Being the Audience

Friday evening I took a lovely drive round the lanes of Oxfordshire. Pretty though my journey was, it did have a purpose. A little while ago I’d spotted that there was to be an arts festival in the village of Leafield and one of the events was “An Evening with Graeme Garden”. Well, how could I not accept an invitation like that, which was practically on my doorstep? So with C for company, and to help with navigation (not that I don’t trust my satnav, but it does take interesting routes to places), I set off on a lovely drive on a beautiful summer’s evening.

Arriving at the church where the event was being held, we had intended on sneaking in and sitting at the back. However, this was very badly scuppered by the sight of a very familiar face as we walked through the door! But we took a pew at the back anyway and settled, waiting for the evening to begin.

 After a slightly muddled introduction, the show got underway. It took the form of questions from the audience, which Graeme answered with some wonderful stories and anecdotes. There was a good mix of questions about comedy influences, writing, performing and the origins and rules of Mornington Crescent. C even asked about Pocket Orchestra (finally!). I didn’t ask a question (although I thought of quite a few after the event – typical!), but Graeme did mention the lovely Goodies fans in Australia and the few in the UK, mentioning that there were two sitting at the back! (We did find another one after the show who’d come all the way from Sheffield!)

There was, of course, the inevitable question about the future of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, which made me cringe a little when it was asked. But Graeme answered in beautifully by not actually saying anything specific, other than they’d like to carry on at some point.

Afterwards we went to say a proper hello to Graeme and as we were talking the ‘official’ photographer was taking pictures which he promised to send to us (and of course I wouldn’t post them all over the internet! Honestly!!). There was just time for a quick hug before it was time to find my car and head home.