The long song
Say what you like about David Walliams – say that he’s got a made-up surname because David Williams was taken, say that you never quite got ‘Little Britain’ and you feel like you’re the only one in the world – but there’s no denying the bugger can really do an endurance challenge. He’s got up to all sorts of difficult nonsense for Comic Relief in the past, like swimming the Channel, and now by all accounts he’s succeeded in presenting a 24-hour-long panel show. I say ‘by all accounts’ since for most of it I was on stage myself, asleep, flying from Perth to Brisbane or doing other things which kept me from watching. But ‘by all accounts’ is a rather ungenerous phrase. There can be very little doubt that he did do it. It would need to be a tremendously large-scale hoax otherwise, and I can’t see what anyone’s motive would be for doing that, unless Delude Watson for Comic Relief actually raised more money than the real thing.
Naturally, every time someone does anything – even just staying alive – for 24 hours straight, I feel a little wistfulness, since the very very very long shows I did were quite unique at the time, and now all sorts of people have done similar things. But there’s not really any room for such petulance where Comic Relief is concerned (even though we didn’t get to do We Need Answers on it, as was originally mooted, grrr) because it is Definitely Good To Raise Lots Of Money For Charity.
And on that note, in the next few days I’ll announce on this blog (a) details of something I’m going to do for Comic Relief, which you can get involved in; and (b) maybe – just maybe – really, just maybe – something 24-hour related. Maybe.
Even before it goes up on the blog, I’ll be ‘leaking details’ of these two things, as they say, via my mailing list. I send out a mailing-list newsletter so occasionally that you’d barely know such a list existed, but it does happen. It’s worth being on the list because I use it once in a while, like this, to give priority notice of shows/events/my breakfast plans to interested parties. And I do also read all replies to it. Anyway, you can sign up by just sticking your email address in a little box which is on this site. It’s been months since I mentioned this, so I think it was worth writing that last paragraph. Good.
In the meantime congratulations to everyone who took part in, or sponsored, the ever so long panel show, but particularly to old Walliams, Marathon Man himself. Well, one of the Marathon Men. Excellent work everyone.
Posted by Rachael on March 7, 2011
You are always teasing.
Posted by Ingrid on March 7, 2011
Oooh! Another 24 hour thing That is exciting.
Posted by Laura-B on March 7, 2011
Something 24 hours related?? Sooo exciting! I was just getting all wistful for the shows the other day. Yay!
Posted by alex :) on March 7, 2011
Oh good lord. Another 24 hour show would be complete and utter radness. If you do, could you pretty please have it A.) in London (where I’m moving); and B.) after June (when I move there). Ooee. Shit’s getting real.
Also, I may just be a bit of a plum, but I’m having trouble finding out where to buy tickets for the Auckland gig. I keep scouring SkyCity and ticketek and whatnot, but no sign. I made a (probably long forgotten) deal with you about eighteen months ago to definitely come to your next NZ gig. This may become an embarrassing renegment (is that even a word) should I prove unable to buy tickets.
I suppose I could just wait eagerly outside the theatre, wearing a hopeful expression, a commemorative hat, t-shirt, sandwich board and sneakers, clutching a bag of (so last year) pens with one hand and ringing a small bell with the other. Though knowing me, it’ll be the wrong entrance.
Posted by Kathryn on March 7, 2011
I’ve been up for 22 hours now. I’m not going to push through until 5am. But it feels almost like an achievement. 24 hour thing, even if just a contemplation of a possibility, sounds interesting. I missed Comic Relief which makes me feel rather left out, but it seems I’m not alone.
Posted by Katy on March 7, 2011
I liked naked breakfast plans Rachel/Misha!
Also I must say it wasnt all that great. I agree with Josh that they were concerned with the potential highlights than the people that were watching live. Maybe they though not that many people were?
That said, I got in from watching Key earlier in the night, had a sleep and set my alarm to be up to watch him and Horne on Call my bluff.
Im very excited about forthcoming announcements.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on March 7, 2011
I was wondering if WNA was supposed to be on, what with Key and Horne being on together. That would’ve been ace.
As for 24pp, I was slightly disappointed it wasn’t a bit better. They all seemed to be obsessed about filming the shows for the highlights show and didn’t seem to care about the people watching live. What with the massive set changes while we were stuck in a cupboard with some T4 presenters and Walliams seeming to take up a back seat on almost all games, it was fundamentally flawed.
And yet, I watched an awful lot of it. Bravo to Walliams for both the idea and the execution, but maybe try it again next year.
Posted by Joelle on March 6, 2011
Sounds exciting! Can’t wait to hear what you’ll be doing next.
I must have a built in comedy alarm. Normally I sleep through my alarm that is Triple J, but today, a public holiday, I woke up as they started listing what was happening on the show today and you were on the list!
Now I’m waiting happily by my radio. I hope you enjoy your time in Brisbane (:
Posted by alot of rachels on March 6, 2011
oh, I’m all a bit excited and looking forward to announcements
I thought I was on your mailing list but when people got messages last time I didn’t so I will re-sign up
Posted by Josie on March 6, 2011
i managed to watch all of about 12 minutes of his 24 hour show – they had to pick a weekend i was busy on!
i did catch miranda hart’s pottery attempt though, and nearly laughed my socks off, so it can’t be all bad.
Posted by Al Kennedy on March 6, 2011
I managed to catch bits and bobs of Walliams’s 24-hour endeavour and I was really impressed – he was as together when he was presenting the final show (Never Mind The Buzzcocks) as when he was taking part in the early ones. It made me nostalgic for the long shows, so it’s exciting to hear there might be a Watsonian 24-hour-related announcement in the offing, whether that be long show-y or something else.
Posted by Tibbs on March 6, 2011
This all sounds terribly exiting (except the lack of WNA, boo), and really makes me wish I currently had a stable internet connection / wasn’t working so many horrible double shifts over the next few days. I want to know things!
Posted by Meg on March 6, 2011
I can’t remember whether I signed up to your mailing list. I probably did but I’m going to do it again just in case. With all 4 of my email addresses, just to be sure that I definitely, definitely don’t miss out on an email. So yes.
I feel slightly sad that I never got to one of your 24 hour shows – partly because I’ve never been to Edinburgh and partly because I was quite young when they were going on and wouldn’t have been allowed to stay up that late. I’m very pleased for Mr Walliams though. Amazing achievement. I love Comic Relief – it always promotes community and selflessness and I reckon we need more of that nowadays. This blog is another thing that is big on those things. It’s a lovely community
Posted by Rachel & Misha on March 6, 2011
NAKED BREAKFAST PLANS?!
Posted by Sarah on March 6, 2011
Excited about the 24 thing which may or may not happen and the Comic relief thing