Sir Les Patterson2023-12-16T09:52:29+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/Carl D. Pattersoncarl@sirlespatterson.comSpooky2023-12-16T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/12/16/spooky/<p>Looking for reaction to the State Memorial Service on social media I found that Dame Edna Everage had written an obituary for Barry Humphries in <a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/@juneussell@mas.to/110281507911026468"><em>The Daily Telegraph</em></a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Dame Edna Everage writes</em>: Barry Humphries was an unknown aspiring actor and would-be comedian when I first met him in the early 1950s. It is true that he put me on stage for the first time in December 1955, but it was in order to belittle me and get cheap laughs at my expense and ridicule the great Australian way of life.</p>
<p>How the tables were turned! I became the star and he merely a footnote to my spectacular career. His tragedy was his desire to be an artist and we know what happens to failed artists - Hitler, for example - they either become interior decorators or mass murderers. Barry was spared this fate. He became rich due to my efforts and signed me up to a contract that bound me for life.</p>
<p>He had a lovely family and my heart goes out to them as well as to his unfortunate wives and numerous stage-struck research assistants.</p>
<p>If these words seem uncharitable in the context of an obituary, I am fortunate that <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, unsurprisingly, was eager to publish them.</p></blockquote>
<p>Rumours that Dame Edna, Sir Les and Sandy are living out their twilight years in the comfort of a Monte Carlo retirement facility are entirely unfounded.</p>
State Memorial Service2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/12/15/state-memorial-service/<p>Barry Humphries was remembered in a state memorial service at Sydney Opera House this morning.</p>
<p>King Charles sent a message saying that “no-one was safe” from his wit, Humphries was a man who elicited both “fear and fun” in his subjects.</p>
<p>“Barry Humphries, through his creations, poked and prodded us, exposed pretensions, punctured pomposity, surfaced insecurities, but most of all, made us laugh at ourselves,” he wrote.</p>
<p>“Like so many, I have been deeply saddened by his passing. Life really won’t be the same without him.”</p>
<p>Humphries' son, Rupert said, “Before each show started, I would sit in his dressing room as he applied makeup, wigs and fake teeth and then watch him either step into a sequined frock or a totally disturbing fat suit that he wore for [his character] Les, with its huge appendage attached.</p>
<p>“Most nights my brother and I would sit on the back row of an auditorium, praying, always praying that this wasn’t going to be the show where he went too far and said something completely unforgivable.</p>
<p>“But he never did. He loved to torment his audiences but it was from a place of love.”</p>
<p>Many news outlets reported on the event:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-15/nsw-barry-humphries-state-memorial-sydney-opera-house/103229322"><em>ABC News</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/dec/15/barry-humphries-memorial-sydney-opera-house-talent"><em>The Guardian</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-67723756"><em>BBC</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-deaths/barry-humphries-given-final-farewell-at-state-memorial-service/news-story/2f76bf45ec25787c2bd08e943ab4f4cd"><em>news.com.au</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.watoday.com.au/culture/celebrity/barry-humphries-memorial-live-updates-iconic-australian-actor-comedian-farewelled-in-sydney-memorial-20231214-p5erkh.html"><em>WAtoday</em></a></li>
</ul>
<p>ABC have posted video of the service on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dnA5KAoySo">YouTube</a> and also on their <a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/state-memorial-service-for-barry-humphries">iview</a> streaming service.</p>
State Memorial2023-11-16T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/11/16/state-memorial/<p>The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12755193/Barry-Humphries-state-memorial-Opera-House-free-tickets-available.html"><em>The Daily Mail</em></a> and <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/barry-humphries-state-memorial-free-tickets-for-public-how-to-get-them/9b06be29-6c23-41d2-9317-1513fa8a3fde"><em>9 News</em></a> have reported that the State Memorial for Barry Humphries will take place at the <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/state-memorial-barry-humphries-ac-cbe">Sydney Opera House</a> at 11am on Friday, December 15.</p>
<p>Limited free tickets will be made available to the general public at 2pm AEDT on Friday 17 November.</p>
