They were very amusing on oprah. I first saw Colin Firth as a younger man when he starred on the stage with Richard Burton in Equis, and the first Hugh Grant when he played a gay young man in the beautiful, Maurice.

Colin Firth ... dazzling? The guy reminds me of that Dorothy Parker line about an actress who played the full gamut of emotions, from A to B. Except that in Firth's case, Z to Z would be closer to the mark.

flygirl:

"fit" has indeed come to mean 'fanciable'.

At any rate in media English, and in the parodies of media English used by "people" like Ali G. I've never actually heard a real human being use the term in that way. Whether that tells us more about the use of English in my social circle, or about their fanciableness is another matter.

Neil, you should know by now that this is strictly a girls thread, and when I said dazzling, I wasn't talking about his acting abilities....

flygirl, fit does mean 'hot', as you lot might say, even if flanner's circle would never stoop to use the term. Flanner would perhaps say 'eligible', or am I getting him confused with mkingdom???

What's all this nonsense about Colin Firth? Bridget (and her little skirt)will choose Daniel I'm sure.

tudor, bite your tongue!

When I lived in Sheffield about 20 years ago, normal people used 'fit' to mean fanciable - presumably it has seeped southwards (or to media circles ??) since then.

Caroline: I too began to use the term 'fit' to mean 'fanciable', 'attractive', 'phwooar' when I was a student in Sheffield! It's now in everyday usage across many age-groups, not just a media thing (sorry Flanner!)

Unfortunately both Mr Grant and Mr Firth both regularly portray the reality that is English men today far too well - indecisive, foppish and downright infuriating!! Still, jolly nice to look at. Though not quite as nice as Jude...

hmmm, my flatmate, who is from Blackburn, likes to claim that every phrase she comes out with is a northern expression that she introduced to the south, even though I've been using most of her phrases since birth.

'Fit' was certainly alive and well in Birmingham when I was a child.

thanks! I thought as much. Although I still doubt I could use it here without confusing people.

Tallulah, you prefer Jude? he's nice looking and all but I still would take Colin.

and how about Ralph? is he still considered "fit"?

Talullah, fancy that ! I did Prehistory & Archaelogy, 1974-77, but stayed in Sheffield until 1984 : how about you ?

Caroline: you might not like this but I was there from 92-95 doing psychology & philosophy. Where did you live?!

Tallulah : ah

Ooh, all over the place - Staniforth Road (only lasted 1/2 a term !), Hunter House Road, West Bar, Dronfield, Walkley Road, ?Montgomery Road, Lawson Road, Sharrowvale Road, Broomgrove ?Road and finally Mona Road.

If "fit" was used to mean fanciable in Sheffield and Birmingham, as far as I'm concerned that makes it an effete Southern affectation.

Wimps begin at the East Lancs Road.

I thought you lived in Gloucestershire, flanner ? What does that make you, then ?

I thought you live in Gloucestershire, flanner ? What does that make you, then ?

I don't live in Gloucestershire: in my idyllic bit of the Cotswolds we regard Glocs as a bit hoity-toity (and intellectually challenged) for us: full of all those Friends of Charles (aka FOCs) and Cirencester agricultural students.

I'm a Liverpudlian: went south to get educated many decades ago, and spends most of his life commuting between central London, my business on the Continent, the Cotswolds and the various bits of Merseyside still lumbered with members - or remains - of the Flanneruk or Mrs F clans.

FoC referring to Prince Charles? What are the characteristics of FoCs?

A bit like FoDs, referring to Dorothy.


Dr D (sorry, couldn't help it! )

Just saw a preview last night. Bridget is chubbier than in the first one. Looks great and I loved seeing Tower Bridge all lit up at night - sigh.