3 weeks ago
27
Castle Howard exhibition | John Cleese and racism | Hidden cost of coffee in Italy | Fair toilet provision
Three cheers for Sir Tony Cragg (‘They look sad’: Tony Cragg scraps audio guides for Castle Howard exhibition, 2 May). For years I have waited patiently at exhibitions behind someone with headphones listening to three minutes of talk about a picture, usually followed by three seconds looking at that picture. Paintings are visual art, to be looked at. Background information and gossip are for earlier or later if needed.
Michael McLoughlin
London
• John Cleese defends Till Death Us Do Part on the grounds that we laughed at Alf Garnett, not with him (John Cleese cut N-word from Fawlty Towers revival because people ‘don’t understand irony’, 2 May). Cleese is wrong. Schoolboys like (I’m sorry to say) myself laughed with him. He said the unsayable on prime-time TV and thereby gave us permission to say the same things in the school playground. Alf was cool because he was naughty and got away with it. I shudder at his memory.
John O’Dwyer
Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire
