Looks like the idea that Helen abhors the idea of Renee playing Bridget has now become firmly entrenched. Interesting to watch how a misunderstanding becomes a fact. (Moon) location filming of BJD is taking place this week. They've built a set with fake shop fronts, false railway stations, and everything... No sightings of Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth or Hugh Grant, yet ;-) Hmmm, I've lent my Bridget book to a friend so I can't check this but there are very few exterior scenes with Mark in the book. I can only think of Uma's Tarts and Vicars party and his parents' anniversary party. Maybe when Bridget runs into him in his barrister's robes? Other than that, I wouldn't expect to see Mark shooting outdoors but maybe someone can list more. Then again, if Andrew Davies' hand is in here somewhere perhaps he's written a scene for Mark where he falls into the Thames and emerges with his white shirt dripping wet and clinging to every muscle and sinew. ;-)

(Heide) if Andrew Davies' hand is in here somewhere perhaps he's written a scene for Mark where he falls into the Thames and emerges with his white shirt dripping wet and clinging to every muscle and sinew. ;-) LOL! Somebody send this to Working Title. Script needs a rewrite. ;-)

but is she good enough an actress to bury the honey for the sharp tang of Bridget Jones? We shall see. They're sharpening the knives;-) Aren't these people actors? If you are shy IRL does it mean you can't play an extrovert?If you're nice ...like in Doris Day...you can only play nice roles? Puhleeeze.

Am going to attempt to post something I wrote yesterday. Hope you enjoy it--I never know if this stuff will tank or succeed.... Saturday 20 May 128 lbs. (in my dreams, but am v. tall), alcohol units 0 (v.g., but still v. early), calories 3,060 (of which 2,080 calories attributed to two packets of Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano cookies/ biscuits), attempts to access Drool boards 23, internal server error messages 23, Daniel Cleaver sightings on telly 2, Faulkner books read cover-to-cover 1, impure thoughts about Mr. Darcy 37 Gaaaaa! Could not access Drool boards today due to internal server errors. Why? Why? Must seek alternative means of amusement and information. Turn on telly and Daniel Cleaver is on CNN talking about his new Woody Allen movie. More talk about Daniel being a "bahstahd," and how Woody thought Daniel would be perfect playing a man everyone thinks is charming and cultured but in actual fact IS a "bahstahd." Hurrah! Woody Allen may be deviant husband and father (and deviant husband/father), but is astute judge of character. Turn channel on telly and see Daniel Cleaver again--this time in film clip with Tracey Ullman, the latter who is practicing vocabulary words beginning with the letter "a." V. funny bit. Turn telly off and decide to expand mind in manner of Mr. Darcy. Recently read Mr. Darcy favors W. Faulkner's work. Haven't read Faulkner since teenage girlhood-don't remember fancying him much. Decide to read The Sound and the Fury due to Mr. Darcy's recommendation (in magazine article) and also due to fact that I am worldly literary whiz-woman. Chapter 1: Pick the book up Set the book down Pick the book up Set the book down Packet of Mint Milanos moves toward my mouth Packet of Mint Milanos moves away from my mouth Pick the book up Set the book down Aaargh! TSATF is unintelligible and giving me tension headache. Cannot read more than three pages without stopping for a Mint Milano. At this rate will need to eat two packets per chapter�. Quentin is referred to as "he" and "she:" v. confusing. Perhaps edition of book was poorly edited�or Quentin is hermaphrodite or transsexual. Am proud of intuitive scholarly prowess. Chapter 2: Why are there so many run-on sentences? Why? Why? Poor Mr. Faulkner in need of in-house style manual or grammar check. Have read 1/3 of second chapter and must take break. Book is still not making much sense. Will nip out to buy more Mint Milanos and latest People Magazine. Much later: Book is bloody brilliant. Am literary genius-figured out the secret to reading TSATF: read the last chapter first, the penultimate chapter thereafter, and so on, until one finishes the first chapter last! Must read all great works of literature in this manner from now on. Would love to discuss this concept w. Mr. Darcy. Sunday 21 May Hurrah! Drool boards are semi-functioning again. Won't have to read another Faulkner book for at least 25 more years�.

LOL! *clap, *clap... Lisa you are tempting me with those Milano cookies. Now, we want the truth. Did you enjoy the book? ;-)

Too bad your audience is so small, Lisa, while the boards are malfunctioning. Loved your advice on how to get through Faulkner or Faulkener as Mr. Darcy spelled it in Fever Pitch. v.v.g.

(Mari)No one at the office knew who she was, even though she called herself "Bridget" and put Carrey's picture on her desk. (Moon)LOL! Very hard to believe. Actually, if all this is true (Carrey's pic, limos at lunchtime, flowers, ecc) she was begging to be found out. Probably was but everybody was too polite and british to denounce her. Loved your prose, LisaJH. Helen can look to you for the sequel :-D Sorry to post this on this topic, but I've just read the Telegraph's article on The Bucket, and Colin's comment on smelling the coffee, and was really sad. He really didn't get it, poor boy! And we do so wish the coffee tastes great for him, wherever he drinks it...

Excellent, Lisa, sorry I mean v.g. Plenty of scope for complete confusion with Daniel Cleaver on TV, let alone Mr Darcy in Fever Pitch, Heide. Excellent. Karen, thanks for the map. Will stroll down to Bedale St at lunch-time and see what gives. Intriguing to see RZ parlaying a repeatedly-confirmed two-and-a-half weeks of publishing experience into a two-month job. Good resum� skills.

