Northboy

Must admit that fell for it for a while. The TV schedule that I saw didn't have it billed as Inside No 9 so I wasn't expecting it even if it was strange to have a mid afternoon type quiz programme on at 10pm. They cleverly built it up so it was around 10 minutes in before I started to catch on. Even then I still didn't realise it was Inside No 9 until the credits came up. Brilliant episode.

People from the north of England seem to be disproportionately affected by negative holiday experiences.

Probably best that he's glued to the railings rather than free to roam in the vicinity of a school.

Enjoying it as well. The scene with Jamie Sives taking the piss out the lawyer is excellent. I'm enjoying this too despite frustration at the apparent lack of any competent policing procedure. They had a partial registration number for the suspect van after 10 mins of episode 1 but it wasn't until episode 4 that they did anything about it. Also, they were very interested in whether the missing girl or her mother had a boyfriend but excluded the older sister from that line of investigation. Quite ironic given one character Lennox interviewed asked him to read through his proposed crime novel for realism but maybe that was a subtle joke.

Just finished Tunnel 29 by Helena Merriman. Engrossing and moving tale of escape attempts from East to West Berlin during the days of the wall.

If there is an answer to this question then taking account of a worldwide audience it is almost certainly going to be a cartoon character.

He's not Chinese or Indian but Mr Bean is absolutely massive in Asia and China in particular. Some years ago I was waiting for a flight in an airport somewhere in China and Mr Bean was showing on TV screens. Everyone was glued to the screens and some people were literally rolling about laughing in the floor. Quite a bizarre experience really.

Wasn't Luis Figo in the Portugal team at the U15 World Cup in 1989? Probably if you check the squads there would have been a few more 'names' present although probably not ranked as great players.

Went to the dentist earlier followed by a trip to Tesco and saw a couple of small shelves of tat they're trying to punt. Certainly not, "Aisles of shite, union flags, the lot". It was barely noticeable. Mind you, were I head of merchandising for MacTesco I'd be looking to sell a discounted UF-printed apron at the butcher's counter. Just for max seethe. A trick missed, I think. My local Tesco had a very limited display of coronation tat at the end of an aisle. I had the impression that they were rather embarrassed and it was only there on orders from head office.

Rather a strange looking, lop sided team photo. Photographer appears to have prioritised alternate home and away kits over the usual convention of placing the players according to height. Check those collars though.

Also "I'm entitled to my opinion". Of course you are but that doesn't stop your opinion being total b@ll@cks.

The business ideas were absolute b@llocks,. Imagine going in to Dragon's Den asking for £250k for a pick and mix kiosk. Also their expectations that employees would work for free or a pittance (£12.50/hr in Belgravia!) was really quite shocking although that probably appealed to his lordship.

Brechin were looking like favourites but I kinda fancy Buckie now. The have the points in the bag meaning Brechin can't afford to slip up in any of their games in hand. Both have tricky fixtures remaining so could well come down to the head to head between them in April.

I remember the Scotland and England games against Argentina being televised but have no memory of the other games. The Argentina games stick in my mind as they were shown in black and white and we'd just got out a new colour TV. Also I'm pretty sure both Scotland and England had a player sent off against Argentina.

I'm not 100% sure, but it could well be. I was guessing the opposition was either Brazil or Sweden which ties in with the 1977 tour. Assuming I'm recognising all the players correctly that line up matches the one against Brazil at the Maracana in June 1977. I remember both Scotland and England toured South America that summer in preparation for the Argentina 1978 World Cup - it didn't help either of them.

This is a recurring theme on the Apprentice. Every series they develop products which are totally sh#t yet we are expected to believe that the corporate clients order 100s or even 1000s of units. Same with the ' experience' tasks - who pays £100s per head to attend an event organised by complete novices?

I clicked on Russia 1985-1999 on BBC4 last night. Fascinating stuff about the break up of the Soviet Union through local media an video footage. Only had time for 15 minutes last night but plan to watch more.

Last night was must be the worst combined effort from both teams in Apprentice history. No one came out of that with pass marks. Note - was surprised no one commented on the lack of crash helmets in the commercials, I'd have thought that was a complete no-no.

I saw 'Big names in frame to replace Paul Hartley' and thought it was today's paper.

I feel that I'll have the same ending. Other shoppers are one of of life's great annoyances. My particular frustration is those who spend ages perusing stuff like washing up liquid. There's a multitude of brands, colours, scents etc but despite the prolonged deliberation they will end up buying the same stuff they have been using for the last 20 years.

I have a mental glitch that causes me to mix up actors Denzil Washington and Don Warrington.

I wonder whether these customers are just bussed in for TV purposes. Who would even consider paying > $100 for an island tour by a group of guys who only arrived there yesterday.

I once had worm soup in China. It was stretching things to call it soup - basically worms in warm, greasy water. Again in China but at the other end of the menu spectrum I was served something specially prepared for the Western palate. It was s deep fried vegetable fritter which would have been nice had in not been dipped and coated in 100s and 1000s. Still better than the worm soup though.

My wife has commented that their costume budget does look to be very limited.

I'd agreed with Barcelona and New York in the overrated category. I was disappointed with both and find more appealing cities in each of their respective countries. Antwerp has been mentioned a couple of times as underrated and I'd agree with that. Lovely city as are many places in Belgium. Actually I'd say Belgium overall is underrated as a destination.