Do you ever wonder what would happen if Jeremy Paxman confused University Challenge with Newsnight?

I do an impression of SOMEONE (Gary Barlow) from Take That (Gary Barlow). Can you do your best (it’s Gary Barlow) to guess which member of the hit UK Boy Band (It’s GARY BARLOW!!) my impression is of?

Vote below

• Greece/Portugal/places who are dumb with money

• Last December

• Tweeting famous people in the hope they’ll retweet (hi Obama! Love the hair!! OMG I LOVE YOU XXX)

• Forgetfulness

• Using fun fonts

• My ‘I HEART 2010′ t-shirt

• The Joe Frazier Grill (patent pending)

• Being able to do racist impressions of North Koreans

• Deleting web browser history and saying you were shopping for a surprise christmas gift and wanted to keep it secret. Women. Got. Wise

• Not knowing what LMAO, FML, SMD and RSPCA mean

• Mispellling words

• Greenish bluey green (Turquoise is back people!)

• Faith that channel 5 will one day become a good TV channel (see Big Brother)

• Forgetfulness

• Writing long arduous blogs

• Michael Buble

• Randomly mashing keyboard mid-senten s45eri7uhsrifguhsfd35iufsiufse

Music to your big ears

Bloody heck! Not done a blog for ages? I turned 27 the other day so thought “hello, that thing!” Here’s a quick one about songs’n that. Hopefully you’ll think it’s totes amaze and not nahz-bob-ya-gayz. That’s me using and then improvising trendy vernacular. Is the playlist I’ve chosen typical of a 27 year old? Probably.

Spotty-Thigh

First, SPOTIFY, get on it. It’s ace. Any song you can think, you can listen to. It’s free – though every 4 or 5 songs you have to hear an advert or two. The other thing is that it’s synchronised with faceboook so you’ll find a lot of your friends post their own playlists. Or if you’re low on friends, you can search for celebrities who post their own choice or topical music playlists.

Now, i’m no muso poindexter or hit parade aficionado (what!) but… I saw a few lists of best songs and I thought I’d share my idea with a top… 21 say… songs of 2011.

It’s heavy with Bon Iver you’ll see because they’re brilliant and the new album is the absolute dogs bolly wockles. You’ll also see a hefty sprinkling of heavily uncool songs that i’m sure some of you will think:

“Bob you big tranny’s blouse!”

Others will think “Uh huh, yes, I concur with this wussy yet brilliant song which I shouldn’t admit too”

It’s weird that, with music, isn’t it? How you feel a bit of shame admitting you like certain bands.

Like, Coldplay. People were massively against them for about 5 or 6 years but now, maybe (unless i’m totally misjudging this) people are again ‘coming out’ as fans.I wanted to put their song ‘Paradise’ on the list, but they sods have blocked their new album from Spotify. Berks.

What I will say is that generally my music taste is quite laid-back and guardian-readery. I’ve never ever been into heavy rock or punk or r’n'b. I’ve come to terms with the fact that basically… what I like… is a bit of pop, a bit of indie and old souly type things – the kind of things you’d find on radio 2. Really big on falsetto singing (the balls in a vice type), which seems to be mega fashionable at the mo.

Here’s the 21. Click on it and it’ll load up the playlist for you listen to:

Whaddy ya reckon? My top 5 are probably:

Bon Iver – Perth
Smith Westerns – Weekend
Adele – Rolling in the Deep
James Vincent McKerrow – Higher Love
Metronomy – The Look

But probably my favourite of the year actually wasn’t made this year, but probably heard for the first by most people who saw the movie Drive:

A Real Hero  by College Ft Electric Youth (2010)

It’s the bloody shit it is!

Anyway, thanks for reading. I’m going to change my blog approach soon to something else easier to maintain and update, which shall be made clear… once I have decided what that is.

P.s I turned 27 the other on January 6th. Thanks for all your messages!

