From the second Henry Blofeld (aka Blowers) walked on stage he had the audience grinning. Dressed in full Indian wedding regalia, he strode carefully across the stage, addressing the audience with a smile, a twinkle in his eye. The cricket commentator took his place at a lectern at the side of the stage and proceeded to stand to give a first half talk of over an hour, with barely a break in his narration – not even for water.
Blofeld is now 83, an icon, and is the owner of probably the most RP accent after that of royalty. His voice is instantly recognisable, along with his range of laughs – from a little giggle mid-sentence, to a full-on hearty ‘‘Ha ha ha” – all were in evidence during the evening.
The first half covered his appearance in the 2020 season of the show The Real Marigold Hotel. A BBC documentary style travel show that saw eight famous faces of a certain age explore what retirement would be like in India. Possibly not quite what the audience was expecting, given that the majority of them were more than likely cricket fans, and in particular fans of Test Match Special through which his voice became the soundtrack to many many summers.
Nevertheless, Blowers regaled the audience with tales of his time with the other celebrities including Britt Ekland, Duncan Bannatyne and Paul Chuckle. His descriptions were colourful, occasionally scathing, more often cheeky and he generally delighted the audience with his take on the experiences he was sent on.
There was the odd poignant moment too. Blofeld discussed his failing eyesight and his need to retire from Test Match Special, but how incredible it was to be able to visit a cricket match in India on this particular trip. There, he met some fans who had learnt both a good deal of cricket and of English too by listening to his commentating over the years on the BBC world service and beyond.
Time flew and the interval came quickly. When the audience came back it was clear that this was a game of two very different halves (wrong sport, but accurate). Hour number two was back on more familiar ground, with what can only be described as an ode to the national institution of Test Match Special, with a focus on its originator John Arlott and incredibly funny creative force, commentator Brian Johnston. Blofeld recounted various situations and experiences he had with both men, as well as another TMS favourite Jonathan ‘Aggers’ Agnew in hilarious fashion, using projected images to evidence his points with great effect. Fans were treated to stories of chocolate cake, fruit cake, bottles of claret and Arlott’s triple quadruple morning whisky antics as well as the now famous ‘freaker’ situation, when a streaker appeared for the first time in test cricket.
Impressions of Arlott and Johnston come thick and fast, with some more successful than others – some of the Johnston punchlines were lost when Blofeld spoke too quickly and in an even more plummy accent, meaning that on occasion the audience laughed along good-naturedly without actually being sure what had been said.
Blofeld had a couple of books available, and was also raising money for the national charity Chance to Shine, that works with state schools and communities across England Wales and Scotland to give all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket. Fans were able to meet him at the end, where he was signing books, taking photos and calling pretty much everybody “my dear old thing”. A thoroughly entertaining and amusing evening, by one of the nation’s dearest and best commentators.
Reviewed 17th February 2023.
