Dinner Party

[happyfriday]

Ok!! What 8 people would you invite to your 'Dinner Party' if you could? Alive or Dead both are acceptable!! I had a list but now I'm not sure about it, and I hadn't counted dead people in the original it makes it much harder!! :o

[Harriet]

Ok...does the 8 include me? I want to be there! Well I'll just assume it doesn't...

1) Kurt Cobain before all the heroin
2) Pete Doherty in the future when there will be no heroin...
3) Carl Barat
4) Freddie Mercury
5) John Cleese
6) George Clooney
7) Sarah Jessica Parker (to make everyone else feel pretty)
8) Julia Roberts (I've always wondered how she eats with her scary massive lips. Could be amusing.)

[excalibur]

My compliments happyfriday, on a positively inspired idea for a thread! :)

Here is my list.

1.Stephen Fry (for his undoubted talents as an after-dinner speaker)
2.Tony Benn
3.Pope John Paul II (the late Holy Father’s reactionary views would perfectly neutralise Benn’s penchant for liberalism.)
4.Henry Blofeld (would entertain with his anecdotal yarns on cricket-related subjects.)
5.Norman Wisdom (For his indefatigable verve and enthusiasm and ….well, wisdom.)
6.Mick Jagger (so long as he doesn’t bring his false teeth, mind.)
7.Gordon Ramsay (of course…..who else is going to supply the cuisine and, [come to think of it] the brazenly colourful language?)
8.Marilyn Monroe (would add some glamour, flamboyance and a touch of [for want of a better word] ‘svelte’ outlandishness to proceedings.)

(And Harriet, I think the size of Julia Roberts' lips are a tad modest by Hollywood standards!)

[happyfriday]

Thank you Excalibur your very kind, was not getting a great response there for a little while was getting a little worried!! :o

OK!!! I think I have the list completed, I know I’m missing someone though!!! Here we go:

1) Frank Sinatra - I love Frank, fantastic voice (he’d be great for a little sing song after dinner) he would definitely have some good stories (Rat pack days and Mob Friends) and you just know that he would have a way of making every women fall in love with him and every man admire him, you just have to love him!!

2) Audrey Hepburn – I have seen all of her Films and is my second favourite actress of all time, one of the most glamorous women too have walked the planet in my opinion.

3) Grace Kelly – My favourite actress of all time, have also seen all of her films also a very glamorous and graceful lady and she lived the real life fairytale (even though ‘the happy ever after’ bit did not really come about) Hollywood actress come Princess she is sure to have some great stories and I’m sure herself, Audrey and Frank would have lots to talk about.

4) Stephen Fry – Stephen would be able to talk about anything and he really is very funny, plus the idea of this thread came from him and his after eight add of many moons ago

5) John Thaw – Loved him and I miss him on the TV!!

6) Samuel L Jackson – Because sometime you just need COOL!!!

7) Orlando Bloom – Don’t really need to explain that do I???

8) Pat Conroy – Not only is he one of my all time favourite author’s he also has had a very interesting life (not all the time sad) his writing is somewhat autobiographical and I would love to meet him and discuss some of his writing!!

[Elfstar]

I have played this several times and my list constantly changes but today it would be

1 Anne Boleyn always thought she was innocent but would like to hear her story.

2 Richard III much maligned king (Shakespeare has much to answer for)

3 Oscar Wilde

4 Vivien Leigh

5 Johnny Depp (since happyfriday nabbed Orlando Bloom)

6 Paul Merton

7 Joyce Grenfell


8 Elvis

[Opal]

I like this! My list seems to be kinda lacking in women.... but never mind! :p

I'd have Matt Bellamy from Muse and Billie Joe from Green Day - both are very cool and could provide the music for us! JK Rowling and Robert Jordan could come provided they give me a clue as to how they're ending their series' of books (and in RJ's case if he'll ever end!), Ronan Keating because he was my first crush - every girl falls in love with a boyband at some point and I was a Boyzone girl and proud it! :D I'd want Terry Pratchett and Stephen King because I love their books sooooooooooo much! And finally Billy Connolly because he's one of the funniest guys ever and could entertain us all night long!

And I'mm assuming the people have to be real - no characters from books/TV series - that would be too hard! ;)

[willow]

Me plus

Ken Livingstone - I've been a fan of his since his GLC days. I love the way he is so articulate

Tony Benn - Ditto and I've heard him speak - a wonderful humanitarian.

Ian Hislop - again an intelligent eloquent speaker.

Martin Luther king junior - my hero since I heard the I have a dream speech.

