Sweeney Reunion 4 - Saturday March 11th 2023

[The Saint]

Another very enjoyable Sweeney Reunion at The Cinema Museum yesterday, I am now especially looking forward to our very own 4:3tv Sweeney Meet in 6 weeks time!

The Saint

http://instagram.com/p/Cpr0saYoERl

[Perfect Pseudonym]

(Pre-written before Saint’s post which covers one or two gaps in my write-up, e.g. Allan Bryce, but can’t be bothered going back through it to reflect that)

Got there far too early due to over compensating for the Elizabeth Line being closed for planned engineering. Again. But while waiting for the doors to open, there was a nice Austin 1100 panda car parked outside. For no discernible reason as wasn’t actually involved in the proceedings as such, but was nice to see.

In time more and more began to join the sort of queue, along with the eventual arrival of the other 4:3ers. And also some of the guests, as it seems there is no actual round the back stage door entrance at the Cinema Museum, so they had to run the gauntlet of us rabid Sweeney fans. Now I can see why there was a panda car.

Dean Harris arrived first, guided by a walking nav app on his phone, and was duly arrested against the panda car by the two dressed up coppers who had brought along the 1100. All for photo op of course, Dean Harris done nothing wrong, guv. Then Patricia Franklin turned up, with a trolley bag thing which made her look as if she’d come as Miss Bell from Bait. And not long before the doors were opened and we could all flood in, Derek Martin arrived, conveyed in an Austin Powers style Union Jack adorned Prius. What else?

And into the auditorium we all spilled. I got second row in the seating on account of prioritising the bar over getting a seat. Well, I’d been waiting outside a long time, and my alternative route into London always drives me to drink anyway. After a bit of the usual catching up with the others, the lights eventually dimmed. Well, went off totally initially. New system installed I think. And then we were treated to the specially made adaption of the opening titles, utilising the names of the guests and their character names.

And then the Q+A host (sorry, can’t remember his name) introduced the six guests: Derek Martin, Judy Matheson, Jenny Runacre, Patricia Franklin, Dean Harris and George Sweeney. I don’t think there was any random element in George being on last, and he certainly got the biggest clap and cheer. Unless there is a secret tunnel from the Elephant & Castle Northern Line station that Dean, Patricia and Derek were not aware of, I assume that Judy, Jenny and George had arrived after we’d all spilled in.

They were all absolutely delightful in their anecdotes and memories of the show, but it was the blokes who tended to have the most to say. If there is a negative slant that I can give to the event, then as marvellous as it was to have six individuals that we know so well sitting in front of us, it was perhaps too many people to have to accommodate within the timescale for a decent round of questions from the host and from the audience. But maybe I’m nit picking as it wasn’t just about the Q+A, but obviously a decent amount of time afterwards for meeting, greeting, signing and selfie-ing, as long as a bit of patience is given.

As I took no notes, and my short term memory is not very good, as I tend to not have a very good short term memory, a lot of what was said has been forgotten already. But from what I can recall, Derek doesn’t consider himself an actor, he considers himself Derek, Judy’s mic didn’t work very well and hated that her character’s actual name wasn’t used in the Selected Target credits (which was probably a bit awkward for whoever came up with the specially made opening/closing titles as she was “Kibber’s Girlfriend” for that as well), Jenny was fine about going topless, Patricia also went topless for another thing she worked with Dennis Waterman on, Dean had original ambitions of being the next David Attenborough and George had to convince people on holiday that he was actually an actor.

After it ended, then there some more catching up, decisions had to be made as to whether I’d cough up some green to get at least one of them to sign my Sweeney Companion. Would love to have got all six, but well, cost of living crisis and all that. I settled on the obvious and went for George who was brilliant. Such a great bloke.

A notable absentee from the original billing, but probably not very surprisingly so was Lee Montague. He was mentioned during the Q+A as Judy had been excited about seeing him again, but very much accepted that it wouldn’t happen. From the original billing, Katherine Fahy (Julie Kingdom of Drag Act) also didn’t appear, but that wasn’t mentioned. I’m guessing that the mysterious Judy Jarvis was actually Matheson.

And with that, the evening was over, and out into the recently rained on night I ventured for my awkward alternative non-Elizabethan route home. Whereupon more alcohol was awaiting.

A highly enjoyable evening and was great to see some of you lot again. Will certainly be up for a fifth one when/should it happen.

[Lord Emsworth]

Great write up PP

BREAKING NEWS....

New Tweet from Misty Moon:

Hot on the squealing tyres of a Ford Granada, I am so proud to announce Misty Moon Presents The Sweeney Reunion 5 @cinemamuseum
on 18/11/23

@georgeesweeney
@sweeney_archive
@tvfilmpodcastuk
@classicbritcom
@sequinedmoon

Tickets and first guest announcement coming very soon….

[Perfect Pseudonym]

Nice one Lordship 

Will have to keep the peepers open on that one.

[Charles Bronson]

Thanks for the write ups on the Misty Moon event lads. Thanks also for the heads up on a future Sweeney 5 event. I'd love to do another one sometime if I could.

It's a pity Lee couldn't make it but it was always doubtful that he'd be in attendance.
Age is a factor to be reckoned with for all of us.

Charles.

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Thanks indeed for the write ups everyone who went and to Lord Ems too for the heads up on the next - will have to make some plans to make that one!