HAPPY BUFF-DEH TO ME

About turning 27. I find I’m having mini-crisis’ more as I get older. Just mini ones. But mostly in a positive way. Like, I’ve decided I’m going to learn to snow board. And sign up to do Tough Mudder, the long distance running-round-a-massive-outdoor-course-for-3-hours-and-getting-muddy thing in May. What happens when you’re 27? Stuff happens right? I’m the cusp of almost buying a toaster for £138. A toaster! What’s happening to me? Although my hair is cooler than it used to be. Maybe the older I get the cooler my hair looks but the stupider my brain becomes? I still can’t drive but I DO have contents insurance. That probably sums up the limbo half-manchild half-grownup state of  this age I am, for the THIRD DAY RUNNING! It’s an age rollover!

Should be a good year, I’m competing in the Olympic jaffa cake eating. Wish me luck with that!

What were your favourite songs or bands of 2011? What should I be wary of when it comes to being 27? Anything weird? Legs falling off etc?

Louie Louie

Is Louis CK one of the best comedians ever? In a two part blog I’ll be taking a look at hist most recent comedy creation Louie.

LOUIS CK

So stand-up comedian Louis CK isn’t very well known in the UK though you might have spotted him in Ricky Gervais’ Invention of Lying as his loyal mate. That was a crap film, wasn’t it? Yes. Forget about that, focus on this.

After recommendations from a couple of friends and my brother I set about discovering Louis CK’s two best known shows. In this blog I’ll be talking first about the newer one Louie which first aired in 2010.

So the story goes – Louis was offered a few deals by TV networks to make a TV show but turned several big money deals down in favour of FX who offered just $200,000 per episode – which would have to pay for all crew and production costs AND Louie’s fee. A sum that would normally be easily five times that. But, in return he would get full creative control of writing and directing. So, he accepted. Louis clearly relished the responsibility and amazingly even edited most of the show on is Macbook Pro! Well, bloody hell!

LOUIE

Firstly, it’s amazing. The series is a mixture of Louis CK performing stand-up mixed with real-life mini stories played out like sketches. He plays himself; it’s all super naturalistic and the tone depicts his desperate, contemplative but ultimately accepting world view.

His life is focused on being a good father to his two children – who are the inspiration for most of his stand up – whilst performing late night comedy gigs which bring in the cash. With a consistent theme of self deprecation with numerous references to masturbation, loneliness and a bitter disposition to life after a failed marriage you’d expect this to be a depressing and crassly rude show. But somehow it’s really not.

The jokes are great because it’s all about honesty. The subject matter is based in describing real life without hyperbole. Simply, this is it. I am old. I am fat. I rarely have sex. I wish I was more successful. I have regrets. In essence, he’s telling the audience – you will feel the same too some day, but y’know what? Don’t worry about it. It’s normal. Dude, it’s okay!

He’s magnanimous, hopeful and goes about his life with morality, trying to be as noble and decent as possible. In fact, he seems to lead a fulfilling life through being a good guy. In situations, if it be reacting to a mugger, witnessing a crime, trying to confront someone he fancies – he’s an inspiration. Because despite being a bit of a coward he is courageous enough to be honest always. I am afraid. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m out of my depth. I like you. He’s not ashamed of his weaknesses and makes moral, fair decisions.

The stand-up bits that link the stories are sublime. Observational humour about relationships, family and bodily functions make up the majority of the content and it’s all refreshingly original.

There’s 26 (2 series) episodes just over 20 minutes long and I just wanted to pick out a few that I’ve enjoyed a lot.

Season 1, Episode 3 – Dr.Ben/Nick

There are a only a few episodes with special guests. This one features Ricky Gervais who plays Louis’ doctor who absolutely loves to cruelly wind him up. Louis stands for his hi-jinks only because they’re old friends and presumably gets good discount on his healthcare premium. In this scene Louis arrives worried about a mysterious head cold. His doctor insists Louie has a full check-up – primarily so he can be humiliated for his own amusement. He has fun with a prostate exam.