Wow, I made it in!!! Only took TWO days!!! Glad to see it's up and running! Lisa, that was brilliant!!! (I've been eating Double Chocolate Milano cookies all weekend!)

Hoorah Lisa! Am also fugitive from Faulkner. Will try new, scientifically proved method to read...someday when no other books on face on earth. Wonder if regular Milanos or...better yet...Orleans will do? Must test. Thanks for the laugh. Waiting for next installment. ;-)

Here's someone who definitely won't be in the movie (from the Independent on Sunday), even though she was married to Tim Bevan: Despite the family name, [Joely] Richardson couldn't even get meetings for Elizabeth, nor The English Patient, nor the recently cast Bridget Jones. Surely this must have been difficult to stomach? "Maybe it's because I've done different things, people are not quite sure who I am," reasons Richardson. "Yes I've fought a lot of preconceptions, but then every actor can tell that story." ~~~~~~~ BTW, she was always my choice for Maud in Possession. So there!!

Glad you all enjoyed the piece. I see that when I copied and pasted the text from Word to Drool, the dashes turned into hyphens, thus rendering MY writing unintelligible. :) (Moon) Now, we want the truth. Did you enjoy the book? ;-) As for enjoying Faulkner and TSATF, I am afraid it took me more than a month to get through it--had to renew the library book twice! I did read it front to back, btw. :) Don't think I will be heading back to the "F" section of the stacks any time soon.... (Heide) or Faulkener as Mr. Darcy spelled it in Fever Pitch. He did? ! Wow, that one went right by me! Will have to watch FP again.

Lisa! Laugh, I thought I'd die! v.v.g!!! KJ

(Lisa) Hurrah! Woody Allen may be deviant husband and father (and deviant husband/father), but is astute judge of character. Why are there so many run-on sentences? Why? Why? Poor Mr. Faulkner in need of in-house style manual or grammar check. ROTFLMAO! Brilliant stuff, Lisa! Please do more when the mood strikes. BTW, I get depressed thinking of Daniel Cleaver working with Woody Allen while Mr. Darcy works with Mike Binder.:-( ********* I see Nurse Betty won a prize at Cannes for Best Screenplay. There is a nice article on Renee Z. in the new issue of Biography magazine (George Clooney on cover). Very complimentary commments from those who've worked with her, i.e., she's so *not* glam Hollywood, no ego or star b.s., etc.

Thanks for the tip Karen - my train crosses London Bridge and I get a view of Borough Market every morning/evening...Hmmm can I think of an excuse for an extended lunch break...maybe can get colleagues addicted to vegetables or similar by subtley dropping okra, mange-tout and losso rosso into conversation in manner of deranged veg-freak - can then trot off to marked to satisfy cravings. Hurrah! ;-D Bravo Lisa you are indeed literary whiz-woman!

V.v.g. Lisa! I particularly enjoyed this Woody Allen may be deviant husband and father (and deviant husband/father). I get depressed thinking of Daniel Cleaver working with Woody Allen while Mr. Darcy works with Mike Binder.:-( *sniffle* (Gi) Actually, if all this is true (Carrey's pic, limos at lunchtime, flowers, ecc) she was begging to be found out Don't believe anything you read in the NY Post. It's owned by Rupert Murdoch. 'Nuff said.

(KarenR)(Joely Richardson) was always my choice for Maud in Possession I'd never heard of her but she looks alright for Maud... Yes, I've started reading it :-)

KarenR)(Joely Richardson) was always my choice for Maud in Possession (Gi)I'd never heard of her but she looks alright for Maud... Yes, I've started reading it :-) Isn't she Vanessa Redgrave's daughter and Natasha Richardson's sister? When I find the time (after my exams), I'll pick up Possession again.

(Mari) I get depressed thinking of Daniel Cleaver working with Woody Allen while Mr. Darcy works with Mike Binder.:-( Sun came out a little while ago (finally)... just read this...ducked behind a cloud. :-( BTW, The Sex Monster can now be purchased as a PVT at Blockbuster for $9.99. Actually they should pay you to watch it. (Mari) Nurse Betty won a prize at Cannes for Best Screenplay From IndieWire: awarded the Best Screenplay award to John C. Richards and James Flamberg for their work on Neil Labute's "Nurse Betty," the first of his films which he did not write. Was the jury trying to tell him something? Sorry, had to... ;-)

the dashes turned into hyphens Yes, Yapp is v.basic. Two hyphens must be used (as in ye olde typewriter days) or *space dash space*

(Tineke) Isn't she Vanessa Redgrave's daughter and Natasha Richardson's sister? Yes and yes, Joley Richardson is both of those, as well as being the daughter of the late director Tony Richardson. Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies -- personally, I go for the Orange Milano Cookies.

(Mari) Nurse Betty won a prize at Cannes for Best Screenplay Bodes well for RV! And HG seems to be well and truly back in favour. Boosts potential interest in BJD. Has Mike Binder directed/written anything that's good? Is "The Sex Monster" (title...yeuch!!) a one-off horror, or par for the course. I saw his name (and MH's) connected with a recent more A-list movie...can't remember what.