<p>For those who are not able to attend <em>The Daily Mail</em> and NSW Government report that the event will be streamed online by ABC TV in Australia.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/state-services/barry-humphries-state-memorial">NSW Government</a> have said:</p>
<blockquote><p>The State Memorial will bring together dignitaries, family, friends and fans of Mr Humphries from across Australia and around the world to celebrate his extraordinary career and achievements.</p></blockquote>
Barry Humphries honoured in King’s birthday list2023-06-11T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/06/11/barry-humphries-honoured-in-king’s-birthday-list/<p>From <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/11/barry-humphries-honoured-in-kings-birthday-list-as-prizes-achieve-gender-parity-in-50-year-first"><em>The Guardian</em></a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>The late Barry Humphries has been awarded the highest accolade in the King’s birthday honours list, as the prizes achieve gender parity for the first time in their five-decade history.</p>
<p>Humphries was one of six Australians to be made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), alongside former premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett, Parkinson’s researcher Glenda Margaret Halliday and former Labor minister Jenny Macklin.</p>
<p>The late performer’s AC was made for his “eminent service to the arts as a comedian, actor, author, satirist and entertainer, to the promotion of Australian culture, and as a patron of organisations.”</p></blockquote>
Barry Humphries at the BBC2023-05-29T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/05/29/barry-humphries-at-the-bbc/<p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mg0t"><em>Barry Humphries at the BBC</em></a>, which was broadcast last night on BBC TWO, is now available on the BBC iPlayer for the next 11 months.</p>
<p>Footage of Sir Les, recorded back in 1977 on <em>The Barry Humphries Show</em>, starts at the 39 minute mark. This was back when he was just Les ‘Fine Arts Spokesman’ and before he developed an over active saliva duct, an affliction which would plague him his entire life.</p>
State Memorial Service2023-05-23T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/05/23/state-memorial-service/<p>Many news outlets are reporting that a memorial will take place on December 15th at Sydney Opera House:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-deaths/details-of-barry-humphries-state-memorial-reveals/news-story/51a4811eece8b957647af7318cc9c622">news.com.au</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/05/22/state-memorial-for-barry-humphries-confirmed-for-december/">1news.co.nz</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/barry-humphries-official-funeral-date/ar-AA1ailNG">MSN</a></li>
</ul>
Barry Humphries will receive a state funeral in Australia2023-05-04T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/05/04/barry-humphries-will-receive-a-state-funeral-in-australia/<p>Anthony Albanese, prime minister of Australia, said during a visit to Britain, “Barry Humphries was the quintessential Australian character,” he told Talk TV.</p>
<p>“We’ll be paying tribute to him at a state funeral. He’s someone who has given an enormous amount of pleasure to generations of Australians.”</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0503/1380396-barry-humphries-to-receive-state-funeral-in-australia/"><em>RTE</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://entertainment.inquirer.net/497737/comedian-barry-humphries-to-get-state-funeral-in-australia"><em>Inquirer Entertainment</em></a></li>
</ul>
Barry Humphries has died aged 892023-04-22T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2023/04/22/barry-humphries-has-died-aged-89/<p>Barry Humphries, the Australian comedian and actor best known for his creations Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, has died aged 89.</p>
<p>This is a list of websites announcing the news:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/apr/22/barry-humphries-dies-australian-comedian-death-dead-dame-edna-everage-sir-les-patterson"><em>The Guardian</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65328507"><em>BBC</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/22/barry-humphries-dead-dame-edna-everage-creator-dies-aged-89-18636470/"><em>Metro</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1760069/Barry-Humphries-dead-death-Dame-Edna-hip-replacement-how-old"><em>Express</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/barry-humphries-dame-edna-dies-587hc2xnj"><em>The Times</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/barry-humphries-dead-dame-edna-australia-showbiz-b1075989.html"><em>Evening Standard</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/22087114/barry-humphries-dead-at-89-dame-edna-everage-comedian-dies-in-hospital-after-surgery-complications/"><em>The Sun</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.itv.com/watch/news/comedy-great-barry-humphries-dies-aged-89/wztk16n"><em>ITV</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2023/04/22/barry-humphries-creator-of-dame-edna-dies-aged-89/"><em>The Irish Times</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12001961/Dame-Edna-Everage-dead-Barry-Humphries-dies-hospital-aged-89-surrounded-family.html"><em>Daily Mail</em></a></li>
