May 2009 Archives

Here's my poem to mark Everton's brave fight in London Town.
As performed on City Talk's Rob McLoughlin Sunday Show May 31 2009

Heaven Sent

Flicking through the papers - switching on the news
Woke up this morning without the FA blues
For in every single photo and TV replay of the team
I'm sure I saw the ghost of the late, great Dixie Dean

I saw him sitting in the stands
Singing and joking with Everton fans
I saw him waving to Mr Kenwright
Shouting over: "Bill - it'll be alright"
I saw him in the dug out whispering in Moyesy's ears
very wierd
Then standing on the touchline
He appeared then disappeared

I saw him cheer as Everton went 1 nil up
Then saw him place a ghostly hand on the famous cup
But then a comeback - it was Chelsea's day
I saw him join heartbroken fans trundling down Wembley Way
But our legend had a heartfelt message - "get behind our beloved team
"C'mon we've another cup run - another European dream."

Putting away the papers
Switching off the news
Today I feel upbeat
about this story of the Blues
And now I hear whistling - sounds like the Z Cars theme
I know where it's coming from
The ghost of Dixie Dean

Peter G Grant

For Britain's Got Talent's deluded stars

Tabloid EXCLUSIVE

They wouldn't wait
tempted fate
SUSAN WON'T CRACK

SHE WON'T FLAG

IT'S HERS'

BOYLE - IN THE BAG

SCREEN WITH ENVY

I have been writing about television for 30 years - a large chunk of that time as the ECHO's TV editor and I also worked for What's ON TV in London.
I have to say Moving On, by Liverpool-based LA Productions. left a very strong impact - reminding me of the great Play For Today series.
Colin McKeown bringing in Jimmy McGovern as crucial team player was inspired because that is what Moving On was all about - teamwork . . . . quality stars, quality writing and a beacon for new talent in front of and behind the camera.
Five plays all in a week - the daytime audience didn't know what hit them.
It deserves a BAFTA and it is already the Scouse Pie TV Achievement of the Year award as it sparkled in the schedules and when it comes to TV reviewing I know what I am talking about.
So in the meantime here's the good news ...
Moving On has been nominated for the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards
for - Best New Drama Series.
You have until the 12th of June to cast votes on line at www.tvquick.co.uk
or www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk

We need to see it recommissioned the BBC deserves applause for bringing it to a mass audience.

Can we have it back, please?
So go on vote. I will.

Peter Grant

Hello Scouse Pie...ers.

Been a busy few days.
I was on the Rob McLoughlin radio show on Sunday. The City Talk morning review of the week gone and and week ahead is always a good way to share views.
I am now Poet in Residence.

It has a nice ring to it.

I said I would phone in topical poems to the show summarising the week's news so that will be good fun.
Then I was surprised to see the BBC's One Show had poets on talking about the same thing aking the wordsmiths to come up with a politically correct ode.
Rob's programme did it first.
I read out my poem MP Sauce ( you can find it below).
Tune into City Talk 105.9 each Sunday morning... from 7am. I know, but it's worth it.

Man United win again or as the The Kop magazine call them Man Ure.
Liverpool will be back take it as red.

THE Echo is asking readers for Everton fan
chant slogans for the FA Cup Final

Here's my one

EVERTON . . . . GO ON
GO ON
GO ON
GO ON
GO ON

It rhymes too,

Newcastle fighting for their lives again. Must write another poem for luck. Away the lads.

Happy May 10...

It's Crunch day for Newcastle on Monday
Here's my take for my Newcastle fans

Northern Shock

I saw a single Magpie today
Always a bad omen, they say
Hope Alan Shearer didn't see one too,
The black and white shirt turning melancholy blue

This is no rehearsal - no replay
So can canny Boro go all the way?
Hansen and Lawro say it's woefully dark
Match of the Day without St James' Park

Oh and Michael Owen
He could be going
If the Likely Lads don't stay up
Will Ashley ever see a cup?

C'mon, 'away the lads' - you need motivation
How about one word - relegation
Get some celeb support - it won't fail
Sign up Cheryl Cole, Gazza and even Jimmy Nail

Newcastle need to win . . . a draw won't do
Unless Southgate's boys go down with swine flu
I hope the Geordies cross the safety line
Avoiding fog and tears on the Tyne

Beatles Trivia

Well,today's the last day of my Beatle Quiz for May.
More next month. If you want to have a Fab Four Quiz of your own look out for Mersey Mastermind by Peter Grant (£8.99 Trinity Mirror - in all good and bad book shops).

