Talk:Brian Blessed

GORDONS ALIVE!

Perhaps one of Brian's most famous lines, from the film Flash Gordon is "GORDONS ALIVE!" (the capitalisation is important. Brian has a very *booming* voice that is very loud). Say this line and people will instantly know, at least in the UK, who is responsible. Is this worth a mention in the article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ooblick (talk • contribs) 19:02, 26 December 2005

Brian Blessed appeared twice in Space 1999 as different characters, in the first series I recall he ended up as a skeleton. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.104.249.161 (talk • contribs) 19:38, 23 April 2006

Not to mention his classic appearance as Vargas in the Cygnus Alpha episode of Blake's Seven!211.26.1.48 11:16, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

Also I think it is his voice in the Queen song Flash, so perhaps that should be in the article too.--Hibernian 17:30, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I think for most people his role of Vultan is his defining moment. He certainly stole the film. It deserves a mention. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.119.143.2 (talk • contribs) 11:03, 15 September 2006

I think the aspect of his personality that most people would know him for is that he's completely insane, but in a nice way (see his recent appearance on Have I Got News For You). Is there any way of communicating this without falling prey to libel laws? AuntFlo (talk) 09:27, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

I think that your comment itself on this talk page may fall foul of the libel laws, if the opinion you express is indeed libelous - there is a WP: detailing the need to be careful on talk pages Sitush (talk) 07:00, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

The article says "He suffered a nervous breakdown at the age of 18, from which he recovered" which is probably a more even-handed way of putting it than 'completely insane'. DavidFarmbrough (talk) 16:37, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

I think that having an eccentric personality is something quite different from being "completely insane", which would imply delusion or erratic and possibly problematic behaviour (such as annoying or aggressive acts and overstepping of boundaries), except in very colloquial hyperbole. Grandiose, flamboyant demeanour is completely harmless, if perhaps somewhat unusual, behaviour and does not generally cause offence, only amusement. --Florian Blaschke (talk) 00:43, 4 January 2016 (UTC)

GORDONS ALIVE!?! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.44.197.132 (talk) 16:39, 15 May 2009 (UTC)

Indeed! I think some above are rather 'up themselves' over the original "completely insane" comment and show they likely have no acquaintance at all with the public persona of Brian Blessed. If Brian read some of the above comments I imagine he'd have a (very loud) chuckle. 31.125.76.2 (talk) 19:05, 25 November 2019 (UTC)

Voiceovers

Does Brian Blessed do the voiceovers for E4? — AnemoneProjectors (talk) 09:41, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

Change acting list

It says he did Clayton in Kingdom hearts 2, but Clayton is in Kingdom Hearts 1. Brian 00:25, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

Would this be relevant?

during his national service (or something) brian had a bad landing while parachuting and his feet got comepletely bollocksed, i only found out about this when he guest presented that hospital programme on bbc1 a few months ago. this is quite a major part of his life i'd imagine, considering it was before his acting career (i believe). just a thought. 62.136.218.2 00:20, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Death on October 7?

Why is he down as having died today, the 7th of October? I can't find any corroboration on any news sites or on the recent deaths page. Someone care to confirm or deny for sure? Laerwen 02:22, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

This is a regular piece of vandalism that shows up here. Today, somebody's gone and created an insulting page for him with unfunny humour at last-memories.com. He's still not dead though. Lonemagpie 20:48, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Oh geeze. I had no idea -- I just happened to go looking for this entry because the film Kidnapped (1995 film) was on television. Imagine my surprise. Thanks for the info. :) Laerwen 00:16, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

It needs a discussion of his acting...

I realize Wikipedia articles are supposed to be POV-neutral, but it's disappointing to read an article about such a gifted actor that lacks a discussion of what makes him a good actor. For example... I particularly enjoy him in Shakespearean roles, because -- unlike most British actors -- he takes his time and makes the meaning of what he says perfectly clear. WilliamSommerwerck 15:31, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

There is no reason you couldn't put something like that in, you would just need to source it as a quote from someone notable and relevant - a movie critic or entertainment correspondent from a major publication, for example. To keep it POV neutral you should also avoid cherry picking only quotes that support your own views, instead try to pull in a broad and representative view of how he is received overall - and for an actors page avoiding using too many quotes related to a single movie/theatrical production to avoid giving undue weight to a single part of their career --86.179.186.239 (talk) 00:00, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

Viking Battle For Asgard

There should be reference to his role as narrator in Viking: Battle For Asgard. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.71.12.130 (talk • contribs) 23:59, 18 April 2008

HIGNFY appearance

As Mr Blessed appeared as a guest presenter on Have I Got News For You recently there have been several edits by various people to add this in. However it has already been mentioned, just not in the best way. Maybe the article is due a minor rewrite to make this more obvious so that those of us who watch this page do not need to keep reverting edits made in good faith? -- NRTurner (talk) 08:23, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

There's nothing like a paragraph's worth of content though, at least not just on HIGNFY. And if we had a para on TV appearances/roles, then how do we determine which is the more notable? Is being guest host on a show with no host more notable than being on The Paul O'Grady show as a guest the following week? Sure, if we can find some reviews/previews of the HIGNFY appearance, then it seems to be more notable. I'm just worried that if we start adding paragraphs they'll look rather empty. Ged UK (talk) 14:02, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

It's barely worth mentioning (it was awesome, but hardly a highlight of a rather fulfilling career). I've removed the YouTube link with a clip as copyvio. This kind of stuff belongs on IMDB. Chris Cunningham (not at work) - talk 19:45, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Stature?

