The Royal Variety Show-How Poor Was It?

[gollob]

No wonder the Queen did not go
Michael McIntyre was an embarrassment as the compere especially at the start of the show..Sara Milligan was no poor. About time she had some new and better material
The coloured singer from South Africa and Alfie Boe were both very good.
Bette Midler-It's unbelievable that she only sung one song and as an opening act.Should have cut McBusted out and given her another 10 minutes
Miss Sagion was a great excerpt especially "The last night of the world"
Shirley Bassey is still terrific as per usual. Why did she not close the show.
The rest of the acts except Elle Goulding were very ordiniary and would be lucky to top the bill at Wigan Pier

[FoxLee2]

Why use the word hate? Surely you have to know someone or they have to have done some awful to you before you hate them. Accept that we can all like different comedians and watch the ones you like and don't watch the ones you don't. Simples!

[Buenchico]

Retrohic (and others):
When I was teaching in the 1980s, any member of staff who used the word 'coloured' to describe a non-white person would have been instantly dismissed. So it seems to have taken rather a long while for you to realise that it's regarded as grossly offensive!

[BlackadderV]

In apartheid South Africa there was a clear distinction between black and coloured. I remember once that a visiting Japanese delegation were described as 'honorary whites'.

[Retrochic]

Buenochico when I was growing up to call someone 'black' was highly offensive . You can make up all the stories you like, but I doubt anyone would get dismissed for saying 'coloured gentleman' they were probably dismissed for adding a few expletives or negative comments. I rarely if ever describe anyone by their colour unless its necessary -for example 'I think coloured men have much better style than a lot of white men. To me Black is just as derogatory as a) I was brought up that way and b) most are not black. Just what this has to do with the Royal Variety show beats me, I thought the Black and White minstrels were disbanded years ago (thank god)

[pastafreak]

I think its a bit off to accuse Chris of 'making up stories'. I'd say he's the most unlikely person on here to do such a thing.
Maybe before deciding whether being referred to as black or coloured is/isn't offensive,you should ask those who are being described in such terms. I'd say that in this day and age, most would find 'black' to be least offensive.

[MargoTester]

I really enjoyed the couple of blokes with a pole. I think they were called Soirée not quite sure how yo define them, sort of acrobats I suppose. Not the sort of thing I normally like but they were very good. Dear old Shirley is well past her sell by date!

[Samuraisan]

I remember when I was a little girl, my father ( who was a musician) used to call non-whites " coloured" not meaning it in anyway derogatory. Until I was about 8 or 9 I imagined these people who were like Jacob's coat of many colours !

[Samuraisan]

I enjoyed the chap doing the pole dancing too, and those other two dressed as gentlemen. How many hour and hours of practise they must have out in. Gorgeous bodies .....

[Mamyalynne]

I didn't watch the show,but have viewed a few clips today on YouTube. I had to see Ellie's dress in action,she was fabulous!

Surely the show is like the tin of 'Roses' Chocolates we get in at Christmas, always some we don't like.

[-Talbot-]

When I born, I black.
When I grow up, I black.
When I go in sun, I black.
When I scared, I black.
When I sick, I black.
And when I die, I still black.
And you white people.
When you born, you pink.
When you grow up, you white.
When you go in sun, you red.
When you cold, you blue.
When you scared, you yellow.
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey…
And you calling me colored??

[MargoTester]

I liked the Union Jack pants! They were actually the same people, samuraisan

[Samuraisan]

Oh we're they Margo ? Gosh, I must have been mesmerised ! But there was only one on the pole wasn't there ? Am I going nuts

[Samuraisan]

Typo......" Were they "

[Retrochic]

pastafreak buenochico was making a sweeping statement
'' any member of staff who used the word 'coloured' to describe a non-white person would have been instantly dismissed.''
making it up as in 'supposition' because he did not stipulate it had ever happened.
I will ask the variously coloured people I know if they would be offended if I described them as a coloured lady or coloured gent and will get back to you.Like I said I can't remember the last time I described someone and included their ethnicity as to me its totally unimportant, but I was accused of being grossly out of date and offensive so have been trying to justify my comments.

[Ivorlittlein]

I've just thrown all my different Coloured pencils and crayons in the bin,how dare they be so offensive.!!

[Mamyalynne]

Well if you can't tell the difference between a person and a pencil perhaps it's best to dispose of sharp objects.

[New Judge]

"When I was teaching in the 1980s, any member of staff who used the word 'coloured' to describe a non-white person would have been instantly dismissed."

Strangely, Chris, when I was being educated in the 1960s anybody (teacher or pupil) who used the word "black" to describe a non-white person would have been frowned upon and had their indiscretion quietly corrected. They would not have been instantly dismissed as there were more serious offences then such as murder and rape which may have attracted such a sanction perhaps not instantly but after a diligent enquiry.

The confusion among some older people between "coloured" and "black" seems to stem from this changeover. I understand the reasoning behind the change but I was never quite sure when it happened (I don’t recall any instructions being issued in the national press). But there is still confusion because in the USA there is still an organisation known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored (sic) People.

Labelling somebody “black” or “coloured” (instead of , say, African, or American) is really no more offensive than labelling somebody “white” instead of European or American. It’s certainly a more readily available description when describing somebody whose precise origin you do not know. People really need to lighten up a little.

But I reckon this makes for a more scintillating debate than the relative merits of the "stars" who appeared in the Royal Variety show :-)

[Ivorlittlein]

Sense of humour by-pass,Mamya?

[whiskeryron]

Retrochic referred to the Black & White minstrel show being terminated with the words 'thank god'. Why ? I always thought of it as one of the best shows ever & far from it being racist I have always regarded it as being complimentary to the wonderful talents of black people & their absolutely great singing ability. If you have ever seen & heard a Black choir singing you will know what I mean
( they can reduce me, an elderly white man to floods of tears )

[Mamyalynne]

Might be Ivor ;-)