</ul>
Artistic insights from Sir Les2022-02-06T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2022/02/06/artistic-insights-from-sir-les/<p>Sir Les has refilled his fountain pen and written a piece for <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/artistic-insights-from-legendary-cultural-attache-sir-les-patterson/news-story/850a573aa481881d377e799f150cdca5"><em>The Australian</em></a> reflecting on the Australia Yartz Council’s generosity to it’s artists.</p>
<p>On qualifying to be an Australian politician:</p>
<blockquote><p>I had the ideal qualifications for an Australian politician: I have never had a job and I have never signed a cheque.</p></blockquote>
<p>On his unwavering inclusivity:</p>
<blockquote><p>I am as inclusive as buggery. Look at all the research assistants and Girl Fridays I have employed over the years at the expense of the grateful taxpayer. Inclusive isn’t the word. I had a nice little Kiwi lass (with a tattoo on her tongue), a Chinese cutie, a spunky Swede and a first Australian assistant on work experience. Due to climate change, quite a few of them were late for work.</p></blockquote>
<p>On his daughter:</p>
<blockquote><p>Young Karen, although she is not so young any more, God love her, is passing through a phase and she identifies as a stand-up comedian and also identifies as not very funny.</p></blockquote>
The Old Fella2021-10-24T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2021/10/24/the-old-fella/<p>Sir Les Patterson has been writing a column for the readership of British magazine <em>The Oldie</em>.</p>
<p>In July, in a piece entitled <a href="http://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/the-woke-wizard-of-oz-sir-les-patterson">The woke wizard of Oz</a>, Les wrote on a wide variety of subjects that befits a former elder statesman.</p>
<p>Upon the occasion of his birth:</p>
<blockquote><p>When I was born in the maternity ward of the Little Sisters of Perpetual Chastity, Sydney, Australia, the nurse presented me to my wonderful mother.</p>
<p>She was lying in bed in the antenatal ward, quietly smoking and perusing the <em>Woman’s Weekly</em>.</p>
<p>‘It’s a boy, Mrs Patterson,’ the nurse said. ‘And, one day, he’s going to be very big.’</p>
<p>Boy, did she hit the nail on the head!</p></blockquote>
<p>On sexual prejudice:</p>
<blockquote><p>However, I yield to none in my abhorrence of sexual prejudice. As for some courageous folk who claim that they were born in the body of the wrong sex, Les Patterson has this to say: ‘I’ve been there, guys. I know. I need to get into the body of the opposite sex on a regular basis.’</p></blockquote>
<p>On COVID:</p>
<blockquote><p>It’s been a funny experience for me, staying at home for months on end. I’m such an international traveller at the expense of my old mate the Australian Taxpayer that it seems unnatural to be using the same toilet 24/7.</p>
<p>Lady Gwen Patterson and my good self have found a new intimacy watching the box every night on a beanbag together and, as an official diversity watchdog, I’m always on the lookout for any hint of discrimination in the media.</p></blockquote>
<p>In the September issue, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-oldie-magazine/id993714154?mt=8">available digitally</a>, Sir Les announced his retirement as Australia’s cultural attaché:</p>
<blockquote><p>You’ve probably heard that I have retired from the cut and thrust of Australian diplomacy — I don’t get half-cut any more and my thrusting is strictly recreational.</p></blockquote>
<p>On recent job offers:</p>
<blockquote><p>The jobs I’ve been offered so far include: poetry editor of the Spectator, senior judge of the Turner Prize, transphobia watchdog, opening act on the Tony Blair lecture circuit and my latest — celebrity ghost-writer.</p>
<p>That last job has started up already, to be honest. Protocol forbids me to name the author but let’s just say he’s a ginger-haired, royal scallywag married to a very acceptable, diverse sheila and they want to share their journey with everyone.</p></blockquote>
<p>On not having grandchildren:</p>
<blockquote><p>To be honest, I’m a family man first and foremost — although my two kids, Craig and Karen, have been a bit of a letdown in respect of producing the patter of tiny Pattersons, to be honest.</p>
