Leon and June with 'our Helen' (left) and 'our Julie' (right), taken on Julie’s first birthday, January 1966.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE WATCHING?
LEON: I like watching stuff that makes me laugh. I’ll go in the other room and watch Gold. Victor Meldrew (who I’m compared to), Hyacinth Bucket, The Likely Lads, Last of the Summer Wine… I love all those. Have I Got News For You. We love that.
JUNE: And Would I Lie To You?
LEON: Rob Brydon.
JUNE: I like Rageh Omaar. I like Hazel Irvine, who does the snooker. And Julie Walters. She’s great at whatever she does.
LEON: Brilliant. And Miranda Hart. Love her. I don’t fancy her, but she’s very funny. Her expressions. And the way she throws herself on the floor. And Jeeves and Wooster.
JUNE: Hugh Laurie’s very talented, isn’t he?
LEON: Frasier. I love him. I watch him every morning and I’ve seen them all.
JUNE: He’s got the box set.
LEON: Martin, the father, he’s got a chair like me.
JUNE: I can’t decide who he is: Victor Meldrew or Martin.
LEON: I used to like Bill Turnbull on Breakfast. Then I found out he was at public school. So he’s off the list.
WHAT TV DO YOU DISAGREE ON?
LEON: Sharpe is my favourite.
JUNE: Now, I won’t watch that.
LEON: Sean Bean is brilliant.
JUNE: I don’t like anything with war. Particularly if it’s battle scenes and things – I don’t like anything like that. That’s why I never liked history at school: because we always did wars and it’s quite graphic on TV. I feel physically sick when I watch it.
LEON: Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives.
JUNE: That’s awful.
LEON: Because I’m a big eater, and they’re throwing onions in, and steaks and chickens – incredible.
JUNE: Heart attack on a plate.
The sign that greets you in Leon and June’s front porch.
WOULD YOU NORMALLY
WATCH TV TOGETHER?
LEON: I’m in charge of the remote. She takes it off me occasionally.
JUNE: As a fellow at work once said, ‘Leave us with the remote, it’s the only power we males have these days.’
WHAT DOES TV MEAN TO YOU?
LEON: Television can involve you. You become part of it. It’s entertainment. And it’s company for old people, who love a lot of the programmes. I hate people who say, ‘Oh, I never watch television.’ I mean, what’s wrong with you, pal? I hate people who say they don’t drink. That annoys me as well.
JUNE: At our age we have a lot of friends who are on their own – they’ve lost their wives or husbands. And they say, particularly in the winter when it’s dark, they draw the curtains and the only person they have a relationship with is the television in the corner.
| STEPH & DOM, SANDWICH | |
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STEPH: Basil Brush made me laugh. And Frank Spencer. |
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DOM: The Goodies. The Banana Splits. ‘One banana, two banana, three banana, four …’ |
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STEPH: ‘La la la …’ I’m there now. |
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DOM: And On the Buses. |
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STEPH: On the Buses? Are you mad? |
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DOM: No. Not On the Buses. The kids’ programme, The Double Deckers. |
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STEPH: I liked The Herbs. |
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DOM: The Magic Roundabout. Dylan was always … |
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STEPH: Off his tits. But Sooty and all that lot? No. Oh, and Rainbow? Forget it. Zippy. Christ. Zip it up and throw it away. |
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DOM: Batman. Pow and kazam! And Hartley Hare from Pipkins was OK when I was ill. |
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STEPH:
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