Very much like on television, only taller. Sporting tramp chic dishevelment and slightly pot bellied.
Heading North to Highbury Corner (home of the Hen and Chickens). I only need Noel Fielding now to complete a Mighty Boosh 3 writing team.
Category Archives: London
Comedy Spot Max Out
David Mitchell on the tube, picking his nose and reading the Plot Against America. Looks better in life than on film. Meanwhile once off the Tube managed to spot Justin Lee Collins weaving towards the West Country train on his way from Heathrow. Another tall television presenter, sporting brightly dyed hair. Actually looks like some outlandish cartoon character in real life.
Adjoa Andoh, Brixton
Pushing her way through incoming commuter traffic at Brixton Station. Wearing an electric blue dress, looking harried but striking.
Who she, you ask? The one wot plays Martha Jones’s mum in TV’s Doctor Who. Never mind that though she was Condi Rice in Stuff Happens and that’s not yer average claim to fame.
Art in the Park
By chance I stumbled across the Sotheby’s contemporary art exhibition in one of Londons squares this weekend. Giving that it was bucketing down with rain it was a welcome refuge and a chance to catch up with the art world in a venue that wasn’t absolutely heaving (unlike the Royal Academy).
The first shocker was that Bansky now rates about 40K+ for each painting. If the guy graffittis your house is now adds approximately 15% to its value. Yowzer! And to think how many times Bristol City Council erased his earlier (presumably more valuable) works.
The second was a reminder of how disturbing the Chapman Brothers mutant children are. I haven’t seen any of them for a while and I won’t be rushing out for some more anytime soon.
The exhibition was pretty excellent really for something free and drawn entirely from sales. It is always interesting to see how many Andy Warhols there are and what their expected prices are. There are a lot and they are probably cheaper than you expected. I also always come away from a collection of Warhols with a higher opinion of him as an artist. I think he really was one of the great artists of the last century and as his influence continues possibly one of the greatest artists ever.
One aspect of the show that was very new to me was the wave of Chinese contemporary art that has been going international recently. I had heard about it but actually it is all its cracked up to be and I would definitely like to see a more specifically curated show on the subject.
Finally there were a few Grayson Perry vases. I’m not sure whether this was or wasn’t the first time I’ve seen his work but I did think that his Turner Prize was deserved on the basis of this work.
Coldplay, Air Studios
All of Coldplay kicking a football around while Chris Martin texts away with huge student hair. A million points to me. Can only be topped by the addition of Gwynie and Baby Pomme.
I saw Coldplay once; before they were famous… blah, blah, blah, etc. etc.
Richard Ayoade, Cross Street, Islington
Chatting on his mobile phone, big afro, voice less sharp and arch than on television. Fashion-sense highly retro, tres cool.
Tracey Thorn
Spotted On My Street! Looks… identical to the videos and press photos.
Small child elaborating a complex scenario in tow.
Bobby Gillespie
Islington Green, wearing expensive looking clothes and an even more expensive haircut. Looking healthy and carrying a jiffy bag, helpfully marked “Robert Gillespie” to confirm the spot.
Helena Bonham-Carter and Tim Burton
BooYah! An easy double-spot as film director and actress walk their child past Lyndhurst Air Studios. Helena is usually a bit scary but seemed less nuts that usual and she is movie star good looking. Burton looks like a cross between a busker and a tramp. A tramp in expensive clothes I assume. Apart from the big sunglasses he looks like a hippy dad not a master film maker.
Celeb Spotting Roundup
Since I’ve fallen behind we have:
Micheal Buerke, Shaftesbury Avenue, expensive raincoat, face like a blancmange in the process of slipping from his skull.
Alan Davies, Upper Street, Islington, tall, grey, with a copy of the Independent and a dyed blonde girlfriend. Less friendly looking than you might expect and looks more like a museli eater.
Kim Newman, Upper Street, not sure about this one. I only really know him from those awful talking head shows. 100 favourite ear syringings and the like.
Echo One 