Nice Things

Sad news, but a good long life well lived! Jeremy Brett's original Watson, David Burke has died. Like all Sherlockians of my vintage, David and Jeremy thrilled when they first leapt onto our screens, and still do! RIP patreon.com/posts/david-bu…

We’re back! I honestly don’t think you’ll ever have heard an interview with the legendary Bonnie Langford like this one before. #DoctorWho

The doors to Rymill & Son’s #DoctorWho Emporium have opened once again. Tales of Winter Hill, lost religion and an encounter with a sci-di star in a public toilet await… iTunes-> podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rym… Spotify-> open.spotify.com/episode/0l5wr1… Audible-> audible.co.uk/pd/B0GS1QMTF9?…

I felt the pull toward a charity shop today. That can only mean one thing- there was BBC tat lurking. Sure enough, BBC Sound Effects volume 1, 2 and 16 (Disasters!) were awaiting me, along with a spot of Hilda Ogden. Lovely stuff! What do you reckon @BBCRecordsVinyl? Not bad, eh?

Happy Birthday to one of the nicest chaps I've ever met - who also happens to be one of my comedy heroes - #MichaelPalin

Another trip to the Emporium and I dredged up my memories of Davros and K9 arguing for me as well as just how damn special my Grandad was. #DoctorWho

50 years today, the guv’nor died #SidJames. I don't recall a time when I didn't know who Sid was. The fact he’s still loved half a century later says everything. Hancock, Ealing, Carry On...wot a legacy! If people are still around in 1000 years, Sid will be making 'em laugh.

Very happy to be on host and chatting duties in this curious new #DoctorWho show.

@PaulVanezis @BBCArchive Sorry if this is a stupid question - but haven't seen it directly stated anywhere. Has the film been re-edited from scratch a la the TNG releases? As I understood it, the only copy of the TVM was on tape and that was the only way to create a HD version. Thanks and well done!

Big thanks to everyone at @BBCArchive for their invaluable help in the remastering of the Doctor Who TV Movie, in particular Paul Doherty and Claire Coss. The film will be sent back to Universal in Los Angeles, but in the meantime it's in the care of the BBC Archive.

Actual comic from childhood

Isn't it astonishing that we all knew at a cellular level that one day Jamiroquai would evolve into Bill Oddie?

Had a great Peter Bowles dream. Woke up and remembered Peter Bowles is no longer with us. The day can only get better from hereon in.

@JohnnyFocal Greatly appreciate your analysis - especially in this case as Barry Lyndon is one of the greatest movies ever made. If you saw it projected in the great man's presence and you recommend then that's good enough for me. Hopefully I can buy it in the UK...

Again: two discs, same film, same source, two completely different outcomes. You’ve got the Criterion Barry Lyndon, and you’ve got the Warner Bros. European/UK disc (same disc across Europe). And to all the muppets who think I’m a bot and don’t know what I’m talking about: welcome to Lesson 2. Criterion has absolutely nailed it. Full Enhancement Layer Dolby Vision — proper reconstruction to 12-bit 4:2:2. Better chroma, better gradation, better dynamic range. On a decent projector, it’s stunning. Even on TVs it looks great — I tested on three LGs, all calibrated (CalMAN), because if you’re judging discs on an uncalibrated display, you’re wasting everyone’s time. Now here’s the real question: how did Criterion butcher Eyes Wide Shut with a compromised 10-bit situation… yet get Barry Lyndon this perfect? The Criterion Barry Lyndon base layer is already strong, and the 12-bit FEL is divine. It pops. It breathes. It looks like care and intelligence went into every decision. The Warner Europe disc, by comparison, is lifeless. Yes, it has Dolby Vision, but it’s the minimal enhancement layer route — effectively a 10-bit compromise. Flat, grubby, lacking finesse. You have to ask: who QC’d this? Who signed it off? Because it’s the same story as Eyes Wide Shut: the base encode is awful, and the Dolby Vision metadata is basically covering up sins. Switch DV on and it sort of improves — but it shouldn’t need rescuing in the first place. This is why Scorsese bangs on about the projectionist: the last step can make or break everything. Same here. The final encode and QC decide whether Kubrick is honoured or compromised. I’ve seen Barry Lyndon projected many times — including in Kubrick’s presence — and the Criterion disc is about as close as you’re going to get in a domestic digital format. No, it doesn’t have the luminosity of a print, but electronically? It’s the best you’ll realistically see. Considering the DCP controversies, it’s remarkable how good this looks. So yes: buy the Criterion. Three discs, proper extras, and a reference-grade presentation. The Warner Europe/UK disc? One disc, bloated with multi-language/subtitle payload (bigger file ≠ , better disc), and a fundamentally compromised presentation. Not worth £23.99. It’s a coaster. Barry Lyndon (Criterion): 10/10. Barry Lyndon (Warner Europe): bin it. @Criterion @warnerbros @mdbmhk #eyeswideshut #BarryLyndon #Kubrick @Dolby @BrightSideHT @LegalBeagleOK @RalphAVSreviews @WBHomeEnt @WarnerBrosUK

What fresh shit is this? #Corriedale

Rewatched Precious Bane. One of the last great gasps of BBC drama before the old ways were finally abandoned. Janet McTeer, John Bowe, John McEnery, Clive Owen, Milton Johns, John Forgeham...on and on goes the exquisite cast list. Ridiculous it has never been officially released.

Currently enjoying a hand-picked home Carry On season this Crimbo, which today brings the titan that is ‘At Your Convenience. Tolly Rothwell should have been knighted for the ‘Joey’ sub-plot. There were probably a dozen or so indie bands called ‘Peewit the Third’ in the early 90s

Your fault ⁦@hellothisisivan⁩

I firmly believe that millions more people would be prepared to buy a TV licence were Derek to return to our screens more often.

@hellothisisivan …and all joyous. For me the very comfiest - for reasons beyond its sheer quality which are so nebulous and ephemeral I could write a book on em - is the Christmas one fest Roy Barracliugh. Pure Soma.

@NiceThingsShow I love how cos it’s an ITV sitcom there’s about 300 episodes of it made in the course of 3 years or so

Sorry to go all Anon Opinion but George & Mildred is vastly underrated & belongs in the top tier of British sitcoms