I keep going back to Gazza or Mr Blobby. Gazza for all the funny stories and wild things he used to get up to, and Blobby for being part of grown up Saturday night telly

47 comments

  1. I don’t think Gazza is that unusual. He’s a sport star who struggled to cope with the wealth, game and adoration. It’s a common story.

    Blobby is more specific, because it requires understanding a particular form of irony and satire.

    There’s a form of hobbyist or nerd that I’d be surprised really exists in other countries. Fred Dibnah, Dick Strawbridge, James May, later-era Michael Portillo, Lucy Worsley, Susie Dent. Usually middle class but not always, very specific and niche interests but shares them with a level of passion and interest that is compelling. I think that obsessive commitment to a niche cause is quite a British thing.

  8. Ronnie Pickering.

    I’m not even joking, trying to pick apart the layers of irony would be a herculean task.

  9. The Parliamentary Mace. Admittedly it’s more of a “what” than a “who” but it is a British cultural icon that cannot be explained easily.

  12. a lot of the modern ones are hard to explain because 90% of their ‘fans’ are laughing at them rather than with them

    the Big John, Tom Skinner, Bootlegger people absolutely baffle my mates German gf

    doesn’t help that the stereotypes say we’re all brash idiots, and then they see us laughing and promoting brash idiots

  17. Rik Mayall. His type of comedy just doesn’t translate. The Young One’s, Bottom and even Man Down is uniquely British.

  21. Tom Weir. He’s a cultural icon to a certain subsection of the British population. “Aye he’s a bloke that used to go for walk round Scotland and as such he’s became a bit of a hero for men interested in a certain type of fashion. He’s even got a wooly hat named after him.”

  25. It is absolutely Blobby. As a foreigner, BFQOTY was my first introduction to him…it…?

    A lifetime of involvement in British culture did not prepare me for that.

  31. Fred Dibnah.

    You can’t explain him, he explains himself. To try to put into words who or what he is and stands for would only undermine his charisma and place in the pantheon of British people.

  33. Noel Edmunds. He’s so shit, and someone died on his show. Now he thinks positive vibes can cure cancer and he’s days away from buying the BBC.

  34. Most of them Lol But then I find it doesn’t even have to be people from abroad I tried describing Burty Basset and Mr Blobby to a 10 year old the other day!

    …….all I can say is I think she thought I must have been on one of those funny cigarettes she’s been told to keep away.

  43. I lived in the UK for 7 years and never understood ‘cheeky nandos’. What was so cheeky about it ?

    Also I did not understand the morning chat shows also. It always felt like a parody, they always discussed super mundane things.

  44. As someone with an Australian husband, there is so many. Like how do I explain Jordan or Jade Goodie, or someone. You just get this expression like what in the fuck were you lot watching in the 2000s???

    Even people like Bruce forsyth and require a good few minutes of context.

  46. The Krankies. Make them watch a few episodes, take a deep breath and say “brace yourself, you see that little boy? Well…”

    Either that or try to explain Stu Francis.

    Age comprehensively shown.

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