<p>Between you and me, I’ve got another little family in Bangkok, where I sometimes stop over on diplomatic missions to get the old rocket polished. There must be four or five of those kids by now, thanks to an exotic little massage therapist called Jam Yang.</p>
<p>Not a word to Lady Patterson, please — though she won’t be perusing this publication, that’s for sure. A woman can’t watch Embarrassing Bodies and read <em>The Old Fella</em> at the same time.</p></blockquote>
<p>On sexual discrimination:</p>
<blockquote><p>Young women who have worked under me will all vouch for my considerable tolerance and there has been the odd case of gender fluidity in my typing pool.</p>
<p>I’m perfectly comfortable with that, to be honest — though, in the past, I might have brushed a few sheilas up the wrong way.</p>
<p>I once said something that had the lezzo lynch mob up my blurter, but my tolerance is legendary, particularly to poor bastards who don’t like it plain and simple.</p></blockquote>
<p>At <a href="https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/winners-and-judges-of-the-oldie-of-the-year-awards-2021">The Oldie of the Year Awards 2021</a> on the 19th of October Barry Humphries accepted the Oldie Wizard from Oz of the Year award on behalf of Sir Les. Harry Mount, in <a href="https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/sir-les-patterson-wizard-from-oz-oldie-of-the-year-harry-mount">a touching tribute</a>, wrote that Les will be turning 80 next year.</p>
<p><em>The Oldie</em> website doesn’t have a search function but anything Sir Les related can be found using the <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site%3Awww.theoldie.co.uk+sir+les&t=osx&ia=web">DuckDuckGo</a> search engine.</p>
Barry Humphries: 'I think Les might have adapted to new conditions'2018-07-14T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2018/07/14/barry-humphries-i-think-les-might-have-adapted-to-new-conditions/<p>Barry Humphries talks to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/jul/11/barry-humphries-interview-offence-dame-edna-everage-sir-les-patterson">The Guardian</a> about the music of the Weimar Republic, Dame Edna and Sir Les does get more than a passing mention.</p>
<p>On playing Sir Les:</p>
<blockquote><p>Humphries says none of his characters give him quite as much pleasure as Australian ambassador Sir Les, best known for his puce cheeks, huge appendage and formidable frothing. “I enjoy playing Les more than any other character because it release my inner vulgarity. It liberates my repressed ribaldry.” In 1999, Sir Les appeared with Kylie Minogue at Nick Cave’s Meltdown, in a duet that concluded with him chasing her round the stage and whipping out his famous (and thankfully fake) “frightener”. Sir Les is an acquired taste.</p></blockquote>
<p>On Patterson’s enlarged saliva duct:</p>
<blockquote><p>Does he still have sufficient saliva to play the dissolute ambassador? “Well, look, the same question was asked by Prince Charles.” Like Edna, Humphries is an accomplished name-dropper. “He said: ‘Do you have some kind of tube running down your mouth?’ and I said: ‘No, I produce it myself.’ It really is organic. I can expectorate six rows into the stalls.” He looks at me with undisguised pride. “That is an accomplishment, isn’t it? I can almost hit a target half a block away!” Does the royal family like Sir Les? “Prince Charles likes Les <em>a lot</em>,” he whispers lubriciously.</p></blockquote>
<p>On not wanting to be Sir Les:</p>
<blockquote><p>Perhaps Sir Les is a warning to himself of what he could have become. Would any part of him want to be Les? “No, I don’t want to be Les Patterson. I do rather admire him, though. He’s very genial. It would be therapeutic if Les was on TV constantly, reminding people there is another attitude to the fairer sex which doesn’t entirely displease them. I’ve noticed that people who laugh at Les’s most offensive, controversial, sexual sallies are old ladies. I have the lights up, and can see the old ladies on the front row. And they love it, as they used to love Max Miller.”</p></blockquote>
<p>On the possible return to Britain of the Australian elder statesman:</p>
<blockquote><p>That is why, he says, he is determined to bring Sir Les back to Britain for one last hurrah. “I think Les might have adapted to new conditions.” Is he less offensive? He guffaws. “No, he’s more offensive. He’s had to ramp it up.”</p></blockquote>
<p>On the right to offend:</p>
<blockquote><p>As we enter the lift, he tells me how lucky he has been and how much he is looking forward to the future – particularly reviving Sir Les. “I defend to the ultimate my right to give deep and profound offence.” He pauses. “So long as people laugh while they’re being offended.” And do they laugh as much nowadays? “Oh yes, of course they do.”</p></blockquote>