I'd hardly consider someone 5'9" to be of imposing stature. That should be excised. 74.12.202.85 (talk) 16:25, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

What?!?! he looks at least 6 ft 5! DavidFarmbrough (talk) 16:33, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

Well height is only one part of what can make someone 'imposing'. And stature can, by definition, refer to height and/or size, as well as fame, success, power, etc. He is a fairly large man, regardless of height, and certainly has a personality that one could easily call imposing. Perhaps the middle ground would be something like 'imposing presence'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.2.127.191 (talk) 07:08, 20 December 2008 (UTC)

There is no way that you could see Brian "Shouty Shouty!" Blessed and NOT think he was the biggest man you'd ever seen. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.6.35.235 (talk) 23:28, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

aUTO WRITES. In Z-Cars, he appears shorter than his partner - the blond/ginger PC in Z-Victor 1/2 [It's fifty years ago . . . - Bert Lynch, Jock Weir, Fancy Smith and the other one. Bit Like the sdp] Auto wrote - 20160523 2028 z. 86.181.44.159 (talk) 20:28, 23 May 2016 (UTC)

Everest attempts

Has Brian Blessed ever actually made it to the summit of Everest? The article claims that he did in 2005 but there's no citation and I can't find anything else saying that he did. The dates also don't seem make sense as in 2005 he would have been 67/68, which would mean Ranulph Fiennes didn't become the oldest Briton to climb Everest aged 65 in May 2009.
Bugmonkey (talk) 13:03, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Notably he failed in one attempt when he rescued another climber. Too many climbers ignore others in danger, leaving them to their deaths. Was Blessed honoured in any way?203.184.41.226 (talk) 23:38, 18 August 2012 (UTC)

Somewhat surprised to read he has not climbed Everest, after browsing through this book in the Library; Blessed Everest. Climb To The Summit Of Mount Everest With Brian Blessed, Britain's Own Actor/Adventurer. I will get another look at it to confirm dates, but it appears he did in fact reach the summit in about 1994 or 1995 via the North Col route. He had previously attempted this route with David Breashears while playing the role of George Mallory. The book also describes him reaching the South Col, although he does not appear to have climbed to the summit on that occasion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Xapbpoh (talk • contribs) 08:59, 7 October 2012 (UTC)

I have checked the book and he did climb to the summit, although the date is confusing. The sleeve of the book states 1996, although the text is listed as 1995. The book is dedicated to Alison Hargreaves, although gives no impression that she was dead at the time of writing. Brian's South Col attempt was in 1993. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Xapbpoh (talk • contribs) 18:54, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

Thousands of people per year walk up Kilimanjaro. It's scarcely a notable achievement. MarkTB (talk) 00:54, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

I've fixed the Kili reference by losing the verb "climbed". I think it's worth mentioning, because it is the highest peak in Africa, and it does require a commitment of a week or two to do, and in the context of a famous person it's both notable and newsworthy -- but, yes, it ain't Everest. Maybe if we changed the title of "other accomplishments" to "other interests"? Is there a bio standard template within which we can make those changes?AdventurousMe (talk) 03:05, 15 June 2014 (UTC)

Blessed has never reached the summit of Everest, despite odd claims that he has (eg BBC website[1] or [2]) that have no backing elsewhere. His cameraman and fellow mountaineer from the 1996 attempt, Matt Dickinson, stated in the Independent in 2012, "But as for going back to Everest with Brian: in truth, he's too old now to try again",[3] and Charles Arthur in the same paper in 1996: "after returning from his third unsuccessful attempt on Mount Everest".[4] I think the confusion has arisen because of the title of the book that was used as a reference to support the claim he had reached the top: Blessed Everest. Climb To The Summit Of Mount Everest With Brian Blessed, Britain's Own Actor/Adventurer. But the title is misleading; it's like, for instance, Explore the Cosmos with Carl Sagan, which doesn't entail Mr Sagan having to leave the confines of Earth. Ericoides (talk) 09:34, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

Football allegiance

The article states that he is a Newcastle United supporter and then goes on to say that he revealed on Soccer AM that he is a lifelong Manchester United fan. It seems very unlikely he would have two allegiances. 87.83.16.242 (talk) 14:00, 7 December 2010 (UTC)

