Comic Clippings - 19 April

The Sun carried a feature by Grant Rollings on the new St. Trinian's film under the headline 'Story behind sexy new movie' (19 April). Not sure how long the link will work but it offered some background on Ronald Searle and his wartime exploits, explaining how he came up with the idea whilst in the Army in Scotland in 1941, based on the real-life St. Trinnean's school for young ladies. The first St. Trinian's cartoon appeared in the October 1942 issue Lilliput, by which time Searle was on duty in Singapore; a few days later he was taken prisoner when the British forces surrendered and found himself in Changi Prison where more than 800 of his fellow prisoners died. The movie stars Rupert Everett (in the twin role of headmistress Camilla Fritton and her brother), Colin Firth, Russell Brand, Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Emily Watson and model Lily Cole. Dirk Deppey at Journalista links to this essay which offers a far more comprehensive history of the St. Trinian's series. The Independent carries a longer piece, 'St Trinian's belles to ring once more' by Guy Adams (19 April) but no pictures. The Daily Mail and Guardian also covered the news that model Lily Cole was joining the cast a while back (11 April) and the Mail has some new pics (19 April) of girl band Girls Aloud dressed up.

Other news in brief:

• Pat Mills pays tribute to Massimo Belardinelli at Down the Tubes (18 April).

• Congratulations to Rich Johnson who posted his 100th Lying in the Gutters column (16 April)