Montreal and Toronto, Edinburgh and We Need Answers commissioned
It’s time for another of my irregular, but much-loved blogs.
First of all, as of this week I have completed my 100-date tour of Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and am now planning never to leave this room again. Thanks very much to everyone who came, apart from that one drunk who spoiled the show in Lincoln. Among my favourite gigs were the Sherman in Cardiff, Pontardawe Arts Centre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Dundee Rep and the Geelong PAC. The worst one was Stafford where hardly anyone came. With that and a couple of other exceptions, attendances were amazing and I am really grateful as it’s much harder doing the show if no-one’s there: it starts to feel a bit narcisstic, in fact.
As you will know by now if you’ve signed up for my mailing list – which you can do on this site – I am now getting ready to fill the second half of 2009 with all sorts of other shenanigans (the bit about never leaving this room was an empty threat). My next live performances will be at the Toronto/Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and a one-off gig at Gawsworth Hall in Cheshire, in July. Then it’s time for Edinburgh. I’m not doing a new full-length show this year but I am doing a ‘greatest hits’ set for two nights; a series of environmental lectures following on from the Al Gore training course I took in Australia; a sort of comedy installation art piece in a hotel; and the LAST EVER 24-hour show. You can find details of all these endeavours on www.edfringe.com and tickets for everything are on sale now.
Then the autumn will see the return of We Need Answers, the BBC4 series where Tim Key, Alex Horne and I ask eclectic questions to famous guests. The mini-series in the winter was a success and the BBC have now commissioned a full run of thirteen, which should be excellent. It’ll run from November through till after Christmas and there’ll be details on this site about getting tickets for the live recordings. Fun!
And if you don’t manage to see me any of these ways, I will probably continue popping up from time to time as the face of Magners Pear Cider, which is – as if I needed to remind you – the only pear cider made from nothing but pears. Just give it to me straight.
You can follow my daily adventures on Twitter (@watsoncomedian) and if you’re a football fan, my brother and I are also doing a satirical blog on the beautiful game at http://backofthenetnews.blogspot.com/. So really, it’s hard to see how you can stop me from continuing to take an active part in your life.
Well, I’ll sign off on that worryingly propriatorial note. See you soon!
Mark
Posted by Simon Charles on November 22, 2009
Watching you on Something for the Weekend and you really are inept at potato skills. Why is this?
Posted by Ella Edwards on August 29, 2009
Mark Watson !!
I was just looking on the internet to buy one of your DVD’s , and couldnt find any.
You NEED to bring one out, to keep your young fans entertained !
I can’t come and watch you ’cause im only thirteen and all thatt..
but keep it up for 5 more years and I’ll come and see you on my 18th birthday.
For now though, I’ll get your books.
Good luck for the future..
Not that you’ll need it x
Posted by Linda on August 26, 2009
Hi Mark
Saw your eventful show last night – brilliant, and thought you handled the fainting incident just right. I had a similar experience when paramedics were treating my sister for something. I was a bit freaked, so one of them took me aside and started asking questions about my house, just chatting. Freaked out onlookers don’t help the situation.
Anyone ever faint on you during a 24 hour show? Maybe you should do a first aid course just in case.
Thanks for a fun show. Hotel was brilliant, too.
Cheers, Linda
Posted by Jonny on August 10, 2009
I saw (if that indeed is the correct word) the Hotel yesterday and felt compelled to say I loved it to someone who had something to do with it – I loved it – its amazing I have told everyone i possibly could including people who are no where near Edinburgh to experience it, thanks
Posted by JO on July 6, 2009
Hello Mark,
I saw you on Michael Mcyintyres roadshow and basically you are amazing.
Posted by maggi on June 10, 2009
At a mere twenty-nine, I hope you WILL still keep going…..!
Posted by AlmostAFan on April 27, 2009
Only discovered you 6 minutes ago and googling your name to find out more about you, Mark Watson. (John Oliver lookalike and also could pass as male version of me!) I may find you funny and become a fan.
Posted by lyvia on April 14, 2009
Hi! Watched your show in Melbourne tonite!
You described my dad too juz as you were describing yours!
Are so many dads in the world all conspiring to be like that or sth??? LOL
Keep being the hyperactive bonkers person you are!!!
Enjoyed yer show! ;-D
Posted by Kate on March 30, 2009
Saw you last night at the Lowry in Manchester and thought the show was terrific. A great way to start, too, by reassuring the audience you wouldn’t pick on anyone! Smashing evening, thank you.
Posted by Karen P on March 27, 2009
Oh dear – very sorry Mark, I was the one at the Sherman gig last night who was fanning herself with her ticket all the time because it was chuffing warm in there, to the extent where you stopped and asked me if I was alright! The shame of it… hope it didn’t p*ss you off too much. Anyway, thanks for your concern and for an ace show!
