When Louis met Bill Shipton

[Phantom]

Hi Bill

I've just been watching some of Louis Theroux's documentaries, and it struck me that you/Splosh! would be a perfect subject for one of his 'Weird Weekends'. He often investigates alternate lifestyles and the unusual.

Has he ever contacted you? Have you ever tried contacting him? What do you think?

I know that his subjects often come across in a bad light - but I think that's usually their own fault ... I think he's a fair interviewer and a great documentary maker.

What do you think, Bill?

Phantom

[Phantom]

Also - for anyone who wants to check out some of Louis Theroux's stuff, there's a good selection you can watch online here:

http://www.tv-links.co.uk/show.do/1/1376

Phantom

[DecadentDoll]

Until Bill answers that one, cos i dont know if Louis Theroux has ever contacted, Sin Cities from Bravo were interested until someone pointed out t the researcher they'd already featured WAM and an american site (i cant remember which)

Shame though, cos the british and us stuff is really different in loads of ways, but then i dont have to tell you that!

i love Louis Theroux!


x x x x

[BillShipton]

Hi

I draw the line at people coming to my house for a month and trying to make me look stupid with their faux naive interviewing style, sorry. No, give us our own reality show! Everyone else has one - even David bloody Gest!

Incidentally, we do turn down quite a few TV things. I think we have been approached by just about every series that Graham Norton has ever done to have the piss taken out of us by the one-trick-pony millionaire mincer. We have said no every time. We have also turned down several Tricias and a Ruby Wax show.

No, I am not becoming a humourless egotist who only does shows where I control the outcome, just avoiding getting upset by tossers who don't get the joke (namely that Splosh! is a send up in the first place). And the television stuff has led to some amusing moments not least being recognised for being on Eurotrash by two old locals in a pub in Dorset whilst arranging my aunt's funeral! And my greengrocer saw me on some late night sex programme on Sky and apparently shouted to his wife, "Bloody hell, I know him. He buys our Coxs."

Anyway, back to work...

Bill

[Phantom]

I see what you're saying Bill ...

Louis often dupes his subjects into making themselves look bad ... but more often than not, those are people who deserve ridicule (like Nazis, religious extermists, Jimmy Saville).

But not all of his guests come out looking bad - often the guests present themselves in a positive light ... they lead an alternaitve way of life, but they're content in their 'oddness' and don't care if the 'normal' people accept that or not.

I was thinking you have the savvy to present our fetish in a way which shows it as fun, innocent, sexy and daft ... in a way which would make the piss-takers think again.

But I know what you mean for sure - you must get a lot of TV offers from people who just want a weirdo to take the piss out of. I think that's what James Whale was looking for, yet Splosh came across really well in that feature .... not to mention it was followed up by quite a few people phoning in (including women) saying they were really into the messy fetish.

It has to be said - it helped that James Whale never really had the respect of anyone, anyway.

I really laughed at your description of Graham Norton. He really is a one-trick-mincer. He hasn't moved on at all from the days of Larry Grayson and Julian Clary. I love it in 'Extras' when Les Dennis starts ranting about Graham Norton.

Phantom


.

[welshcakes]

I totally agree with you, Bill. I just don't watch TV anymore because it's all so condascending. I just can't understand the attitude a lot of people have where they seem to be believe that getting your face on the telly is the be all and end all of ambition. Fuck that. On the other hand, I WILL be tuning in to see that new TISWAS special!
Right, I'll get off my soapbox now...

[BillShipton]

Can I just add that I like Louis Theroux and think his style works will with people who are so self important they don't see what he is doing (Paul Daniels and The Hamiltons spring to mind). But with some of his documentaries featuring ordinary people who just like extraordinary things, he ca be a bit demeaning, I think.

There are lots of documentary makers out there who present things in a non-judgmental light and let the people speak for themselves. There was a good one a couple of days ago about the transexual beauty pageant in Thailand which let everyone have their say, didn't deliberately take the piss, yetr still managed to be entertaining as well as poignant (particularly at the end). The Nick Broomfield style (which is basic training on Media Studies courses these days) is everywhere, and that's a good thing.

Would love to direct my own documentary about us, of course!

[mrandmrsfilth]

We saw that documentary on the Mr Miss Pageant in Thailand and felt the subject matter was handled thoughtfully and gave a balanced view of the event. Sadly that can't be said about all film makers, some use the medium as a way to express their own views on the more unconventional lifestyles out there and as a result lose their objectivity.

Are any of the many Splosh TV articles available for download anywhere ? I've seen the Channel 5 item before but realise now I've missed a lot of other TV appearances and, being a completist, would love to see them.

[Sidi]

Bill, did you ever claim payment for the Jonathon Creek episode?

[BillShipton]

Bill, did you ever claim payment for the Jonathon Creek episode?

There was no fee, just the pleasure of seeing Caroline Quentin reading my magazine!

[Phantom]

I missed that? Splosh had product placement on Jonathan Creek?

Can you give more info?

[BillShipton]

It wasn't pre-arranged, just one of those moments when the writer (David Renwick) decided we'd make a good plotline!

During the course of an investigation Creek visits a guy who has an extensive library of bizarre magazines including ours. Cue full screen close up of Caroline Quentin reading Splosh!

Later in the show, some girl who is trying to impress Creek assumes that he is a fan of ours and so decides to take tempt him by lying in a bath full of porridge wearing a nurse's uniform!

This must have baffled the population especially as it was first shown on Boxing Day and - since I was at my parents at the time - caused some embarrassment on my part when I practically choked on my sprouts. But it is great that Renwick (who incidentally also wrote the "Answering the question before last" Mastermind Two Ronnies sketch) not only had heard of us but took the trouble to find out what we do and incorporate it into a storyline!

[Phantom]

Cool! Another great Splosh anecdote.

And I have to ask, Bill ... what issue of Splosh was it (and who was on the front cover)?

Phantom

[BillShipton]

No 23. The outdoor shot of the two girls covered in mud.

Bill

[Peter Thomas]

Excellent. David Renwick is a genius comedy writer.

Totally agree with you about Gr*h*m N*rt*n, the talentless twerp. He's a walking advert for homophobia.