Paxman
Very little to report today, but I think it is worth recording, for my 40-year-old self to chuckle over in the future, that tonight I met Jeremy Paxman. It wasn’t the sort of meeting where you go for coffee or to the National Gallery, or to the dog racing; I was a token comic on Newsnight. Still rather pleasing, though. I don’t have one of these lists of people I’m hoping to meet before I die, but if I had compiled such a list, JP would probably be in the top 20 or so. Below Derren Brown (who, in any case, I’ve now also met – get me, as they say) but just above someone like Rowan Atkinson (it’d be good to say you’d met him, but the actual encounter might well be quite awkward, what with his well documented shyness).
Some Paxman facts:
-Tall, like you imagine.
-Complained of a bad cold.
-Told an anecdote afterwards about how Tracey Emin had a 20 ft long tapeworm.
-Had no idea who I was, quite understandably, but was very warm and relaxed.
-Claims to have a very poor memory, despite his obvious intellect. Someone asked him for a favourite Newsnight moment and he couldn’t give one.
-Told us that, in University Challenge, quite often when the teams sit down there is one person much shorter than the others, and they have to have a cushion to sit on.
-Overall, very pleasant and pretty much what you’d hope Jeremy Paxman would be like.
That concludes the first in a new occasional series, Reporting Back After Meeting Someone Famous (catchily nicknamed RBAMSF). I’ve come to see myself as quite a handy bridge between celebrities and normal people, since I’m a normal person who gets more-than-usual opportunities to rub shoulders with the great and good. So who’ll be next? Bill Clinton? Stevie Wonder? Melinda Messenger? Just as soon as I nervously shake their hand, you’ll know all about it. See you next time, celeb gossip fans!
Posted by Knox on May 10, 2011
(that was quite possibly the most pointless comment i have *ever* left on a blog. time for sleep, i think).
Posted by Steph on April 19, 2010
Nice appearance on Newsnight I thought. JP was definitely chuckling at what you had to say.
As for Rowan Atkinson, my brother met him in the green room at Oliver! the musical (my brother is an occasional percussionist who gets called in every now and then).
Because my brother only does the show rarely, RA noticed him one time and started talking to him, imagine the shock! Anyway, he said to my brother that he hadn’t seen him around before; “who do you play”? To which my brother said “I play Oliver” (he’s 25). I was so proud of my brother when he recounted the story. My brother made RA laugh! So I guess he can be shy but they did have quite a good little conversation.
I have to say I have always wanted to meet Ewan McGregor, and also JP goes without saying. Hopefully if I ever get to go on Uni Challenge my time will come!
Posted by Rachel Winter on April 19, 2010
Yes, I too had thought Mark had missed a day.
Was it yesterday? Pretty sure I looked last thing and there was no blog.
Posted by Rachel Winter on April 19, 2010
Are you normal? Haven’t you met Al Gore?!
I grew up next door to someone who is now v famous.
Imagine!
Posted by Shell on April 18, 2010
Saw you on Newsnight. The programme was stagnating somewhat before your segment at the end. You did great and Paxman and the audience including the MPs! seemed to be enjoying your intelligent, amusing and ‘typically you’ comments too. Really lifted the energy back up.
…oh and my Mum was impressed too.
Posted by Lynsey on April 18, 2010
I missed Newsnight last night. I’d forgotten it was on and by the time I’d remembered I was watching Britain’s Got Talent (it honestly wasn’t my decision to watch it, however it was strangely entertaining!) Plus I was unaware that Newsnight was even on on a Saturday – is that a new thing, or just something for the election? Anyway, I am glad that you enjoyed your meeting with Mr Paxman. He always seemed a bit scary to me, but your description suggests he’s quite a decent fellow. I hope that your appearance is on the iplayer.
