Julian Clary
Comedian and writer Julian Clary recently had his first novel, ‘Murder Most Fab’, published. Here, he pays tribute to Vanessa Feltz
Julian Clary
'I really like Vanessa. I think she’s a survivor. She is seriously intelligent and, with regard to London in particular, I often listen to her radio show and find that she expresses my opinion for me. There aren’t many people I bother to listen to. She’s never bland. She’s always got a strong opinion, which I guess is one of the tricks of being a radio presenter. You listen to her for a while and you think: Oh yes, she’s got it right. I love her brassiness and the fact that she goes to everything. She’s always popping up on things and doesn’t say no to anything.
'I have stood in a few times on the breakfast show on BBC London radio, and I would do the handover to her at 9am. Every morning she does a 15-minute monologue about the issues of the day and what she thinks of them. It’s a very clever thing, to just talk for that long without hesitation, repetition or deviation. She’s airing her views and working people up into a state where they might want to call. It’s very clever, and the technique that’s involved sort of goes unnoticed. She does it every morning – three hours of it, talking all the time and appearing to be interested in what she’s talking about. Lord knows, I couldn’t do it.
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'There’s never a neutral response to her, and I’m not sure that I’ve always liked her. I think there was a time when I did find her irritating, but when I stopped to listen to her I thought she was great. She’s got a real charm about her. Some people on the radio, men like Jon Gaunt, do a phone-in and they just rant and it gives me a headache, whereas Vanessa is quite thought-provoking.
'I have met her at parties. She’s very funny so I always make a beeline for her. She’s a good gossip and always has a lot of inside information on things. She always takes you to one side and says something in a hushed voice that’s absolutely gripping. I’m not terribly sociable, but she’s not
one of those people I avoid. If Vanessa’s at something then that’s always a good thing.
'She’s quite active on the gay club scene and is very gay-friendly. What is it about loud, brash women that gay men like? [Laughs] What could it be? I don’t know. It’s the feistiness and tenacity. She’s always there, in the face of whatever life has thrown at her. She’ll go out and get herself an attractive young man if she wants to. She’s been through a high-profile divorce. The way she brazened out the public response to that was really admirable.'
The London Literature Festival runs July 5-19 (www.londonlitfest.com).
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2 comments
Julian your insane, Vanessa is Far from gay friendly, did you not hear her comments on her show yesterday Mon 22nd about George Michael being & I quote 'Sexually Immoral', the topic was his arrest for possession of class A drugs not his sex life. Add to that he was not having sex.
Ms Feltz has often stirred up trouble for us on her show regarding Gay/Lesbian issues.
I'm sure Vanessa loves gay men, yourself included, but as long as we know our place! Just as long as we stick to camp chat & doing her hair & make-up, she'll love us.
However if we need her to understand us with any depth, what it's like to be Gay, the crap we still have to deal with & have inflected upon us, then forget it. She is your archetype fag hag of the very worst breed.
I love your work Julian & do have a soft spot for you, always have since I was at school, I just think your not aware of her 'Real' views about Gay men & women.
Finally, I have sent written complaint to the BBC & OffCom, I've attached my letter below, spelling mistakes and all I'm afraid, I was in a rush.
All the best, Daniel Fitzgerald
Dear BBC Radio London,
I'm really keen to know why Vanessa Feltz felt it fit to accuse George Michael of being 'Sexually Immoral' on her programme today, Mon 22nd Sept approx 11.30am.
Dose Vanessa see the act of two men having sex as 'Immoral'? I assume so as from today. Of course no one straight ever has sex outside their bedroom let alone somewhere in public, though strangely I've never heard her refer to dogging or other 'straight' alfresco sexual activities as Immoral! So its fair I think for me to conclude that its only Immoral for Gay people to have sex in a public space.
My second point is that Georges sex life had nothing to do with his latest arrest for possession of class A drugs, nor did it have anything to do with todays chosen topic, George Michaels arrest & subsequent caution for the possession of class A drugs.
The constant references to public loos & small children, not for the first time either, (dose Vanessa make a connection with children & gay sex I wonder?) that may have been around at the time (I imagine George used a cubical) & Georges arrest back in 1998 for cottaging in the USA, again had nothing to do with todays topic, paved the way for Vanessa's shockingly Homophobic & totally unnecessary statement. Why?
As a Gay man I find the obsession with Gay sex, in particular alfresco, a real bore. This, if you really want to find it, happens in very small ever decreasing numbers, almost always at night & in very far off remote places. At the very worst, you could argue its vulgar.
Personally I am more concerned, to give just one example, by the covers of 'Straight' magazines such as Nuts that are placed, usually in a position for all children to see, at my local Tescos & in fact at every supermarket & newsagents that I know of. I could go on ad nauseam with many other examples but I wont.
To say that I'm angry with todays programme would be an understatement. There is a definite pecking order when it comes to Diversity on Vanessa's show with Gay issues, though covered fairly often, are almost always reported in a negative, unsympathetic, usually crass or just plain incorrect fashion with listeners often allowed to make grossly offensive remarks & able to get away with them, unchallenged, too.
This is not the first time that Vanessa had presented a Gay news item in such a negative way but it is one of the few times she has let her true feelings about Gay people slip out in such a blatant fashion. This is not just bad journalism Vanessa its deeply Homophobic too. You have a responsibility to your listeners & that includes Gay people as well!
As for my personnel feelings for Vanessa, if she actually gets to read this, then as from today I do accuse you personally of being Homophobic, shame on you Vanessa!
I look forward to your reply.
Daniel Fitzgerald
I totally agree with that and yes I am gay. Vanessa is smart and interesting and fun.