I'm gonna live forever (in a zoo) (maybe)
A short but fun item today.
To my surprise and amusement I’m on a (long) list of Bristolians who are nominated for a new Walk of Fame which Bristol Zoo are building. The Bristol public – and (cough) any other interested parties – get to vote online.
I’ve got mixed feelings about fame and many people have mixed feelings about zoos, but let’s face it, this is the only chance someone like me will ever get to be in any sort of parade of the famous. It’s looking less and less likely that I’ll have one of those footprints in Hollywood, or be initiated into baseball’s Hall of Fame, despite all my efforts in both directions.
So if you fancy it, I would be delighted if you could vote here: http://tinyurl.com/zooimmortality
(I made the link myself, but in a spirit of fairness, you’re perfectly aware to vote for anyone else once you get to the page.)
I’m probably the least famous person on a ferocious list which includes John Cleese, Churchill (once chancellor of Bristol Uni), Portishead/Tricky/Banksy/Massive Attack, that sailor who got saved as he tried to go round the world, Bristol City legend John Atyeo (who I myself will be voting for), and of course more famous humorists than myself like Russell Howard and Mr J.L. Collins.
BUT not all of my rivals have a blog community like this, and indeed, some are dead and won’t have their minds on this contest. So I feel we might just be able to swing this. And that is The New Optimism at its finest.
And think how much my mum would love it. She’s excited enough when I’m in the free newspaper.
So, if you have a moment free, and don’t want to spend it supporting any of the far more worthwhile causes that are out there, VOTE FOR ME!
If I were the sort of person to regularly reference/watch/like musicals, I would now break into the title song from ‘Fame’. I’m not that sort of person, but the sentiment is there.
Posted by Juliet on November 20, 2010
OK, voted. I feel like I’ve missed so many things cause I’ve been studying like crazy. Plus I’m sick so most of my free time has been spent either sleeping or sneezing. Will try to catch up with the blog though. xx
Posted by Jorik on November 19, 2010
Hi Mark,
I picked up a copy of Bullet Points a couple of days ago, which I’ve really been enjoying so far. So consider my vote yours (although Attenborough was v convincing as well. But he’ll probably be there anyway).
Posted by Tracey on November 19, 2010
Hi Mark. Voted for you, Russell Howard, Princess Campbell and Peaches Golding. You definitely deserve to be there, you make us happy.Tracey x
Posted by Beth (Doomed1) on November 19, 2010
Have voted! even tho I have mixed feelings about the zoo!! Also cast a voted Derrens way too!!
Posted by Joelle on November 19, 2010
You’ve been voted for! They were trying a bit there, though, weren’t they?
J.K. Rowling’s despcription was ‘near Bristol’. Seems like a bit of a stretch to me!
Posted by JennyB on November 19, 2010
Voted.
As I’m a Bristol Uni fresher, I’m hoping that the Watsonians can ensure you’re involved in the Walk of Fame so you might come to a grand opening or something, maybe ribbon cutting will occur…
Anyway, fingers crossed.
Posted by Bees on November 19, 2010
I voted for you!
[But it should be noted I also voted for J.K.Rowling and Tony Benn]
Posted by Sephy on November 19, 2010
I voted for you. And for David Attenborough of course.
I hope one day to be on the walk of fame in my home town. It’ll just be me and the bloke who wrote ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’…
Posted by Lukey on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, you deserve to be in there
If you do win I will make it my mission to go to the zoo. So it’s in their interest to let you win 
Just finished reading eleven, I loved it, looking forward to the next novel.
That’s my only comment for the next 3 months, I’m a rear commenter. Still read every day though
Posted by Lukey on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, you deserve to be in there
If you do win I will make it my mission to go to the zoo. So it’s in their interest to let you win 
Just finished reading eleven, I loved it, looking forward to the next novel.
That’s my only comment for the next 3 months, I’m a rear commenter. Still read every day though
Posted by Matthew on November 18, 2010
I voted for lots of people, (limiting my choice to those who grew up in the south west for purist reasons) but you were one of them. Hope I didn’t push up you’re competitors too much.
Posted by Someone on November 18, 2010
Done! Didn’t know a lot of them were bristolians either! Had to vote for Tony robinson too – Balders deserves a throne.
Posted by Sarah on November 18, 2010
Done.
P.S. Great albeit ‘weird’ show in Nottingham tonight. I had some Chicken Pakora from M&S for you but your human shield at the book signing prevented me adding to your well selected picnic.
It was hilarious seeing the very strange man leaving the theatre, he could bearly walk.