Bjork won best actress at Cannes. I always liked her, loved her band the Sugarcubes. She would be perfect as one of Bridget's friends.

Since we've been on the topic of Mr. Darcy's alternate spelling of Faulkner, here's an interesting bit of trivia (also on topic since I just read it in the same Biography mag as the RZ story;-) The family name was Falkner--no u. Seems WF was heartbroken when his childhood sweetheart married someone else, so he decided to enlist in the Air Force (WWI). Uncle Sam rejected him because he was "too frail and small", so WF managed to get papers forged identifying himself as William Faulkner of Middlesex, England--and joined the RAF! When he returned to the states after the war, he kept the new spelling. (Bethan) Has Mike Binder directed/written anything that's good? Is "The Sex Monster" (title...yeuch!!) a one-off horror, or par for the course. I saw his name (and MH's) connected with a recent more A-list movie...can't remember what. The only other work I've seen of his was a TV series called American Gothic (Gary Cole as a creepy Southern sheriff). It was a good show; I read somewhere that he directed some of the episodes. The new film you're referring to is The Contender, in which he only acts. Good cast, including Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman. So, I suppose we'll have to give him a chance.;-) But TSM is, frankly, awful. It's not even sexy. Very sophomoric "humor"--no real wit at all. Looks like it was done very low budget, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but I hope he is more imaginative in presenting London than he did L.A. in TSM--his scenic shots consisted of repeated footage of manicured lawns that appeared to have been filmed from somebody's moving car window. Karen, have you heard any more from the Londinium folks?

Nope

(Bethan) And HG seems to be well and truly back in favour. Boosts potential interest in BJD. True, however...I sent Evelyn that 'Newsmakers' page from last week's Newsweek mag with the JE-RH story. Also reported was Elizabeth Hurley's quest to stop smoking. Included was a pic of her with a pacifier/binky/dummy [insert slang term of your choice] in her mouth. Too funny. The story's been reported everywhere over the past few weeks, with all the old HG oral fixation jokes back in full.

Went down to Bedale St yesterday lunch-time. No sign of any filming or false shop-fronts at all.

Bjork? UGH! Her winey voice, her barely able to speak English? I don't think so. I remember seeing the Sugarcubes on Saturday Night Live in the early '80s, UGH!!! NO, NO, NO!! Sorry, Moon:(

Thanks, Mark, for checking. Probably was done last week.

Excerpt from bloody brilliant posting: Saturday 20 May 128 lbs. (in my dreams, but am v. tall), alcohol units 0 (v.g., but still v. early), calories 3,060 (of which 2,080 calories attributed to two packets of Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano cookies/ biscuits), attempts to access Drool boards 23, internal server error messages 23, Daniel Cleaver sightings on telly 2, Faulkner books read cover-to-cover 1, impure thoughts about Mr. Darcy 37 Successful attempts to be worldly literary whiz-woman 1:1 (excellent) LOL Enjoyed this v.v. much! And did not gain weight while reading it --- from beginning to end.

(EileenG)...Elizabeth Hurley's quest to stop smoking... Too funny. The story's been reported everywhere over the past few weeks, with all the old HG oral fixation jokes back in full. I can picture that! :-D

...and now Reuters reports: Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley, one of Britain's most glamorous celebrity couples, announced Tuesday they are putting their 13-year-old romance on hold. "Hugh and Elizabeth have decided to temporarily split up. It is a mutual and amicable decision. I don't know the reasons," a spokeswoman for the pair and their film company told Reuters. "They are continuing to run Simian Films together and would like to stress there are no third parties involved." [Hmmm, perhaps except that billionaire guy she's been keeping company with lately?]

Yahoo news (reliable source?) says that HG and Liz H have announced that they are splitting up. Gossip of the day!

Huh! Beat me to it! :-)

Well... it's late by you :-)

An interesting posting from deja.com about the filming of BJD: 5/16: Opposite where I work they're filming "Bridget Jones' Diary", with Hugh Grant and others. They'll be there for about 10 days. Hugh Grant himself starts filming Wednesday evening and will be there a lot. It's all happening in London Bridge, near the Globe pub, off Borough High Street (and near the Market, and near Fish! restaurant). Just thought I'd let you know in case there are any ULL fans of these two. My local pub this lunchtime was unbearable... luvvies and autograph hunters everywhere.

Beat me to it (two), just heard it on the 11o'clock news, hope it wasn't something Bridget said!

Wednesday, May 24 Weight 9st 2, Calories 2,080, Cigarettes 10, Newspapers bought to check news 10 (plus free copy of London Metro) 6pm. Astonishing news in paper today about Daniel Cleaver splitting up from beautiful long-term model actress girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley. Cannot stop self from believing that may have been cause of rift in happy semi-marriage relationship. Raced home after work to check for messages from Daniel Cleaver. None. Humph! Possibly telephone not working. However also possibly he is keeping low profile to avoid door-stepping paparazzi identifying new secret love (am not yet sure if wish to be new secret love, or indeed any kind of love � have just remembered former secret love was Divine Brown, yuck, yuck). If am invited by Daniel Cleaver to country house weekend, must remember to ensure long-lens photographers snap Daniel Cleaver dragging mattress into other room (as with EH after LA incident, yuck, yuck), to ensure appropriate distancing. 9pm. Mr Darcy just called and did not once mention Daniel Cleaver. Obviously though is checking whether am alone still. May now be femme fatale in manner of lady toying with affections of two beaux � yet still unsure if either of them romantically interested in self at all. Obviously telephone working after all, though. Humph!

