Pet Shop Boys Community

The Oscar Wilde "Prime People" documentary was on on BBC Prime last night. Neil was featured heavily. Looks like it was recorded in about 1998, judging from his hair!

For those of you NOT in the UK, it is on again this Wednesday 15 March at 23:00 CET and Friday 17 March at 20:00 CET.

I don't think it is possible to get BBC Prime in the UK, is it?

Doesn't exist over here as far as I am aware.


StevePSB

I saw it as well. I was greatly surprised to suddenly hear his voice though of course thinking back I may remember hearing about this documentary back when it was made. It also featured Stephen Fry and a song by Morrissey among other things and was made by Michael Bracewell who has also written a book on English pop culture where he quotes PSB several time (England is mine I think it was called).

Neil spoke mostly about Oscar's time at the Cadogan hotel where to chose to stay and face arrestation and hard labour rather than flee to France, calling it "the most fascinating moment in Oscar Wilde's life" or something to that effect.

I also remember a recording of Neil reading John Betjeman's poem "The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel" - does anyone know what occasion that is from?

Joemoz wrote: I also remember a recording of Neil reading John Betjeman's poem "The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel" - does anyone know what occasion that is from?

If memory serves, it was recorded as part of a BBC2 season commemorating a Wilde anniversary (his arrest??) about ten years ago.

Joemoz wrote:I saw it as well. I was greatly surprised to suddenly hear his voice though of course thinking back I may remember hearing about this documentary back when it was made. It also featured Stephen Fry and a song by Morrissey among other things and was made by Michael Bracewell who has also written a book on English pop culture where he quotes PSB several time (England is mine I think it was called).

Neil spoke mostly about Oscar's time at the Cadogan hotel where to chose to stay and face arrestation and hard labour rather than flee to France, calling it "the most fascinating moment in Oscar Wilde's life" or something to that effect.

I also remember a recording of Neil reading John Betjeman's poem "The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel" - does anyone know what occasion that is from?

The doco also features Neil explaining his "Pop groups have imperial phases" theory. Although this may not seem to have much to do with Wilde, it works quite well in the context of the film.

Docoboy wrote:The doco also features Neil explaining his "Pop groups have imperial phases" theory. Although this may not seem to have much to do with Wilde, it works quite well in the context of the film.

How the hell did he work that one in? "Oscar was writing hit after hit and then he got sent to prison and forced to do hard labour. Thus his Imperial phase ended."

Next week: Neil on how Hitler was never the same after his Imperial phase ended when he invaded Russia.

Janet Street-Porter wrote:

Docoboy wrote:The doco also features Neil explaining his "Pop groups have imperial phases" theory. Although this may not seem to have much to do with Wilde, it works quite well in the context of the film.

How the hell did he work that one in? "Oscar was writing hit after hit and then he got sent to prison and forced to do hard labour. Thus his Imperial phase ended."

Yes, basically ! Maybe there should be some game where people watch PSB interviews and you get points (or take a drink) each time Neil says the words "Imperial phase".