Finding an unlikely role model in Chandler Bing

With the death last weekend of Matthew Perry, Colin Sheridan writes how he found something ‘incredibly Irish’ in the awkward and sardonic character he played in the sitcom Friends

The cast of Friends David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Matt LeBlanc pose after "Friends" won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2002 in Los Angeles. Picture: AP Photo/Reed Saxon

MID-TERM break and the weather is so apocalyptically bad, there should be someone, other than God, to complain to. Like an ombudsman, or some independent commission chaired by an Elder who, although unable to do anything about it, would at least send you a letter of acknowledgement.

It’s the type of day nature has left you with no option, other than the dystopian purgatory that is a “soft play” centre, a place your kids are desperate to go to, and a place you are desperate to avoid.