Bernard Padden in One in Five, Channel 4, 1983

Bernard Padden performs a short routine, adapted to appear in One in Five, Channel 4, 1 January 1983, 11pm. The Guardian's listing for this ground-breaking, one-off show read: "Come out, come out, whoever you are, for the show that takes the channel's commitment to minority audiences a stage farther, and too far for some. Gay life is the theme: gay humour, music, streetlife, built around a London disco party."

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"And of course there was Paul. When I met him, he had two ruling passions in his life: the maintenance of his physique, and the novels of Jane Austen. In fact, he had the plot of Pride & Prejudice tattooed over every inch of his body. He was really exciting bedtime reading. Mind you with Paul it wasn't so much a relationship, more a serial. But I did get a kick out of seeing Darcy propose to Elizabeth Bennett via the pectorals. And then one day, whether out of vanity or personal hygiene - I don't know - he got himself circumcised, and I lost the thread of the narrative. I'm on my own now really."
Met Bernard in the mid-80s and rented a room in his flat for a while, feel lucky to have spent some time in his company. A very gifted and funny person. This definitely gives a flavor of his surreal humor.