Just A Minute

I found Gyles' article to be a fascinating, if uncomfortable read.  Despite doing his best to depict how strange of a man Clement Freud was, there were still clearly some fond memories in there.  I have no qualm with Gyles over this because when you've both socialised and worked professionally with a man for over four decades, particularly one who can be as outwardly charming as Clement Freud, it is no doubt remarkably hard to separate one's feelings.

I think the talk of the 50th Anniversary is premature but if I had to guess, I'd say that no mention or Clement nor material he contributed to will be aired.  The BBC's image has suffered greatly as the facts about the coverups in the 1970s have come out and I doubt the corporation will want to go anywhere that might cause someone to even suggest that they're glorifying Clement Freud.

Myself, I'll be taking a break from any material he featured in.  I'm sure it won't be forever, because there are many other great performers on his shows and, sadly, we've long been forced to separate our feelings for an artist from their work.  For the time being, I don't want to hear his voice.

It's a dreadful situation all around, and my thoughts go to the people whose lives he ruined.