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Another extraordinary night with two incredible humans in Liverpool tonight. Peter Hooton turned up backstage demanding to know where the rider was. Comedy might once have been the new rock and roll, but it isn't any more. There wasn't even a packet of crisps back here and the theatre has a policy of no alcohol backstage (not that that was the reason that there wasn't any). Bex still managed to sort Peter out with a lager, because she can do anything, but it wasn't the piss up he might have been expecting. Though I've had enough of pop stars off their faces.
Luckily he was as well behaved as he needed to be on stage. He's a pop star, into football and hates the Tories and the Sun so I claimed he was Liverpool in human form, which the audience liked. He's a remarkable man, full of great stories and very balanced for someone who has enjoyed this level of success. The Farm had its ups and downs, but managed to find their way to success in an industry that doesn't generally favour the self-starters and the band are still making new music.
Later Peter went round to watch next week's show (it was much later) and didn't have a ticket and they wouldn't let him in. He said he was in the show and they said everyone says that. Maybe that also makes him a personification of Liverpool even more. He got in in the end, but that seemed weirdly officious of the theatre - but no drink backstage maybe showed that was going to be the case. As was a rather long talk about what to do in case of a fire that I had to sit through the minute I arrived and which presumed I knew local landmarks so was fairly meaningless anyway.
But I loved the crew, one of whom looked so like me that even I thought it was me coming on to the stage.
And Neil Fitzmaurice was incredibly open and funny too. I think he might have forgotten we were doing a podcast as he told a story about Peter Kay that I probably can't broadcast. I knew he'd done a lot of acting (he's in Peep Show, the Office and Phoenix Nights which would be impressive if the list stopped there) but his CV is incredible and he's also a fine stand up and has written and starred in independent films, even though his careers advisor said he should be a roofer and he had no obvious in in this business. He also wants to stay in Liverpool and be with his family and still makes that work with this demanding career. He is also a survivor of Hillsborough and I was in two minds whether to bring it up, though I checked with him beforehand. In the end it felt natural to bring it up and so it's an extremely emotional podcast, but Neil was extraordinary. His experience explains so much about this unique city and this unique man. It really is one of the best podcasts I've been involved with. But both guests were incredible.
I had been exhausted in the afternoon, but the fantastic crowd lifted me and I almost felt like I could go out on the town! But I didn't. I'm not an idiot.
It's been a terrific start to the tour with well over 700 in last night and around 350 in tonight and four fantastic interviewees. It's been lovely to meet so many of you for signings and selfies afterwards too. RHLSTP fans are the best of people.
