Hilary Reed

Family, friends, food, wine, conversation, stories, creativity, beauty, humour!

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@VictoriaCoren Oh absolutely. Eat the whole bar in one day 😊

[Michael Reiners @MCRReiners]

‘Manchesterism’, a decidedly undefined term, can be best explained by this clip.

Most things can be best explained by a clip from Yes Minister.

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DrJaninaRamirez 👋

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames I’m just watching you in Midi Murders, glorious 😃

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@ronmanagernottm Followed by three blind mice?

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames I loved him in House of Cards. So subtly malevolent. I must look it up to watch again

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames He is wonderful, what a tonic 😊

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames How brief? 🩳

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@theAliceRoberts @MatthewPope Sad news, it won’t be the same without you. Looking forward to hearing about your new ventures 😊

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@Matt_Pinner ?

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames Sorry, did I miss something here? Those who identify as mythical beings? Good grief 🙄 I have no words 😶

[John Nichol ✈ @JohnNicholRAF]

Long ramble:
I have been mulling if I should comment on President Trump's inane comments about NATO involvement in Afghanistan. Although 35 years ago, during the US-led first Gulf War, I was lying, handcuffed & blindfolded - literally 'shoulder to shoulder' - with a US colleague on a concrete floor in an Iraqi interrogation bunker, I rather feel it should be the current generation who express any anger at the President's ludicrous, demonstrably false utterings. Which is why I earlier shared some posts from others.
But perhaps I will reflect like this - I watched Trump's press conference in the wake of the terrible tragedy when a US helicopter collided with a civilian airliner last January in disbelief. 64 people lost their lives but it seemed to be about him - his expertise, his knowledge, what he thought had happened. Much of what he said was incorrect.
So I realised back then that it was going to be pointless trying to analyse any upcoming word-salads. Everything is clearly about him; his expertise in every subject, his grasp of all situations. His need to say something, anything, to show he is the best, the cleverest, the smartest, the most knowledgeable kid on the block.
The pub-bore, the braggart, the know-it-all, pontificates on anything and everything in the hope of bolstering their own, clearly very low, self-esteem.
I wonder that, in the President's mind, that it doesn't matter if what he says is factually correct? I wonder if he knows, understands, even cares, what is true? He is saying some words, which in his mind, seems to suggest that he's important and people will admire him, laud him. The fact that everyone around him then applauds this character trait, thanking him for his 'leadership' at every turn, just amplifies his desire, his need to continue. He's got want he wants - in his mind - attention, praise, admiration.
So to sum up, trying to analyse Trump's ramblings is like trying to play chess with a pigeon. Somewhat interesting at first, but ultimately, truly pointless and rather frustrating.
To those he has hurt, insulted, vilified, I send you my deepest condolences for your loss, and gratitude for your service.

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@Matt_Pinner Is that Corfe Castle?

[James Dreyfus @DreyfusJames]

Mmmm. Very pretty & professional looking, I’ll admit…

I’ll also admit I wasn’t instrumental in LGB activism, like Bev Jackson, Kate Harris or Fred Sargeant, but, if I may, I’d like to correct the multitude of errors that litter this statement (again, very pretty, all typed out neatly, by Miffy The Whiffy Gamer… either from some bot or his imagination)

But let’s get a few facts straight, shall we?

I’ve been a vocally out gay actor since 1990. In those days, if you were gay, & open about it, you were only cast in gay parts. And it was bloody difficult.

I worked for The London Gay Theatre Company in 1992 & 1994. I was in many different LGB plays throughout the 90’s, & was interviewed & spoke about being “openly gay” with Gay Times, Attitude, The Pink Paper & many other gay publications. In every interview I gave, it was mentioned (much to my eventual boredom & to the irritation of the gay press, who seemed to be frustrated at me for not believing that being gay was the most interesting thing about me.)

In 1993, I was part of the West End cast of “Elegies for Angels, Punks & Raging Queens”, alongside Regina Fong, Simon Fanshawe, Trudie Styler, Kim Cresswell & many others. The show was about those who’d died from AIDS, & every night, we raised a significant amount of money for AIDS charities. We also all performed on the main stage at Pride that year.

In 1994, I was in New York during the Gay Games, where I made a film about lesbian ice skating, which we shot on location. I marched with Ian Mckellen (who was also in the film) & Martin Sherman, to celebrate the Games.

In 1996, myself & 6 other openly gay actors were part of a successful little indie film called “Boyfriends”. Again, we all vocally supported gay rights in various interviews.

In 1997, Stonewall invited me to their Equality Show at the Albert Hall, to high kick with the Tiller Girls, as part of a small group of out performers, including Stephen Fry, Jimmy Somerville, Simon Fanshawe, to encourage others to come out & be proud. Yes, we were actually “celebrated” by Stonewall back then, believe it or not.

In 1999, I played a controversial, purposefully vile gay character in Jonathan Harvey’s sitcom ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’. It was controversial because it was one of the first gay characters that was entirely comfortable with his sexuality, was vulgarly open about it & wasn’t always portrayed in a positive light. The gay press were not happy, initially, but it apparently grew on them. The series continued until 2001. Again, I did interview after interview discussing & championing gay rights.

In 2000, I played Bette Midler’s ‘openly gay’ musical accompanist, Oscar, in the short lived sitcom ‘Bette’. Being a series regular, I used my voice in interviews to speak up for gay rights.

In 2004, I took part in the first series of Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen, raising £40, 000 for my chosen charity The Terence Higgins Trust, which I publicly supported & endorsed endlessly.

Do bear in mind, there was no social media as we know it now.

I joined Twitter in 2014. From 2000 to 2014, LGB people had achieved equality & for the first time, it seemed to be ok to be gay.

I rejoined the fight online when I saw the damage the TQ+ was now was doing to the rights we’d, as gay people, had already won, at much cost. I was reluctant & angry, as I’d thought we’d been there, done that, bought the t-shirt etc. But no.

So if you mean I played no part in the fight for LGB rights, you’d either be wrong or lying. The world didn’t start with the advent of the internet.

Perhaps if I stuck on a red beret, a dress, held an Antifa flag & hollered at a crowd through a megaphone to “punch terfs in the f**king face”, I’d already be lauded as a “champion of LGBTQIA+ rights”.

Maybe that was my mistake…🤷

Please RETWEET as my reach is yet again severely restricted. Thank you.

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@arthistorynews @HackBlackburn Absolutely

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@prodnose I think it was Charlie Drake in Sands of the Desert. It was at the ABC minors club Saturday mornings in Sutton Coldfield. Probably about 1965 😊

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@DreyfusJames Genius

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@VictoriaCoren @BBCTwo It was brilliant, as always. As were you 😊

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@alisonmoyetnews @AIM_UK ✅

[Hilary Reed @Hilach]

@NoFarmsNoFoods Yes I would object