Great show, see you in the same seats next year x
Posted by Josh on November 18, 2010
I was intending to vote just for you, the statistics work better that way, but then I couldn’t not vote for Banksy, Derren, Russell, The Wurzles and others. Bristol’s ace.
Having a W surname isn’t, that’s kind of balls.
Posted by Hal on November 18, 2010
Watson, you are screwed by the tyranny of an alphabetical listing!
Wouldn’t have got past Cleese if I hadn’t known you were there – however my single vote went to you after some gruelling scrolling on the iPhone.
I’m going for a lie down now.
Posted by Catherine aka Cathy on November 18, 2010
Voted for you, Russell Howard and John Cleese.
Posted by Aislinn on November 18, 2010
I’ve voted for you! I would just like to say that a lot of the links do indeed seem tenuous (despite the fact I voted for Tony Hart, who ‘made a series in Bristol’) and I am annoyed (in a trivial but STILL QUITE SERIOUS way) that they have included David Walliams on the list for attending Bristol University yet there is no Simon Pegg or Marcus Brigstocke. Especially Pegg. But having you on there makes up for it. Sort of.
Posted by DeborahF on November 18, 2010
I have voted for you to make you and your Mum happy.
But I, like amycool am also shocked at how many famous people have had something to do with Bristol – though some are a bit tenuous
Posted by Helen on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, do hope you win x
Posted by Anna on November 18, 2010
Voted for you, Tony Benn and Dave Prowse, which is quite an odd combination!
Posted by Sarah on November 18, 2010
I too have voted for you! I also voted for Kevin McNally because I love him in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Posted by Ingrid on November 18, 2010
Voted! You and Russell howard.
Posted by Kay (of Project preston fame!) on November 18, 2010
I’ve put in a vote for you Mark. Had to also vote for Keith Floyd as he was my mums favourite drunken chef and russell howard – who other than your good self is one of my personal favourites!
Posted by Misha on November 18, 2010
They seem to have picked an odd selction. None the less, consider my vote cast for you.
Posted by Kate B on November 18, 2010
Even though Derren Brown and J.K Rowling were also on the list, I voted for you. You manage to be even more amazing than very amazing people
Posted by Virtual Lintu on November 18, 2010
Voted for you … hope it’ll make your mum happy. x
Posted by Hannah Mae on November 18, 2010
Impressive list! It’s like a collected assortment of some of my favourite people. I voted for you, even though I feel like it would be a bit wrong for anyone other than the Wurzels to win that accolade. I take objection to some of the tenuous Bristol links they’ve come up with though – I was half expecting “once spent a night nearish Bath” to appear next to some of them! As a student at Bristol uni I feel like an enthusiastic and appreciative guest, but I’m not sure how Bristolian I actually consider myself to be. I don’t even say ‘gert lush’.
Posted by Glamlovinkitty on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, but my 14 year old self is appalled that I didn’t vote for Nik Kershaw, the mullety King of Snoods.
Posted by Steve on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, although it was close with Ian Holloway just above you. Saw you in Oxford last night, excellent evening, and you dealt with Kate from Blackpool very well;-)
You are a veritable frisbee of comedic energy, keep it going;-)
Posted by Phill on November 18, 2010
I voted for you, Mark. My life is that empty
I also voted for John Wesley, as he’s a sort of hero of mine. But he’s dead, so I wasn’t expecting many other people to vote for him!
Posted by Michael King on November 18, 2010
Voted for you and The Wurzels, among others.
Posted by Ivan (@ivanbrett) on November 18, 2010
I voted for you and Massive Attack. You’ll be in good company.
Posted by amycool on November 18, 2010
Who knew there were so many famous Bristolians?
Your main obstacle will be having a name that comes late in the alphabet, as even though I knew you were on the list, I got bored of scrolling down before I reached you. Plus, it’s very easy to use up all 20 choices before you get to the Ws.
Despite this, you are now voted for, along with Lovell, the guy who made the beautiful magnificent telescope at Jodrell bank. And lots of other people, some of whom I had never heard.
Posted by Amy B on November 18, 2010
Just voted for you & of course Derren. I may not be from Bristol, and I may not be a big fan of zoos, but I am currently IN Bristol and I am a fan of you, so I think this all evens out.
Posted by Philippa on November 18, 2010
Voted, along with David Attenborough…. I couldn’t help myself.
Posted by Martin Bellamy on November 18, 2010
Voted.
Posted by Rachael on November 18, 2010
I voted for you and Derren Brown so maybe they can put you next to him and he can keep you entertained for years.
Posted by issey on November 18, 2010
voted for you