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Eldon by the Skin of our Teeth.


I really enjoyed tonight’s Mostly Comedy.

Me, at April's Hitchin Mostly. Photo by Gemma Poole.

We had Kevin Eldon on the bill for the first time, which we were both very excited about. His CV is exceptional; it’s harder to think of the programmes he hasn’t been in than the ones that he has. I’d hazard a guess that wasn’t in Bergerac, but wouldn’t want to be quoted on it.

Kevin Eldon. Photo by Gemma Poole.


I’ve been a fan of Kevin since his Fist of Fun days. He’s someone I always noticed and enjoyed. Tonight was no different; his performance was rammed with energy, confidence and commitment. He was also lovely; we had a nice chat with him for our podcast before kick-off.

It was a lovely line-up all round. The gig was closed excellently by Bec Hill. We first met Bec back in 2008, when she manned – or womaned? - the front door of the Gilded Balloon during our first Edinburgh Festival. She’d enthusiastically announce our show through her megaphone every night, though the audiences still stayed away from us in droves.

(We know our place on the comedy food chain.)

Bec and her dinosaurs. Photo by Gemma Poole.

She's a great comic. I particularly love her Terry Gilliam-styled flipchart animations (check them out on YouTube). Eldon was tough act to follow, but she was definitely the one to do it.

Mr P(eter) B(roughton) R(ates) completed the line-up. He’s a friend and comedy promoter we first met at a gig at the Canal Café Theatre, then kept in contact with through the years. He came to try some new stuff out, which went well.

Mr PBR. You can guess who the photo was by.

He's always been supportive of our work. He also once witnessed me fall arse-first into the inner workings of a pouffe and get stuck inside it, though the less said about that, the better.

(Call me Mr Slapstick.)

We also tried out a bit of new material on the books of Jeremy Clarkson, which was loosely based on one of my blogs. It needs a little tightening but has promise.

Not a bad night, all-in-all.
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