Moving house really brings you up to speed with the state of customer service in modern-day Britain. For the past two weeks I have been waging an almost constant war, via Twitter, email and phone, to get companies to do the simplest things like turn up on time (or even on the right day), deliver the correct item or offer help over the phone in something resembling human. I am fortunate in that I am a very minor celebrity with a healthy amount of Twitter followers. Time and again, the moment I tweeted my grievances the managing director or head of customer care would be in touch within 15 minutes promising to solve the problem. This is brilliant for me, but it's a sad state of affairs that problems that are easily solved can only be dealt with because I once dressed as a large squirrel.
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Violet Philpott: Puppeteer who brought Zippy to life in 'Rainbow'
Wednesday 23 January 2013
Zippy, the yellowish-brown glove puppet who was loud and sought to be the centre of attention in Rainbow, gained a cult status that went beyond the pre-school children's programme's 25-year history.
As Robinson says 'Goodbye', our man Archie wins the last Weakest Link
Monday 02 April 2012
Nine years on from his first appearance on The Weakest Link, The Independent's Archie Bland is celebrating after he returned to take part in the final edition of the show – and pulled off a stunning victory.
As Robinson says 'Goodbye', our man Archie wins the last Weakest Link
Monday 02 April 2012
Nine years on from his first appearance on The Weakest Link, The Independent's Archie Bland is celebrating after he returned to take part in the final edition of the show – and pulled off a stunning victory.
‘You are the weakest link, goodbye!': What’s it like to face Anne Robinson on the cult quiz show?
Saturday 24 March 2012
When he was voted off the cult TV quiz show The Weakest Link nine years ago, Archie Bland thought he'd seen the last of Anne Robinson. Then he got invited back for its final broadcast...
Letter from the editor: The weakest link
Tuesday 19 July 2011
BBC Parliament (504 on Sky, 81 on Freeview) is likely to garner record viewing figures at 2.30pm today when a reluctant Rupert and James Murdoch will appear before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee, to be followed at 3.30pm by their ex-CEO Rebekah Brooks.
Are Finnish schools the best in the world?
Thursday 26 May 2011
Stars in their eyes: Why is the Government allowing celebrities into the seats of power?
Friday 20 May 2011
Virginia Ironside: Why does it pay to be rude on television?
Monday 25 April 2011
Cultural Life: Boy George, singer
Friday 11 March 2011
Music: I'm digging Laura Marling, Nocturne The Blonde, Hurts, Sister Crayon, Chairlift and, of course, the gorgeous Adele who has a touch of Dusty Springfield about her. My Spotify playlist goes from Glasvegas to Jimmy Scott, lots of David Bowie from all decades and even a dash of Julio Iglesias and Goran Bregovic! Oh, and Timi Yuro, who seems to have been forgotten but what a voice!
Last Night's TV - Ross Kemp’s Extreme World, Sky1 <br/> My Life in Books, BBC2 <br/> Glee, E4
Tuesday 22 February 2011
Matthew Norman: Let's hope Alan Johnson doesn't get asked about stamp duty
Wednesday 12 January 2011
Age case presenter Miriam O'Reilly 'did the right thing'
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Axed presenter Miriam O'Reilly today said she had done the "right thing" by "standing up" to the BBC after she won an age discrimination case against the corporation.
'I don't hate women' says top female television executive
Wednesday 10 November 2010
One of the most senior female TV executives in Britain today launched an emotional rebuttal of "utterly offensive" claims that she "hates" women.
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Is the Muslim call to prayer really such a menace?
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Channel 4 to 'provoke' viewers who associate Islam with terrorism with live call to prayer during Ramadan
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US army doctor returns arm to Vietnamese soldier fifty years after he took it as a souvenir
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Police seize possessions of rough sleepers in crackdown on homelessness
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Demand for food banks has nothing to do with benefits squeeze, says Work minister Lord Freud
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