The answers to yesterday's fab four posers were
1) John sent back his MBE; 2) Klaus Voorman designed Revolver; 3) Eleanor Bron was in Help! and George appeared as a Pirate on Rutland Weekend TV.

Scouse Saying of the Day

"Sound as a Pound."

Ricky Tomlinson tells me it sums up that feeling when everything's going ok. "Sound, la."

(From the book Talk Like The Scousers)

Hello again

It's a busy weekend. I'm off to see Al Stewart at Manchester Opera House The singer-songwriter will be singing Year of The Cat and Time Passages on a rare acoustic concert during a sojourn over from his Californian vineyard. Lucky Al.
He matures like a good wine.

And on Sunday all that's best about Merseyside comedy with The Best of Liverpool Night at the Royal Court - a highlight of our much-envied Comedy Festival.

All this and a Manchester footy Derby

And talking of scrapes . . . what about MPs expenses...
Here's my take...

MP Sauce

They tell us all to tighten our belts
As they claim for nappies and ham 'n' cheese melts
Creative lies to make their expenses fit
In the House of Commons the 'Why?'s' have it.

It's politically incorrect and not what we elected them for
Why should we pay for their newly tiled floor?
I know what Parliament lacks
An MP's honesty tax
Penalise those who benefit from their station
Those Westminster cronies who've hoodwinked the nation

They implore us all to live within our means
As we subsidise their Kit Kats and custard creams
It's seedy and corrupt from where I sit
In the House of Commons the 'Whys?' have it.

Peter G Grant

Answers to yesterday's Beatle Quiz

All four Beatles wrote Flying on Magical Mystery Tour; Donovan wrote the line Sea
of green in Yellow Submarine; John wore a white suit on the cover of Abbey Road and when asked if he was a Mod or a Rocker,Ringo said he was a Mocker.
Today Fab Four posers

1) Which Beatle sent back his MBE?
2) Who designed the cover of Revolver?
3) In which Beatle film does Eleanor Bron appear?
4) Which Beatle made a guest appearance on Rutland Weekend TV series as Bob the Pirate?

Scouse Phrase of the Day
(from the book Talk Like the Scousers by Peter Grant, Trinity Mirror, £8.99)

"I'm not 'aving;' that.'" still used by TV chat show host Paul O'Grady and his alter ego Lily Savage.

Bye for now.

Congratulations to Liverpool producer Colin McKeown of LA Productions who celebrated his new TV work Moving On at the Kirkdale-based Liverpool Film Academy with a star studded champagne gathering.
Quite right.
Colin, who gave us the memorable Liverpool One (not the shopping mall but the TV series) is passionate about finding talent and filming it all in his home town.
Bringing in Jimmy McGovern's expertise was great vision. Jimmy is mentor throughout.
The series, over five days, starts on BBC1's afternoon schedule from Monday, May 18 at 2.25pm.
I would welcome your own reviews on the series to pass on to Colin and the BBC who should book another series NOW.
Having seen episode one - by Arthur Ellison about a cross-dresser - I am sure Moving On will be a talking point and (as usual) it will highlight the fact that we are a city that makes other places screen with envy.
Well done Macca McKeown..

Granty

Don't miss The Mersey Sound Exhibition at the V& A in Liverpool.
It's on till September and is another celebration of the great Roger McGough, Brian Patten and the late Adrian Henri.
It's a fascinating look at their legacy. Posters, artefcats from the 60s - album covers and badges - you name it.
It's all beautifully presented.
What an enduring talent the Mersey poets are ..
I had a a glass of wine with Roger and Brian after they did a special reading and I toasted the Mersey Sound book, their new and old work and their constant inspiration to poets everywhere including me...
They made me want to write.

Today's Fab 4 Beatle questions

1) Who wrote Flying on Magical Mystery Tour Soundtrack?
2) Which 60s pop star wrote the line 'sea of green' in Yellow Submarine?
3) Which Beatle is wearing a white suit on Abbey Road?
4) When asked if he was a mod or rocker what did Ringo say he was?

Beatles answers to May 7

Paul's real name is James Paul McCartney
Three Beatle songs with the word 'Back' in it are Get Back; I'll Be Back and Back in the USSR
George's dad was a bus driver.
The only Beatle with his back to the camera on one shot on the A Hard Day's Night cover was George.

For the real Beatle Story buy The Fab Four by Peter Grant (Trinity Mirror £3.99) From Merseyshop and all good book shops,

PG's Tip

I read the News Today, Oh boy...

