Don't Get Too Excited...

Now I have no wish to cause the nation's pulse rate to rocket through the roof, but I have heard today from a very nice lady called Pam that my tender-stem broccoli, won during my triumphant four days on the BBC Radio 2 programme Steve Wright in the Afternoon's Big Quiz, will be arriving next Monday! Or possibly Tuesday! Huzzah! Now this really is the big time! We have already received the cast iron wok to cook it all in. That was a bit of a shock when it arrived - it was huge. It is going to be like trying to cook in Jodrell Bank. Maybe a case of wok and awe? Oh, never mind. Anyway, next week we shall be getting stuck into our tender stem broccoli - and I can't wait! Who says general knowledge doesn't pay? Or is it crime? Who cares.

Back to Essex this weekend for a Masonic evening as Henry. Should be fun.

Undefeated Champnio!

"And so, it came to pass that the right Royal Tudor monarch came to his fourth day as reigning champnio (sic) on Steve Wright in the Afternoon's Big Quiz. And verily, he didst triumph again and did gain more prizes of the tons-of-classic-soul-artistes-CD's variety. And he didst worry if he might cop a question the next day about "Coronation Street" or quantam physics of which he knew-eth precisely nowt, and wouldst lose all his worldly prizes. And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and he didst chicken out and leggeth it with all his prizes and who couldst blameth him?"

Yes, in that rather florid way, I can confirm that I have retired, Rocky Marciano-like, undefeated as Champnio on the "Steve Wright in the Afternoon" "Big Quiz". It has been a really fun four days, and I know I got a big score today but I felt I was living on borrowed time and so yes, I took the cowards way out, and cut and run. I hope you have all had a good listen to me, if you missed it you can go to the Steve Wright page on the BBC Radio 2 website and click listen again!

So, I had now better go back to being a normal monarch again now!

The Royal Progress Continues...

My third day arrives for my appearances on the BBC Radio 2 Show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon. I was still the reigning champnio (sic) on their "The Big Quiz". Today my opponent on line was a very nice sounding chap from Edinburgh who drove a cab for a living and had once had J K Rowling in the back of his taxi!

My questions came thick and fast, and luckily for once I wasn't too thick and quite fast at answering. I managed to rack up a score of 11. The other chap did quite well and managed to get to 7, but basically to cut a long story short I had won again! Champnio AGAIN! My prize today was four tickets to the "Countryside Rocks" concert featuring among others Bryan Ferry, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and various other super annuated superstars. I must pack my green wellies.

So I am back tomorrow for more - will the King's reign continue for another day, giving me a grand total of four days and nearly halfway through the entire reign of Lady Jane Grey when she became Queen.

BBC Radio 2 - 88 to 91 FM. The Big Quiz is on at about 3.45pm each weekday. Wish me luck again.

The Wheels Haven't Come Off - Yet!

The most amazing thing happened today... I won on "The Big Quiz" again! For those who didn't read yesterday's entry I am currently the reigning "Champnio" (sic) on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon Show's general knowledge quiz. Today I got 12 questions right while my opponent only managed to get 6. My prize for this effort was a cracker! A Scooby Doo Classic DVD, a DVD player, and almost more excitingly for my son, a big hamper of "retro" sweets for us to munch as we sit and watch the Scooby Doo DVD together! Groovy! When asked if I wanted to come back tomorrow, I thought about it for about half a second and said "yes". So please wish me luck and listen in to BBC Radio 2 again tomorrow. By the way, please no more jokes about my year's supply of broccoli that I won yesterday, otherwise I shall invite you to dinner and force feed you broccoli.

And the winner is...

So, I have now been on Steve Wright in the Afternoon, and the "Big Quiz". Last week's champnio (sic) came on first, a very nice lady, but sadly for me she sounded like a genius and rattled through her questions very quickly. I have to say I feared the worst. And then it was my turn. I answered as many as I could and finally got one wrong after the "one wrong and you're out" sound and felt I hadn't quite done enough. After another lengthy wait the results were announced... I had won - by one point. What a relief! I couldn't believe it. I won all the prizes this fine lady had accumulated last week and I have to say I felt a bit guilty. Then Steve Wright's assistant, the glamorous Tim Smith, told me what my personal prize was - namely a years supply of Broccoli! Much guffawing from my wife and the people in the studio. However she was a bit more impressed when it was announced I had won a top of the range cast iron wok to cook it all in! Finally they asked me if I would like to come back tomorrow. I said yes! So please tune in again tomorrow to BBC Radio 2, 88 to 91FM, at about a quarter to four and cheer on your favourite Tudor monarch for another attempt to win more prizes from Steve Wright...