GERVAIS: Look it’s not very pleasant but it’s necessary. I’ll be as gentle as I can.
LOUIS: Arghh
GERVAIS: Sorry! Is that okay?
LOUIS: Yeah that’s all right
GERVAIS: How about that?
LOUIS: Yeah
GERVAIS: (grinning, girating back and forward) What about this?
LOUIS: (pulls away) Jesus why!
GERVAIS: (Giggling hysterically) This is serious
LOUIS: There’s no way it’s supposed to go in and out like that
GERVAIS: Well, it can do. I’m a doctor and it tells me… everything’s okay
LOUIS: Jesus
GERVAIS: Listen, I’m still going with AIDS but let’s do some blood work and find out what’s wrong

Ricky is brilliant and there’s other great cameos such as Doug Stanhope, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock and Dane Cook if you keep an eye out.

Series 2, Episode 8 – Come on, God

This example shows a little bit of what is unique about Louis CK. The episode is all about Louis being told by a Christian fundamentalist that masturbation whilst unmarried is a sin. In this scene, Louis is trying to masturbate and has a bizarre fantasy which effectively his own mind ruins. Here he imagines being in a lift with an attractive lady.

WOMAN: Can you help me?
LOUIS: With what?
WOMAN: With that (bending over)
LOUIS: What seems to be the problem?
WOMAN: It’s just that there’s like zero dicks in there
LOUIS: Zero dicks?
WOMAN: Yeah, there are like zero dicks in there, it’s sooo annoying. Can you just stick a whole bag of dicks in there?
LOUIS: A bag of dicks??
WOMAN: Yeah you’ve got some right there

Louis is holding a crappy carrier bag. He looks inside and grimaces, almost wretching.

LOUIS: Well, shall I like uhh take each one out?
WOMAN: Can you just stick the whole bag in there!

Louis, frustrated, then awkwardly tries to insert the bag into her. It’s hilariously unsexy and the scene cuts between Louis struggling with the bag and struggling to pleasure himself. In the fantasy an elderly Chinese man gets in the lift and criticises Louis’ struggle.

Series 2, Episode 6 – Subway/Pamela

There are so many great scenes throughout the series’ but this is definitely my favourite of both seasons. Louis has an unrequited romantic relationship with a fellow single parent called Pam as a running narrative. He adores her and each time he tries to push the point she reiterates how she finds him completely unattractive and how there is NO chance of them getting together ever. Pam is hilarious and her acidic rebuttals are brilliant but you’re always rooting for poor old Louie. In this scene, Louie wants to bring it up once more, promising if she lets him pour his heart out this last time, he’ll stop bringing it up and agree to remain just mates. What follows is a monologue more beautiful, sincere and heart-felt than anything I’ve seen or heard in any fancy drama or romance genre film.

LOUIS: …I’m crazy about you Pamela. I don’t want to be with anybody else.
PAMELA: Louis!
LOUIS: I don’t! I really don’t. I don’t think about women anymore I think about you. I had a dream the other night that you and I were on a train. We were on this train and you were holding my hand. That’s the whole dream! And in the dream I felt you holding my hand. I woke up I couldn’t believe it wasn’t real. I’m sick in love with you Pamela. It’s like a condition. It’s like Polio. I feel like I’m going to die if I can’t be with you. And I can’t be with you so I’m going to die. And I don’t care because, I was brought into existence to know you, and that’s enough. To think that you would want me back? It’s just greedy…

I can’t recommend Louie highly enough. Honestly, I know it sounds nuts. But it’s just such an absurdly astute programme and Louis is such a likable bloke. It’s not necessarily laugh out loud non-stop but it’s just the overall package. How he talks about a lot of rude subjects but in such a human way, how nothing is going that great for him but it’s never gloomy or oppositely, schmaltzy and pitiful. You finish each episode feeling better about the idea of getting older and becoming an actual grown-up. I think for me as a “writer”, it makes me realize what being a top notch comedian is. He totally sets the bench mark. This is more than just a really funny show but it actually offers a biblical amount of take home wisdom that you won’t find in any other comedy show, drama or even works of literature!

MONSTERED!

