BillF

Yasujiro Ozu Akira Kurosawa Akira Tana

Judge Dread Nattie Dread Ratty Gerald Ratner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ratner Thomas Crapper Sheila Dikshit Dik Browne Rick Santorum Hagar the Horrible Michael Gove Pob The Pobble Who Has No Toes Taxi War Dance Tax Tinsley Taki

Judge Dread Nattie Dread Ratty Gerald Ratner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ratner Thomas Crapper Sheila Dikshit

Here he is in the company (bad tempered company, it seems) of giants: http://www.allmusic.com/album/stan-meets-chet-r139258

Mel and Griff Lock and Griff The Hippogriff

Baldrick Will Hay Jack Straw

Jerry Springer Zebbeddee Brian The Snail Shelley Winters (geddit?) Ann Summers The Shaggs

Right again!

Airto Terry Lightfoot Axel Springer

The Beefeaters The Chelsea Pensioners The Old Contemptibles

Pimlico Plumbers Francis Pym John Nott Nat Gonella Ella Fitzgerald Gerald McBoing-Boing

Aladdin Sane David Bowie Zowie Zoe Ball John Cobb Flanders and Swann

Black Widow Widow Twankey Aladdin

You're right!

Apparently not.

Kingsley Amis Miss Thing Thing

The Rambler The Idler The Observer

Gummo Marx Spencer Tracy Eminem

Happy Birthday!

Nice! Takes me back.

Zoe Ball Johnnie Ball Mr & Mrs Balls Ozric Tentacles Guy Ropes The Marquee of Granby

Super Furry Animals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Furry_Animals Manic Street Preachers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Street_Preachers Catatonia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatonia_(band)

In view of the way the discussion has gone, start with a shorter, early one. I think The looking Glass War is great - full of atmosphere from the first page. Good choice. 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' would be another. Am currently reading the more recent Le Carrés and have just finished this: While they don't equal the earlier classics, they still stand out nowadays as exemplary writing. Of these newer ones, the best I've come across so far is this, but I haven't got to the end of the list yet!

Eager Beaver Fanny Ardant Jeremy Hunt

Mrs Mopp Herbert Hoover Cleanhead Vinson