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As tough as doing four podcasts in two days can be, I can never really complain about having to do RHLSTP. It continues to be a delight for me, even if my eyelids can get a bit heavy. But both guests today had enough explosive stuff to say to keep me awake.
As always it had been fun doing the research, although I had had to dash off in the late morning for an audition (conveniently enough in Shepherd’s Bush). But even though it was fifteen minutes walk from my house I was running (literally) late and had to haul my tired and unfit body through the streets of the Bush at a jogging pace. I wasn’t auditioning for the part of a sleazy user of prostitutes, but it was for a middle-aged man, unhappy in his marriage, trying to seduce a 20 year old. So it’s close enough to my range. Even though I am happily married and much too knackered to seduce anyone in real life. But I turned up sweaty and bedraggled so, you know, what more do they want?
I don’t think I will get it though.
But never mind, back to RHLSTP and all my guests arrived early. Jess Thom (Tourettes Hero) is a wheelchair user and became the first person to test out a new piece of equipment that the Theatre has bought to help with access to this underground venue. I didn’t see it in operation, but it’s basically a Stair-Climbing Robot Chair, that sounds like the kind of non-sequitur that might emerge from Jess’ mouth. But it got her into the dressing room safely, if a little slowly. And Susan Calman had kindly stepped in to replace a double-booked Sara Pascoe. I had spent much of the day listening to our mammoth chat from two and a half years ago, where we were comedically combative and rude to each other in a way that only people who really respect each other (or really, really hate each other) can be. I enjoy playing up to her slight prudishness by being disgusting and rude and it’s fun to flirt with someone where you are both aware that nothing can or should ever happen. She’s great, but obviously I can never let her know that.
With the first post-Trump new world order podcast, we had lots to talk about and things got pretty serious at times, but there was plenty of stuff about Human Centipedes and Cliff Richard to keep the mood light. There’s genuine fear and horror in the air (I had bumped into Andy Zaltzman in the street earlier and we had joked about John Oliver coming home in a box) and facing it through comedy and through comedians not trying to be funny is probably quite helpful.
And I knew things were going to be fun with Jess. Her Tourettes makes her involuntarily say the kind of inappropriate things that I am often compelled to blurt out, but it also throws up emergency questions the I could never dream of and brilliant emergency question answers too. And there was more serious issues to discuss in terms of people’s attitude to disabilities and who it is who really needs to be cured. But there’s something fascinating about the way that Tourettes gives a window into the creative process and it’s admirable how Jess has embraced this to make comedy and theatre. Where to jokes come from and how do surreal ideas get thrown together? This doesn’t give the answer, but the super power of being able to generate this stuff subconsciously is amazing to watch. I think it’s probably the way it works for all creative people, like an uncontrollable spark of the brain, even if we’re not compelled to say the stuff out loud. My favourite part was when I checked my watch, trying to be surreptitious but being a bit obvious and Jess involuntarily called me out on it. She’s a fascinating and engaging performer. Check out her website to find out more (and she’s doing lots more gigs in 2017). Susan is also touring in the new year and you should go and see her too. I mean you should see me too, but apparently white middle-class men are over represented in the media (even if this particular one might not be) so support diversity (by not seeing any other white middle-class men)!
It’s a relief to get through this weekend in one piece and I think we’ve created some great stuff. You’ll have to wait for 2017 for most of it, but As It Occurs To Me audio extra episode 3 is now up. An amazing 55 minutes long. How do I manage it?
And don't miss next week's RHLSTP with Sarah Millican and Simon Munnery!