The Free Fringe Festival is over. Here I summarise and post mortem the run of Monsters: A History of Villainy.

iN THE BEGINNING…

Like I mentioned in my previous-to-this-one blog I did some (to blow my own trumpet) sterling research and marketing. As well as raising $853 through IndieGoGo, I also raised a further £400 through cheque donations. I also got free stuff to use during the show:

• 21 x Monsters T-Shirts – Giving away 1 per day as a prize
• 40 x Camelflouge toilet rolls – From Monster Merchandise
• 40 x Snack size Sugar Puffs
• 50 x Sugar Puff cereal bars
• £50 worth of café vouchers from Mum’s Comfort Food Café

I also arranged, briefed and ‘produced’ (as it’d be called in the TV world) 40 guests for the chat show segment of the show. Particular favourites were Craig Campbell, Joel Dommett, Dave Fulton and James Acaster.

THE FORMAT?

Well, the format changed A LOT during the run. We started as just me and Gabriella Burnel doing mini-lectures and songs either side of the chatshow bits. But from the 2^nd performance we decided two of us is not enough and enlisted actor and new stand-up Ben Woolrych as a regular to portray Adolf Hitler in a ever-changing sketch with Darth Vader (me).

At the start of the run, the show very much centred around the Brian Blessed sketches (where Darth Vader talks to God) but I eventually axed these as they slowed down the pace. Towards the end of the run, the show centred around the confessional aspect. Guests and audience talking about the concept of evil. This seemed a much stronger theme, but unfortunately it was one I only realized with several shows to go.

I now see why doing 15-20 previews before Edinburgh is essential.

Out of the 20 shows we did, I’d say 5 were very good, 9 were OK and 6 were bad. In fact, the last one I did was probably the best. In the latest format, it goes like this.

Pre show – Gabby plays some lovely songs on the piano whilst I hand out survey forms which ask the audience to describe 1) things they think are evil. 2) Evilest things they’ve ever done. 3) A famous person who they personally believe is evil.

Intro – Brian Blessed opens the show

Introduction to Evil – I describe how 90% of the audience are scientifically capable of evil according to the Milgram experiment

Quotes – Me and Gab read out famous quotes about evil (hers are silly catchphrases from film and TV)

Evil Faces – Based on actual scientific findings, Gabby gives a lecture on how peoples faces convey personality traits of evil. She then demonstrates this on the audience.

Evil Facts – Accompanied by music, I read out 7 bizarre but true facts about evil people that no one knows (probably)

What the Kids Say – To Gabby’s instrumental, I collect up survey forms written by the audience. I read out a few of the funniest ones and select one of the authors to come to the stage. We chat about their answers. As punishment/reward, they play a game whereby they must guess what villains children are describing. We play an audio track through 4 rounds, to win a prize.

Gabby’s Song – Gabriella plays a song. Either about Nick Clegg or Simon Cowell about how they’re evil.

Special Guest – a Special guest comedian comes on a discusses things they think are evil and confess to evil things they’ve done. Finally, against a 60 second clock, they pitch an unusual villain as ‘Most Evil Person Ever’ to the audience. The audience then decide where it sits on a league table via a clapometer.

Statistics – Using picture boards, I give a short lecture on inadequate villains in Childrens TV. I then move onto to graphs and pie charts about evil.

Special Guest 2 (OPTIONAL) – If we have a second guest, they come and discuss evil things and confessions, before doing the pitch.

Play Your Deaths Right – Akin to the gameshow, we use the Higher or Lower device with evil dictators and their death tolls. I select a player from the surveys collected earlier. We chat about the audience members answers briefly before playing the game. The audience helps too and it makes for an energetic and enjoyable finale.

Goodbye and Blessed VO – After leaving the stage we play an audio VO of Brian Blessed as God thanking the audience.

Here is how the league table stands, with guests on the left and who they pitched on the right:

LEAGUE TABLE

CONCLUSIONS?

It was a terrific run. Audience numbers were good, despite the fact we rarely ever flyered at all! Miraculous really.

It felt good to totally organize the show. Of course, Gabriella is amazing and Ben’s help was brilliant, but for me personally, it was good to have almost total responsibility for every aspect of the project. Yes, it was frustrating and stressful at times. Next time I would certainly need more help to alleviate pressure – I’m sure I spent too much time on the business side rather than the writing side.

