Ever since he became a teenager, conversations with our son have become few and far between. All communication has been reduced to a series of primordial grunts and grimaces, peppered with a generous sprinkling of profanities. So I was surprised when he walked into the kitchen and wanted to talk to me about something.

“Daddy, I’ve discovered an amazing bloke on YouTube. His name is Colin Firth.”

Suddenly the heavens opened and the vista of a joyous, harmonious future appeared before me. Could it be that, thanks to the fabulous thespian, his eyes had been opened? Had he now deserted gangsta rap and Call of Duty and discovered the elegant fiction of Jane Austen and the sly humour of Helen Fielding? My dream was soon to be shattered.

“Mega flame throwers. Enormous explosions. High speed shopping trolleys. Wow! The dude is dope.”

I was very confused. Had the elegant star of The King’s Speech been moonlighting and suddenly developed an interest in powerful explosive devices? Would he now be starring in the new Michael Bay blockbuster? Could Bay be planning a reboot of Jane Austen in his own inimitable style: Pride and Extreme Prejudice?

Of course not.

Junior was » Continue Reading.