Notebook: Your health, Mr Winner

Charles Nevin
Saturday 21 August 1993 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

I'M worried about Michael Winner. This is a man who is due for a triple heart bypass operation in October - 'Heart Op For Frisky Old Mr Death Wish', News of the World - and yet last week he got so upset that he stormed out of a breakfast television studio because the interviewer was asking him more about his health than his new film. This cannot be good for him, all that anger. Some people even suggested the walk-out was some sort of publicity stunt. If true, this would be a pity, since the press coverage of the incident barely mentioned the film.

So, in the interests of health and safety, let me help. Winner's new film is called Dirty Weekend, it is released on 1 October and it stars Lia Williams, currently in Oleanna at the Royal Court. It is an adaptation of the novel by Helen Zahavi, who says of her heroine, Bella, 'she goes out in the night and hopes the freaks will find her. She's had enough. If they want to batter, rape or humiliate her she wipes them out. I think this is a reasonable response to unreasonable demands.'

Sounds familiar? 'I think Dirty Weekend is a 1990s Death Wish,' says the Winner publicity, 'and much more.' Later on, Lia Williams says of Winner: 'He's a pussycat really, he was very helpful and considerate.' There you are, Michael: now just you relax and take it easy.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in