I spent a very fine afternoon with Robert Llewellyn from off of Red Dwarf (though I think he's had some plastic surgery since then, he looks completely different) recording an episode of his podcast
Carpool. Though I had misunderstood, thinking it was called Carpoo, leading to a quite embarrassing first five minutes. Ha ha, I am funny.
It was my third podcast in as many days and I was a little hungover and tired, but I quickly forgot about that as we got into chatting about comedy and all the stupid stuff I've done and continue to do. I decided not to risk singing one of my racist comedy songs from my childhood, though was still smarting a little with shame and regret (most of you, it has to be said, seemed to enjoy the show and understand what was funny about it).
I had only met Robert once before (at the Bletchley Park gig) but we seemed to get on well and we had a very enjoyable chat, both in the car and later over the Chinese food that he kindly bought me afterwards. Though I hoped none of the staff or largely Chinese clientele had been listening to the podcast. Worryingly it's quite a catchy tune and I have found myself inadvertently singing it to myself on various occasions (usually managing to change the words fortunately) - but I kept my stupid mouth shut whilst we ate. Robert was very open and charmingly indiscreet about the seedier side of showbiz, but we seem to have had a similar experience of the way it can work. We agreed that the fact that neither of us take drugs has probably led to us both missing out on networking opportunities and work. Though maybe we should get together and tell the world about all the cocaine swilling fools who have been more successful than us, leaving thousands of jobs open to us.
Nah, we don't want your stinking TV jobs. We're happy working on our podcasts.
You know, unless you have some actual paid work for me, in which case I will grudgingly (and delightedly) come back to the fold.
And in any case, it is everyone is showbiz apart from me and Robert.
Robert also made me dress up as Father Christmas in a rather grubby suit. I thought maybe this was where things would change and Llewellyn's disgusting sexual motives might suddenly come to the fore. But he didn't try to sit on my knee or find out what was in my sac. We just recorded an extra bit of me being a grumpy and sweary and rude Father Christmas. It should all be up on line on Friday 18th, just in time for Christmas. Watch it instead of the Queen's Speech.
Talking of not wanting to be back on TV, my episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks was broadcast tonight and I was quite pleased with the way it turned out. I didn't think I had done all that well on the night, but came out of the broadcast quite well. Last time I thought I'd contributed loads on the night and hardly any of it made it to the screen. So there you go. And they kept in plenty of Boyle's rudeness - though you should have seen what didn't make it.
You can see what did make it here.
There are an ever increasing roster of Collings and Herrin T shirts
Available here.
And we've also started putting together some AIOTM ones
Have a look . There will be more soon.
Only 40 tickets left for the final show of AIOTM
so book now if you want to come. Looks like it's going to be a sell out! Should be a great way to end the series.
