7740/20681
Woke up to news of more Tory by election defeats. Richy Sunak said "A vote for anyone who isn't the Conservative candidate... is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in power." Good to have that confirmed for the big vote this year. I am looking forward to seeing the Tories obliterated, but worried about what kind of monster raving loony party will replace them. Will Nigel Farage become our PM before 2030?
Even good news comes with a shitty lining these days.
To Bristol for more podcasts and my first visit (I think) to the Redgrave Theatre, the only building in the city not named after a slave owner. I was chatting with Dr Phil Hammond and up and coming stand up and tiktoker (is that what the cool kids call them?) Abi Clarke. This one sold out ages ago and the crowd were great. I thought I might be suffering from podcast fatigue by now, but I am still enjoying myself, though Bedford being postponed last night was certainly a stroke of luck. Phil was very open and honest and gave a good appraisal of the NHS and what needs to be done to save it (seems doubtful that that will be done whichever party gets in) and Abi was ebullient and funny. My mainly more middle-aged audience mostly wouldn't have known who she was (I do because I am cool and down with the kids -also my daughter was singing the praises of her "If Mean Girls was British" sketch, which is the first time that has happened with any guest- but she charmed the crowd. On the circuit you occasionally meet people who you know are nailed on to have an astronomical career - I knew from seeing Jack Whitehall's early gigs that he was going to be huge - and I think Abi is another. She has the right combination of confidence and vulnerability, cool but not afraid to make a fool of herself and I don't think anyone else has such a variety of well produced online content.
Check it out. I love seeing how comedy develops and changes and it's interesting how many comics managed to turn the negative experience of lockdown into something a little positive - my ventriloquism show fails to bring in the viewers still, but it was still one of the positive aspects of lockdown and post-lockdown for me (the world will catch up one day).
Plus I love Abi's mum Julia Hills, as I made very clear in this podcast (even though Abi's dad was in the audience). Who Dares Wins is one of those slightly forgotten and underrated comedy shows (like Fist of Fun), but it meant a lot to me at the time.
I am largely recovered from my dizziness, but felt a bit wobbly and tired as the podcast ended
Perhaps predictably as news spread about the fine line-up for the final RHLSTP of the series in Hull, the tickets began to fly out of the door. It's an incredible evening featuring three giants of the comedy double act (and maybe Tommy, Bob and me will form a triple act afterwards) so don't miss out. It's a huge venue and there's still a whole section to open up, but I think it's likely to sell out.
Book quick 
