Sir Terry Wogan To Receive Westminster Abbey Tribute

[naomi24]

Confirmation, if any were needed, that Terry was indeed Showbiz Royalty?

There has been some criticism of the decision to hold his memorial service at Westminster Abbey. What do you think?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36246045

[MargoTester]

And as you frequently state you are entitled to you opinion, as am I.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, I don't think that would wash unless you could demonstrate who, other than you, made the allegation. I'd give this one up if I were you. You have placed your foot firmly and inextricably in your mouth.

[andy-hughes]

Absolutely no argument there - we must simply agree to differ in our perceptions of the posthumous adoration of dead celebrities.

[Mamyalynne]

I think the venue chosen for someone's memorial service is as much about those attending/organising as it is about the person they are remembering.

There's every possibility that Terry himself would have had strong opinions on the venue, but we shall never know.

Personally it doesn't bother me one iota and I hope it all goes smoothly.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, I'm assuming your post at 17:15 was in response to MargoTester.

[agchristie]

My first visit to my thread and I've not read them all but just on the issue of extreme long service in whatever business does not necessarily translate into reverence status or merit a service at this venue.

I've heard so many comments about Sir Terry since his death outside this forum in commendation and they haven't come across with any sincerity and simply plagiarise other people's trite comments.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //andy-hughes, I don't think that would wash unless you could demonstrate who, other than you, made the allegation. I'd give this one up if I were you. You have placed your foot firmly and inextricably in your mouth. //

I have never had you down as one of the brigade of nit-pickers who analyse each and every word of anything I post in an effort to sink into a morass of minutia and drive everyone else off the thread with sheer boredom and frustration - and I am sure you are not.

So let’s park the bit about the accountant, and concentrate on the gist of my point, which is the unsuitability of celebrities in general to receive this kind of ‘tribute’, especially when people are glossing over one of the more unsavoury aspects of a career that would appear close to saint-hood if some people are to have their way.

The point of my post remains valid – Sir Terry is not the paragon of wonderfulness that merits this level of national sob-fest – it demeans the notion of what a tribute actually is, as well as demeaning the venue in which is possibly to be held, and it opens the floodgates for anyone who works for the BBC for a certain amount of time to expect this sort of unseemly eulogising when they have cocked their toes up.

[andy-hughes]

AG - //My first visit to my thread and I've not read them all but just on the issue of extreme long service in whatever business does not necessarily translate into reverence status or merit a service at this venue.

I've heard so many comments about Sir Terry since his death outside this forum in commendation and they haven't come across with any sincerity and simply plagiarise other people's trite comments. //

I entirely agree.

Entertainers are just that - they are not brain surgeons, or curers of cancer, they are simply popular who enjoy simultaneously a seriously high level of income, together with levels of adoration that most of us would never dream of.

But like everyone else, they die, and their passing should be treated with an appropriate level of perspective.

In Sir Terry's case - Norton has assumed his Eurovision mantle, and Chris Evans not only took over his radio slot, but produced listening figures within a few months that utterly eclipsed the much-vaunted listenership of his predecessor.

So let's just move on shall we - entertainers come and go, let's not hang onto them in some sort of unseemly tribute-mashing for an equally unseemly length of time.

Sir Terry Wogan is dead. That's it. Move along ... nothing to see here.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // andy-hughes, I'm assuming your post at 17:15 was in response to MargoTester. //

It was indeed.

[B00]

Will this be on telly? If so, I'd happily take the day off work to watch if I thought they'd all boogie their way into the Abbey to pay their respects with this playing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Y4HufJ1oE

[Psybbo]

Andy
I always enjoyed listening to Terry and your phrase
'perceptions of the posthumous adoration of dead celebrities'.
annoyed me.
I do not adore any presenters, or others just appreciate when they do a good job and entertain me

[agchristie]

I have no doubt that Sir Terry had a large fan base and gave considerable joy to many viewers and listeners. However, my own view is that his inimitable style of delivery bugged me and his sycophantic responses to many of his guests lacked candour.

His Eurovision commentaries were mocking and uncomplimentary and it is sad to see that Graham Norton is just another clone.

As time wore on his appearances on Children in Need became tired and embarassingly wooden let alone the dubious pay issue.

Familiarity breeds contempt and I cringed more and more on seeing his performances.

I respect the fact that he had a large fan base but if Sir Terry is any yardstick and as Andy rightly states, the floodgates could well open for many other questionable entertainers to follow suit.

[agchristie]

@ piedpiper

Me too, same with 'national outpouring of grief'.

Just utter nonsense.

National treasure is often used to describe Bruce Forsyth. When he goes, will he have a service? On a line through Sir Terry, a precedent has been set surely?

[andy-hughes]

Psybbo - //Andy
I always enjoyed listening to Terry and your phrase
'perceptions of the posthumous adoration of dead celebrities'.
annoyed me.
I do not adore any presenters, or others just appreciate when they do a good job and entertain me //

I appreciate them too - but not to the point of eulogizing them in a major place of worship with cameras filming, and news pieces to follow - and that is my point, as echoed by AG - quite normal, and Pied Piper - absolutely astounding!!!

[grasscarp]

I knew TW when I worked in BBC radio 1966-76. He was down to earth, friendly and a generally good guy. Totally devoted to his wife and family. He would not have expected any of this and is probably chuckling to himself.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, // I have never had you down as one of the brigade of nit-pickers who analyse each and every word of anything I post in an effort to sink into a morass of minutia and drive everyone else off the thread with sheer boredom and frustration - and I am sure you are not.

So let’s park the bit about the accountant, and concentrate on the gist of my point,//

Haha! Nice attempt at deflection - but it's not your strong point. I'll leave it there. ;o)