'huge, queer and tawdry' but 'much admired by the public'

Broadbent was pretty good, yeah - he's just one of those actors I feel is often somewhat overpraised, thus making me reluctant to admit it even when he has done good. And I'll certainly give you Cuaron as Yates' John the Baptist. But as for the Prince mystery...OK, it was barely given lip-service, but too much of that was clearly one of the things I found so forgettable in the book.