Is it 1984?

Who do you call a celebrity ?

I have hardly ever heard of the people called ‘celebrities’, or I know the names but not what they do or who they are. Who the heck are the Kardashians, for instance?

I have my own list of people worth celebrating, but suspect other people may often not have heard of them.

Yes, I think our world is very much dumbed down. TV and all-pervading American culture are the main culprits.

With respect, isn't it possible to be interested in what is going on in the world as well as lighter unimportant news? I also haven't heard of this person but to be featured on Desert Island Discs, he must surely be fairly well known to a lot of people.

I do have television and am well informed on things that actually matter in the world. I don't watch reality TV and wouldn't waste my time reading up about random people whose claim to fame seems to be "being on TV".
Agree with you Wilma about it probably being advertising but the worry is that so many people choose to read it.

I often haven’t heard of ‘ celebrities’ so I google them to see if they are worth learning about Just because you haven’t heard of the guy doesn’t make it or him uninteresting

What WilmaKnickersfit said!

PS Desert Island Discs is a R4 programme, so there was a bit of advertising going on no doubt.

Bruno Tonoli is on the BBC's flagship programme which is also sold to more than 40 countries worldwide. He's pretty well known. Do you not have a TV or read the news?

My reaction to the news about North Korea is that one step closer to a military conflict.