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It's been quite a week and I got in late from Whitstable last night so I was pretty tired even before my long day of interviewing poker based celebrities got under way. I had also agreed to appear at a fundraising gig at a middle school in a town called Potton tonight, which I realised had been a stupid thing to do as it was going to make a long tiring day even longer.
But I had some great guests today including 12 times darts world Phil Taylor, "Mad" Marty Wilson, Nasty Nick from Big Brother, Greg Raymer and John McCririck. The only way it could have been better is if Isabelle Mercier had been waiting in my dressing room afterwards!
I feel a lot more relaxed with the interviewing now and I think the show is working well. No-one seems to want to come and see it live. Well a lot of people book tickets, but then don't turn up - perhaps finding themselves too hungover or possibly they get distracted by the delights of Whiteley's shopping centre. So why not come to one of the last four shows which are being recorded on the 15th and 22nd? Click the banner on the home page to book your place!
It is always a pleasure to meet Mad Marty Wilson who I first encountered at Celebrity Poker Club in Cardiff. His stories are great even if you sometimes suspect they might not be entirely veracious. It doesn't matter either way as he is excellent value. Phil Taylor is a modest and down to earth man and how many other 12 times world champions has this country produced? It's amazing how little acclaim he gets, but then it seems that that suits him. I had been quite looking forward to meeting Nasty Nick as he was always my favourite in Big Brother in the classic first series before the contestants realised what was going on and started sticking bottles up themselves to get attention. He was a bit disappointing though: a bit too defensive and not as nasty as his nickname would have us believe. Greg Raymer was a gent as always and told the story of the attempted armed mugging that was made on him at some length. It was a fascinating story and it's well worth getting satellite TV and tuning into the show for that alone. McCririck as you might expect was just as he appears on the TV. Before he came on he requested that the small audience should all boo and hiss him as he entered. Then in the interview he pointed this out as evidence that no-one liked him. "You told them to do that!" I correctly pointed out. He isn't a hateful man really and I admire him for at least having the guts to say what he thinks, even though he is usually wrong. It's obviously a defence mechanism for him, if he can be in control of saying everyone hates him and gets that idea in first then he protects himself. But I think he's rather sweet and child-like underneath it all. Though he became quite aggressive when I suggested this and for the second week in a row I had a veiled threat made against me by a minor TV personality.
It certainly gave a lift at the end of a long day to have this ridiculous and wonderful eccentric on the show. But then I had to dash off for Potton Middle School, feeling pretty scared that I might fall asleep at the wheel of my car.
The gig was great though and my pretend flirtation with three pretty girls at the front almost spiralled out of control when one of them revealed she was 15. I pushed the taste barriers back as far as I felt was possible and luckily most of the patrons of this fine and obscure town seemed to enjoy my inappropriate lewdness.
I am looking forward to a day off tomorrow, before embarking on my scene a day or prison scheme. It's been quite a month and I wish I could have a holiday, but to be honest that doesn't look likely to happen!