Shirley williams - again eloquent committed and interesting

Barbara Castle - a great politician and true Labour

Vanessa Feltz - underated - a very intelligent sharp woman

Oprah - ditto

Yes you've guessed my politics are Left of centre. Would they all get along though!!!

[megustaleer]

Until I reached Willow's list I was concerned about the male/female ratio at these dinner parties. At last someone who managed a 50:50 guest list.

I have only just started thinking about it, but am also thinking more easily of men to invite than of women!

[My Friend Jack]

As some of you may have gathered, my "special interest" is the history of popular music. My guest list would therefore start with Mike Read, whose "oldies" show on Radio 210 in the late '70s was the best radio programme I have ever listened to. I would also invite Tim Rice, one of Mike Read's co-compilers of the original British Hit Singles book. Recognising the influence that American music has had on the world in the last century or so, and wanting to maintain a balanced discussion, I would want to ask Paul Gambaccini, but might favour Joel Whitburn (who invented the idea of "books about record charts") and Fred Bronson (Billboard magazine's chart guru).

My other major interest is, of course, football, so John Madejski would be welcome. So would Noddy Holder, one of the few musicians in the world that I'd actually want to meet!

Hmmm, all males so far! Do I assume that my wife will be present? I assume so, in which case Martin Shaw would be an essential guest! For my final guest, I need someone who has an interest in music and football - and this guy once released a record in direct competition to one that Noddy Holder was on, and I believe they support the same club - Robert Plant.

[megustaleer]

MFJ, that doesn't sound like a dinner party, more like a boys' night out!
If I was your wife I'd send you all down the pub (except for Martin Shaw, who I hope would come in his 'Judge John Deeds' robes!)

My list, at the moment, is;

Alistair Cooke;
Desmond TuTu;
James Naughtie;
John Sargeant;
Maya Angelou;
Mo Mowlam;
Victoria Wood and
Princess Diana. (This last one having been dosed with Sodium Pentethol before we start)!

[ChrisG]

My list changes all the time, but for now:

Cleopatra
Mary, Queen of Scots (I want to ask what really happened)
Willa Cather (American author)
Gladys Taber (American author and nice person who will help keep things civil!)
Isaac Asimov (very witty and intelligent)
Plato (I need some answers to questions about The Republic)
Shakespeare
Oscar Wilde (he can trade witticisms with Asimov)

Oh dear, I seem to have picked all dead people. :o Will try to think of some live ones! (Or opt for seance rather than dinner party?) ;)

[lucyb]

Ok, let's have a go...

Father Lionel Fanthorpe for the conversation.
Kiri Te Kanawa for the music (or the lady who did Madame Butterfly at Covent Garden last year but I can't remember her name).
Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall for the food.
Viggo Mortensen for me ( :) )
Terry Pratchett if he promises to write down all his comments and not talk.
Mr Eddie Flintoff - my old Classics tutor at university. He was a lovely bloke who could make the driest subjects come to life. Sadly passed away after I graduated and is very fondly remembered.
Julian May ('cos I'd like some tips and I kind of felt the need to include another woman...)
Sophocles...You've read the book, you've seen the play - now meet the author.
Interpreter (for Sophocles).

[Elfstar]

Ok so today its friday and today I feel like inviting

Thomas Wyatt (did he REALLY with Anne Boleyn)

Elizabeth I (was she REALLY Henry's daughter)


Aristophanes (do greek frogs REALLY say brek ek ek ek koax koax? and how did he think of Lysistrata(hope thats right))

Oscar Wilde (witty)

Byron (mad, bad and dangerous every party needs one)

Ingrid Bergman (so beautiful)

Anne Neville (wife to Richard III)


Sharon Penman (wrote a brilliant novel about Richard III)


Half and half Megustaleer!!

[megustaleer]

[QUOTE=lucyb]
Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall for the food.

Just so long as he doesn't serve placenta pate! :eek:

[lucyb]

Three game terrine!

[megustaleer]

Followed by that dish consisting of half a dozen or so different birds all stuffed inside each other?

Can I come?

[lucyb]

Can you come? I thought you were going to help Hugh with the cooking!

[nospacesallowed]

That's a hard question.......

1.Wayne Rooney
2.Rey Mysterio
3.Hmm

[Harriet]

Ooh lots of very intellectual conversation going on at that dinner party I imagine apple juice rules.

[Seraphina]

Hmmm well for today my list is:

1: Monique Wittig - I want to argue with her about her theory that 'One is Not Born a Woman'...I do NOT agree with a word she says! I had to stop myself throwing the book on the floor and stamping on it! She can come an hour or so early and I'll chuck her out before anyone else arrives!

