Person Of The Decade?

I'm trying my best not to spend too much time on my blog looking
back on the decade as a whole.

I'm saving them for the radio show and audio downloads.

Having said that though, many years ago Radio 4's Today Programmme used to have a man/woman of the year and I thought it would be more than apt
for me to name a person of the decade.

Another bold move yes, but I thought it would be worth naming an individual
who has so much to his bow, but has managed to remain consistent
in whatever form right from the beginning of the last 10 years.

And surprisingly, it's not a musician or a singer.

I have no shame in revealing my person of the decade to be the one and only Charlie Brooker.

This goes back almost exactly 10 years ago when Charlie was a contributor
to Channel 4's 11 O'Clock Show alongside Iain Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen,
Marcus Brigstocke, and Ricky Gervais.

No idea know what happened to him.

All the way back in February 2000, Brooker was responsible for
a "rewind button" moment by writing a gag involving a spoof Daz advert
where Shane Richie doorstepped Dr Shipman's wife;

Shane Richie: "Ello luv! While you're husband's at work, would you mind trying out our new washing powder?"

Mrs Shipman: "No. OK?"

Shane Richie: "#You fucked a monster!"

I wouldn't be surprised if Charlie actually voiced the Shane Richie character
as you didn't see actually see him on screen.

In the early to mid half of the decade it was Charlie's writing that played a major part in his career with the spoof TV listings magazine "TV Go Home",
and the inauguaration of the Screen Burn section in the Guide supplement
of The Guardian every Saturday, which in a period where television was
at it's lowest, Charlie really knew how to rip into the large amount of
"un-tertainment" on offer.

Gags such as comparing Noel from Hear'say to Dizzy the egg,
from the Amiga/ST games being one such hilarious example.

Television soon came calling with the inaugaration of Screenwipe on BBC Four
which became a favourite with the fans and the viewers who were thinking
exactly the same but would never dare say such things in public.

Such as comparing Alexandra Burke's cover of "Hallelujah"
to "a song played at thick people's funerals".

Charlie's writing abilities didn't seem to get in the way either with the critically acclaimed "Nathan Barley" co-penned by Chris Morris, and the superb
"Dead Set" adding zombies and graphically revolting scenes
to the Big Brother house.

Not that it doesn't happen every series.

However 2009 definitely had to be the year where Charlie was at his highest
in terms of comedy, starting off with the brilliant and well observed "Newswipe"
which managed to highlight how many television stations have adapted
the habit of turning world disasters into showbiz events.

ITN being one major example, to the point it's hard to tell the difference
between that and Brass Eye which Brooker co-wrote earlier in his career.

Following on from Newswipe was Channel 4's "You Have Been Watching"
which divided opinions it has to be said, but for me it came to a point
where I looked forward to it more than "Mock The Week"
throughout this summer.

This was all down to the well chosen selection of programmes reviewed,
guest panellists, and best of all targets to rip the piss out of.

Not least Danny Dyer, who as a result of being unable to put up
with the stick, announced that he was quitting TV presenting.

Hopefully John Barrowman, Piers Morgan, and Ian Wright
will make identical moves in the New Year.

A selection of Brooker's lapses into the vernacular can be heard here,
in what I'd see as a warm up to the New Year audio downloads
I'll publish in a few days.

There's no signs of him stopping with a second series of Newswipe
due to start in January.

That more or less covers it I guess, if a bit rushed and rambling.

If I had to do a man and woman like Today used to, the woman of the decade, let's see, it would probably go to Jamelia.

Yes, you read right.

3 amazing albums, many a surprise throughout in terms of special releases, and an amazing personality good enough to pass herself of
as a television presenter and comedy show panellist.

Always has me laughing and she's really sweet.

If anything, the whole of the above has proved that when it comes to
being academic or cultured, the last 10 years have failed me.

Or I've failed as a whole.