LOL! Mark. You've become her alter ego. Perhaps Bridget is "third party" not involved in split, so conspicuously mentioned by spokesperson? Cleaver was seen dining on a mystery woman's elbow at a London hotel in March. Didn't mention mystery woman being whisked away in limousine in manner of underling from publishing house.

LOL Mark!

LOL, Mark! Have you had some time to check out the film location? Looking forward to today's Championship's League final game.

Well I'm amazed. Monday: nothing. Today: a bona-fide film location. Not much happening yet; just a dozen Pinewood trucks, a few scaffolding structures, some heavy-duty lighting, a couple of small cameras and one disgruntled paparazzo standing on a street-corner. But someone's definitely going to be shooting something soon.

But someone's definitely going to be shooting something soon. Soon? Naw, setup takes forever. Probably going to be shooting late at night if starting now.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Are we so cynical, so mean-spirited, so utterly devoid of human feeling that we'd poke fun at Hugh and Liz's misfortune? You betcha!:-) Very funny stuff, Mark. And you've got the location scouted out, too? You are *the man.* Loved the pacifier photo, Tineke. There were some good ones here a couple of weeks ago of Liz courtside at the NY Knicks game, wearing a "Porn Star In Training" t-shirt, and being squired by that old fart gazillionaire she's been with. Am glad to hear that Simian Films will survive the break-up, though, meaning that the creative juices that gave us Extreme Measures and Mickey Blue Eyes will be permitted to keep flowing.;-) Ok, I'm done now.;-)

not me though... Please be on lookout for man on left; also goes by name of Daniel Cleaver. Might check parked automobiles in vicinity for woman on right; might have bit part in movie. ;-)

(Karen)Might check parked automobiles in vicinity for woman on right; might have bit part in movie. ;-) Maybe blonde giantess on rooftop will be differently cast and replaced by black big-mouthed woman... Mark, loved your post. BJ. is. sporing. a. new. literary. gender :-) Tineke, great pic :-)

Karen! ROFLMAO! I almost blacked out from laughing so hard! Looks like Daniel is need of Mark Darcy's legal expertise. Mark--v.v. funny "entry." Daniel will be in need of BJ's self-help books.....

Arrgghhh---meant to "say" Daniel is IN need of Mark Darcy's legal expertise....

Oh, Karen, too cruel and too funny! *Wiping tears from eyes* BTW, according to the Evening Standard, the man on the left was spotted returning to his homestead at 4:30 a.m. this morning, after a full night of BJD shooting. Probably the location Mark came across. Gi, I like your creative casting suggestion for the rooftop giantess.;-)

Mark: Could you tell what/where the scene was to be set? (Let's see, Daniel Cleaver and Bridget at night... couple of possibilities from the book...) Lisa: No need to correct your spelling. We can figure it out...and we all do it as we type so fast. Right?

Been lurking here today and had to delurk. I really love Bridget Jones as a character. I see her in me. Want to explain why, in best Bridget style I can do. Please tell me what you think. V.v. scary how funny others are at this! Here goes: Wednesday May 24, 2000 6:30 a.m. Woke up suddenly before piercing alarm went off. Jumped out of bed and reset for 6:55 a.m. 6:54 a.m. Friend Amy called. Asked me if I still wanted to go for early morning powerwalk, like yesterday, even though raining and thundering. I said no, secretly glad that she was one to break down first. Went back to bed confident that I could not be blamed for weather destroying my best fitness intentions. 8:20 a.m. Oh no, did not hear alarm. Why? Why? Cannot possibly get to work on time! Throw on ugly plaid robe and run downstairs. Boyfriend wearing superior smile, as if he knew all along that me and Amy's plan to powerwalk between 7 a.m. --- 7:45 every day would only last one day. Explain to him about weather earlier. He looks sceptical as thunderstorm has miraculously cleared and is nice sunny day. Has already let out cat on HIS early morning fitness program! 8:50 a.m. Have decided to take morning off, so can go to acupuncturist appointment at 10 a.m. v. peacefully. Check my email from home; boss has still not replied. Nothing to work on anyway until boss replies! What is point of going into work until boss unties my hands (job-wise)? Sit down at computer after boyfriend leaves to read over site just found on Bridget Jones. 9:10 a.m. Started herbs acupuncturist gave me. Should have started earlier. Will cook extra high and only for half hour to be done on time. 9:40 a.m. So peaceful reading Drool Boards. Just five more minutes. Lots of time to get ready. Will jump in shower, but not wash hair. That will cut time by 5 minutes. 9:55 a.m. Sh*t. Meant to stop reading Drool Boards 10 minutes ago! Must jump in shower now! 9:56 a.m. Laundry crisis! Underwear I washed last night is still damp! Hung to dry at 1 a.m. --- why not dry? how long does little flimsy material take! 10:05 a.m. Used blowdryer to blowdry underwear. Blowdryer stalled! Will not start! Have wrecked v. expensive blowdryer on underwear! 10:06 a.m. Forgot must leave money for grocer! Where is envelope? Where is tape?Cannot find tape! 10:10 a.m. Could not find scotch tape, or masking tape. Found duck tape! Worked like a charm. Am brilliant improviser under challenging circumstances beyond my control.... Where are keys? 10:15 a.m. Where did my keys go? Where! Where? Must call acupuncturist and explain will be late. Keys not in jeans from yesterdays powerwalk which I threw back with rest of dirty laundry. Where is phone? Where is phone? It's not on cradle! 10:25 a.m. Pull into acupuncturist's parking lot in a great tear, totally stressed, so can pay lots of money for peaceful and relaxing holistic experience. 12:00 p.m. Just got back from acupuncturist. Says my tongue isn't so "damp". I wonder if damp underwear will cause setback? Chinese medicine is v.v. confusing. Spent too long talking to acupuncturist. Must hurry and get lunch and go to work. Although do have one hour, and boss still not answered email...Will take time and visit favorite web sites, like Bridget Jones site. Has started to thunder again. Scary lightning! Eerie Wuthering Heights-type self-realization (the Merle Oberon version, never read book version): I am Bridget Jones!