Wish Me Luck...

Hello Henry fans! Wish me luck... This coming Monday afternoon I will be appearing on the BBC Radio 2 show "Steve Wright in the Afternoon" taking part in their "The Big Quiz" section. It will be on about a quarter to four in the afternoon and it is my chance to show off my general knowledge, or possibly lack of it!

I might even get a chance to plug this website! Tune in between 88 and 91FM to BBC Radio 2 on Monday 16th April next week.

Barrington Court - Part III

Today is my Father's 70th birthday, but today was also my final appearance of the weekend at Barrington Court. The previous two days had been bathed in beautiful bright warming sunlight, but today dawned a little over cast with the occasional break in the clouds. Yesterday's "Carry on Henry" was replaced with a slightly quieter day today. There was still plenty of people about, but not the rush of Sunday.

It was an extra pleasure for me today as Amanda and James were coming over to see me in action as the King. The only problem with this is that occasionally I would be embroiled in talking to someone as Henry, when James would suddenly appear between us and shout "Hello Daddy! I love you!" and would then run off. Quite difficult to keep up the facade of being Henry VIIIth when that happens. It was another good day and it was nice to meet Amanda and James, and our friend Alison Barling and her children and parents, for a nice relaxing non-alcoholic drink at the Beagles Cafe after I had finished being the King.

Back home for a relaxing evening and a good chortle at watching "Most Haunted".

Barrington Court - Part II

A long Easter Sunday for me. This began with the shock of my alarm going off at 6am so that I could make my way down to Ilchester. I was down that neck of the woods for the car boot sale at the playing fields there. I had a pretty good day and certainly didn't freeze as I did last week!

I got home for a brief lunch with Amanda and James before making my over to Barrington Court for my second appearance of three. I stopped in at the petrol station at Merriott, but as seems the norm these days, they had no fuel again!

Barrington was packed to the rafters, with cars spilling out of both car parks and staff having trouble finding space for the new visitors. I got changed in Matthew Applegate's office and launched out into the bright sunlight to meet the visitors. It was a lovely fun day again, lots of really cute kids dying to meet the King and ask questions, and some great "grown ups" most of whom also had good questions. One lady in particular from the village of Barrington did a fine line in doubles entendres! After she described herself as a simple wench, I made the joke of getting her into the dilapidated stables at Barrington. She complained that "they're coming down already!" before squealing "the stables! I meant the stables!" After that hilarity had died down I had a wander further afield, only to bump into this fine lady again as she came out of the National Trust shop. I had earlier mentioned my Henry work taking me far afield. As soon as she spied me this time she came up to me and asked: "How far do you go?" This naturally prompted me to crack up laughing and her to say again "What have I said?" And so the day went on!

Back there again tomorrow for the final time this Easter. I hope it is as good as today.

First Day at Barrington...

Today had a less than auspicious start. Instead of having a nice pleasant morning pottering around a local garden centre (original plan for this Easter Weekend), we discovered that my wife's car had a bald tyre. Upon taking it to Bathwick Tyres in Yeovil we discovered it needed FOUR new tyres. It turned out it would have been cheaper to have taken my wife to the garden centre after all!

After a quick lunch I was about to leave for Barrington Court for my 2pm to 4pm stint when I suddenly realised I hadn't had a shave for a couple of days and Henry looked decidedly fuzzy. I hammered through a quick shave which led to the inevitable screaming, blood and pieces of toilet paper stuck to my face and neck. I must have looked a less than Right Royal sight when I arrived!

The weather was fantastic and the turn out remarkable. Both car parks were full to bursting point. I strolled around the gardens in my full gear chatting to various visitors and posing for photos. It was all good fun. Then a lovely surprise! My cousins Anne and Jack from Portesham in Dorset arrived with their son Peter, his lovely wife Sue and their children (and I hope I get all these names right!) Sam, Jenny, Amelia and Anna! It was delightful to see them all. Sadly, at the end of the day I missed meeting them for a quick cup of tea as they went to the posh restaurant at Barrington and I (being me!) headed for the equally nice but more relaxed atmosphere of Beagles Cafe. Never mind. I chatted to them on the phone this evening and explained my silliness. It is back to Barrington tomorrow for more of the same, and the weather forecast is good for the next two days. This is one happy King!

Barrington Court!

Hello folks! Just to remind you this is your chance to meet the King face to face. On April 7th, 8th and 9th I shall be making appearances at Barrington Court from 2pm to 4pm each day, wandering round the delightful grounds, chatting to whoever wants to ask the King a question and leaping out of bushes startling small children (not very often I hasten to add). Bring along your cameras for a real chance to quiz a real life Tudor monarch.