Out now is a fab new book called "Liverpool 60s - a Souvenir of the Decade."
It's for anyone born or who grew up in (or experienced) the 1960s. That happy, hippy era.
It's a window on the world of Liverpool in the 60s.
Using the extensive archives of The Daily Post and ECHO it's like a book version of that series All Our Yesterdays (remember that on the telly?)
The book is part of a great pictorial series with text (look out for 70s) and now in all bookshops at £4.99.
Forget Dr Who. . .
If you want a trip in time - get this special photographic Tardis.

The Beatles are in it which leads me on to the answers to Yesterday's quiz . There's also
four new Fab Four posers.

Answers to May 6 quartet

The Ku Klux Klan tried to disrupt the Beatles Candlestick Park show.
Till There Was You was from the Broadway show The Music Man
George wrote Savoy Truffle ias warning about tooth decay for Eric Clapton
John was a member of The Dissenters literary group with Bill Harry

Today's Fab Four posers

1) True or False Paul's real first name is Michael?
2) Name three Beatle songs with 'Back' in the title?.
3) Which Beatle's dad was a bus driver?
4)Which Beatle is the only one to have his head back to camera on one of the cover photos on the cover of A Hard Days Night?

For now , Hello Goodbye.
Peter G Grant

Good Day, sunshines.

PG's Tip of the Day

Try and catch When We Are Married at the the Liverpool Playhouse. A13 strong cast excel in this wonderful adaptation.Les Dennis continues to show his versatility..
In the celebrity audience on opening night was Ken Dodd who also praised this slick play.
It's a laughter filled two hours plus on a wonderful period set.
5 /5

Here's the answers to yesterday's quiz quartet
Dan Dare did not appear on the cover of Sgt pepper; Glass Onion was John's homage to his Liverpool roots.
Songs with 'All' in the title
All You Need is Love
All I Got To Do
All My Loving
All Toghether Now
The supportive US DJ who hyped up the Beatles was Murray The K.

Now here's four more Fab posers.
To get in a quiz mood try my book Mersey Mastermind (Trinity Mirror £8.99)

5)What secret society threatened to disrupt the Beatles Candlestick Park concert in San Francisco?
a)K.K.K., Ku Klux Klan
b)CND., California Non-Dreamers
c)B.E.G., Beatles are Evil.

6)Which early song,sung by Paul,was taken from the hit US musical The Music Man.
a)Till There was You
b)Anna(Go To Him)
c)PS:I Love You

7)Which musician did George have in mind when he wrote Savoy Truffle for him about the dangers of eating too many sweets?
a)Billy Preston
b)Eric Clapton
c)Keith Moon

8)While at Liverpool Art College John was a member of an elite arts group based at the Ye Crack pub:what were they called?
a)The Disclaimers
b)The Dissenters
c)The Disenchantlings

Bye

As Beatles Day Approaches (july 10) why not try my new daily Fab Four posers?
QUIZ

1)Which of the following stars is not on the cover of Sgt Pepper?
a)Dan Dare
b)Stuart Sutcliffe
c)Shirley Temple

2)In which Beatle album track does John refer to Strawberry Field, the Cast Iron Shore and states that the ëwalrus was Paul?í

3)Name Four fab Beatle songs with the word "ALL" in the title.

4)Who was the DJ who helped launch the Beatles on their debut promotional visit to the states?
a)Murray the Mint
b)Murray the M.
c)Murray the K.

Answers tomorrow and another Fab Four set of questions

For more questions try my book
Mersey Mastermind (Trinity Mirror £8.99) Merseyshop and all good and bad bookshops.
Ideal to take on holiday.

Banking on Boredom

Feels like another Sunday
Except it's just Bank Holiday Monday

Buses and trains are happily unable
To offer a full timetable
Oh and Wallace and Gromit are on telly again
It's only lunchtime and I can't wait for News at Ten
You see, I dwell too much
About this and that and such and such
Is Hazel Blears
Crying Crocodile tears?
Will Harriet Harman
Give a damn?
Gordon Brown
Please lose that smiling frown
After that boob
On You Tube
I might go the pub and do a sudoko
Oh on second thoughts... no
I'm better off sticking to crosswords
Clue - A Shipping yard (7,6)... ah, Cammell Lairds
Why give banks a holiday?
I say
They got us into this mess
Given me extra stress
So why celebrate
I haven't enough on my plate
Oh and soon there's another Bank Hol
I am going to go awol.
I've decided today
To boycot the next May day.
For now I'm about to blow my attention span fuse
Got the
Got the
Got the
Bank Holiday Monday blues

Peter G Grant 2009