Charm of afternoon tea at the matinee

WHAT has happened to 'charm'? Now a certain generation may be familiar with the phrase 'charm offensive' meaning a calculated campaign to gain favour or support. In other words, something contrived or fake. No. I mean charm as in, "a delightful quality that makes you like someone... or something.

- JUDI SPIERS

Nowadays though it’s perceived as being a bit twee and old fashioned. Well, I've just discovered a rich vein of what I would call charm and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Stricken down by my first, and I hope only, bout of Covid, I was confined to bed for the week. It’s funny whenever you seem someone poorly on television, they usually look so peaceful, so warm and cosy nestling among plumped up pillows and duvets. I looked like the wonderful Patricia Hayes when she played Edna the Inebriate Woman. A bundle of mismatched rags that had been tossed out of a plane.

Too listless to concentrate on reading or even watch the television, I switched on the radio in search of some vintage drama and I hit upon That Made Us Laugh, in which BBC comedy controllers from across the decades look back at radio shows from the past, like Round The Horne, The Navy Lark, Hancock's Half Hour and The News Huddlines.