Hello Readers,
Today I am reviewing No cunning plan by Sir Tony Robinson
I’ve just re-listened to the book on audible. I love The Blackadder reference in
the title however I would have gone with “I have a cunning plan…” but that’s just me. I
know I’ve jumped straight in talking about Blackadder first but let's be honest
its what most people recognise Tony from but for me, my first introduction to
Tony was Time Team.
Little side note here I just checked when Blackadder came
out yeah, I was only alive for the Blackadder Back & Forth special.
Blackadder goes forth and that beautifully heart-breaking poppy finale was 4
years before I was born.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this interesting and
entertaining book. In this memoir, Tony fondly looks back at a career that has
lasted over 50 years. Starting out as a
child actor, appearing as one of Fagin’s gang in the original stage version of
Oliver! (Tony was initially just keen to have fun and get out of school) to the
iconic Baldrick, he makes it clear there was never any cunning plan but he's
enjoyed every moment of his very successful career. Tony has enjoyed a long and
varied career as an actor, writer, presenter,
the actor's trade union, and in local politics.
Tony spent many years acting and directing in some of the
new breeds of theatres and companies that came out of the 1960s and 1970s. Tony
also looks back at the times his life wasn't quite so plain sailing. He was
bullied by Steve Marriott, failed to impress Liza Minnelli and was pushed into
a London dock by John Wayne! He's also risked life and limb filming The
Worst Jobs in History.
He writes openly and honestly about his life and its many
ups and downs, which is refreshing to see. and how he comes through all these
experiences smiling at the end. Tony is honest about his personal life and his
parents’descent into Alzheimer’s. My eyes were opened to some of the projects
that he had been involved in, as well as some of the people he had been
involved with during his life so far. Tony clearly
has a determined character and includes some very personal things like his drug
taking, which I was surprised by. I was also unaware of his political career.
It’s really refreshing to hear such an honest view of
life and that for most people there is no real plan. People just go along doing
what they think is best at the time. Too many biographies impose a sense of ‘this
is how I succeeded in life; you should do this too’. Tony was humble and honest
in his experience, and it was refreshing.
This is a brilliant book and honest book for anyone who love Tony's work.
L x
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