''With his purple jacket and yellow shirt, boulevardier Michael Portillo is liveried in the colours of an expensive cupcake as he starts the next leg of his journey in Bordeaux. This is entirely fitting because, before too long, he’s “feeling peckish” and seeks out a dainty local delicacy, the canelé, with its crispy outside and oozy, custardy middle.
After hearing its history explained by a charming and helpful young lady Portillo visits a vineyard and dabbles in wine-tasting. Then there’s more food (oysters “with just a little lemon juice”) before Portillo yields to those exhibitionist tendencies we have come to recognise and strips off on a public beach to reveal a fetching Edwardian bathing suit. It’s another jolly journey to bring a little cheer to a December evening.''
On BBC2 at 8.
He gets more camp with every episode. I am surprised he does not get told to clear off as he wastes other people's time with his silly railway guide.
Almost expect him to say
'So I curtailed my Bradshavian activities, sallied forth and entered your place of purveyance to negotiate the vending of some cheesy comestibles.'
Michael Portillo and the Sex Pistols...now that I'd like to watch.
Last edited by RobbieB (2013-12-02 11:20:25)
He´s clearly quite experienced in saunas then.
Who the hell is Michael Portillo?
I see that there are allegations ranging from affairs with the wife of a mega-rich plutocrat to Peter Lilley! that's quite a range!
Ouch.
Do any of yous guys find the current social confusion over 'gay status' rather er - queer? Gay marriage is legal in several countries now - or civil partnership at least. The UK parliament has got its knickers in quite a twist over forcing priests and mullahs and the Jewish guys to tow the line but 'gay' is now, in a certain sense 'establishment': Britain has a top judge who is in a civil partnership and Robbie Williams seems to see populist advantage in claiming to be 49% 'gay' - striking a nice balance there Robbie to keep the female fans happy and to sell a whole lot more discs for pink pounds. But - give the press a story that a politician is in some 'gay' affair or wanna sling some mud at Michael Portillo - well then wheel out the allegations of 'queer', 'faggot', 'pansy', 'nancy-boy', and 'camp'. I don't care much - gays don't affect me and I say 'live and let live' - just don't start fondling in front of me (and I'd say the same to straight couples too). But society is very unsure about it all - one minute gays are being sent to prison and the next minute they are sitting on the bench - but they are not quite accepted are they - otherwise riding the other 'bus wouldn't be a reserve insult; an additional slur? - and gay (and Person of Pakistani heritage)-bashing have been great British pastimes - somehow to show your manliness.
Maybe it just all happened too quickly for a reality check.
Last edited by Upstate (2013-12-07 05:57:57)
I like Portillo.
I was impressed with his demeanour just after loosing his seat in the 1997 general election. Dignified.
He seems quite dandified too.
His sexuality is his own affair.