Anthea, why do the advert?

Anthea Turner markets herself as the most amazing housewife.

She may be known for her Tracey Island on Blue Peter and the whole ‘did-Flake-sponsor-her-wedding’ to Grant Bovey but, her career at the moment is based on the fact she’s a dab hand in the kitchen and, should you want to, you could eat the meal of the bathroom floor.

In fairness, although I’d watched Anthea Turner’s TV show, I didn’t actually think her house would look quite so immaculate if the TV cameras weren’t there.

But now in a shameless marketing swoop she’s now advertising Flash. The advert has Anthea telling how you can clean, clean, clean and it’ll make a perfect home. Then, for the final shot the camera pulls back, shows Anthea sat on the couch with her feet up and her cleaner being told what to do.

Cheeky Anthea then has the balls to say “You didn’t actually think I did it all myself did you”.

Well, no Anthea, we didn’t but we didn’t need you being so explicit about it.

I don’t know if on TV cookery shows Jamie, Delia or Gordon cook all of their own food. I’m not overly concerned if they don’t. It’s their recipe and we know they’re busy – just show me how to make it and let me know it tastes good.

The point, Anthea, is don’t then lord it over us meer mortals who can’t afford a cleaner going “ha ha ha”.

I’m not surprised you’re a bloody good housewife if there’s staff back at the mansion.

And it’s not the only reason Anthea has annoyed me this week. It was pointed out, by way of a letter, that Anthea also plugs pottery at Matalan. There’s a giant picture of her outside the branch at Longton and within the city limits of Stoke-on-Trent, home of the pottery industry. The pottery she advertises, in her home county, is that from overseas. Just have a bit of thought, love. Please.

Here’s One I Made Earlier

Well actually I didn’t. I’m writing this right n-o-w. But the classic line can only mean one thing. Blue Peter.

The children’s TV show has been going for 50 years and I think it’s fair to say generations of children have grown up watching it, buying sticky-back plastic and keeping cornflakes boxes, becoming too cool for it before finally remebering it with a wistful look in their eye and thinking back to the good old days.

Ahhh Bisto.

‘My’ presenters  were Yvette Fielding and Anthea Turner. I’m 27 so you can stop doing the maths.

In fact, in Staffordshire, my current county of choice, although I do live in Cheshire, people like thinking back to the old days. Potbanks, a dialect no-one outside the area understands, pottery.  There was a time when Stoke-on-Trent seemed like it was on the verge of greatness. It just never materialised. Don’t get me wrong I’d like nothing more than for that to change.

There’s talks of regeneration and re-building the city which other places experienced decades ago. And now the shining example for Hanley is Barnsley – or it’s bus station at least. Here’s One Barnsley Made Earlier.

People in Barnsley giggled when the new bus station – or interchange – to give it it’s real name was introduced. But I’m reliably informed some people said it looked more like Tellytubby Land than the Barcelona landmark the town planners hoped for.

But I digress.

Nostalgia? Staffordshire? Thinking back to my Blue Peter days.

As a kid Alton Towers was a mythical land. It advertised on the TV and along with WaterWorld was one of the few places in Staffordshire that I knew by name. It was most definitely on my summer holidays wish list. The days when Blue Peter left the studio for a spell in the garden.

And the most exciting ride at Alton Towers was the all-mighty Corkscrew rollercoaster. Well before the days of Nemesis, Air and Oblivion, the yellow double-helix track of the corkscrew was the utimate in rollercoasters. Now, it’s soon to be dismantled because it’s all a bit rickety. Here’s One I made I damn bit earlier and now need to take down. To be honest I’m quite pleased. Last time I went there it made me feel a bit queasy.

Rickety rollercoasters is part of the appeal for Blackpool Pleasure Beach or so I’m told but not for me.

While most in the county are mourning the loss of the ride there are some planning for the future. The theme park this summer opened it’s pirate boat ride ( yes you get drenched) and now there’s talk of them opening a Sea-Life centre. Ahoy me heartys!

Let’s only hope the combined ooos and aaahs of the customers and the animals don’t get the nearby Roper family up in arms.

By Nci1,
Blue Peter badge holder.