Bill Bailey, the King…and a lesson from Johnny Rotten of Glass: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night’s TV show
Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation
murder in the family
Bill Bailey has long been one of the king’s favorite comedians. At a birthday party celebrating his 60th birthday in 2008, Charles was ecstatic at one of Bill’s signature musical performances – playing his imaginary version of the Belarusian national anthem.
They chatted backstage, where Charles teased the comedian about his talent on the air guitar. So it comes as no real surprise that Bill has been chosen to host Master Crafters: The Next Generation (Sky Arts), where young artists learning traditional skills work together to create a bespoke installation for His Majesty’s favorite residence, Highgrove House create.
Well, Billy Connolly is retired and the producers had little intention of picking the likes of Joe Lycett or Frankie Boyle.
Bill can be relied on for no unfunny taunts about royalty, and he also proved adept at encouraging three nervous acolytes working with stained glass. He didn’t bombard her with lewd jokes like Mel Giedroyc does at Channel 4’s woodworking competition.
It comes as no real surprise that Bill has been chosen to host Master Crafters: The Next Generation (Sky Arts), where young artists learning traditional skills work together to create a bespoke installation for His Majesty’s favorite residence, Highgrove House
At the same time, he maintained a lighthearted tone, reminding everyone to enjoy themselves and learn from the expert John Reyntiens, the repairman who replaced Big Ben’s glass dial in the Elizabeth Tower.
Reyntiens is an innovative artist – the “Johnny Rotten of Glass,” said Bill – and he encouraged apprentices to experiment with abstract patterns and unconventional tools.
I knew nothing about the techniques used to apply wet paint patterns to glass and it was fascinating to see how he used crumpled paper to create a dabbing effect. Using the edge of a glass knife, he scratched shapes that appeared three-dimensional before firing the work like clay in a kiln overnight.
Inspired, the young artists tried to swing feathers, spikes and even lit matches. One, 23-year-old Kerry, took off her sock and used it. The results were remarkable and all the more beautiful because they were created before our eyes.
Bill Bailey learned from expert John Reyntiens (pictured), the repairman who replaced Big Ben’s glass dial in the Elizabeth Tower
This is a simple but satisfying concept for a series that lives up to the King’s vision at the beginning of the show. “There is not enough vocational training in schools,” he said. “I think we’re wasting a lot of people’s lives if we don’t help them be really brilliant from a craft point of view.”
Another young woman proved immensely impressive in the documentary Murder In The Family (ITV1), albeit in a very different and tragic context.
Georgia Hooper was just 14 when she witnessed her mother Cheryl being shot dead in her car by her estranged husband Jack in 2018. With extraordinary bravery, filmed by a PC bodycam, she described to the police at the scene what had happened inside minutes of the attack.
Her prompt testimony enabled armed police to arrest Hooper at his farm in Shropshire, but only after he shot his jaw off in an attempted suicide. Two hours later, despite her apparent shock and despair, Georgia gave a lengthy interview with amazing calm.
This testimony ensured that Hooper’s attempt to evade the murder charge by claiming that the antique shotgun was accidentally fired did not save him from a life sentence. Georgia, now 19, said she was preparing to testify on her mother’s behalf. Surely such extraordinary courage deserves a medal.