New stuff goes at the bottom. Looking at the sources for both statements, I'm removing the Newcastle bit, because it's source was KGB, and their source for their statement was US, so no, that's.. That's not even bad sourcing. Ian.thomson (talk) 14:12, 7 December 2010 (UTC)

University of York: Brian Blessed Centre for Quiet Study

The students at the University of York have recently voted to rename one of their study areas after Brian. Is this notable enough to go in the article, will it be notable once the staff agree to it, or will it never be notable? Brian has already been interviewed on the subject by University Radio York, but it has not yet been broadcast. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Escapepea (talk • contribs) 20:59, 25 January 2011 (UTC)

Russian space training

I heard Brian on the radio today (BBC R5) and he said that he has completed the 300 hours of training required to be part of (theoretically?) the Russian Space Program. Might be worth mentioning if anyone comes across a credible source on the net. Heywoodg (talk) 20:22, 5 February 2011 (UTC)

he also made this claim on Russell Howard's Good News. 87.74.72.181 (talk) 01:06, 26 April 2014 (UTC)

Top photo isn't Brian Blessed

The original source photo says "Brian Blessed delighted to land Rupert Bear role". Brian Blessed isn't starring any time soon as a cartoon bear, the photographer is clearly being witty about some random bearded guy wearing a red shirt and yellow scarf like Rupert Bear. Plus Brian Blessed is around 5'9" and 74 years old. That guy is taller, younger, (and blonde). .....and i just realised it was taken on 1st April. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bryndlefly (talk • contribs) 22:56, 18 June 2011 (UTC)

Image reverted. Looks like it was uploaded in good faith (I found it myself when looking for better photos of this article a while ago, but got the joke). Someone out there needs to practise identifying Brian Blessed. --McGeddon (talk) 09:14, 21 June 2011 (UTC)

Fictional inspiration?

What does 'fictional inspiration' mean in this bit from the article; "In 2009 Blessed played the world's worst explorer, Sir Basil Champion – a character based upon Blessed's fictional inspiration, The Lost World's Professor Challenger", I mean I know they're very similar, in fact I specifically came here to double check there wasn't anything obscure he'd played him in (and frankly it's a crime that there's not), but I can't work out the context of this claim, and there's no reference for it.Number36 (talk) 12:00, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

Filmography

I'm not sure this article benefits from a WP:IINFO list of 80-odd film and television appearances - the "Career" section already lists (or should list) his most notable appearances, and put them into context for the reader. --McGeddon (talk) 18:23, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

A large number of articles include list like this, though often on a separate article linked from the main page on the subject. Keith D (talk) 20:56, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Hadn't ever noticed one before, but you're right, there are plenty out there. I've split it off to Brian Blessed filmography and given it a see-also link from the "Career" section. --McGeddon (talk) 21:08, 25 September 2012 (UTC)

Veracity of Brian Blessed's autobiographical claims...

It looks as though Brian Blessed has told some fairly tall stories - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brian-blessed-pamela-anderson-sex-1736765 - such as feeding a starving wolf in Mongolia with Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons (the journo here remarks that he's told the story without the Cadbury's Buttons prior to his contract with Cadbury's). Should we really be repeating his claim that he's sparred in a boxing ring with the Dalai Lama as fact? I can't find a photo of him with the Dalai Lama; I can't find any source mentioning the Dalai Lama's interest in boxing that doesn't cite Brian Blessed; and AFAIK Western-style boxing would have been an unusual hobby for a boy growing up in monasteries in Tibet, even if he did have a Western tutor. AdventurousMe (talk) 05:34, 19 May 2014 (UTC)

"Blessed completed his national service at No. 1 Parachute Regiment Training School at RAF Brize Norton Royal Air Force" Utter nonsense. No. 1 Parachute Training School was in Abingdon and did not move to Brize Norton until 1975. Claims in other publications about his military parachuting are impossible. I suggest that he was a bit of a Walter Mitty. Acorn897 (talk) 15:35, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Move to BRIAN BLESSED

BRIAN deserves ALL CAPS. DON'T YOU AGREE?

Very funny, but NO! JezGrove (talk) 19:31, 21 September 2021 (UTC)

Question

Brian Blessed played Old Hamlet's ghost in one or another version of HAMLET; does anyone recall the particular play? EPISCOPALIAN (talk) 20:53, 30 September 2022 (UTC)

See Hamlet (1996 film). He may have played it in other productions but this is the one that I remember. MarnetteD|Talk 22:54, 30 September 2022 (UTC)

Brian Blessed in tv series Survivors

There is no reference to Brian Blessed appearing in this tv series on Wikipedia. The series was filmed in the 1970's, I was involved in some of the filming. 45.72.202.204 (talk) 18:48, 24 February 2023 (UTC)