Despite the harsh 2 star review we had – written about the VERY FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE RUN which was probably the worst as you’d expect – I think it’s a decent show now. It’s clever, a strong concept and just about marries silliness and informative value.

What’s more, alongside doing Monsters, I was able to perform at lots of venues doing regular stand-up and even compeering (for the first time!). All of this went exceptionally well and I now feel far more confident as a stand-up.

Though I really regret that the show was so rushed in putting together – because of various drop-outs to the run up to Edinburgh – I’m really proud of Monsters. It’s a good standard Free Fringe show. And at the very least, it’s given me an incredible urge to come back next year with something so amazing, it’ll make you shit your arse off.

Monsters: A History of Villainy is performing it’s last week! Here’s an update on what’s happening with the show and the must-see shows at the Festival.

MONSTERS!

Christ, what a draining experience. My open mic stand-up spots have gone from strength to strength but Monsters has been a mission of it’s own. Getting an audience hasn’t been a problem. I’ve marketed it like a complete demon – no flyering necessary! Plus the guests have been great, the standard too, higher than of most Festival shows (let alone Free Fringe ones).

But because of the rushed nature of how the show has come together (in a matter of weeks) and it does tell. It’s a rather incoherent format with a lot of potential and we’re not quite there yet. Still, I’m a plucky fella and I’ll plow on and try learn loads in the time left.

PRESS!

Press has been good! I had a two page spread in the Coventry Evening Telegraph and was also on Edinburgh student radio Fresh Air FM in which I accidentally implied that Robert Mugabe was a nice guy.

The show has changed format and now has two guests per day, amongst games and educational ‘skits’. The guest bit can be quite fun. Firstly, they come on and CONFESS to evil thing’s they’ve done. The show is all about evil people showing signs of good and equally normal (good) people describing moments of wrongdoing. Simply demonstrating that we’re all capable of being a bit… naughty. Like Dave Fulton who once robbed a grave, Steve Hall poured fairy liquid on his cat, Ian Smith bullied a kid who had a clef lip. All true!

The final bit is the PITCH. In 90 seconds they have to pitch someone unusual who they believe is evil. Nay, more, who they believe may actually be the most evil person ever.

BEST OF THE FEST?

Seen quite a lot of shows but my picks are:

Terry Alderton – Pleasance Courtyard, 9.20pm – Energetic and watchable. Nuts. Does brilliant sound effects.
Wittank - Just the Tonic, Caves, 6.15pm – Unpredictable sketches. The bishop skit particularly ticklesome.
Rich Fulcher –  Gilded Balloon Teviot, 8.30pm – Surreal seminar about sticking it to the man
Josh Widdicombe – Pleasance Courtyard, 7.15pm – Slick stand-up and strong material
Dave Gorman – Assembly George Square, 7.40pm – Fascinating lecture style set
Humphrey Ker‘s one man play was quite good too although I was distractingly hungry when I saw him and I think that made me not in the mood. Hoping to catch more of John Kearns who did a fantastic slot at the Lunchtime Club!

Late Night Gimp Fight – at the Pleasance Above is a spectacular sketch show of boyish knob gags pimped up with amazing dance setpieces. Wicked!

But my big tip for winner of all the awards this year goes to Adam Riches. He has a one man sketch show which is nothing short of FUCKING BRILLAINT! Full of audience participation and based around 4 enjoyable characters, I don’t think any of other show comes close for belly laughs.

THOUGHTS

My family came to see the show and weren’t that keen. We had great guests that day (Joel Dommett and Thom Tuck) but some bits were clunky. I don’t think it helped that I took them to see some amazing shows including Rich Hall, Michael Winslow and Craig Campbell who make it look dead easy. I should have made them see some of the utter crap on the Fringe. Set myself up for a fall there.

It’s hard to keep a show feeling fresh and interesting. I’m changing it daily, trying new ideas and styles. I will change it tomorrow too. Is this a good method? I don’t know.