2: Oscar Wilde - obvious reasons, he'd be great entertainment.

3: Johnny Depp - and he's not allowed to bring that cow Vanessa :p

4: Sienna Miller - so I can make friends with her and borrow her clothes! (if I grow a few inches and lose half a stone! :rolleyes: )

5: Robbie Williams - because he's always whinging he has too much money and it doesn't make him happy....i'll cook him a nice roast, he can pay me a cool million for my trouble, everyone's happy! (as long as he doesn't sing)

6: Stella McCartney - so i can accidentally leave some of my fashion drawings around, which she will be so impressed with she'll offer me a job designing for Chloe on the spot!

7: George Bush - i'll sit him beside Oscar, be fun to see what he comes up with in reply to Oscar's witticisms..! And we can throw peas at him. And kick him under the table. He can have the placenta pate!!!!

8: Jane Austen - I want to show her the Pemberley website and see what she thinks! (it's a website run by mad americans obsessed with Colin Firth! not everyone on it is a fool, but the moderators DEFINITELY are!)

[Dr. Strangelove]

Ok. Just 8???

1) George Clooney (Duh)
2) Frank Sinatra
3) Fred Astaire
4) Colin Firth (YUMMM)
5) Dean Martin
6) Humphrey Bogart
7) Matthew Perry
8) Brad Pitt

[Lady Lazarus]

Right, my eight would have to be:

1. Nigella Lawson (because she would be the ultimate host, and could do the catering!)
2. John Lennon (just because, and also because he could give us a tune after the meal)
3. Stephen Fry (because he knows everything about everything, and could tell a witty tale or two)
4. Truman Capote (he's my favourite writer, and was known for throwing a good party or three in his day)
5. Sylvia Plath (a true genius, although might put a dampner on the party.. maybe in her earlier days)
6. Julie Birchill (for her sarcasm and opinions)
7. Spike Milligan (for obvious reasons)
8. Jeff Buckley (a musical favourite, could do some interesting jamming with Mr Lennon!)

[megustaleer]

Ok. Just 8???

1) George Clooney (Duh)
2) Frank Sinatra
3) Fred Astaire
4) Colin Firth (YUMMM)
5) Dean Martin
6) Humphrey Bogart
7) Matthew Perry
8) Brad Pitt

Little Britain, I think you ought to have a chaperone at your dinner party! :D

[megustaleer]

I had to stop myself throwing the book on the floor and stamping on it!

It's a good job you controlled the urge, Winterwren is already threatening me with a discipinary for book abuse :rolleyes: following my mistreatment of Cloud Atlas. You wouldn't want to incurr her displeasure too!

[Royal Rother]

Anthony Robbins
Victoria Wood
John Arlott
Janis Joplin
Prince Charles
Oprah Winfrey
Jeff Mangum
Audrey Hepburn

[Dr. Strangelove]

Little Britain, I think you ought to have a chaperone at your dinner party! :D

You know it. That wouldn't stop me being all over them. And by them I mean George Clooney.

[Seraphina]

You know it. That wouldn't stop me being all over them. And by them I mean George Clooney.

FOrgive me for asking, but what are the rest of the poor men to do while you and Gorgeous George are....amusing yourselves?! ;)

You will be forever known in Hollywood as a terrible hostess and no one will come to your dinner parties again!! :eek:

Saying that, if there's going to be all those bored men....can I come?! Well, if you swap one of the oldies for Johnny Depp...

[Dr. Strangelove]

Johnny Depp isn't my type. Me and George, well we'd be off somewhere! The others can amuse themselves. And, oldies are cooler and classier.

[megustaleer]

Ooh lots of very intellectual conversation going on at that dinner party I imagine apple juice rules.apple juice rules (or ajr)is the name that nospacesallowed used to use here.

Anyone else care to add their dinner party list?
Or to plan a second dinnerparty, with another carefully selected group of guests?

[Jen]

OK, subject to many changes and slightly embarrassed that I can't think of more women...

