The North Winds Doth Blow

Well I had a lovely break in a famous seaside town that’s not called Blackpool (to misquote Marriott Edgar)! The weather was great for this time of year;not too cold and it didn’t rain too much. I spent most of the week just relaxing, which is what I needed after such a hectic year. I also had a chance to read Humphrey Lyttleton’s book It Just Occured to Me, which I had got last Friday.

I went to hear Humph at what they call a ‘platform’ at the National Theatre. Now I wouldn’t say I was a jazz fan, I only really know about him as a presenter and chairman on I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. But I’m quite happy to learn about all things musical, so I went. The audience was somewhat older than Clair, Kate and I, by about 40 years! Nevertheless we had a great time, with Humph on top form for funny stories. We were also delighted to discover the event was being hosted by Barry Cryer – two Clue people for the price of one!

After the event Humph was signing copies of his book, so I duly got my copy signed. I was also cheeky enough to ask him to sign my Uxbridge dictionary, as I had missed seeing him on the Sunday night. He noticed that all the others had signed in blue ink, whereas he only had black. I said it was fine as he was more important! He then said that he had a way of squeezing his signature into a small space (as there wasn’t a lot of room left on the page), and did so beautifully.

The other highlight of the evening was watching Barry try to leave the building, first by one locked door, then by another before finally making his escape. We happened to be sitting in the cafe near all these doors and I had been watching as Barry walked past us, only to see him struggle with the first door. I was trying to stifle a laugh as he walked back, but he spotted us and said ‘what are you laughing at?’. After his second attempt we were all laughing out loud, including Barry, who obviously saw the funny side. Who’d have thought that getting through a door could be so funny?

So back to Humph’s book. It’s a great read and I’d highly recommend it. It’s a meanderthrough Humph’s life with lots of stories, jokes and humourous asides. One story flows effortlessly into another, before heading back to the original thread in a way that tumbling memories do.

One word of advice though – if you’re going to read it in a public place, don’t be too put off by the strange looks you get when you inevitably laugh out loud!

First Night Nerves

It was my first time, so I was understandably nervous, but also excited at the anticipation. I was sure it was going to be good, but would it live up to my expectations?

In case you were wondering, I’m talking about my being at the recording of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue on Sunday. Even though I’ve listened to the show for years, I’ve never actually got to a recording before, so my excitement at getting a ticket way back in August was tremendous. It seemed a thousand years before November back then, but the date eventually came around.

So it was on Sunday I headed into London and met up with some other Clueites at the pub “between the front and the stage door” of the theatre. I needed a drink not only to calm my excitement, but also to cool me down. I always forget it’s about 20° hotter in London than the rest of the country! After a while it was time to go in, and I climbed the stairs to my seat in the heavens (That’ll teach me to leave it 5 minutes after the box office opens before booking), and could have done with some oxygen when I got there! I settled in my seat and waited for the fun to begin …

The lights went down as Jon Naismith walked on stage. He did his usual introduction (which I have heard from the Live CDand other not so legitimate recordings) and then told a new joke! Well, I say new, but I think Graeme came up with the best response – was it new, or had he got it from Barry? The teams were introduced and the recording got underway. I won’t give too much away about it, as I’m sure you’ll want to wait for the broadcast. Highlights for me were Rob Brydon’s fantastic singing, Graeme and Barry’s second ‘Sound Charades’ involving a north west delicacy, Rob and Tim doing the WI with a bran tub full of goodies, which had the whole panel in giggles, especially Tim. I’m sure all of this will make much more sense when you hear it (and I’m hoping it all makes the edit). I had a slightly teary moment during ‘Pick-up Song’ when Graeme sang Puff the Magic Dragon, which was one of my favourite songs when I was little (well I thought it was about dragons then!), and to hear it sung by one of my favourite Goodies, also from when I was little, was a bit too much for me and it brought tears to my eyes. Not of laughter or pain, but of nostalgia.

The whole recording was great fun. Not only did we get far more than can be fitted into the half hour broadcast, but we also got to see the teams and their reactions, which makes the whole thing even more laughter inducing than just listening. And so the two shows were recorded and all the fluffs were re-recorded (even Graeme had to do one!), then Jon told us that the shows would be broadcast on the 4th of December and the week before! He’s obviously good with dates!

Then I had to bolt down from my seat to the stage door, where I met back up with various GROKers. And we waited for the teams to come out. And we waited, with everyone turning to the door each time it opened. Eventually Barry came out, but we’d got so used to it not being who we wanted to see that he nearly walked past us all. We did manage to stop him and he signed my Uxbridge dictionary. Then Graeme came out. He seemed to be in a hurry to get away, but did sign autographs. If you remember my regrets at not asking for a hug in Edinburgh, you’ll think I would have learned. But no, still the words failed me. There was a moment when I was looking at him and he was looking at me, but I couldn’t actually manage to construct a sentence, so the moment passed and I missed out on a hug again! Next to appear was Colin Sell, who we managed to stop to sign autographs.

And finally Tim and Rob appeared. I asked Tim to sign my book, pointing out that the pen was ready (see I did learn something in Edinburgh). He hesitated. I hadn’t said who it was to and he probably couldn’t read what the others had written. I told him and he signed it. Then I said the magic six words – “can I have a hug please?”. The beaming smile that came over his face was truly wonderful. He said “you’ve been reading about them?” and I wanted to reply that I had experienced their wondrousness in Edinburgh and that I was back for more. But I only managed “mmm” whilst nodding and smiling. So we had our hug, which was even better than I remembered. Then as he was pulling away, whilst I was still in his arms he whispered, “they’re good, aren’t they”. Again I only managed to nod. I was rendered completely speechless by the power of a hug. Then lastly I got Rob to sign my book, which he did when he found space, but ended up writing over the edge of Graeme’s signature. I said it was ok and not to worry (see, I can chat to him no problem. It’s just Tim and Graeme that render me unable to speak!). And so I had to go and catch my train home, clutching my book and my memories and wondering when the next time would be …

Still taking the bags

I was at a recording on Thursday of Tim Minchin’s show for Radio 2. Called Tim Minchin and Friends, it was … well, Tim and some other people, and it’s due to be broadcast on New Year’s day, so listen out for that.

Tim was as funny as he was at Edinburgh. Perhaps even more so, because he kept making mistakes and having to re-do bits. I think this was mainly where he’d had to change lyrics to make them suitable for broadcast. Well it kept me laughing.

The recording took place at the Drill Hall, which is a regular venue for BBC comedy recordings, although it was my first time there. The show was an amalgamation of songs from Tim’s shows So Rock (which I saw in Edinburgh) and Dark Side (which I’ve heard stuff from). I was sitting a couple of rows back on the one side, which meant that when Tim was playing the piano he seemed to be looking right at me, although I realise with the lights he probably couldn’t see me. But it was a great place to sit, and I could watch his feet while he was playing (did I mention he doesn’t wear shoes?). He played some of my favourites, from what I’d remembered, including Inflatable You and the snappily titled If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out (Take My Wife). The highlight was of course my all time favourite Canvas Bag, which I still sing when I go shopping and which was accompanied by an extraordinarily clever and talented man whose name entirely escapes me!

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening and I can’t wait to hear the broadcast.