Annoyed that the one review we have took place on the FIRST show. We got two stars. But regardless, I think it was a really shitty thing to do of the reviewer. Coming on the first day of a Free Fringe run! It was a crap show but understandably as it was only our second EVER performance (we only had 1 preview). Therefore I’d like to get in a few reviewers during this last week. Three stars would put me at ease, I think we’re worth that!

In the meantime, these arrived yesterday:

Part of my elaborate fund raising and freebee campaign. HM Foods sent me 40 boxes of Sugar Puffs (small size), 20 white chocolate cereal bars and 20 plain chocolate cereal bars. Amazing! Now, I need to find something to do with them! You know, if the show itself was anywhere near as good as the marketing and guest booking that’s gone into it – it’d be award winning. Something to learn for next year.

More to come in the final blog on Monsters coming soon, including who has won the Top of the Monsters league table pitch, who has been the best guests, what games we’ve been playing (that YOU can upload too!). There’ll also be clips of the show so you can watch it online! LOVELY! Come back soon girls and boys.

4 shows to go people! Come and see Monsters: A History of Villainy whilst you can! Fingers Piano Bar, 5.30pm, Edinburghghgh!

The Making of Monsters – AN UPDATE

News of the World is closing? Hooray! Forget that rubbish and read about which writer/director of Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral is backing Monsters! Find out which comedians are expected to cameo in this August’s talk-about show Monsters: A History of Villainy! (And read about all the things that are going tits up!)

First the Bad News

Two members pull out in shock horror!

Jesus, okay, where to start. So, I got in these two awesome character comedians Gemma Whelan and Mark Davison. Both first class! However, a couple of weeks ago they both pulled out of the show within a few days of each other. One got offered a part in a feature film, the other in a BBC3 comedy pilot/taster. Great for them and I am genuinely pleased, but as well thinking “oh nice, good work!” I also thought “OH SHHHHHHIIITTT!”.

Lovely Stu is also struggling to find time around previews for his other Edinburgh show, so rehearsing/meeting is going to be tough as well. Much brown stuff hitting the proverbial fan.

No definite flat, no props, no rehearsals and only 1 preview booked SO FAR…

Yeah! I’m struggling to nail down a definite place to stay for the festival AND we’ve had zero rehearsals or previews for the show with exactly 1 month to go. We do have a preview however on July 30th in Balham at the mini-festival. It’s in the afternoon at The Bedford in the Ballroom at 11.50-12.50. COME ALONG. Need to book more previews though! If you can help, get in touch!

Now some Good News

Matt Highton joins Monsters

Success. Lost two members but gained one. Joining me and Stuart Laws is quirky and likeable funnyman Matt Highton who’s performing his new hour long show ‘Shadowed Vagary’ at Just the Tonic. I saw him perform a preview in Camden and thought he’d make a smashing Monster and gladly he agreed to join the team. Lovely. Here he is:

Celebrity Patrons Fund Show!

I can’t say who but you can guess (Britain’s foremost comedy movie writer and Comic Relief patron) has contributed some funds to help MONSTERS. Awesome! He joins other secret celebrity patrons rumours, alleged to be Matt Lucas and Coldplay which I can neither confirm not deny.

Bob meets Brian Blessed!

As you’ll see from the promotional clip above, I recorded Brian Blessed. Brilliant bloke! Fascinating, funny and more  than a bit bonkers, he’s voicing sketches for the show where he’ll be playing God. Touchingly, as he sat in the sound booth he said:

“F*CKING great writing! Ah, it’s terrific!”

Genuine quote. How lovely, right? He said he wants to come up and see the show too, so that’ll be fun. By the way, big thanks to Dave Whyte who did the animation and to the BBC who let me record the voice over there. Good lads, the lot of ya!

Star-studded Guest Lineup!

Loads of cool people have agreed to guest cameo in the show which is brilliant! I’m trying to secure more people all the time but have a look at my GIGS page to see who is guesting on which day thus far. Craig Campbell (Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow). Nick Helm (Russell Howard’s Good News), Joe Lycett (BBC’s Epic Win), Ian Smith & Joel Dommett (BBC’s Popatron) are just a few of the people who have agreed. Amaze-balls!

