Following the horrific murders in Paris earlier
today, we present a change to our scheduled post.
As part of our Cartoon & Comic Book Tour of London we had planned to discuss the ongoing World
War Two comic book series Über – a post that we will now hold over until
another day.
In its place we will continue our tour by paying tribute to a magazine that stands
alone in its field, our last remaining satirical news magazine Private Eye.
Our thoughts tonight are with the families
and friends of those who lost their lives at the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.
He'll be taking in everything from Gillray and Hogarth, to Scooby Doo and on to Deadpool and beyond! In addition he'll guide you to the best in London comic book stores as well as galleries that showcase the best in the cartoonist's art.
Panel 3/20. Private Eye
Private Eye. Long may it reign. I love its
every scabrous, satirical and sacrilegious dot and comma.
Trying to explain to my seven-year-old
daughter tonight about the events today in Paris at the offices of Charlie Hebdo.
Trying to explain what had happened, why it had happened. I used our own British satirical magazine Private Eye as
my prime tool.
Private Eye, I explained, is a magazine with
cartoons that pokes fun at people.
Daughter: "Like a comic?"
Me: Yes, very much so. But with lots of words,
too. Very funny words.
"What people does it poke fun
at?"
All people. Prime Ministers, policeman and
priests. Celebrities. Journalists. Everyone and anyone.
"Do the people like it when it pokes
fun at them?"
Do you know what? Yes they do.
As a journalist I once featured in Private
Eye.
It was lunchtime. I was sitting at my desk in South Quay over in the
Docklands when my mobile phone started to buzz and ping, while a moment later the
landline chirruped into life. I answered the landline.
The voice at the other end sang with
excitement: "You're in Private Eye!"
I thumbed open a text message. Same words.
Roughly. u r in Private Eye!
I had written a theatre review for The
Independent the prose of which had erred on the florid side. On the fanciful
side. Pretentious. It may have alluded to "millennial angst". Dearie
me.
And Private Eye was down on me like a ton
o' bricks.
I had it coming.
My friends were impressed. Which was not
the point. A colleague slapped me on the back. Which was not the point. I was
thrilled. Which was not the point. Which is exactly why Private Eye should never rest with the likes of egomaniac journalists and celebrities, Prime Ministers, policeman and priests on the loose.
Daughter: "Who reads Private Eye?"
Me: Anyone in this country. You can buy it
anywhere in the UK.
"So the whole country was laughing at
you for writing silly things?"
Basically, yes.
"Didn't you feel sad?"
Well, sticks and stones may break my bones…
"But words will never hurt me."
No, nor drawings neither, darling, nor
drawings neither.
Here's a the front cover of the current
edition featuring the infant Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph, sundry
angels and eight daft balloons upstaging the birth of Christ…
Inside, the magazine is sprinkled with similarly
daft cartoons featuring the three wise men, the archangel Gabriel and God.
The new issue goes on sale tomorrow. This journalist is thankful that he'll be around to buy it. And buy it I certainly will.
Richard Ingrams, Willie Rushton,
Christopher Brooker and Paul Foot founded Private Eye in 1961. The comedian
Peter Cook helped fund the magazine from the 1960s onwards.
It has long been home to the greatest of
British cartoonists. Bill Tidy, Michael Heath and Nick Newman among them.
Its offices can be found in that iconoclasts' paradise, Soho. I've always
loved that: based in Soho and not in Fleet Street. It's right and proper that Private Eye journos and cartoonists should not be seen with their snouts in the
same trough as the hacks it so often satirised in the old Street of (Dr)ink. Don't get me wrong: I'm sure they have their snouts in other troughs with different
reprobates elsewhere. Good for them. Good satire is thirsty work.
Here's Private Eye editor Ian Hislop,
quoted today:
"I am appalled and shocked by this
horrific attack - a murderous attack on free speech in the heart of Europe.
I offer my condolences to the families and
friends of those killed - the cartoonists, journalists and those who were
trying to protect them.
They paid a very high price for exercising
their comic liberty.
Very little seems funny today."
A London Walk costs £9 – £7 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.










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