richie

Ah, well there you go. Still largely the same pack of athletes in the finals after all is said and done.

Whoops - only voted once in each. Farah and Bolt for me.

Damn right!!!

True, but it would need to wait another 9 years!

I wonder if that's my Simpsons record? I sold my copy on in about 1993!

Up until about 5 years ago there were animatronic creatures in the local shopping centre in Aberdeen who would "sing" in synch to a backing tape. I'm not sure how old the tape was but they too were singing along to Another Rock n Roll Christmas well past the point they should have been.

Aye, always liked this one too. They showed a very short clip of it on Christmas Top of the Pops in 1990 (I think) when they were running through some of the previous Xmas number ones. Strangely they stopped the clip immediately before Voldemort could be seen dancing - maybe they knew even back then?

Oh and I guess the Christmas number one of 1969 won't get played any more either.

I really like this one. Chrissie Hynde can also be seen dancing around with a Slade banner and some blonde-haired bloke (maybe a European presenter) gets loads of camera time. Anyone know who he is? Slade's recent demise is a real shame, it was the biggest Christmas record for years. Nobody ever plays Johnny Mathis or Mike Oldfield any more either although Greg Lake seems to have become popular again.

I guess that's a fair point, its people's perceptions rather than party policies and, sadly, people do often vote on a single issue. Also, the Lib Dems get practically no media coverage at all and it's only being strongly opposed to Government bills that gets them column inches. But I think the belief that a vote for anyone other than the Tories or Labour is a protest vote is wrong. There are several legitimate parties in the UK and none of them can really be tied to one single goal. I include the SNP and Plaid Cymru in that.

Can anybody aim to be a 'protest vote party'? The Lib Dems do have a fixed set of policies that haven't dramatically changed, so can't really see them chasing the "protest" vote. The reason they fell from grace in 2015 was because few of those policies could not be realised when they were a very small part of the government. When they did get something through (cutting the lowest rate of tax etc.) the Tories pretended it was their idea...and then blamed the Lib Dems for being complicit in voting along with them on really shitty decisions (tuition fees etc.) They've always been pro-EU. Maybe their voice is getting stronger somewhere? Here's hoping. The Tories have a very slender majority. Just another 8 by-elections to go...

Mo Farah should have won last year but for some reason the World Athletics Championships are never held in as high esteem as the Olympics. I guess the viewing figures are a lot lower. I think it's actually tougher to win the Worlds as there are more top athletes there - the Olympics only allows a certain number of athletes per country to compete. Although Murray was deserving last year, in hindsight the public should have waited until this year to give him another award. Mind you, Farah still wouldn't have won last year in any case as he perplexingly failed to make the rostrum.

Wow - just 10 is pretty difficult. Here are my favourites from the favourites. 1. Mike Oldfield - In Dulce Jubilo 2. Jona Lewie - Stop the Cavalry 3. Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody 4. Band Aid - Do They Know Its Christmas? 5. Johnny Mathis - When a Child is Born 6. John & Yoko - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 7. David Bowie & Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy 8. Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas 9. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day 10. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time

Soothing is pretty good, been listening to it a few times this week. Laura's last album was her best yet so quite hopeful for this one.

The chasers are a bit over the top, but then I guess that's what they've been told to do. The quality of the questions on Pointless is much better and Alexander Armstrong is a much better host than Bradley Walsh. Mind you, it does frustrate me when practically every contestant they've ever had on Pointless says "literature isn't my strongest suit" when anything to do with books comes up. Then they laugh when they score 100.

Heh heh, not 'We Have a Dream' by the 1982 Scotland World Cup squad? I actually really like 'Bang Bang' but my wife hates it.

Exactly what has been said. I could be wrong, but the multi-CD trick started off with more "indie" bands (usually still distributed by major labels) looking for a way to get around the fact their fans all bought a release during the first week. This resulted in a single going in quite high but dropping sharply the next week (sometimes out of the chart altogether). Around 1991-1993, several bands would release gatefold CD versions one week with one CD included and fans could buy the second CD (same song with different B-sides) a week later to complete their pack. Mind you, one of the reasons the likes of Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood stuck around for so long was because they released a "new" mix on 12" every week and people bought it multiple times - so nothing new there.

I guess they're all made by production companies who can try to negotiate another slot, but it'll probably be the end of them on Saturday night. Maybe BBC1 will start showing films on Saturday nights again?

Artistically, still his greatest contribution to popular music. (Yes, even more than 'Slam Jam' by the WWF Superstars)

Hope the game shows continue as I usually really like them. Could easily have one on in the middle of the week if it doesn't need to be tied to Saturday night any more.

Quite a famous chap in the Wonder Dog costume.

That IS Paul Carrack though. Interested to read that BA Robertson co-wrote it. Not his finest moment then!

Excellent - looks like another Christmas Day with the TV off! That's the best way.

It's feature length and it'll be one of the highlights. I think Revolting Rhymes will be in the Stick Man / Gruffalo slot. Shall be watching these: Ethel & Ernest (saw it in the cinema, it's excellent) Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes Peter Pan Goes Wrong Michael McIntyre's Christmas Show To Walk Invisible Maybe watch these: Bake Off Strictly (but the Christmas special is always poor. I guess they probably filmed it this week?) Last Tango In Halifax Top of the Pops - only if they feature older tracks, no wish to hear anything from 2016. Jonathan Creek

Given some of the average dances in previous years that have gained 40, I'd say Danny definitely deserved it. Some of his earliest dances were better than final dances from previous years.