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Posted by Seth at 8:13 AM on March 6, 2008
We apologize for being a little behind the curve on the story of Thelma Dennis, the 50-year-old woman who tormented British police and emergency workers for 24 years by obsessively phoning in fake bomb threats to 999, the U.K.'s version of 911. Apparently, not even a court-mandated electrode therapy, "which left her screaming in pain every time she dialed the third '9' of 999" seemed to break the crank-calling cycle. We'll leave you now to gaze into her mischief-making eyes as you assess such imponderables as, "What about a court-appointed taking of her phone away?" And if you're still looking for the Defamer angle to all this, well, we think there's a TNT Original in here somewhere. No need to thank us--an Associate Producer credit will do. [news.bbc.co.uk]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
A-ron
Posted 2:02 PM 6/3/08
Till Death Do Us Dial: The Thelma Dennis Story
A-ron
A-ron
Posted 2:02 PM 6/3/08
" Clearly this is a person who has an urge to make these hoax calls particularly when she drinks. "
A-ron
uncle_wiggly
Posted 2:02 PM 6/3/08
I see either Danny Aiello or Woody Allen starring as Thelma Dennis in the TNT movie of the week. I'll take casting director credit.
uncle_wiggly
Mr-Busy
Posted 2:02 PM 6/3/08
Mad as a hatter, but at least she's still got her looks...
Mr-Busy
hack-a-rific
Posted 2:27 PM 6/3/08
She's got a face for radio and crank-calling.
hack-a-rific
Tippi from Toronto
Posted 2:27 PM 6/3/08
This reminds me of the beginning of Serial Mom, when Kathleen Turner was obsessively and profanely crank-calling her drippy neighbour. Oh such sweet memories!
Tippi from Toronto
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 2:53 PM 6/3/08
TNT? I saw it more as a Lifetime Original starring Kim Catrall as Thelma Dennis.
Little Mintz Sunshine
sundaeg1rl
Posted 3:18 PM 6/3/08
Blimey. Why don't they just take her phone away?
sundaeg1rl
StylusPictures
Posted 4:07 PM 6/3/08
Can you imagine this photo shoot?
"Ok, sir, hold the phone up to your ear like you're committing the crime. No, not in front of your ear. Sir...please, to your...can we take the bounce off that yellow shirt, people?"
StylusPictures
yvonnjanae
Posted 4:32 PM 6/3/08
Those eyeglasses and that phone -- what year is this?
yvonnjanae
nighttripper
Posted 4:57 PM 6/3/08
Why isn't this woman in jail or a mental institution?
nighttripper
Sarah Bellum
Posted 4:57 PM 6/3/08
They should hook it up so a bomb explodes when she dials the final 9. That will either deter her or take care of the problem permanently.
Sarah Bellum
Miss d
Posted 5:25 PM 6/3/08
And here was I thinking Crank Yankers was staged and not based on anyone living...
Miss d
Molly McAleer
Posted 5:25 PM 6/3/08
@Tippi from Toronto: Nice pussy willows, Dottie.
Molly McAleer
NoWireHangers
Posted 5:52 PM 6/3/08
It's Pat.
NoWireHangers
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 5:52 PM 6/3/08
Dial F for Fugly.
Little Mintz Sunshine
el smrtmnky
Posted 6:43 PM 6/3/08
as for that Lifetime movie, i think Goodman's our crazy lady
el smrtmnky
el smrtmnky
Posted 6:43 PM 6/3/08
When a Spinster Calls
el smrtmnky
Tiger_Tanaka
Posted 7:06 PM 6/3/08
Ricky Gervais in When the Whistle Kept Blowing.
Tiger_Tanaka
crycry
Posted 1:53 AM 7/3/08
Steve Carell is about 90% there looks wise, but Amy Sedaris just played the role in my head and I'm content.
crycry
Tippi from Toronto
Posted 2:45 AM 7/3/08
@Molly McAleer: "Are those PUSSYWILLOWS????!???!??"
Tippi from Toronto
gwendolyn
Posted 3:38 AM 7/3/08
"Brian Posehn IS Thelma Dennis in 'Don't Touch That Dial! Seriously, Don't Touch The Damn Thing!!' Tuesday nights at 8:00 PM, 7:00 Central on MyNetworkTV! Check your local listings for for an old UHF station that used to be spanish language and before that still ran 'My Little Margie' and 'Twilight Zone' when Clinton was president."
gwendolyn
SanFranBetsu
Posted 3:38 AM 7/3/08
Are we sure that's not a man?
SanFranBetsu
raincoaster
Posted 4:05 AM 7/3/08
I dream about reality shows where I get to torture dumb, pathetic British people like this one. My particular favorite is the guy who's so fat he calls the police every time he falls over and can't get up. Wouldn't it be delightful to just sit down and get up, over and over in front of him while he lies on the floor, wailing? Also: howcum they don't just leave him down there until he loses some lard?
raincoaster
crackbabyjesus
Posted 5:05 AM 7/3/08
Booty Call Part Two: Da Bomb
crackbabyjesus
beahumanbeing
Posted 5:05 AM 7/3/08
@StylusPictures: Thats exactly why I am laughing so hard at this. Picturing the way the photo shoot went down and the actual direction they provided to accurately capture the cold, dead stare of a serial emergency dialer.
"Look like you're about to call. Really tease us with it. Let me see a little more threatening in there."
beahumanbeing
BigBoobsMagee
Posted 6:47 AM 7/3/08
@el smrtmnky: If its a lifetime movie wont her motivation for the calls be a desperate attempt to overcome the empty feelings she has after being raped and molested by (insert creepy relative here)?
BigBoobsMagee
bittergreen
Posted 6:47 AM 7/3/08
"Ultra-violence, a bit of the ole in-and-out, Ludwig Von..... and Dialing 999".
bittergreen
MartyPants
Posted 6:47 AM 7/3/08
@Mr-Busy: I cackled! oh my!
MartyPants
Mabimab
Posted 8:25 AM 7/3/08
Can we cast Kirstie Alley in this role? I just saw her Lifetime TV movie, Profoundly Normal, and it seems like the most logical, next career step.
Also, maybe they should give the Welsh gal one of these:
[www.target.com]
Mabimab
procrastinator, esq.
Posted 8:25 AM 7/3/08
@gwendolyn: I had to IMDB it, but that's exactly who I thought of, too.
procrastinator, esq.
Seth
Posted 3:58 PM 7/3/08
@StylusPictures: Comment of the Month.
Seth
The Authority
Posted 4:45 AM 10/3/08
Makes emergency crank calls. Squawked as an ugly little shaking pink larva as it was removed from its spawner's loins. Eats. Sleeps. Shits. Makes emergency crank calls. Eats. Sleeps. Shits. Makes emergency crank calls.
We have reached the population tipping point.
The Authority