You are Bridget, very funny, good to meet you Bridget, sorry Sadie!

Hmmmm... we've been invaded by Bridgets! Female and male!!! :) Great going guys, you are too awesome. Can I make Bridget into Vampire as I love Buffy and Angel (they rock!) AND I think she and Angel are soul mates. Or should I say Bridge and Spike (in manner of british vamp, Mr. Darcy?) :)

(LauraMM)Hmmmm... we've been invaded by Bridgets! Female and male!!! :) So it appears...Welcome, Sadie, what a good way to de-lurk :-) If we go on like this, will we still be able to tell ourselves apart? ;-)

LOL!! Sadie, you are true Bridget-type woman. Welcome and hope you enjoy all the Drool boards, when have time and boss not pestering you to work. Would spend more time here, but most make excellent gourmet meal. ;-) Laura, NO BUFFY!!! If Buffy in any form shows up here, you know what I'll do.

Karen, you just don't know good television when you see it? :) I mean Spike alone is worth the price of admission!!! (and hunky Angel, is easy on the eyes;))

Sorry, I don't know what scenes they would have been shooting last night. As at lunch-time the most advanced "set" seemed to be a very high platform outside a building (anybody remember any fire-escape scenes?). I saw no false shop-fronts etc, although of course they still had hours even before HG barged past his door-steppers, mumbling that he was going to work (rather than to the Liz Taylor benefit). As it rained all evening and night, I was wondering if they would postpone shooting. Today is brighter, I will have another look either at lunchtime or late afternoon. I am not planning to check parked cars for the big-mouthed lady, as I do not want to appear with a row of numbers across my chest! Good stuff, Sadie, tough day at the acupuncturist. Laura, I do think a Bridget/Buffy melange could be just too confusing.

Hey Bridget seems to only come out at night??? :)

Thanks for the wonderful welcome all. There's no place like home! I'm at work. Boss is still ignoring me. Why? Why? Suspect he is a corporate sadist, or one brilliant military strategist, wearing me down through email attrition. He sends off one email usually to my three. I love Buffy. Would love Bridget as Buffy. Problem is, I think vampires are v. v. sexy. Daniel as vampire? Oh no, Mr. Dar --- I mean Mark Darcy is one with dark good looks and magnetic stare. Hmmm.

Sorry, but this is a Buffy-free zone. Laura, if you want to do any Buffy writing, it would be better at the Dwiggie board and I see now you've started something up at VV.

There already is a topic with only 2 messages: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/tv/46

Hello, Sadie, nice to meet a fellow Bridgetarian! :-) V. good Bridget diary entry.

Hello, Sadie! The list of Bridgets keeps growing. ;-) Laura, Karen was nice enough to link the Buffy topic. Why don't you take it over?

I didn't check the link. She said there was only two posts. Besides, censoring? Isn't that a bit gestapoish? It was just a joke? Jeez.... Bridget would've laughed it off. Oh but then again, Bridget wouldn't know how to delete a post she just posted, and most likely it would've went to Parliament.

Why is there censorship on a public board, I ask?

Rupert, I can talk to you about it on another conference - your choice.

This public board has hosts. If someone else would like to take over host duties, be my guest.

Not I, my dear.

Censoring? Pshaw...There's a topic on this board for every subject. How many hints do you need? I am not planning to check parked cars for the big-mouthed lady, as I do not want to appear with a row of numbers across my chest! And your wife may not be as understanding as Elizabeth Hurley. LOL, Mark and thanks for volunteering as our roving reporter again.

And maybe Elizabeth Hurley chose to appear understanding because she's not a wife? ;-)

very wise oabservation!

How many hints do you need? How daft! My goodness, I make a joke, and it's like WW3!!! Lighten up, people. Seriously...

If they had anhilated Irish people perhaps it would not be as funny??? Just a thought

Shall we move on. This is the place we have a good time discussing Bridget and wherever that sometimes leads us. :-)

Is it back to fun and games wondering about this lady who has created so much of a puzzlement for CF followers? We did not get off Helen Fielding and her creations did we? Musta been just a temporary madness which sweeps the vulnerabel from time to time...*grin* Shall we begin???

Is anyone guessing when BJD will premiere in London? I will be in the UK late March early April - is it too much to hope for?!?!?