Sir Les and his Little Thingo2015-09-27T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2015/09/27/sir-les-and-his-little-thingo/<p>Sir Les can be seen fronting the campaign to promote the tablet and mobile editions of The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail and The Advertiser using <a href="http://www.howtogetmore.com.au">News Corp’s tablet app</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>To maintain my cultured, urbane and well-informed image I start my day with the tablet edition of The Daily Telegraph.</p></blockquote>
<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ub-rJOinl7I" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
Love Songs for Sir Les2015-03-30T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2015/03/30/love-songs-for-sir-les/<p>We knew that Sir Les Patterson wouldn’t stay out of the limelight for long. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival has announced a show called <em>Love Songs for Sir Les</em> reports <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/stage/barry-humphries-books-sir-les-for-adelaide-cabaret-festival/story-fn9d344c-1227283515137">The Australian</a>. Our favourite cheese connoisseur has gathered a merry band of chanteuses, charmers and jesters.</p>
<p>“It’s Les as a sort of emcee, with a lot of very good artists singing love songs, and Les will be a jarring element, I should think,” Humphries says from Los Angeles, where he is currently on tour with Dame Edna Everage.</p>
<p>“I think Les is going to sing a couple of his own compositions, and he’s going to introduce the evening.”</p>
<p>For anyone in the Adelaide area the cabaret festival runs from June 5th to the 20th.</p>
Les Get Cookin'2014-03-09T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2014/03/09/les-get-cookin/<p><img alt="Chef Les" src="/images/2014/03/09/chef-les.jpg" class="img-fluid"/></p>
<p>Last night was the final date on the <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> tour of the U.K. and our hero did not disappoint. Despite picking up a terrible case of the trots from a Mexican fact finding mission, Les battled on bravely.</p>
<p>With all the major and minor T.V. networks in the audience Les pitched his new culinary show <em>Les Get Cookin'</em>. Needing to impress Les cooked up his signature dish, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rissole">Rissoles</a>. Minced meat, onion, courgette and spices all mixed by fingers of a former Australian diplomat. Unfortunately, due to an enlarged saliva duct that he’s had since birth, the ingredients were a little moist, but a quick roll in the flour and it was onto the hot plate.</p>
<p>A couple were brought up from the audience to assist Sir Les. The woman seemed to be overcome standing so close to Leslie and she lunged at his trouser snake. Les was quick to react and kept her probing fingers out of harm’s way. As we know the Patterson appendage is reserved for Thai shelias, government sponsored ceiling inspectors and on a rare occasion, Lady Gwen.</p>
<p>Sir Les had to pay a second trip to the onstage lavatory and that was the last we saw of him. But surely the sight of his beckoning hand around the dunny door, gesturing for anything absorbent, can’t be the last we’ll see of him.</p>
<p>Rumours are that Barry Humphries will take Dame Edna on a U.S. leg of the Eat Pray Laugh! tour. We don’t know if the Sir Les combination of culture and cuisine will make it across the pond.</p>
Sir Les at the London Palladium2013-06-29T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2013/06/29/sir-les-2013-2014-london-palladium/<p>The <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> tour of the U.K. will include a two-month residency at the London Palladium from November 13. Shows then continue around the country until March 2014.</p>
Sir Les 2013-2014 U.K. Tour2013-03-22T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2013/03/22/sir-les-2013-2014-uk-tour/<p><img alt="Chef Les" src="/images/2013/03/22/chef-les.jpg" class="img-fluid"/></p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> dates have now been announced on the tour web-site.</p>
<p>Sir Les will be whipping up authentic Australian tucker across the length and breadth of these British Isles.</p>
Sir Les Returns to the U.K. in 20132012-12-08T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2012/12/08/sir-les-returns-to-the-uk-in-2013/<p>The <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> tour finally arrives in the U.K. for a string of dates in autumn 2013.</p>
<ul>
<li>Milton Keynes Theatre - October 23rd to 26th</li>
<li>Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff - October 30th to November 2nd</li>
<li>Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre - November 5th to 9th</li>
<li>Final transfer for a season in the West End, venue to be announced</li>
