April 2007
WUNDERKAMMERN

Sunday 29th April 2007
WELCOME TO WESTON-SUPER-MARE

*featuring the real ginger joe.

I'm still obsessed by the sheer genius of Roddy Woomble.

Thursday 19th April 2007
ALASDAIR JEFFREY - THE BULLSHIT DETECTIVE

"The premise of the show is to confront the people peddling this nonsense and enlighten customers who think they are genuine." Alasdair told The Sun.

First appearing in 'Trouble at the Top' in 2004, and then on his own series, The Ferocious Mr Fix-it, Alasdair's built a reputation for cutting through the utter bollocks that pervades the world of business. According to the Sunday Times, Alasdair "...makes John Harvey-Jones 'Troubleshooter' look like an episode of Captain Pugwash and the inhabitants of 'Dragon's Den' as scary as midges."

I particularly admired the way he dealt with office bullies on his last series. Picture a Scottish version of Ray Winstone's character in Scum, hiding around a corner wielding a snooker ball-laden sock.

I've always been a fan of Alasdair's straight-talking style, so it's great to be talking to him about working on a couple of projects. Remarkably, he hasn't yet said "Oh for fuck's sake" and slammed down the phone. Give it time.

Sussex Flying Club is housed at Shoreham Airport, the oldest licensed airfield in the UK, and a stunning Grade II listed art deco style Terminal Building.

Look out for the giant fluorescent cyclists.

Tim preparing himself for take off: "Foxtrot India Sierra Hotel Sierra Oscar Uniform Papa..."

Edward, running for the cockpit.

And before we knew it, Edward had us skimming the roofs of East Sussex. Favourite saying of the day: "What we're about to do now is technically illegal, but there's no-one around to see....Hold on tight..."

Brighton from above.

Belle Tout lighthouse at Beachy Head was built in 1832 and decommissioned in 1902. In 1998 a major fundraising drive was launched to pay for the building to moved after 30 foot of cliff edge in front collapsed into the sea. It was featured in the BBC series the Life and Loves of a She Devil.

Celebrating the fact that we're still alive.

On the way back we stopped off to admire the chapel of Lancing College.

This is a video by my buddy Al who comes from the US of States. He's made it as part of a campaign to help elect Barack Obama to the US presidency. Some nice moves you've got there Al.

Thursday 5th April 2007
HOLY ORDERS

British supermarket Somerfield has been criticised after a press release was sent out by its PR agency Brando which urged us, this Easter, to celebrate “the birth of Jesus". After some heated PR-style theological debate ("So Santa rose from the dead after three days, ya?.."), the press release was amended to read “the rebirth of Christ” and reissued. Then, after a consultation with the Church of England, unbelievably, yet another release was sent, reading correctly “the resurrection” of Christ.

Read more about it on Times Online. I'm far too busy wrapping presents and decorating my tree to worry about such trifles.

Monday 2nd April 2007
PROJECT CATWALK ANNOUNCES WINNER

Congratulations Wayne Aveline - winner of Sky One's reality show Project Catwalk.

I took this picture of Wayne at the beginning of a campaign we worked on to promote a new Nikon camera. The camera had a twisting lens, so Wayne and I created the character of 'Twisted Sister' and went
on to have a fun summer traveling around the country touring clubs and bars with Wayne taking pictures of revelers, handing out cards advertising details of the campaign website designed by my friend Tim.

Some unique memories from a very funny summer which kicked off with one of those "if my mother could see me now" moments as I laced up a drag queen's corset in a Kings Cross flat.

Kelly Osbourne, who presented the series, said: “Wayne is not a run of the mill designer. He can do rock chic or monotone classic and still make it look amazing. I think that out of the designers he is the most talented tailor.

“I think Wayne won because people expected him to do something really crazy and he somehow managed to tone it down enough and still at the same time stay true to himself.” Wayne wins £20,000 and is about to have his own range in Debenhams.

Wayne, when you're rich and famous, don't forget our days of smoking spliffs with Oz comedians, staggering around the streets of Cardiff at 4am and dodging hurled drinks in dingy Edinburgh basements...

Sunday 1st April 2007
SKINNED WINNER CELEBRATES

Just when I thought I'd discovered just about all there is to know about bad TV, I came across 'Skinned' - a four week reality TV show featuring six contestants in a US style Big Brother house equipped with stacks of hidden cameras. The game is quite simple - a $100,000 prize goes to the person who can peel off the largest quantity of their own skin over the course of the series. Viewers call to vote on which body parts should be peeled next, and food and treats are awarded for bravery, creative technique and particularly tricky body parts.

It's perfect viewing: excitement, nudity, emotion, a wee bit of gore and a competition element.

The team are given regular on-screen counselling and a medical team is on hand to assist with pain control, minimise blood loss and help prevent infections.

Apparently there's a follow-up fly-on-the-wall series currently in production: 'Skinned - The Aftermath' which will follow the skinless six as they settle back into their everyday lives.

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