1. Rufus Wainwright (obviously. We'd also have a piano in the corner for him to entertain between courses.)
2. Stephen Fry (everyone's favourite, it would appear).
3. Paul Merton
4. Johnny Depp (he'd have to sit diagonally opposite Rufus or my eyes might pop out of their sockets)
5. Bjork
6. Louis Theroux (some understated intelligence)
7. TBA
8. TBA

[Boris the Cat]

Has anyone noticed how few women are getting invited? I'm going to have a try at equality:

1. Oscar Wilde - I just love him!
2. Stephen Fry - He'd get on so well with Oscar.
3. Alan Bennett - I read 'Untold Stories' and his opinions were so much like mine, I couldn't believe it.
4. Bob Dylan - Genius! Don't know if he'd be that sociable, though.
5. Kathy Burke - She seems like the type of person I'd like to be firends with.
6. Julie Walters - She's so witty, but also seems like a lovely person.
7. Bill Bailey (oops, equality didn't work, did it?!) - He makes me die laughing, every dinner party needs a bit of off-the-wall humour.
8. Armistead Maupin - I love his books, there are so many things I want to ask him.
(In case anyone's ill, substitutes, both male, I'm ashamed to say:
9. Charles Dickens - I'm a huge fan, I bet I'd really annoy him with my fawning.
10. Alice Cooper - I've liked his music for years, and just recently found out that he is incredibly witty - oh and could he bring his friend Groucho with him, please?)

I'm rubbish, aren't I? I have invited four gay men, though!

[Squirls]

Mae West & Dorothy Parker ~ both very funny ladies

Winston Churchill ~ he could be very witty and sparks would fly with the previous 2 guests.

Barbara Castle ~ she was fab

Stephen Fry ~ cos he knows everything

Colin Firth (she says rubbing her knees a la Vic Reeves)

Bono ~ just to see if he’s for real

Mr Kipling – he could bring some of his exceedingly Rudyard cakes ;)

[MisterHobgoblin]

Well, I would have

David and Hazel to keep order
Squirrels and Ian to ensure a good argument
jfp and Adrian for their mordant wit
Minxminnie for having a cool name

and one other (yes, I know who it is - but politics lets me leave it open so each and every BGO-er can wonder whether it might be them)

[Squirls]

Squirrels and Ian to ensure a good argument
Oh so you like a good tongue lashing eh? :D

[jfp]

jfp and Adrian for their mordant witOh gosh Adrian, our witty mordancy has been singled out... It essentially has to do with our Yorkshire roots, bien sûr...

[Squirls]

Oh gosh Adrian, our witty mordancy has been singled out... It essentially has to do with our Yorkshire roots, bien sûr...

Well it's better than being singled out for argumentativeness :o

[MisterHobgoblin]

Well it's better than being singled out for argumentativeness :o
I disagree.

[Hazel]

Mr HG, I'd be quickly pissed in a corner...no good at keeping order. But ta for the invite, I don't get out much.

[Adrian]

Mr HG, I'd be quickly pissed in a corner...no good at keeping order. But ta for the invite, I don't get out much.
Hey, don't bogart that booze. The main party's getting out of hand and I need a drink!

[Squirls]

I disagree.
;)

So what will you be cooking for us Mr HG?

[Calliope]

and one other (yes, I know who it is - but politics lets me leave it open so each and every BGO-er can wonder whether it might be them)
Well, I, for one, wouldn't come on those terms, even if you had invited me :p

Anyone else feeling excluded, come on over to my place and we'll have a much better time.

[Petra]

My eight would be:

Maya Angelou
Michael Jackson
Marilyn Monroe
Hitler
Jimmy Carr
Vincent Van Gogh
Stephen Fry
Elizabeth I

[ottilie]

Hmmm, that would be one interesting dinner party, bella!

Being your sister, I'm sure you'd let me gatecrash, then I'd nab Stephen Fry and Maya Angelou and invite them to mine. The rest you can keep!

I'd add Jools Holland and Keith Moon to my list for entertainment value, Sir Ian McKellen for his twinkly eyes and mesmerising voice (surely essential criteria for any guest list!), Sylvia Plath because I'm struggling to think of female guests too, Daniel Kitson: comic genius with integrity, Orlando Bloom in full elf regalia just because...and I'd squeeze a real life friend in too, because I'd probably be sat in a corner feeling totally overawed and unable to say a word to any of them!

[Freydis]

Tough to narrow it down to eight! Let's see, 50/50 (and it might be lively):
Frederick Ashton, my favorite choreographer
Claude Debussy
Patrick Stewart
Douglas Adams
Frida Kahlo
Emma Goldman
Queen Elizabeth I
Eleanor of Aquitaine
(alternates, in case one was at someone else's party: Shakespeare, Marlowe, Humphrey Bogart, Isadora Duncan)...and I just realized only one of these people is not dead!

[WrongIslander]

Beethoven - known to entertain at every dinner party and who wouldn't want to see that!

