Michael Palin CBE

Look at him. Just look at his lovely face. The lovely face of Palin. Using advanced technology, scientists have tried to impose a scowl onto Palin's face. Afterwards they were reported as saying "we just couldn't do it, we killed his pets and broke his kneecaps but he was still asking us if we'd like a drink, and holding doors open for us". These same scientists also observed that if you were take the loveliness out of Michael Palin, he would look like Michael Portillo.

When in Monty Python he was getting by on his comic acting and writing. He was excellent at this, but in a sense his true talent, loveliness, wasn't being put to it's full use. But in 1989 he was given a travel series and he travelled the world introducing foreigners to his charms. in fact it's a wonder we actually have any need for a queen when we already have a Palin.

Palin Facts! He has a train (Virgin Trains Super Voyager 221130) and an asteroid (asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin) .

Ian McKellen

There's a wonderful story about Ian McKellen. Apparantly the following conversation was overheard on set as Ian was speaking to a younger man-

IM:"Do you know the difference between a sandwich and a blow job?"
Chap:"No."
IM: "Excellent! Then you simply must come for a picnic!"

The story is probably misquoted and possibly untrue, but what makes it so brilliant is that you can picture his wicked but utterly benign smile as you read it. Ian McKellen is like a genetic experiment in pure charisma. He is a man that you would like to spend a evening drinking with- bigger than life but also completely approachable and affable. It must have been an absolute epiphany when he was thought of for the role of Gandalf- the most inspired casting decision since Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter.

The fact that he's gay and outspoken about it completes the picture of a man who is comfortable in his loveliness. Alright, alright I admit I have real problems disassociating him from Gandalf-I know he's not a centuries-old wizard with a hobbit weed habit and a brilliant hat but the fundamental thing that he brought to that part was the effusion of McKellen's inate loveliness. Ian McKellen- goddamn it, you're a lovely man. We salute you.

Sir David Attenborough

I know this is obvious but did you expect a site about lovely people to be controversial? His brother Richard once unleashed a variety of killer dinosaurs on an island but David has a far healthier relationship with nature. Has anyone ever not liked David Attenborough? He does a lot of charity and environmental stuff, but Bono does that and a lot of people shudder with disgust at the mention of him. The reason? It's the 'L' word. The soft voice without a hint of nastiness, the fact that whilst he has the best job in world, he's also the best person in the world for that job. Would you send Jade Goody into a band of gorillas? Possibly, but for very different reasons.

He's so lovely even animals can sense it. If an animal were to eat David, the backlash from other animals would be so intense his/her life would become unbearable. The stingray that killed Steve Irwin has divided opinion in the animal world, some casting him out because of Steve Irwin's charity work, whilst some have hailed him a hero because, to quote an eminent dolphin, "Irwin was taking the piss out us a bit really".

This scenario would be unthinkable for our David. Held aloft by man and beast alike- I give you Sir David Attenborough.

Sir David Fact- there are two animals named after him- a pre-historic reptile dinosaur (Attenborosaurus conybeari) and an echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi).

Introduction

As much as I've enjoyed writing my other blogs I can't deny that there is a thread of cynicism running through them. Well more of a cable than a thread, but that isn't me. People are often praised for facets of their personality. The amount of times I have read about some moron or bigot being hailed for their 'passion' as if passion is of itself something to be praised and it doesn't matter whether the thing that you are passionate about is torture or charity. You can be a passionate dick, and so many are.

In my ideal world, niceness is appreciated but loveliness is rewarded. This site is dedicated to those people who, when they appear on your television or magazine, exude such an overwhelming sense of loveliness you instantly wish they were your friend/parent/grandfather/whatever.