Cheers
Karen
Posted by Amy on March 18, 2009
I bought Crap At The Environment today. I was 6p short initially, so me and a friend went hunting around Oldham for change that people had dropped. We gained 3p and then realised that the street sweeper had eaten it all. We then found another person from our school and borrowed 6p. His nickname is now God.
All I’m saying is after THE most bizarre shopping trip of my life, lasting one hour and forty five minutes of strangeness, it had better be a good book.
Posted by Rebecca on March 14, 2009
Hi was in to see you last night at the Arc in stockton on tees, what a excellent show, you was talking to me in the audience. All the best for the future, hope to see youagain soon. X x
Posted by ged stamper on March 13, 2009
Mark,
thanks for the gig last night at the Brindley. Re your bit about comlpiments, here’s one for you – made me forget that I’d been laid off earlier in the day. All the best.
Ged
Posted by Caitlin Fitz-Henry on March 9, 2009
aaah don’t fall into twitter now. It’s hard enough keeping up with myspace AND facebook whilst ur doing ur hsc & final exams n stuff. Haha well I’m sure I could but I really don’t need any more distractions as it is. *sigh* lol. xoxoxo from ur number 2 fan (after ur mum)
Posted by Kevin on March 6, 2009
Can’t believe you made it to Jersey from Bath last month. Ater leaving Komedia in Bath we had to drive all of 5 miles home and it took over an hour because of the snow! Anyway, hope you’re glad that we risked hypothermia to come and see you (awesome btw).
On another note, delighted to hear you are a crazy golf fan (are you really? hope so) Please have a look at http://www.miniaturegolfer.com and hope you can make to a competition soon!
Kevin and Sue
Posted by Richard Flanagan on February 21, 2009
Enjoying run of ‘Weeny Dancers’ even if BBC seem more keen to have ‘famous’ people as guests rather than other comedians. Hopefully next series will have at least twice as many shows.
Note to self: Must check website more often in case free tickets are being given out (though not sure that a semi-old person milling about by themselves is what NME Awards people are after – I could probably do the ‘getting drunk and stroppy at a table on free alcohol like Kevin Bishop’ bit if there’s a vacancy). Have a great night and hopefully see you before September’s ‘long’ show
Posted by Karen P on February 21, 2009
Hiya Mark, just watched We Need Answers on iPlayer – sheer class! Got a bit distracted by Tim Key’s resemblance to Ricky off the Kaiser Chiefs though, are they by any chance related?
Anyway, looking forward to the Sherman gig in Cardiff (especially after you stormed the Glee on New Year’s Eve!)
Cheers
Ka
Posted by Angie D on February 12, 2009
NME awards, how very cool – do you have any more spare tickets, would love to be a part of it in such an awesome venue.
Posted by Saffy on February 7, 2009
Saw you last night in Jersey, you were awesome. I hope you come back & entertain us again.
Saffy
Posted by Natasha on January 6, 2009
Hey Mark,
when’s We Need Answers coming out?
Love the live shows, can’t wait to see the TV show!
Natasha xxxxx
Posted by Kat on November 14, 2008
Hey Mark,
you are a lovely fellow 
thanks for the awesome show last saturday i really enjoyed it
and thanks for meeting us afterwards
Ill be recommending you to all my friends next time you’re in Perth
Come back soon
Kat xox
Posted by Ian M on September 2, 2008
Mark
Your show was one of the best things at this year’s fringe.
Also, I’ve just finished ‘A light-hearted look at murder’. Any chance of another novel in the near future?
All the best.
Posted by Andrew on August 27, 2008
Heard your BBC radio show for the first time. 27/08/2008
Fantastic entertaining way of raising moral issues without preaching.
Thank you.
Posted by Chimera on July 30, 2008
Have been really enjoying your work over the last year or so and just wanted to say Thank You..to your Mum and Dad really. Nah..ta very much to you for making me smile and wince a lot.
Good luck on the rounds and hopefuly catch you live one day!
Chimera
http://www.holeyvision.blogspot.com
Posted by Anne Goddard on July 27, 2008
Hi Mark,
Wonderful website. Thanks for your book “Crap at the Environment”… i picked it up one day when i had a few spare dollars at the local ABC shop. It’s brill.
In so many ways you have written my story…
Have a look at my website if you ever have time…
If ever you are back in Australia… PLEASE tour Townville (North Qld)…. SO MUCH WARMER than Melb/Vic!!! Get some sunshine on those skinny bones of yours.!
… The top end NEEDS someone like YOU to deliver important environmental issues to them (with a bit of a larf)
and please pop over to Magnetic Island where us locals live. You (and your family) would be made more than welcome for an extended holiday … you can have my room!
Goodonya buddie
Warm regards
Anne