Is anyone guessing when BJD will premiere in London? Or if it will premiere in the US first? I rather hope it will. The Brit critics will be sharpening their knives. If it has a favourable reception that may soften their reaction.

Report from the set I hung around for an hour in th eevening and was rewarded with: Shooting about to start in a mock-up Greek Restaurant called ___SPERS (Whispers? Caspers? maybe Jaspers?). The whole outside of the "restaurant" screened off by black screens hung on scaffolding to form a little enclave occupied by hangers-on and actors not in the restaurant. Ten minutes after I arrived, a group of probable extras disembark from a coach and make their way into the restaurant; five minutes go by before a Lexus rolls up to deliver HG - wearing black jeans, and a bluish bulky jacket; hair all over the place - more than floppy. He ambles around the scaffolding into the enclave and through the restaurant door. Five minutes later, a gleaming Audi delivers CF, looking very tall and smart in a dark blue pinstripe suit. Sideburns slightly longer than your average human-rights lawyer, hair slightly bigger. About ten minutes later, two guys emerge from the restaurant dressed exactly the same as HG and CF and with similarities of stature and haircut, and they sat down in two of three chairs marked Renee Zellweger and Director. I eventually figured these were guys used to set up shots etc. I had to assume that stunt doubles could not be needed in this film; but then at one point the CF-alike changed from the suit jacket into a more padded jacket, and I noticed he had elbow-pads on over his shirt. So maybe there are stunts. I'm not sure if RZ was delivered fifteen minutes after CF - a blonde got out of a car and was escorted round the back of the screened scaffolding where I didn't think one could get in - I was not close enough for identification. Not much really happened - from time to time HG or CF would emerge from the restaurant; HG looked round as if for his car before embracing the woman occupying the director's chair (who could not have been Sharon Maguire as she was doing nothing); CF would just stand within the screens, jostling for space with the camera filming through the window and all the runners and extras etc. Shortly before I left a woman starts shouting out "Quiet please" in the street; a hopeless request given the situation, which included a quartet of noisy drinkers outside the pub opposite, the occasional motorbike or set cars, a few tourists or locals wandering around, and most seriously trains from London Bridge station going across the bridges overhead; there can never have been a moment when the street was completely quiet, and few when it was not very loud indeed. You could really see the slow pace of everything; but very fascinating to be one of so few location-gawpers.

Oh, thanks very much Mark! A fascinating report. One thing I expect to see in the film version of BJD is that the continuity of the book will have changed. In the book, the first half is mostly Daniel, the second half is mostly Mark. But to maintain some sort of dramatic tension, I think there will have to be more overlap....possibly more on-screen interaction between BJ, DC and MD. The scene in the restaurant sounds like a new scene! From the various shots of HG following the hugely publicised break up with Liz Hurley, his hair is very long, very floppy... very appropriate for the cad? Or if it will premiere in the US first? I rather hope it will. The Brit critics will be sharpening their knives. If it has a favourable reception that may soften their reaction. There's nothing our critics enjoy more than failure...or promoting failure. I hope BJD opens in the States and makes millions!

Thanks for the report Mark, the only thing that worrie me is your comment that his hair is "bigger", not too big I hope, a la Turn of the Screw which was awful.

If they had anhilated Irish people perhaps it would not be as funny??? Just a thought ] Hmmm, and I thought the Irish were annihilated, must've been that false Irish history I learned in my past. (You know coming from Boston and all...) and the joke was about Buffy! Now to get back to Bridget, or something thereof. Has anyone read "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing"? Asking because, of course they make a comparison to BJ AND I noticed that the Diary of Tiffany Trott is out in the US Bookstores. (I sent Karen a link to the Telegraph series that pre-dated BJ) It wasn't as good, but had some quirky moments. Just wondering if anyone did a comparison of the genre (seems to be an influx of 30-something singletons (or 20-something singletons) writing about ditzy women.

A big kiss to you, Mark! You are indeed our best spy/rep in the UK! I am hoping CF does not get beaten-up again. But why else would the double have pads in his jacket? At least we know MD gets the girl in the end. ;-) Thank you again, and keep up the good work. Of course, what we really want is for you to become good friends with Colin while on the set. ;-) (Laura), and I thought the Irish were annihilated, must've been that false Irish history The snakes were annihilated from Ireland, not the Irish. ;-)

The snakes were annihilated from Ireland, not the Irish. ;-) LOL!!! Good one;) Mark, I forgot to say good report. Wondering if they are including a scene where Mark somehow punches out Daniel in the restaurant? Who knows:)

Thanks Mark, wonderful report! It�s great to have our own man right there to see it all really happening. (Laura)Has anyone read "The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing"? I read about half of it and got so bored that for a moment I considered throwing it into the fireplace. Hubby saw it under my bed yesterday and asked if it�s any good and should he read it. I said: "no, it�s shit". (He started to read it anyway and tells me it�s okay!) I don�t think it has much in common with BJD and the biggest problem is that it totally lacks HF�s great humour and irony.