Shakespeare - see what he's working on these days. :p

Frank Sinatra - Led quite the life and I'm a massive fan of his work

JFK - Always been fascinated by the man

Bill Clinton - might bring a few lady friends... but seriously I admire his integrity and getting his rocks off in the whitehouse doesn't change that view one bit.

Stephen Fry/Hugh Laurie (joint invite) - my heroes of british television when I was growing up. Still to this day never seen funnier comedy than "A bit of Fry and Laurie" and Blackadder and I love House and Stephen Fry around America or whatever it was called.

Lou Holtz - Just an inspirational figure if you know anything about college football and with me being a ND fan it would be like having the messiah at the table.

Bill Shankly/Bob Paisley (joint invite) - one man made a city believe and put us on the map the other was a quiet unassuming genius who finished what Shankly started.

Of course I would attend with my beautiful lady Sofia Vergara....

[Tay]

Can I have two parties please?

The first one would be a 'lets sort all the crap out' party and invited would be

Jesus Christ
Mohammed
Osama Bin Laden
Ian Paisley
The Pope
Gandhi
Martin Luther
Moses

A case of light touchpaper and stand well back - way back!

On a more chilled note

Stephen Fry - a very popular choice
Nelson Mandella - for his wisdom
Paul Simon - for his music
Josie Lawrence - for her ability to make me laugh
Nigella Lawson - for her food and her looks
Parminder Nagra (played Neela in E.R. my equivilant of the ladies George Clooney)
Tim Severin - adventurer and travel writer for the tales he could tell
My late sister Wyn - because I miss her.

[bobblington]

ooh, who to have...

i think that i too would like to have 2 dinner parties with differing themes.

SPORTING THEME
1) Stuart Pearce - I love him, admire his passion and his ability
2) Mick McCarthy - Someone who speaks his mind, observes and comments
3) kelly Holmes - Talented lady with a world of experience outside her sport
4) Gabby Logan - Lots of knowledge and interests
5) Charlotte Edwards - One of the most successful women in Cricket and seriously underrated as a sportswoman.
6) Tim Henman - Treated like a failure, Tim was actually extremely consistently good at Tennis
7) Beth Tweddle - A Gymnastics legend
8) Paula Radcliffe - One of the most driven women in sport

Other
1) Dawn French - An absolute hero of mine.
2) Jasper Fforde - What a wonderfully wierd mind he has
3) Paul McCartney - Brilliant man, who sort of got lost in the shadow of John
4) Vince Cable - Just seems like a man to ask about investments
5) Benedict Allen - Explorer
6) Eddie Izzard - iconic comic, hero of marathons
7) Agatha Christie (I know this means bringing her back from the dead - but she is awesome)
8) Gary Lightbody - Where does his music come from?

[Tay]

6) Tim Henman - Treated like a failure, Tim was actually extremely consistently good at Tennis
6) Eddie Izzard - iconic comic, hero of marathons


I never understand our media, as you say Henman was consistently good at the game, ok so he never won a grand slam but he was in the top ten in the world of tennis for more than ten years. That in itself is an achievement.

Any idea how Eddie is after his marathon ordeal? I watched the programmes on that and still can't get over how he kept getting up each day to put himself through more torture.

[bobblington]

I never understand our media, as you say Henman was consistently good at the game, ok so he never won a grand slam but he was in the top ten in the world of tennis for more than ten years. That in itself is an achievement.

I think it has taken knowing my OH (who is a tennis coach) to make me appreciate just how much he achieved especially in an era that was dominated by Sampras.

Any idea how Eddie is after his marathon ordeal? I watched the programmes on that and still can't get over how he kept getting up each day to put himself through more torture.

I saw him at Wembley Arena a few months back and he seems to have recovered well - didn't show us his feet though.

[Tay]

I think it has taken knowing my OH (who is a tennis coach) to make me appreciate just how much he achieved especially in an era that was dominated by Sampras.



I saw him at Wembley Arena a few months back and he seems to have recovered well - didn't show us his feet though.

Never been a tennis player but going by the interviews with the players the tour is tough so to stay in the top few year on year shows skill and determination. A pity our press can be a bit blind at times. Glad to hear Eddie ok, never seen him live but would love to. A very original person.

[Hazel]

Glad to hear Eddie ok, never seen him live but would love to. A very original person.A friend bought us tickets to see his Circle tour for a wedding gift and we had a ball - he was really charming and funny.

[Tay]

A friend bought us tickets to see his Circle tour for a wedding gift and we had a ball - he was really charming and funny.

Great wedding gift, certainly beats a tenth toaster!