Tour eve
Today I raced 400 metres against the British record holder, Iwan Thomas, for a section of my ITV4 show where the contestants have to predict whether or not I can beat famous sportspeople in challenges. The catch was that – to make it a fairer contest - the 400 metres were divided into into 100 metres egg-and-spoon, 100m skipping with a rope, 100m sack race, and 100m on a Space Hopper. I won’t spoil the result, but my jumping, egg-carrying, being-ina-sack and hopping muscles are really sore.
I’ve sent an email to people who requested tickets to see the show being filmed, but if you still fancy it, you can click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/37val54 and stand a better than average chance of getting them. Because I won’t be tweeting this link until tomorrow. Because I love you, my blog readers, more than the general public. So do it now. As you will have gathered, the show is partly sport, partly stupid nonsense fun.
From tomorrow, MY TOUR WILL BE UNDERWAY. I will be at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall tomorrow night. Then Bradford; Stoke; Birmingham; Preston; and on it goes. For the last time – come if you can. Thank you.
To answer a common question, I will be staying behind after every show to sell and sign books. You don’t have to buy or feign interest in a book. You can still say hello, bring me a biro, etc. I shall, as in Edinburgh, be delighted to meet people who read this blog. Watsonians, as they are sometimes called.
In terms of the blog, the tour shows shouldn’t threaten its regularity the way Edinburgh show did, because it won’t be finishing quite so damned late. But there is a fair chance that the shows will dominate the subject matter of the entries for a few days to come. E.g. ‘well, Stoke was good’. Or: ‘gosh! Bradford, eh?’ Hopefully you will bear with me during these reflections and I’ll try to remain amusing.
I have to sleep now. I’m literally going to the Midlands tomorrow.
Posted by Lydia on October 6, 2010
I look forward to finding out who won the race. I hope you enjoy the tour x
Posted by Rachael on October 5, 2010
Hey Mark! Tonight’s show was awesome! I arrived home booing my mother who stood staring at me with a wide eyed worry, much like any other day really.
I was lucky enough to grab near front row seats with my friend, Carley, whose book you signed. Although I must say I was worried every time you came near the edge of the stage, I could see the ambulance lights already. It was great meeting you after, thank you for signing Carley’s book and for being so funny!!!
XxX
Posted by Ally on October 5, 2010
Can’t wait to see this new show of yours and to find out if you won the race
I won’t be able to see your new live show until Melbourne next year. Such a long time away.
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on October 5, 2010
@Steph
I assume you’re this excited about Birmingham cos you finally get to meet me, yes?
Posted by Steph on October 5, 2010
YES YES YES BIRMINGHAM! Can’t wait.
I was also flabbergasted by the new tour ad on the left. Gah.
Posted by josie on October 5, 2010
i will be ready and waiting at the bradford stage door with my biro!
not in a stalky way, though.
Posted by Tibbs on October 5, 2010
The show sounds like it will be very entertaining! Are you only going to be filming over two days?
Good luck with the tour!
Posted by lisan66 on October 5, 2010
Good luck in the tour!!
Posted by Tracey on October 5, 2010
Best of Luck with your tour Mark, I’m hoping to come along and see you sometime in the future but I’ll be reading all your tour reports with interest.Tracey x
Posted by Rachael on October 5, 2010
I want to take part in space hopper race now!
Posted by Phill on October 5, 2010
Good luck with the tour – and I’ll see you in November! I’ll try to remember to bring a biro.
Posted by Misha on October 5, 2010
Sorry, that was a mind boggling diversion of a comment. I am also bemused by the change of picture on the side ad, and probably shouldn’t read this at 10 past 7 in the morning.
Posted by Misha on October 5, 2010
Leicester eh? You can wave to my Dad’s girlfriend, really, she lives 5 minutes walk form demonfort, which a few years ago when we saw Minchin there was still enough time for me to slip on the ice and bash my hip.
Happy touring Mark! Really looking forward to seeing you in Bristol and Cov, and I think one of the two friends i’m dragging with might implode soon with excitement…
Posted by Kathryn on October 5, 2010
Good luck from a very cold dorm room a few hundred yards from the venue you’ll be playing in about a month.
Posted by Katie on October 5, 2010
@Rachel, that is just what I was thinking…
Good luck Mark, not that you’ll need it.
Posted by Maddy Gillies on October 4, 2010
Hi Mark,
Just finished your book, great read! We bought your book at the Edinburgh festival this year and you very nicely signed it for me, and agreed for a cringey photo taken with us. ( We really wanted to ask you to take a photo of us with the guy holding the bumbag full of money for a laugh but wimped out.) Although being nine months pregnant now, you may have produced the most nervous mother in the world after this light maternity leave read, I am now having nightmares, P.s we put the photo on BookFace, I hope you don’t mind. p.p.s have recently joined Twitter, so glad as your tweets crack us up.
Posted by ChrisP on October 4, 2010
Has anybody got any idea when the show finished filming?
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on October 4, 2010
The photo on the side has changed. Unsettling…
See you Friday!
Posted by Laurs on October 4, 2010
Have a great tour Mark! Break a leg!
De Montford is a nice venue, enjoy it! x
Posted by Georgie on October 4, 2010
Goodluck with the tour! Wish I could come along. Will just have to eagerly await MICF 2011! xx
Posted by hornseygirl on October 4, 2010
All the very best for the tour.
I see you are in my (often) much maligned / marginalised / misrepresented home town on Bonfire Night. Rather apt, given that’s where the English Civil War started!
Good luck. : )
Posted by Alex on October 4, 2010
Enjoy the Midlands. I miss it quite a bit.
Posted by Megan on October 4, 2010
Break a leg! (Or not, depending on how superstitious you are.)
I haven’t been to the Midlands since I lived there, which is now six (!) years ago. Ridiculous. Have fun.