Ooooweeee!! A report from the set!! Terrific, Mark. Thank you. I think your assessment of the dress-alikes might be spot-on. Stand-ins (used for all the boring bits) wouldn't put on padding. A brawl between the two because of previous history with MD's ex, perhaps? Hair big? Eowww, whatsamatta with these people? Did you get the number for the CF lookalike? ;-)

One more thing, Mark...if you drop by again, try talking to some of the crew to find out who else is in the movie. They know. ;-)

Great report, Mark, thanks! So Hughie gets a Lexus and Colin "only" an Audi? This is not to be borne;-)

You've all heard of a Renaissance man? Mark is . . .Reconnaisance man!:-) Excellent reporting, Mark. I have a question about this part: "Sideburns slightly longer than your average human-rights lawyer, hair slightly bigger." Do you mean hair slightly bigger than normal for CF or hair slightly bigger than average human rights lawyer? (Am hoping you say the latter.;-) The really good news here is that we know for sure there is at least one extra MD scene (and hopefully, more) beyond what's in the book. (Susan) So Hughie gets a Lexus and Colin "only" an Audi? This is not to be borne;-) My thoughts exactly, Susan!:-)

How can you possibly learn about baseball if you are lurking around movie sets, Mark?! Wonderful stuff. If it hadn't been you who was there, I'd be insanely jealous. Imagine, two CF's in one stroke! Talk about some people having all the luck...

The Audi looked quite nice actually. :-) The hair was bigger (I seem to be getting away with this term) than P&P, but smaller than FP. If I met a lawyer with hair like that, I would be surprised, but not stunned. The lookalikes did not look alike except for their clothes and hairstyles (and even there it was just about. I am as unlikely to talk to any of the crew about the rest of the cast as I am to befriend Colin (too diffident, too afraid of being told to clear off). Anyway, I'm not going back today as it's raining heavily and it may all be finished after the Bank Holiday Weekend. Sorry, but I think I got lucky already!

Heh, Mark our rain finally hit your shores!!! (downpours!)

Thank you thank you thank you Mark! Loved your report. Wish I'd been there (still hoping for some Mark Darcy scenes in Albufeira) (MarkG)I am as unlikely to talk to any of the crew about the rest of the cast as I am to befriend Colin (too diffident, too afraid of being told to clear off). Of course you know by now that Colin would never tell you to clear off :-)

Mark well done - fantastic report..you are indeed the man on the spot! most seriously trains from London Bridge station going across the bridges I'm afraid that is the nearest I got and to think I was holding up the proceedings below! I noticed this evening that there were still lighting trucks about the place but as it is chucking it down I resisted the temptation to get out at London Bridge and go for a shufti.

Mark! You do us proud! V.G. work... That hair description still scares me... (bigger than P&P/smaller than FP). You know how the camera puts 10 more pounds on the actors once we see them onscreen--- imagine his hair (Barbara Bush-- watch out!).

How big is big hair? (Strange how we always latch on to hair issues, bald patches etc.) The photos in the Sunday Telegraph must have been taken at the time of the interview (ie last week), especially the one in the blue shirt. Hair definitely looks less big than Darcy to me! Not that I'm disputing Mark's excellent eye witness account! :-) Can't imagine Hughie and Colin needing stunt men. The only sort of punch-up I can imagine would be straight out of "The Edge of Reason" ("Daniel started trying to get up and Mark rushed over to help him up. "Sorry about that" he said again politely...") No splintering glass windows or broken chairs. What disastrous weather for outside location work! Hope it improves. Mike Binder was very lucky when he shot "Londinium" last year...we had over a month of brilliantly sunny weather. Even if he just pointed the camera and held it still, London should look magnificent. (You see, there's already one redeeming feature!) Fingers crossed for BJD!

Can't imagine Hughie and Colin needing stunt men. Are you sure it's stunt men and not "doubles?" You know, to save HG and CF time from having their backs filmed, etc..

Funny. The first thing I latched onto was Colin's hair too. My thanks to you also, Mark, for your detailed account. Bethan, your theory that more scenes may be written in to show Mark and Daniel together sounds good. Aren't we all for more Darcy scenes. (Winter) Are you sure it's stunt men and not "doubles?" You know, to save HG and CF time from having their backs filmed, etc.. Think Mark said he noticed padding in their jackets (to cushion the blows?).

