The Radio 2 series "That Was Then This Is Now" is now half way through the broadcast of its third series (though I think it takes a break over Christmas now and won't be back til the New Year). As you probably know we recorded the shows in advance and today's episode was actually performed over a month ago.
In today's show there was a running joke about astronomer Patrick Moore being immortal and it's been an anxious wait over the last four weeks as I feared that Sir Patrick might die before broadcast and thus make the episode redundant and unplayable. I mean there would be worse things about it than the loss of the episode of this minor and forgettable radio comedy, I expect Sir Patrick Moore's mum would be upset (she must be about 150 now and someone that old can't really take shocks like that), but from a selfish point of view I was worried that if the fragile xylophone playing star gazer succumbed to death's icy finger in the interim that my show would not be on.
So it was a relief to get to the second broadcast of the show with Sir Patrick still breathing and squinting and espousing controversial views. Perhaps he truly is immortal. If you haven't heard the show yet I would
listen again right not, just in case of incident.
Bizarrely, I will now have an anxious few weeks wait until the last episode, hoping that Osama Bin Laden remains in good health and does not get caught, as the final episode revolves around him. It is slightly strange to be rooting for the enemy of the Western World in order not to ruin my stupid sketch show. Possibly in some other ways it might be good if he is caught or killed, but it would mean I would have to get back into the studio and record some substitute skits and I don't want that to happen, so please if you are religious, whichever wrong god you believe in, do pray to Him or Her to keep Osama Bin Laden in good health and safety until mid-January and then TWTTIN (TWTTIN) will be able to be completed. Which will put me in a difficult position if I happen to chance across Osama in the early new year and I have a gun. Would I shoot him and save the world or would I be a bit like Dr Who when he has that chance to wipe out the daleks, but decides not to, though for slightly less good reasons. I hope I don't get put in this difficult position. My mediocre radio show is very important to me.
Only time will tell.