Posted by Marie on April 18, 2010
I’ve actually met Rowan Atkinson. I say ‘met’, it was at the stage door after a performance of Oliver, where he quickly signed my programme and few, if any, words were exchanged. The fact that he is so shy and reserved makes what he does on stage even more incredible. His portrayal of Fagin was outstanding – it was the best thing about the show.
Posted by Laurs on April 18, 2010
Sorry, off topic completely, but is anyone else having problems seeing the new blog entries? The Paxman one didn’t show up until just before midnight and now when I click on the link to today’s (cos it’s not coming up automatically like they usually do), I get a message telling me that no posts match my link. (Or words to that effect!)
Am confused.
Posted by Megan on April 18, 2010
I didn’t manage to see Newsnight (being foreign and nearing my bandwidth limit for the month), but I love Paxman. He’s the clever, obstinate, arrogant know-it-all I aspire to be.
Posted by Heather on April 18, 2010
Well I am very pleased for you (albeit in a vague I-only-sort-of-know-who-Jeremy-Paxman-is kind of way). I’ve never had to meet someone whose work I admire, and I’m worried that I would freak out and not know how to act.
I’d love to hear what it was like meeting Derren Brown.
Posted by Someone on April 18, 2010
I’m so confused… my computer says it’s the 18th, and this says it was written on 17th, but it only just appeared for me, definitely on the 18th :s.. I was worried ‘coz I thought you’d broken your every day blogathon record, which was sad.. but i guess it’s ok.. so there. Pointless facts for you which make me sound even less cool than I am. A feat indeed.
Anyway, yeah you were fonneh and ye Paxman did seem to like you which is a plus, oh and i love Marco Pierre-White. You MUST tell us about him. He seems terrifying but lovely.
Posted by Linsey on April 18, 2010
Newsnight was very good, Paxman looked like he loved you! You were very funny, well done.
Posted by h2osarah on April 18, 2010
Can I suggest another one of these for Marco Pierre White? I watched the first episode of Kitchen Burnout yesterday and there is something absolutely terrifying about him. I’d like to know what he was like from up close.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on April 18, 2010
I love you for sharing the University Challenge cushion story. I have images of a particularly short person with 3 or 4 cushions and during the last moments getting to excited with the buzzer and toppling right off!
^_^
x
Posted by misha on April 18, 2010
I feel like a bad admin fairy, not only was I completely oblivious to this I didn’t see newsnight and for the first time since this blog started I missed a day. i am however reading in the car 10 minutes a way from bedform which I hope is exciting enough to make up for this all. My only defence is I was enjoying getting drunk and talking politics and morality.
Posted by Rachael on April 18, 2010
Derren Brown would be on my list aswell.
Posted by EllieCat on April 18, 2010
Not watched Newsnight yet, iPlayer won’t let me just at the moment
Mark, I was in the audience at the Derren Brown show when you went up on stage and had to stand in the ‘spirit cabinet’.
Posted by Kathryn on April 18, 2010
I enjoyed the Newsnight thing, it was pleasingly unexpected and very distracting from the maths papers I was supposed to be doing. Good to see a programme covering the election, it hasn’t been discussed much recently.
I met Derren Brown on Monday, he was very charming.
Posted by Anna Lowman on April 17, 2010
Wow, I don’t want to acknowledge that 20ft tapeworms exist, much less that Tracey Emin had one. Apart from that I enjoyed your RBAMSF very much – was out at a rather unusual Rufus Wainwright gig tonight (you’re asked not to clap until the end of the first half, like a classical concert) so missed you on Newsnight, but lovely iPlayer means I shall catch up on it very soon…..
Posted by helen (@iamanicelady) on April 17, 2010
I couldn’t watch as I’m not in the UK, but my mum described you as earnest and wearing a nice green t-shirt. That’s higher praise than I normally get from her, so well done you!
Posted by MrMatt on April 17, 2010
Brilliant! Look forward to seeing who your next celebrity encounter will be with.
Interesting facts about Paxman there. Hope you enjoyed your time as Newsnight comedian.