Archive for March, 2012

M1-21 Norman Lovett

M1-21 John Peel Sings the Blues Badly

Norman’s pithy IMDB biog reads something like this: Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m). Spouse: Fi Lovett (1989 – present). 2 daughters, Lily and Kitty. Is a comedian. Orginally [sic] auditioned for the part of Rimmer in “Red Dwarf” (1988 & 1999), but was cast as the talking head of a computer called Holly instead. Was considered for the role of Zazu in The Lion King (1994).

This may lead you to think that, while he seems to be leading a happy and stable family life, he hasn’t been too good at landing plum jobs in massive blockbuster feature films. Well, that’s as may be, but I feel gratified to have been at behind at least, one of his winning moves. For it was I who picked him out of a hoard of hopefuls who sent me their demos after I dished out on BBC Radio an invitation to the public to submit tapes as an audition for the final track to be added to Miniatures.

Kick-started his career? Hmm, mebbe not, but it was just 4 years after Miniatures that Norman made his TV debut and went on to appear in 32 (so far, says IMDB) TV shows and films, including playing a computer named Holly in “Red Dwarf” as well as voice-overs for popular long-running ads for Barclays and Sugar Puffs, and his wittily-titled self-written TV comedy show “I, Lovett.”

As an ex-pat since the early 80’s I realise I am pitifully ignorant of Norman’s status as, I gather from googlewikiyoutube as well as IMDB, a well-loved character on Brit TV and in several films. So to save myself  putting a foot wrong, here are a few links so that you can fill in any gaps in your knowledge of him:

Norman’s famous Sugar Puffs voice-over

Get on his Wiki

218 (as of today) delights on youtube

The man’s site, with some very entertaining videos

Live show featuring (shock! horror!) plastic bags and clothes pegs. Let it never be said that Norman stints on the quality and variety of his props

On his Miniatures track, Norman impersonated, very well I thought, England’s best-loved DJ and heroically staunch supporter of all kinds of fantastic independent music (including my own Hybrid Kids), John Peel (RIP). Since his much-too-early passing in 2004, John’s family and friends have set up the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts, a thriving organisation who are, among many other worthy deeds, soon to make John’s entire, massive record collection available as an online interactive museum. Cor!

The unique thing about Norman’s miniature which sets it apart from all the others is that he broke the “fourth wall” and spoke directly to the listener about his selfishly high expectations re his appearance on this album. Norman’s cheeky yet endearing charm is that he communicates personally to his listeners rather in the manner of, say, a friendly barman. I think this cosy, matey side of this slightly surreal geezer from the penny arcade who called his own phone and answered it will be what keeps him in the public eye for many years to come, and though I haven’t yet seen them, I’m sure his two DVD’s are tons of fun. The new one, “Outside the Box,” was recorded just after Norman finished a run in Edinburgh, so he’s primed and red hot. But as he says – “not that you’d notice of course; Norman’s style of laid back surrealist whimsy masks the fact that he was ‘on fire’ that night.” More of a quiet chuckle than a belly laugh, then. How very British.

Next up: let’s shake our elbows…

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