Neither good nor bad news

Monsters in Format Change Romp

The show has taken on a slightly different format which I won’t go too much into now. But practically, given time constraints, it’s taking on a quirky debate forum feel rather than back-to-back sketches.

$823 raised, More needed, Donate Today!

I’ve raised $823 of the $2000 target, just under half way with 12 days to go, which is great also not enough yet, obviously. Please DONATE and become a PATRON folks! You can become a credited PRODUCER for just $30! To donate go to:

http://www.indiegogo.com/Monsters-A-History-of-Villainy

Or click here:

SO yeah. It’s proving an epic undertaking putting on a show. With one month to go, expect a crazy, fun and endearingly chaotic performance okay? It’ll be very or at least somewhat LOL, promise. What do you reckon? You gonna get on board? Unleash the Monster in you!

What’s that coming over the hill? Oh, it’s just some Monsters

Okay folks. This is big. And by big I mean huge. Coming this August at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival is my debut show as a performer on the Fringe Monsters: A History of Villainy. How would you like to be a patron of a comedy show? Read how you can become an honorary Monster…

What’s it about?

Monsters is sketch show all about history and fiction’s greatest villains.

It aims to bring to life epic characters, portraying them in irreverent, human and silly situations. Our show aims to answer ‘Are villains more important to us than heroes?’. Well I say that, we’ll be largely answering other questions like…

Was Hitler pranked by his friends? What if Big Bad Wolf went on a dating show? Is Santa teased by his blokey mates for his wussy image? Were Polar Bears and Global Warming ever good friends?

Featuring some fantastic comedians, including Stuart Laws and Mark Davison, each day will see a guest star comic co grace the performance. The show plans to play to schools too at some point. Like some weird, horrible, offbeat history lessons.

Who’s in it?

Mark Davison

Stuart Laws

Me – Bob Fletcher

And featuring the voice of Mr Brian Blessed! This is him in my favourite ever Have I Got News For You

Also another member is to be confirmed, so watch this space…

Sounds good, when’s it on?

We’re at Fingers Piano Bar, Frederick Street (in Edinburgh) at 5.30pm to 6.30pm on August 6, 7, 9-14, 16-21, 23-27.

How can I get involved?

Well, the venue is free thanks to Peter Buckley-Hill (PBH) as it’s part of the Free Fringe. But there are lots of costs. The brochure fee alone is £395. Then there’s photography, posters, flyers, props, travel and rent. All in all, we need to raise around £1500.

But the good news is. (he who cannot be named) of Little Britain has already donated £150. Meanwhile I’m talks with a certain popstar who like a SCIENTIST should offer some SPARKS and has hinted he may FIX YOU up with some…erm… YELLOW. I’m not making any sense now. Anyway, I’m pestering the world and his wife. But YOU can get in on it too. The site I’m using is american so everything is in dollars. Sorry.

For a minimum of $30 you can become a Producer of ‘Monsters’. Your name will appear on the flyer as a patron.
For $100 you can become an Executive Producer and as well as a mention we’ll post you some goodies.
For over $300 you’ll be mentioned as a VIP  Producer which means you’ll get a your name, goodies and a certificate.

As well as all that you’ll get a special invite to see the show.

To become a patron go to http://www.indiegogo.com/Monsters-A-History-of-Villainy?c=home

There’s only a limited time to become part of the project so what are you waiting for? Click and become a Monster.

Ben Shephard – Easy Rider

Driving back from filming The Sarah Millican Show up in Manchester who do we spot? Only TV’s Ben flippin’ Shephard!

On a bloomin Motorbike nonetheless! So, we wasted no time in handing over some cupcakes we’d brought back/hijacked.

It took some charmingly wreckless driving and feverish groupie yelling but we got him!

It felt something out of an action movie. Like that bit in Air Force One where they try and fuel a plane mid-flight? Ben Shepherd was the plane. I was Harrison Ford, obviously.

Good lad.

That is all.

Do you like cupcakes? Or Ben Shepherd? Or both! Course you do. Don’t be silly.