From The Houston Chronicle (thanks to Rai): May 23, 2000 Dear Diary... Or, a talk with Bridget Jones' alter ego By PAMELA MITCHELL Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle Wednesday 8 March 129 lbs. (in college anyway), alcohol units 3 (after 7 p.m. and with co-workers, so OK), calories 3,458 (n.v.g., someone evil brought several dozen Krispy Kremes into office). 10:15 p.m. Hurrah! Was assigned Helen Fielding interview today. Actually, begged for it after seeing copy of new Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason on editor's desk. Loved Bridget Jones's Diary. In 1995, former BBC producer Helen Fielding was working at the British newspaper The Independent when an editor approached her to create an ongoing column based on her life. "I didn't want to do that," Fielding says. "It's very embarrassing and exposing. So I said I'd been playing with this comical character named Bridget, this sort of optimistic girl with big ideas that always go wrong." Her alter ego Bridget Jones was a success, landing her a book deal the following year. Bridget Jones's Diary, which borrows plot points from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, went on to win the 1997 British Book of the Year Award. The book hit shelves here in May 1998, and American readers finally met the self-absorbed, thirtysomething British career woman they'd heard so much about. Bridget's daily tally of chardonnay, cigarettes and calories consumed won fans, as did her obsession with fad diets and finding Mr. Right. Some readers related to her blurry-brained antics -- such as her struggle to find a runless and lint-free pair of pantyhose in the morning and her on-the-job bumblings at a British TV show -- while others identified with her optimism toward life and love. "There are so many images pushed at women and so many ideas of what you're supposed to be," says fortysomething Fielding. "I think there's too much of this superwoman, this woman with a bottom like two billiard balls. There's no real celebration of just being a person. You like your friends not for being something out of an advert. We hate people like that, those swingy-hair people who are as hard as nails and not nice to anybody. "I think readers like Bridget just because she's being human and vulnerable and funny and warm." Whatever the attraction, the world loved her. Bridget Jones's Diary has sold more than 4 million copies. Thursday 9 March 129 lbs. (still going with college weight), alcohol units 0 (v.g.), calories 1,235 (v.v.g., must make up for earlier Krispy Kreme moment of weakness). 11:45 p.m. Finished! Breezed through The Edge of Reason. Laughed out loud. Made plenty of notes. Will impress Helen Fielding with clever questions and insights at interview. The sequel (Viking, $24.95) -- released here Feb. 28 and currently No. 22 on the New York Times best-seller list -- borrows this time from Austen's Persuasion and picks up where the original diary left off, with Bridget happily attached to new boyfriend Mark Darcy. The blissful state doesn't last, of course, thanks to our heroine's complete lack of communication skills and a sinister rival (of the swingy-hair variety) named Rebecca. Bridget spends the remainder of the novel on a path back to coupledom with Darcy. Her adventures along the way include a disastrous remodeling of her flat, a drunken Christmas card episode, an inept interview with actor Colin Firth and a stay in a Thailand prison. Bridget's best Singleton pals Jude, Shazzer and Tom are back, as is her Smug Married friend Magda. "I was very self-conscious writing this. The first one was written so unself-consciously. To write a sequel when you know so many people are going to read it, it was very intimidating. "In the end, I got it done the way anything by a journalist gets done, on deadline." Well, her version of the deadline anyway. Fielding finished the book 77 weeks after it was due and four weeks before publication. "Everything turned out fine. I'll never believe a deadline again from a publisher." Friday 10 March 129 lbs. (the delusion continues), alcohol units 4 and calories 2,250 (v.g. considering happy-hour outing). 12:50 p.m. On way to interview, dropped tape recorder getting out of elevator, lost battery. Had to go back for replacement. Am running v. late. Oooh, is that a run in hose? 1:15 p.m. Found author, apologized profusely for being late. Shared disasters, showed her run. Fielding very gracious, obviously sees fellow Bridget in self. Midnight. Must sleep. Will wake early to write up excellent interview, even though day off and editor gave no deadline. V. professional. Fielding sees a little bit of Bridget in every woman she meets. "We had an air hostess recently that we thought was Bridget Jones," she recalls. "She was just so funny. She started doing her safety lessons and then she started laughing and she just couldn't stop. Then she came down the aisle to put my computer up in the overhead and then while she's going back to her chair, she remembered she had to do that with the whole airplane." And it's a rare fan who doesn't identify with Bridget. This made casting the film version of the first book, shooting now in London, quite difficult. The British press picked apart every actress who came up for the role -- from Kate Winslet to Helena Bonham Carter -- and screamed blimey! when Working Title Films (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill) announced that an American, Katy's own Renee Zellweger, would be Bridget. After some initial work on the screenplay, Fielding turned the project over to her friend, director Sharon Maguire. She wasn't involved in the casting but had this to say about Zellweger: "She's got that quality of being able to look both ordinary and beautiful. You can sort of believe that she could have bad hair days. I'm told she's very funny, and she's supposed to be very nice. And she is getting voice coachings." Hugh Grant will play Bridget's boss Daniel Cleaver, with whom Bridget has an affair, pre-Darcy. Colin Firth was a natural to cast in the role of Darcy. Bridget's obsession with Firth -- who played Mr. Darcy in the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice -- runs throughout the first book, and in Edge of Reason, Bridget lands an interview with the actor that she fabulously ruins with questions like, "What is your favorite color?" No word yet on whether Firth will play both Darcy and himself if there is a film version of the sequel. As for a third diary, Fielding says she doesn't plan to revisit Bridget right away. "I think the next book will be a different kind of book," says Fielding. "My first book (1994's Cause Celeb) was set in Africa, so maybe something set in another country." That new setting could be Los Angeles, where Fielding now owns a home. "I like L.A.," she admits. "It's like a mini break. For a writer, it's hilarious. Like the food. Where I come from, we eat chip sandwiches: white bread, butter, tomato catsup and big fat french fries. It's delicious. Here, you order a cr�me caramel and the waiter says, `You know, that contains dairy.' "I certainly think I'll end up writing about America in some form. I've taken plenty of notes. I like America very much." Monday 22 May ? lbs. (threw out scale), alcohol units 0 (v.g.), calories 1,260 (v.g., living on salad now). 11 a.m. Editor brings up Helen Fielding interview done weeks, er, two months ago, asked if story might coincide with paperback release of Edge of Reason. V. embarrassing. But really not at fault since no deadline given. Will start after lunch. 12:30 p.m. Oooh, new e-mail from Swedish pen pal. Will respond to that first, then start Fielding article.