Slightly disappointing drop in audience numbers tonight. I had been hoping that I might sell out for the rest of the run, but the bank holiday weekend doesn't seem to be the draw it once was. There are still tickets remaining for all the last three shows and do remember that if the fringe box office and website has none left that you can probably still get them by ringing the Underbelly on 0870 745 3083. A reminder also that I will be appearing at Talk of the Fest on Friday night at 11.15 at the Underbelly. You can book tickets on that number too.
I was up horribly early today to appear on the Fred MacAuley radio show. I have done this for at least the last two Edinburghs. Two years ago I had been up practically all night, had about 45 minutes sleep and was still drunk and felt like I wasn't actually in the room. This year I had been a bit more sensible and got to bed about 2.30am, but still only had about five and a half hours sleep, which at this stage of the Fringe can be lethal. It was a fun interview with Fred and co-host Sue Perkins, but I can't really see it was much use PR wise at this late stage. Also the audience in the Spiegeltent where the show is broadcast live is largely made up of middle aged ladies. They are a tough crowd to make laugh at any time of the day, but at 9.47am I was not really in sparkling form. When I mentioned the idea of a threesome I did ask a woman who might have been in her 80s in the front row whether that had ever happened for her. She looked non-plussed, really like she wasn't understanding a word that was being said. I suggested that maybe we might get together. Fred moved things on. In the end I got a few laughs, but if the appearance sold me one more ticket for the rest of the run I will be very surprised.
I had meant to go back to bed, but ended up staying up counting out my charity money and dicking around on the internet. I have given up on the idea of seeing any more shows this festival. Maybe on Monday. Thank God I am not playing on that notoriously anti-climatic day.
Russell Howard was on the Forth 1 show (he turned up this time), fresh from his Perrier (call it by its name) nomination. He's a lovely, funny man and deserves this success. He's very much looking forward to the new series of Banter (see below) as am I. He is now the second funniest comedian with the initials RH (after Rich Hall).
My nephew Michael and some of his pals were coming to the show tonight. He is 22 years old, but of course in my head he is still 5, so it was a bit unsettling to think of him listening to my inappropriate ideas and salaciousness. Of course he is now a grown man and this is not an issue for him, but I don't want to accept this, because if he is 22 that means that I can't be. And I am. So he can't be. So I just did my children's set tonight, much to the disappointment of the rest of the crowd. As I only have about one appropriate minute of material and just had to do a funny dance and pull faces for the rest of the hour.
Not really. I just pressed on.
I was pretty tired after my long day at the end of a long festival, but it went OK. Michael and his mates seemed to like it. It was rather enjoyable to have a drink with them all after the show. They've been doing a little road trip around Scotland and having a great time by the sounds of things, but once they had had a taste of the Fringe and had had pretty young leafletters flirting with them I think they wished they were up here for longer than one night. But there's always next year.
Ah time passes so fast, little ones. Enjoy your youth while you can.
Also the newsletter service isn't working at the moment, so I am posting this here:
FREE tickets have just been released for the second series of BBC Radio 4's comedy panel show BANTER, hosted by ANDREW COLLINS, film editor for Radio Times and host of Radio 2's The Day The Music Died.
Your regular panellists are back; RICHARD HERRING (BBC2's Fist of Fun, Radio 4's On The Hour) RUSSELL HOWARD (if.comeddies Nominee 2006, BBC Radio 2's Out to Lunch, Chortle Award Winner 2006) and WILL SMITH (South Bank Show Award nominee 2005, Time Out Comedy Award Winner 2004) to discuss, debate and decide upon their definitive "top threes" in categories covering anything from science to cinema, and from playwrights to Playstation.
It's a show for everyone who's ever debated subjects such as:
* Who are the 3 most influential women of the 20th century?
* Who is the greatest sitcom character of all time?
And perhaps even more importantly...
* What are the 3 best chocolate bars, ever?
As well as the regular panellists, BANTER will feature guest appearances from a selection of the nation's finest and best-loved comedy talent. Previous guests have included DAVE GORMAN (BBC2's The Dave Gorman Collection, BBC3's Annually Retentive and Comedy Central's The Daily Show) CHRIS ADDISON (BBC4's The Thick Of It, "He's brilliant. No question" The Times) Perrier Award winner JENNY ECLAIR (BBC2's Grumpy Old Women) and ARTHUR SMITH (Radio 4's Excess Baggage, BBC2's Grumpy Old Men).
Recordings will take place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Malet Street, Central London on the following dates:
Sun 10th Sept (2 shows Doors open: 17.00 & 19:00)
Tues 26th Sept (Doors open: 18:00)
Thurs 28th Sept (Doors open: 18:00)
Sun 1st Oct (2 shows Doors open: 17:00 & 19:00)
If you would like to get your hands on some of these exclusive free audience tickets then go to www.TVRecordings.com, but you had better be quick as we only have a strictly limited allocation of tickets
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WIN A PRIORITY TICKET UPGRADE: Forward this email to 20 of your friends and carbon copy comments@tvrecordings.com and you will be in with a chance of winning a priority upgrade on your tickets. Please remember to include the date of the show you have booked for and the name your tickets are booked under. The first 50 entries will win.
RESERVE LIST: If you are unsuccessful at obtaining tickets for your preferred show, please email us at comments@tvrecordings.com we will keep your details on our reserve list. Please note that you must include the date of the show you would like to attend and the number in your party.
MULTIPLE BOOKINGS: It is possible to book tickets for more than one recording, however, you cannot make a second booking until the first date you have booked tickets for has passed. Therefore, if you're looking to attend more than one recording in the series we advise you to book for one of the earlier recordings first.
LAST MINUTE TICKETS: These are often made available on the day of the recording as people cancel their tickets so please check www.tvrecordings.com on the day of the recording for returned tickets.
BECOME A FRIEND OF TV RECORDINGS AND RECEIVE PRIORITY TICKETS FOR ALL YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS:
TV Recordings wishes to reward its most loyal members and make you part of our team. As a Friend you will receive 2 priority tickets per series for 6 months when you introduce 20 new members to TV Recordings. To claim your tickets you need to email comments@tvrecordings.com with the names and email addresses of your friends who are newly registered on the site.
