The most powerful women in British theatre

Judi Dench and Helen Mirren ranked among powers of theatre The veteran actresses are among a clutch of stars including Rachel Weisz and Rosamund Pike to appear in a list of the 20 most powerful women in British theatre. The American actress Gillian Anderson, who has been described as an "honorary Brit", also makes the power list compiled by Harper's Bazaar and the jeweller Tiffany & Co. (link via telegraph.co.uk)

British TV advert for the 25th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic

I love watching this very classy, retro style, advert that celebrates the 1984 launch of Richard Branson's airline ahead of its official 25th birthday on 22 June. Virgin Atlantic's 'Still red hot' ad: The crew, who walk past various 1980s icons (the Asteroids arcade game, a Rubik's Cube, a yuppie banker with a huge mobile and a Sun headline about the miner's strike) represent the first Virgin Atlantic crew on the virgin flight to New York in 1984.

PG tips (tea) advert "Monkey and Al"

This advert - inspired by a Morecambe and Wise routine - for PG tips tea is hysterically funny: MONKEY AND AL "PG TIPS ADVERT"2008 And if you've never seen the famous Morecome and Wise breakfast sketch, you are in for a treat: PG tips tea

It's time for Panto!

Thanks to Flighty for the reminder that it's That time of year. Yes, indeed it's Christmas time and in Britain, that means it's panto time! Pantomimes are a tradition in British theatres. They are nearly always based on well-known children's stories or fairy tales. Some of the most popular pantomimes are "Cinderella", "Snow White", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Aladdin", and "Peter Pan" and a variety of these stories are acted out up and down the country in professional and amateur productions. A very odd (but hilarious!) feature of panto is that the lead male role is played by a woman and the lead female roles are played by men. The costumes are usually very elaborate and colourful and the whole production can be quite impressive. Panto is fantastic family entertainment and a great way to introduce the joy of theatre to children. I still remember one production of "Cinderella" we took our sons to see and how thrilled we were to see real Shetland ponies being used to pull the carriage on stage. Sadly, it looks like that particular bit of panto tradition is ending because it breaches rules on health and safety and animal welfare. The professional productions almost always star some well-known TV celebrities. Sometimes they are actors from British soap-operas or from Australian soap operas. A few years ago, a couple American actors (Patrick Duffy and Henry Winkler) came over to take part in pantomimes. Henry Winkler is returning this year (his third year) to star in a panto as Captain Hook in a panto in Milton Keynes and another American actor, Steve Guttenberg, is doing his first panto this year as Baron Hard-up in the production of Cinderella in Bromley, Kent. As much as I enjoy the professional pantos and seeing famous actors, I think the amateur pantos are often the best ones. The Big Panto Guide :find a Pantomime in the UK 2008-2009 Milton Keynes Theatre: Henry Winkler, Andy Ford and Louisa Lytton (Eastenders, Strictly Come Dancing, and The Bill) star in Peter Pan The Churchill Theatre: Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy, Three Men And A Baby, Cocoon), Helen Lederer (Absolutely Fabulous), Laura Hamilton (Nickelodeon), Mark Evans (Troy from High School Musical at Hammersmith Apollo), Tucker and David Langham & John Barr (As the Ugly Sisters) star in Cinderella

Mitchell and Webb: comedy sketch about identity theft

This is a very amusing sketch about identity theft, performed by David Mitchell and Robert Webb from their comedy sketch show, That Mitchell and Webb Sound: Mitchell & Webb Sound - Identity Theft "Sounds more like a bank robbery." (link via Schneier on Security)

Alternative uses for the iconic red British phone box

Comment Central readers of The Times have some very interesting suggestions for ways to use the redundant British phone box. I like the idea to turn them into internet points or electronic Tourist Information points. What would you suggest? Ten Things...The Phone Box - Icons of England: How much do you know about this classic English icon? Overseas visitors have always associated the red phone box with our national culture. Designed by architect Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1920s, and going through successive modifications until it achieved perfection in 1936, it remains a visible symbol of an England otherwise fast disappearing. The Phone Box - Icons of England