Something which MIGHT NOT HAPPEN
Quick blog today. Quite busy. I mean, I’m not even writing in proper sentences here.
It’s the whole Christmas thing, old friends. It really takes up your time. This has been one of my first shopping days, now that my tour and indeed all my performing commitments for 2010 are over. After half an hour in the shops I’d quite happily have taken on 30 more shows back-to-back. But there we are.
I imagine the festive period is going to drastically disrupt the blog. It’s possible the Blogless Day will be unavoidable what with the prior commitments of turkey-eating, elaborate-present-wrapping (the Watson family goes for Christmas pretty hard) and of course my first ever stint as Father Christmas. (As some wit once said – ‘at first you believe in Santa Claus, then you don’t believe in Santa Claus, than you ARE Santa Claus’.)
What I may have to do to minimise the threat of disaster is to have a run of very very short blogs in Christmas week itself, like just a couple of sentences, which build up to some big payoff a bit like an advent calendar. This would maintain the unbroken sequence without causing me to ruin my family’s Christmas by spending Christmas Eve hitting the table and wailing about connectivity problems, when I would be better off drinking mulled wine and carousing.
Quickly – the Substantially Better thing. Basically, it will definitely rear its whimsical head on the radio at some point in 2011. At the moment (and this is far from confirmed) there is talk of doing it as a LIVE SHOW which would operate much like the original serieses, but would include tweet/text/online-y contributions from ACTUAL LIVE LISTENERS which would then shape the course of the show. Obviously this would be most unlike almost anything done on Radio 4 before, and indeed most things done anywhere before, and with good reason: it would be terrifying. If you’ve seen me live you will know how much I tend to go off the beaten track and incorporate the most peculiar of audience-led digressions. The prospect of transferring this shambolic package across to the radio (especially if I’m accompanied by lunatics like Key again) is both thrilling and alarming.
As I say, this is ABSOLUTELY NOT CONFIRMED TO BE HAPPENING. So keep it under your hat, will you? But if it does happen, I’ll start mobilising support on this blog both for the studio audience, and for the at-home-chipping-in audience. But I can’t emphasise enough it MIGHT WELL NOT HAPPEN. But it might. But it MIGHT NOT. Good. That’s cleared that up.
Posted by Kate W on December 17, 2010
That sounds bloody marvellous. Shall hope for it to progress to Thing That Might Well Happen, and then onwards.
Posted by Rachael on December 17, 2010
An advent blog-endar sounds like a great idea, especially if it means not ruining your family’s christmas.
Also, I heard that there was a kangaroo in the end. Unbelievable.
Posted by Simon on December 17, 2010
Definitely happening. Gotcha.
Posted by Dan on December 17, 2010
I’m so excited that this is definitely going to happen! But seriously I am, I’ve missed Substantially Better more than I miss my parents
Posted by Natalie-Helen on December 17, 2010
I hope it does! It sounds incredible. But I won’t get my hopes up too much. Except I will and I have. ^_^
I am currently helping Santa Claus with his correspondance. The children write letters to Santa and get a reply, but as he is busy I help with actual letters ^_^. It costs 50p that goes back into the school.
Some of the letters are so sweet and some are hilarious.
It’s quite fun writing back to the children. I know snippets about them from the teachers so add little bits of info that will seem magical to the kids.
Can’t wait for Christmas atm, I’m sure your first one as a dad will be incredible! You might have to put on bit of weight to be able to take on the role of Santa with true aplomb!
^_^
Posted by Carl on December 16, 2010
Wow this sounds amazing. It may not happen, but I’d be happy to give you a hand if it does. Although it may not. But might. Well done. If it does happen. x
Posted by Misha on December 16, 2010
For what it counts, I’m happy to be either.
Might I suggest employing various emergency bloggers? What with the time difference, no-one would have to post on their own personal christmas day, without having the blogless day either.
Although I feel people could accept a blogless day on christmas, it’d be fun to avoid it.
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 16, 2010
Well, I don’t celebrate Christmas so if you really wanted, I could be a [planned] emergency blogger – Christmas Day is actually one of the most boring for me because nowhere is open, everybody’s off work … blah. And you’d spend the day with family not worrying at all. That said, I couldn’t guarantee it’d be an interesting blog so you might want to ignore this comment.
I ought to try to find some Substantially Better and have a listen. From what you’ve written in the blog it sounds interesting!
Posted by Kate B on December 16, 2010
Anything you do on radio is bound to be brilliant but this sounds even more exciting than usual! I really hope it does happen, it sounds amazing… And very very funny.
Posted by Lydia on December 16, 2010
The radio thing sounds really exciting, I hope it does happen.
Posted by lisan66 on December 16, 2010
Oh, my mam failed at playing Santa Claus today. I came home today, and there was post for me, so I opened it. It was Eleven. She had ordered it from amazon on MY account, and never changed the name. So I got to open a present from Santa Claus today. Bearing in mind that I’m 18 and haven’t believed in Santa in some time…but still!
Posted by Tracey on December 16, 2010
Hi Mark. Christmas with your family is more important.I’d certainly not worry about a few blogless days over the festive period. It took me and my daughter four hours to put the decorations up last week and, with an aching spine I’ve shopped online as I really can’t face going out shopping. In fact, I can’t remember when I last went shopping, my husband does it all! Take care, Tracey x
Posted by Anji on December 16, 2010
Your first Christmas with Kit, and being with family is the most important thing! A letter a day, to keep us guessing would do, if that was all you could manage. So please dont worry about the blog!
Enjoy the mulled wine and mince pies – just don’t get stuck in the chimney being Santa!
Posted by Josie on December 16, 2010
OH MY THE SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER LIVE SOUNDS RATHER BRILLIANT.
Excuse the excited caps lock!
And I wouldn’t worry about digressing – remember that time you chased a small boy around St George’s Hall in Bradford? I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
Posted by Katie on December 16, 2010
I am, as ever, with Patrick.
Posted by Ingrid on December 16, 2010
Sounds great!
Chaotic but fun. I’ll definitely be listening (you know, IF it happens) x
Posted by Patrick on December 16, 2010
It had better bloody happen.
Posted by squoozles on December 16, 2010
I meant MULLED, obviously… I like Meg’s idea, at least that way you’re covered.
Posted by squoozles on December 16, 2010
Mmmmm, milled wine
Posted by Meg on December 16, 2010
Why don’t you write a couple of christmas blogs in advance and then post them quickly during the festive period? I know it’s not the same as the wonderful as it were ‘live’ daily blogs but it would at least prevent the terrifying prospect of the Blogless Day.
Substantially Better plans sound great! I can’t wait for the next series, whatever format it’s in. My 12 year old brother has also recently taken a liking to it as we sometimes listen to whole series’ at a time in the car. He keeps quoting you in totally inappropriate circumstances. The other day he suddenly started giggling and declared, “We were just fooling about. Now she’s pregnant.” No one knew how to respond to this until we explained that it was a quote. Sounds like a ridiculously odd thing for a 12 year old to say unless you know the context. It was hard not to laugh really.
Posted by Simone on December 16, 2010
I certainly hope it does happen.
Posted by Someone on December 16, 2010
AWESOME. I’m there. (I’m not. Yet. But when it DEFINITELY DOES HAPPEN like you just PROMISED, I’ll be there.) Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy.
Posted by Josh on December 16, 2010
I hope it does happen. It sounds like a really good idea