John Armstrong

This was the worst New Year show since the Gleneagles fiasco of 84/85. If that's the best you can do, just stop. Please. And a new channel? God help us. At the end of 2019, just take the whole programme from Edinburgh. Virtually half of last night's was. What is the point of getting artists of the calibre of Polwart, Bain, and Cunningham,and letting them do one item? I've forgotten the name of the other vocalist already. That's how good she was. And, much as I like Gregor Fisher, his performance last night was woeful, though much of that was the fault of the script. You've presumably still got the original Rikki Fulton tapes. Why not play them? On second thoughts, I know the answer. It would show today's audience just how much standards have slipped in thirty years.

Essential. Should be on every book shelf.. First published in 1952. I got my second copy (somebody nicked the first!) in 1971 when it cost 60p.