The days are very full up here, partly because I keep waking up at 7am. Hopefully my sleep patterns will settle down soon enough. I managed to get to the gym this morning for a short swim, but my limbs were aching and I needed to then dash across town to the BBC to interview a professor of dermatology about ginger hair. This wasn't just some kind of perverted whim on my part, but the first bit of actual work on the Richard Herring's Objective that I am recording on the 15th and which I somehow need to write in the next few days (don't I remember how difficult it was to write AIOTM at the Fringe last year? Do I never learn? The answer to both questions is no). I quizzed Jonathan Rees about the theory that redheads might become extinct. He confirmed that this was not the case (I think the suggestion was originally made due to research made by some hair dyeing manufacturer looking for publicity). When I asked whether it was possible that red haired people might somehow become more prevalent, then become the majority and then enslave the rest of us in a Planet of the Gingers situation, the professor seemed confused, or was it shifty? I think he knew more than he was letting on.
The professor was very game though. I very much enjoy getting an expert on a subject for this show, asking him or her some proper questions and then moving on to more fantastical areas. Most of them (and Professor Rees was no exception) gamely try to answer my questions using correct scientific reasoning. It's delightful and amusing. There may be a whole show in it. For those of you who didn't get tickets to the recording (or aren't in the vicinity) the show (if written) will be on Radio 4 at 6.30pm on the 23rd August.
Then the interviewer became the interviewee as I headed to the Gilded Balloon for a chat about the Fringe for BBC News. I assume this will be take up most of tomorrow's main bulletin. There's not much going on in the world these days.
By 5pm on the second day of the Fringe I was pole-axed. I was thankful that there was no podcast today, but this is only a brief lull. It's going to be hard to keep up the pace. I lay on my bed and fell into a deep sleep. It's DAY TWO. I haven't stayed up past 1am yet (and have a feeling I won't be doing so any time soon).
The rest did me good, though I was still a little groggy come show time and not quite as razor sharp as I could have been, but hopefully only I noticed that. The room was pretty much full, which was a relief and I actually managed to do the whole show in 58 minutes. I don't know if I've forgotten one of the routines, or if I have just cut out the flannel, but I am delighted about that. There hadn't been any reviewers in last night as it happened, but there were at least two in tonight and a bit of umming and ahhing aside I think I gave a good account of the show. But more importantly there were enough people in and most of them seemed to like it, which hopefully will mean the word of mouth spreads. It's all looking good so far, though pre-sales for the podcast show are a little low. Come on people! You can win money and smash my expensive recording equipment!
After a couple of drinks I headed back home. A couple of young men ran past me, laughing, going at a fair lick. They were quickly followed by a young woman, shouting after them. She too seemed to have a slight laugh in her voice. The men shouted back. I assumed they were friends larking about - Edinburgh is full of people in high spirits, I had seen a six foot tall man in a purple all in one baby outfit earlier - but once the three were all past me it became clear that the woman was not laughing at all. She was furious and pointing. I recognised the desperation having experienced it myself. She had clearly just been mugged or had her phone ripped out of her hand. By the time I realised what was going on it was too late to help (everyone was running far faster than I was capable of achieving and I could only have assisted by tripping the men as they had run past), but I saw all the other people in front of me making the same assumption and realising too late. The girl was going at quite some speed. I don't know if she managed to catch the two lads, or what she would have been able to do if she had. They disappeared into the night and I was reminded that Edinburgh isn't all clowns and drama students. You have to watch yourself on these mean streets. I don't want to get another phone stolen. It might just have been a play though - there are plenty that take place on the streets of the city. It was certainly more exciting and entertaining than most of the stuff you'd see up here. Four stars.
I walked home replaying the scene, but this time being the hero who manages to stop one of the thieves in their tracks and return the stolen items. But my bravery remained imaginary and as I walked down a dimly lit cobbled street with hardly anyone around, I got a bit scared by the two figures walking towards me and broke into a run, sliding a bit on the cobbles as I went.
I got home safe. This time.
More exciting news. The dates for the What Is Love, Anyway? tour have been announced and many of them are already on sale.
Check me out. I am doing a lot less London gigs than usual, five at Soho in November and two at the Bloomsbury in March, so it'll be worth booking ahead if you want to see those.