</ul>
<p>Let’s hope that Sir Les, now a celebrity chef, can get his barbie through customs.</p>
<p>(via <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2244319/James-McAvoys-Tartan-Army-set-invade-Whitehall.html">Mail Online</a>, <a href="http://broadwayworld.com/article/Barry-Humphries-EAT-PRAY-LOVE-Tour-to-Hit-West-End-Fall-2013-20121206">Broadway World</a> and <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/172992-Barry-Humphries-to-Return-to-UK-for-Farewell-Tour-in-Fall-2013">Playbill.com</a>)</p>
Eat Pray Laugh!2012-07-21T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2012/07/21/eat-pray-laugh/<p><img alt="Chef Les" src="/images/2012/07/21/chef-les.jpg" class="img-fluid"/></p>
<p>Finally reviews of the <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> tour have started to dribble in.</p>
<blockquote><p>The shows opens with Sir Les Patterson, undaunted by chronic diarrhoea, conducting a celebrity cooking segment in his backyard. He’s as uproarious and politically incorrect as ever: the trouser-snake, the creamy saliva, the demented overbite, and the unabashed political incorrectness; this supreme incarnation of all that’s dire about the Australian male hasn’t changed a whit. And the packed auditorium went wild for it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/theatre/eat-pray-laugh-20120720-22dgr.html">WA Today</a></p>
<p>When it premiered in Sydney two weeks ago, Sir Les had returned from the Mexico City G20 Summit with an upset stomach (“Montezuma’s revenge”) and an ambition to become a celebrity chef. “Since when did diarrhoea interfere with gourmet cooking?” he croaks, his dribble sizzling on the barbecue with his rissoles.</p>
<p>More spice with that? Les has got plenty, some past its use-by date: “I can live without turmeric,” he slobbers over one of the girls from his quartet of hot-bod dancer-helpers, “but I won’t say no to cumin.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/theatre/work-to-drool-sir-les-master-chef-finds-the-cumin-touch-20120719-22d4h.html">The Age</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Alas there are no photos of Les’s brother Father Gerard, the Catholic priest who has “touched everyone he has ever met”. I’d wager that Gerard has the same rugged good looks of his former diplomat, now celebrity chef, brother Les.</p>
Barry Humphries to Retire2012-03-17T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2012/03/17/barry-humphries-to-retire/<p>According to reports in <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/barry-humphries-retires-as-dame-edna-and-sir-les/story-e6freuy9-1226302658914">The Telegraph</a>, <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts-books/barry-humphries-drops-the-curtain-on-dame-edna-sir-les-and-sandy-stone/story-fn7euh6j-1226302622158">Herald Sun</a>, <a href="http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/its-time-to-say-bye-bye-possums/story-e6frea8c-1226302778746">Adelaide Now</a> and <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/dame-edna-everage-co-calling-it-quits/story-e6freq7o-1226302694581">The Courier-Mail</a> Barry Humphries will retire after his Eat Pray Laugh! tour.</p>
<p>What this means for Sir Les is uncertain, Humphries says:</p>
<blockquote><p>Les has become a celebrity chef. We’ll have a kitchen on stage and Les working away, clearly preparing a meal for political colleagues.</p></blockquote>
<p>What are the odds on Sir Les cooking with cheese. Fondue anyone?</p>
<p><strong>Update</strong>: Footage of Dame Edna, Barry Humphries and Sir Les, announcing their collective retirement has surfaced on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZsVyG44xR8">YouTube</a>. The woman presenter correctly classifies Sir Les as the “thinking woman’s bit of crumpet”. (Thanks Mike).</p>
<p>Also there is an official <a href="http://www.dameednafarewell.com/">Eat Pray Laugh!</a> website.</p>
The Traveller's Tool ENLARGED2012-01-24T00:00:00+00:00https://sirlespatterson.com/2012/01/24/the-travellers-tool-enlarged/<p><img alt="The Traveller's Tool ENLARGED" src="/images/2012/01/24/the-travellers-tool.jpg" class="img-fluid"/></p>
<p>This announcement from Sir Les himself has just been posted on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dx2SHC9CCM">YouTube</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Hi there my old mate the Australian taxpayer, Sir Les Patterson here.</p>
<p>Now if anybody should be the voice of Australia Day it should be bloody me, diplomat and mate of the Australian taxpayer. So this Australia Day I’m releasing something special, my new comedy CD and book, <em>The Traveller’s Tool ENLARGED</em>. It’s packed with practical advice for the modern man on the move and the woman who waits on him hand and foot.</p>
<p>Get yourself a load of Sir Les. Come on Australia!</p></blockquote>