliable Ken Bentley.

Big Finish have been consistently good this year, I  can’t wait for 2016.

 

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