"They're speaking my lines!"

I haven't seen those films; but they sound wicked. I wil see if I can get hold of them.

Ah yes, I was at Hogwarts School of Street Theatre with his son Harry, who was often to be heard muttering, "They're casting my spells!" In drama classes Harry was played by Albert Finney, in science by Albert Einstein, and in cookery Albert Roux conjured up many noteworthy performances. The conviction with which he delivered the line, "They're baking my cake!" was chilling, in stark contrast to the heat of the oven. The definitive account of Harry's time at Hogwarts is Matt Purland's "They're Ruining My Thread!", a work of great sensitivity and perception, far superior to his account of Railtrack's demise in "They're Stealing Our Lines!"

These were the two that really made me realise how brilliant both Dennis Potter and Albert Finney were. Though I know Albert finney's still going strong. Previously I'd see Blue Remembered Hills and The Singing detective, and I couldn't make my mind up about either. But you're right. I've never forgotten those two: that final scene when Albert Finney's severed head opens it's eyes and **********************: amazingly touching. I know you can get the two on DVD and video, but it really does pose an interesting question: why do only crap programs get repeated on TV? The asterisks are there because I didn't want to blow the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it. If that's the case, Search and Enjoy.

Thanks Pete, I will look for them on DVD (too lazy to just log onto Amazon.com, but will now make effort!) Thanks Zyv - you had to be there. Ah the summer of 1996. Rushing in from the SU to be there for the start of Karaoke. Absolutely unmissable. Watching in stunned silence as the story unfolded. Gasping in amazement at the unprecedented (fore and since?) collaboration between BBC and Channel 4 productions... watching Cold Lazarus on video before going off to summer job shift, 2-10pm (at plastics factory) and piecing it all together... dreaming of writing films and stuff... wondering what Dennis Potter's final scene would be like... happy memories.... Funky - guaranteed worth a watch.

Does anyone remember the last interview Potter gave (with Melvyn Bragg, I think) a few days before his death? It was one of the most poetic, humane and moving programmes I've ever seen, and even now some phrases Potter mentioned in the interview stay with me: on the realisation of the beauty of springtime (his last season) "I was looking out of the window the other day and noticed the cherry tree in the garden - it was the most blossomest of blossoms, the whitest of whites..." all spoken with a breathtaking serenity and courage. Not bad.

I think Potter was often misunderstood. He was an astonishing human being and writer but enlightened individuals were often confused and threatened by his work, especially TV bosses...

It'd be good to see the whole thing repeated soon wouldn't it? If they can have 16 hours of BB a day surely they can find a spot for it?

Well said. Big Brother is great though...great for my insomnia. Ten minutes of watching morons and I fall fast asleep. Potter keeps you awake, makes you think, makes you question....

I liked Potter, but I thought Karaoke was disappointing, and Cold Lazarus had all the production values of Doctor Who, and was so awful to look at, I couldn't enjoy it.

I guess it's the story that is still strong in the memory. Of course, they didn't have an Episode 2-style budget to work with. I still remember the city they designed though - where the skyscrapers just kept on getting taller.