Jeffrey Bernard documentary (Arena, BBC2, 1987)

Comments · 172

• BE

  @BernardRudden-e4w · 8 days ago

  A beautifully cultivated and cultured gent. Excellent writer too.

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• TI

  @timothypoulter8285 · 1 year ago (edited)

  I once sent Jeffrey Barnard a copy of his Low Life book asking if he would kindly sign it for me, also enclosed a Haydn recording which I thought he would enjoy.<br>Knowing well the writer&apos;s chaotic lifestyle &nbsp;I thought I had a slim chance of having the book returned anytime soon. So with much joy the book was returned 4 days later with a lovely inscription and a big thank you for the Haydn.<br>It remains one of my most cherished possessions.

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• IL

  @illuminant1129 · 6 years ago

  A beautiful 25 minutes. And I have now watched it several times.<br><br>Beyond the character of Jeff and his friends, the following stands out - in no particular order :-<br><br>Not a mobile phone or tablet in sight and Jeff has to struggle with the landline.<br>Everybody - in the pub&apos;, the restaurant and the betting shop, all merrily puffing away on their ciggies&apos;<br>The leisurely &apos;lunch&apos; at Kettners with Alfredos opera renditions<br>Those 80s cars on the streets of Soho<br><br>Happy Days !

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• WI

  @witchmellor · 12 days ago

  I&apos;m surprised this took so long to appear in my feed, thank you algorithm. When I was stationed and also working in London as a rotten civvy, I would look forward to reading his column with gusto. I spent a lot of time in pubs when not at work or protecting the empire from Whitehall so I&apos;m surprised I never bumped into him, saw plenty of other celebs at the time though especially around Soho and Leicester Square.

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• HA

  @Hannahxx1971 · 7 years ago

  I know that he was an alcoholic and a failure by many people&apos;s standards but I can&apos;t help feeling sad that real characters like him and many others, who have a plethora of fantastic, hilarious stories to tell are all gone now and sadly, because of the way life has changed there will never be any of their ilk again....a bit like the old smoky pubs, gone forever. Cheers for the upload, could have listened to him all day 👍

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• JA

  @jamesmc1272 · 2 years ago

  This is such a gentle portrait of a life lived in the pub, &nbsp;But I cant stop coming back.

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• PL

  @Plum3303 · 10 days ago (edited)

  I remember drinking all day and all night in Soho. In smoke filled rooms with strangers who &nbsp;became &nbsp;friends. Alcoholic soldiers of fortune until we all fell, beaten into oblivion and unconsciousness by booze. Whisky can do that to a man. &nbsp;We lived hard &nbsp;and fast &nbsp;and most of us &nbsp;are gone now . Landlord another round for my friends. ❤

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• ED

  @edmundkockenlocker4672 · 2 years ago

  I recorded this on a VHS tape about twenty years ago and I used to watch it endlessly. &nbsp;It wasn&apos;t just Bernard himself that was fascinating, but all the other characters in the programme including Soho itself.

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• RO

  @rogerlegends166 · 3 years ago

  Just as well he didn&apos;t live long enough to see the soulless &nbsp;boredom of modern Soho

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• BA

  @bartonbank2531 · 2 years ago

  Love the theme tune to arena , takes me straight back to my childhood

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• OL

  @Olsen65 · 5 years ago

  There is something soothing in daytime drinking. Lacks the hopelessness of night time extravagances.

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• AN

  @anniehaynes1561 · 7 years ago

  Saw Peter play Jeffrey 4 times. Pure genius - working on national newspapers in the 70s and 80s was my life...there was no other..you either lasted a couple of days or stayed forever..i LOVED it &amp; miss i as...in the words of Peter O&apos;Toole I totter into antiquity.👍😹

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