Perils of anabolic steroids, originally uploaded by Thoroughly Good.
The chocolatey tones of the continuity announcer did make it quite clear that some clips in the Lost World of Communism DVD copy available via Amazon) documentary would be disturbing. Take it from me, you probably don’t want to be eating your tea when you watch this. It’s not violent and worthy of ringing and complaining, but there are moments which left me breathless.
There are people getting caught in barbed wire fences, disturbing anecdotes from prison camps and sickening sights of greed and arrogance from a hunt attended by various party officials, one of whom seemed to be a pretty poor shot.
But by far the most disturbing and the most memorable was the case of one former East German shotputter who as a teenage girl was encouraged to start a course of anabolic steroids. Prolonged use resulted in a serious identity crisis – the looks of a man in the body of a woman. No surprise then this particular former athelete found herself having to undergo a sex change.
The first of a series of three documentaries juxtaposing unseen archive footage with some surprising opinions about the former communist state – singer Christine Doerk was one of a handful of contributors who explained how life was actually quite good before the Berlin Wall came down – made for an engaging and informative hour of documentary television.
Series producer Peter Molloy spoke to Clive Anderson on Saturday’s Loose Ends about the series.
Assistant producer Kerstin Fischer writes about her experiences for BBC News Online
Frankly, if I can spend three and a half hours updating some pages about the Eurovision then the least you can do would be to spend the twelve or so minutes required to pour over the next four songs in Eurovision 2009.
Well, you can if you want. No-one’s forcing you. And I’d be the last person to pedal guilt as a motivating factor. Me being an expert on guilt .. it would be a little hippocritical.
So, for your viewing pleasure (and possible musical pleasure) roll up for Serbia, Sweden, Russia and Ireland.
(There was going to be seven entries to preview, but I’m way too tired and in need of a beer to be able to complete all of that tonight.)
At the time of posting this 245,000 had seen this video already which almost certainly means most people who find themselves reading this post will have seen it already.
Admittedly this mash-up of Estelle’s American Boy with a regional spin may not necessarily flick the “funny” switch if you haven’t spent any time in the great East Anglia.
Even so, watching this has reminded me I ought to ring my parents who will almost share mine and the video’s take on Thetford and its occupants.
A seriously cut down list on last week’s extensive homework …
Mark Steel’s in Town \ Radio 4 \ Wednesday 18 March \ 6.30pm
I spent an afternoon in the company of a former Radio 4 news editor extolling the virtues of radio over TV to an assembled crowd of shiny journalism trainees. It was a joy to listen to and reaffirmed my love affair with the medium. I’m hoping for lots of ambient sound, storytelling and useful reminder of what makes good radio in this particular piece about what makes the town of Skipton in Yorkshire distinctive, presented by Mark Steele. I hope I’m not disappointed.
Woman’s Hour \ Radio 4 \Thursday 19 March \ 10.00am
Nora and Mira Award the Israeli/Arab-Israeli singing duo controversially representing Israel at Eurovision 2009 entry is focussed on in Woman’s Hour. Good to get some analysis of their contribution in on Radio 4.
Crossing Continents: Israel’s Goodness Gracious Me \ Radio 4 \ Thursday 19 March \ 11.00am
With Israel & Eurovision appearing on Woman’s Hour before it, I’ve been hooked into a subject I would normally dismiss because I’m turned off by how complicated it is. Mukul Devichand seeks out contributions from the cast and writers of an Israeli TV comedy which picks out the humouress side of Arab lives in Israel. Interesting and challenging.
If it turns out my conservative estimates as to how much radio time I have available this week change, I’ll update it here. So be sure to bookmark and check back.
Truly Multiplatform, originally uploaded by Thoroughly Good.
In comparison the razmatazz of the opening episode featuring Sarah Ferguson and Ed Byrne, this episode wasn’t quite as entertaining.
Mind you, there was a nice tie-in with a lady in Canada who runs the knitting website Yarn Harlot who appears to like photographing celebrities from unusual angles when they’re least expecting it. Quite why anyone would want to do that I don’t know, but she seemed very nice when we heard her on the phone and she seems tickled pink to have participated on The Graham Norton Show.
Watch Episode 2 if you’re in the UK. If you’re outside the UK, then I’m sorry. I’m you’ll get to see it eventually, somewhere.
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