I'm away this week....

...but still very busy. I should be organising a load of paperwork, redecorating the kitchen, writing my book and starting a spring clean on the garden. But what am I doing? Watching old Bette Davis movies and reading an Agatha Christie.

This week, my programme on BBC Radio Berkshire is being looked after by David Prever who writes:

It's rare that a film receives universal praise. The King's Speech tells the story of King George VI of England (Colin Firth) learning to overcome his stammer with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush).

My first morning looking after Anne's show and I was fortunate enough to speak to Hugo Vickers, historical advisor on the movie. He's far too modest to admit it, but his passion for detail is responsible for at least some of the film's success; advising on royal protocol, historical accuracies and language use (including a suggestion that the world 'rubbish' would not have been used in the 1930's by the King of England when referring to his own performance)

The films succeeds on a number of levels. In many ways it's a textbook coming of age story as Bertie, the future King of England, wrestles with childhood insecurities and fears before ascending to the throne. The power of his emotional journey set against the backdrop of a coming war and a national scandal (the abdication crisis) makes this a film certain to receive several Oscar nominations on January 25th. An achievement for which Hugo Vickers should be justly proud.