“If you don’t get turned on by Knebworth, you know what I mean, you must be ******* mental, you know what I mean…” announces the steel-tongued Liam Gallagher at the London premiere in October of the Oasis documentary “Supersonic”. I think I know what he means and I’m pretty sure it’s a compliment. The band’s record breaking concert in Knebworth Park in August 1996 is the climax of the film, and playing ‘Knebworth’ is presented as the crowning achievement for any aspiring rock band. Sadly no rock band has achieved playing ‘Knebworth’ in the last two years – which is always a worry, as a concert is our insurance policy against bad weather during our open season, and in 2016 we had more than our fair share, particularly in early summer.
Films, however, have come to the rescue. It has been a good autumn for filming at Knebworth House. We have hosted: “Transformers 5” – two full days of work for what, in the finished film, will be a few seconds of a car driving on gravel; a film about A.A.Milne (author of Winnie-the-Pooh), as yet untitled; and “Victoria and Abdul”, starring Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, for which we again double as the interior of Balmoral.
This is the third time Knebworth House has played Balmoral – “The King’s Speech”, “The Crown” and now “Victoria and Abdul”. I am not sure why the Queen bothers to go all the way to Scotland for Christmas, she might as well have it here! This year she can join us in front of the T.V. for a big Christmas evening special, which also features Knebworth House (I am not allowed to spoil the surprise by saying which one). It’ll be the third year in a row we’ve been on television on Christmas Day (previously it was the Amazon adverts during “Downton Abbey” – whose Spratt the butler is performing Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in the Banqueting Hall on 10th & 11th December). So, as Liam might say, turn on to ‘Knebworth’ this Christmas – it’ll be mental, you know what I mean!
Our very best Christmas wishes to all,
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com