Monday 29 October 2007

Guest: Hugh Laurie

You can't really have a bit of Fry without a bit of Laurie. So here is the also very funny and quite clever Mr Laurie. He's on my list of people you're not supposed to fancy but kind of do a bit. And he rowed when he was at Cambridge. Good man.

Guest: Stephen Fry

Funny man. Very clever too. Would be fab (decided I've been using 'great' too much) to meet him. Am reading his autobiography at the moment - 'Moab is my washpot'. I have to say I haven't looked up 'moab' yet. Ok, now I have... but am not much the wiser:

Modern Language Association (MLA):
"moab." Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. 29 Oct. 2007.

Guest: Ewan McGregor

He has a cheeky smile and a great sense of fun and adventure. I think he'd have some funny stories to tell. Again, not sure about this photo...

Guest: Rupert Penry-Jones

And yet another not great photo! Adam in 'Spooks' is great. The door for MI5 (the BBC version) is not far from where I work. I think I'll go and find it one lunchtime. And Rupert lives with his wife Dervla Kirwan (actress) in Clapham, where lots of my friends live. So one day I might even see him walking down the street. So I suppose he should be allowed to bring his wife. Ok then. There's never anything wrong with window shopping by the way.

Guest: Reese Witherspoon

Ok, so she can have her own invitation because she is cool. A really good actress and she seems fun. Although obviously if I am married to Jake by the time this garden party comes around, it may be a little awkward.

Guest: Jake Gyllenhaal

Another not great photo of a rather lovely man. I went to see 'Rendition' yesterday. It made me cry. Jake's going out with Reese Witherspoon at the moment, who I think is great, so I guess she can come too.

Guest: Paul Walker

This is not the photo I wanted to put up here. The one I wanted was a still from the film 'In to the Blue' where Mr Walker is mostly topless. Just one word: fit.

Sunday 2 September 2007

Guests: James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff



Both really good actors and they seem like fun people too. I saw Anne-Marie as Joan of Arc in 'Saint Joan' at the National Theatre this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing the film 'Atonement' next week. I'd like to meet them. I think they're both teeny weeny.

Guest: Hugh Grant

It's a garden party, Hugh's proper posh totty, a bit naughty and he's funny too, so he can definitely come along. But only if he's in a good mood. I reckon he can be a bit moody sometimes.

Guest: Dave Grohl



I went to the V Festival in Chelmsford this year and the Foo Fighters were AWESOME! Plus whenever I hear him talking on the radio he just sounds like a cool guy.

Monday 30 July 2007

Guest: Shia LeBeouf



This kid's cool. He was in 'Holes', which I think is great. It does just confirm me as a big kid though. He's also in 'Transformers'. And was in 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle' - that classic. Anyway, he's funny so he's on the list.

Saturday 13 January 2007

Guest: Simon Cowell

© Charlie Gray 2007

He's the only one that talks sense on X-Factor et al... at least he's honest. Louis Walsh just talks rubbish. Very canny business man. And seems personable if arrogant. Would like to talk to him about ideas!

Guest: Michael Palin



He's got a nice face. And he's funny. And he seems like a nice bloke with interesting stories to tell.

Friday 12 January 2007

Guest: Joanna Lumley



Classy lady. I'd ask her for tips on being elegant. Although I don't think it's something that can be taught.

Guest: Viggo Mortensen



But only as Aragorn. Haven't really seen him in anything else. Those eyes though...

Guest: Daniel Craig


Thinking about Judi Dench led me onto Daniel Craig, naturally(!). I loved 'Casino Royale'. I thought it was a great film. Didn't know how Mr Craig would fare as the lothario spy, but by the end of the film I was totally there. He definitely did it for me. Nice big hands too.

Guest: Judi Dench



Legend! I think she's brilliant. I love her as 'M' in the James Bond films. Very competent, but also apparently lots of fun. Seems quite a wise person. Would really like to meet her.

Guest: Peter Kay



Also hilarious. And very cheeky. He was one of Parky's guests when I went to see it being recorded. So much had to be cut for the TV just to keep it within the time! Just like his voice and the way he tells his stories.

Guest: Billy Connolly



He is hilarious. A great raconteur. Or 'Wreck on Tour' as one of his tours was called. It took me ages to get that. He's a mate of Michael Parkinson's, and has met the Queen as well - he's got a CBE. And I really liked him in Mrs Brown.

Guest: Michael Parkinson


When he was still with the BBC I went to London once to watch his show being recorded live. It was great. He's the King of Chat! He's met so many interesting people, I'd love to hear some of his stories.

Guests: Men's Coxless Four (2004 Olympic Games, Gold medal winners)



Being a rowing fan and a (very amateur) rower myself, I would have to have Sir Steve, Sir Matthew, Tim and James high on the guest list. I saw Tim Foster at Henley Royal Regatta last year. And Steve Redgrave turned on the Christmas lights in Meadowhall one year when I was at unversity in Sheffield. My dad saw Matthew Pinsent on Hod Hill in Dorset. Apparently his parents live near there. And a friend of mine did the Atlantic Rowing Race last year, the one that James Cracknell did, so she knows him. Lots of 'ins'. How exciting. Nice to have some tall men around. Plus they all know the Queen too. She's such a hob-nobber.

Thursday 11 January 2007

Guest: Boris Johnson

© TAO Group 2007
Yes, I know he cheated on his wife and he's a bit of a buffoon sometimes (well, a lot of the time) but he's also quite clever, writes well and he makes me laugh.

Tuesday 9 January 2007

Guest: Adam Brody



I think he's cute. I don't know whether it's Seth Cohen (his character in 'The O.C.') or Adam Brody I'm liking here, but he seems laid-back, funny and cool in a slightly geeky way. I like him. I'd like to give him a big hug. Although, he might be a bit skinny for good hugs... Hmmm.

Guest: Emma Thompson


These guests are not going in preference order, other than starting with the Queen. Emma Thompson seems like a fun and down-to-earth lady who is very good at what she does. As I have aspirations to be a screenwriter, I'd like to meet her and chat about that.

Guest: Sir David Attenborough

© Ben Osborne

He's already met the Queen, several times. I think Sir David is brilliant. I grew up watching his TV programmes and absolutely loved the more recent Blue Planet and Planet Earth. He is just so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I really admire people like that. And now he's campaigning for us to do more to protect the Earth. And he's still going strong at 80 years old. Fantastic. (Happy Birthday for 8 May.)

Guest: The Queen

© Camera Press
It's a garden party so the Queen has to come. Plus I really want to meet her. She is very good at her job. She does her homework. And she seems like she has a great sense of humour. I am definitely a fan of the Queen. Stops egocentric politicians having it all their own way. Plus the Royal Family isn't as expensive as everyone likes to say - they cost British taxpayers about 62p a year. I'm happy to pay it - I think they're much more valuable than that. The revenue the generate in terms of tourists visiting Britain probably makes up for that easily.

Introduction

There are lots of people who I would like to meet. But when people ask me, I forget how great some people are and can't think of anyone for a fantasy dinner party. It's one of those list questions that floats around isn't it - a list of famous people, dead or alive, who would appear at your ultimate dinner party. Well I've decided to do a garden party, because I like outdoors (obviously the weather will be fabulous for my party) and there are just so many people I would like to meet, for various reasons. I'm going to list my fantasy garden party guest list here. Feel free to make suggestions, although I may just ignore you. I'm also planning on putting up some recipes for food and drink that I might consider serving to my guests. And some possible locations.