Rob Crossan Rob Crossan is a journalist specialising in culture, books, lifestyle and travel — more info at robcrossan.co.uk. Salt of the earth: The secret history of the pub peanut Having profited from the downfall of the oyster as a bar snack, the salted peanut itself is now in danger of being usurped. Curious Questions: Which person has spent the most time on TV? Is it Elvis? Is it Queen Elizabeth II? Is it Gary Lineker? No, it's an eight-year-old girl called Carole and a terrifying clown. Here is the history of the BBC's Test Card F. Curious Questions: Who wrote the Happy Birthday song? There are few things less pleasurable than a tuneless public rendition of Happy Birthday To You, says Rob Crossan, a century after the little ditty came into being Why does BBC Radio 4 broadcast 'the pips' at the top of the hour? The Greenwich Time Signal has been an ubiquitous part of BBC Radio for a century, but few know what it really is and where it came from Britain's most eccentric crooked buildings, from the pub that looks tipsy to the church that leans more than the Tower of Pisa Warped, twisted and wonderfully wonky, who can fail to be intrigued by the quirky glory of Britain’s medieval buildings? Rob Crossan explores the asymmetrical charm of the crooked house. The iconic American bars in London perfect for lifting a Thanksgiving cocktail Glamorous American bars were once a familiar sight in London, catering to US and British citizens alike, but only two of the historic ones remain. On the eve of Thanksgiving, Robert Crossan goes in search of both. Curious Questions: How do you make the perfect slice of toast? Lightly golden, charred at the edges, hot and dripping with melted butter or cold with a thick topping of the stuff? Rob Crossan evaluates the ultimate way to make toast — and pays tribute to the men and women who made it our go-to snack of choice. Curious Questions: What does your flat cap say about you? You might think a flat cap is just something to keep your head warm and dry. And in some circumstances you'd be right – but there's a minefield of meaning out there, according to Rob Crossan.