To the younger generation, Josie Coppini is probably 'only' synonymous with Ir-Ronnie, the henpecked husband in the skewed adaptations for television of the vignettes by Joe Friggieri, and then only perhaps because Maltese literature teachers 'suggested' they be watched.

We, of course, know better. Mr Coppini will be the first to feature in the new TVM series Bijografiji, which airs on Tuesdays at 8.40 p.m.

Purely by coincidence, I met the person behind this series, Joe Julian Farrugia, whose name one usually associated with song lyrics and Simpatiċi and Il-Prinċipal. I realised that Mr Farrugia is one of those reticent, modest people (alas very rare in the media world) who would rather talk about their next project than themselves. But I discovered that even in his childhood, Mr Farrugia was a compulsive, prolific writer of essays and poetry - and sadly, his works from that time are no more.

"... then, in my 30s, I began to write again, and friends encouraged me to publish my work, which I would never have done, left to my own devices. Then I began writing song lyrics; this is something I love doing. I also used to write articles for a Sunday paper in Maltese for some four years or so. I also worked as a television producer with a private station, but I stopped for familial reasons. Now, I am back with eight episodes for Bijografiji, doing all production, direction and scriptwriting. All my life has revolved around some kind of writing - poems, songs, paper articles, television drama and production..."

Carlo Borg Bonaci is also back from his sabbatical; he will be back on television in February, and, probably, on radio too, but later.

• The verbatim translation into the vernacular from other languages goes on: 'Il-borra niżżlet lill-pajjiż għarkubtejh. Għal kull min hu pregnant...'. If the word tqila was avoided because it would have had the medically obese flocking to get the swine flu shot, why was not the expression jistennew tarbija used? The person who wrote the script was witty enough to include a pun at the end of the infomercial, so this ought not to have escaped him.

Then there is the Youtube clip about the new One Television programme, Unici (sic), the title and captions of which are not given in Maltese letters, and as such, are absurd and spoil the prelude of what looks like a very interesting series. The series intends to show what has been dubbed, for some reason, Maltese rekordi by the team behind it, fronted by Frans Attard, and will consist of 10 half-hour programmes, the first of which went on air last Friday at 4.30 p.m.

Incidentally, the PBS newscaster ought to know by now that it's not 'West Minister' but Westminster.

• Many comments were passed about the decision of the Broadcasting Authority to fine Singled Out (One Television), because of the episode in which children took part. The judgement was that since children are included in the 'vulnerable persons' list in the regulations, and in several cases their rights to anonymity and privacy had been invaded, a fine was in order.

Frankly, I did not watch this particular episode because I find the whole idea behind all match-making programmes utterly ridiculous, especially when the contestants are commissioned to carry out undignified tasks as if these will 'persuade' a person of the other gender that they are ostensibly single, and therefore available.

However, I did find a gesture made in the programme repeated last Saturday particularly rude and distasteful. As one of the potential suitors was leaving the stage, the (male) presenter high-kicked the balled-up envelope that had fallen to the floor, in a 'good riddance' gesture.

• As I walked by my friend's house, she happened to be in the porch, and I complimented her on her beautiful, solid wrought iron gate. She told me it had been forged by her brother, and mentioned, in passing, that he had a solo exhibition at St James Cavalier just that week, in collaboration with The Malta Hospice Movement. It ran from November 27 to January 3.

I went, and I was fascinated - and then I also caught the interview with him in Meander.

Mario Borg Sillato, who cites his personal relationship with God, as well as personal relationships and nature as elements of his inspiration, has a background in engineering - and it shows in the iron statues he creates using a combination of assemblage, sheet metal work, forging, welding and grinding. If the Robert Cormier's book title could be amended to 'but iron flies anyway', it could be applied to these floating ballerinas.

Borg Sillato has also perfected a new system of graffiato, which one tends to think of in terms of gessoed canvas. Here it is a blend of etching and graffiato, and judicious use of paint. I am proud to say I recognised some characters in the works.

• By virtue of its popularity, Uċuh, the socio-religious programme transmitted live from Cam Productions International Studios in St Venera, has been moved to prime time. It is now being broadcast every Wednesday from 8.30 to 10 p.m.

• I checked out some of the newest Iż-Żona clips on Youtube, and I am pleased to note that the new year brings with it more fun, laughter, creativity and fantasy, and, importantly, education. The team now consists of five bright young people, in no particular order - Jacob, Wayne, Francesca, Luana and Ronald. The three newcomers, of course, did not use the door to enter the studio - and that is all I am saying. But watch this space anyway.

television@timesofmalta.com