Hello, Good Evening and Uuuuurrghh!!!

"Hello, good evening and uuuurrrghh!!!"  So passes Sir David Frost, whose sudden death has doubtless left the BBC kicking themselves over their scheduling of Frost/Nixon -if only they'd held back from showing it again by a couple of weeks it could have served as an easy tribute. instead of them having to hastily schedule something from the archives. But at least Frost's demise has emboldened Nelson Mandela to leave hospital, confident in the knowledge that Sir Dave won't be trying to interview him any more.  I know, I know - it really is too soon for me to be indulging in such poor taste, isn't it?  But it has never bothered me before, though.  It's not been a good week for British celebrities: it's only Monday and they are dropping like flies already!  I've just read that David Jacobs has died.  It's hard to believe, I know, but he was once considered to be a cutting edge radio DJ, pioneering the playing of those popular beat combos, as they were known, on BBC radio.  At least he was never accused of inappropriate behaviour with young fans.  Mind you, in his day 'inappropriate behaviour' would have meant appearing in public without a tie and dinner jacket.

Of course, we currently have a whole raft of celebrities accused of indulging in far worse 'inappropriate behaviour': Dave Lee Travis is up on groping charges, whilst two members of the current Coronation Street cast are in court facing all manner of charges relating to serious sex offences.  Saddest of all, we have Rolf Harris charged with sex offences. (I take that back - the saddest development is that all charges against Jim Davidson have been dropped).  I've said it before and I'll say it again: this Rolf business feels as if a line has been crossed.  He was such an integral part of my childhood that it just seems impossible that he might have been up to this stuff.  However, like all the others, he is still innocent until proven guilty.  We'll just have to wait until the trial to find out where the truth really lies.  One of the charges that Rolf faces is that he allegedly produced indecent images of minors.  I'm afraid this conjured up a truly horrendous image in my mind of Rolf, in front of an audience, doing one of his huge paintings, asking "Can you guess what it is yet?" and the audience recoiling in disgust as it becomes clear that he's painting an image of a child being abused with a didgeridoo.  If true, that would forever taint a huge part of my childhood.