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"Everybody's Celebrating Being Thirty, Dave."


Today was a day of low-level admin, including finalising the first line-up for St Albans Mostly Comedy (which is good news), putting together a mailing list mailout for next week’s show (in which I mentioned the news of our soon-to-be additional venue, without actually revealing where it was) and generally not doing a great deal, save a little reading, as I hadn’t slept particularly well last night, so writing wasn’t an option.

Within the mailout I mentioned the fact that Red Dwarf celebrated its thirtieth birthday yesterday - something I hadn’t realised until Norman Lovett tweeted about it - which felt pertinent, what with us regularly playing host to both Hollys, which we’re doing again over the next few months. Without double-checking due to laziness, this must put Red Dwarf alongside The Simpsons as one of the longest running sitcoms, though in the case of the former, it’s been a little more off-again on again instead of going straight through.

This is an impressive statistic that’s hard to figure when I remember watching the first series on BBC2 as a child, probably only a couple of years after it first went out. I can specifically remember Norman’s situation-setting introductions as the ship’s computer, obviously with no idea that my path would cross semi-regularly with his in years to come; he’s one of comedy’s genuinely lovely figures, not to mention one of the most instinctively funny people in the industry.

The Holly and the Holly and the Holly.

In compiling the mailout for this and next week’s show, I also reworked the press release for the latter, as it was worth including it. See below for it in its original info-giving state:

Press Release – 04.02.18

mostly comedy
a monthly comedy club, at the sun hotel in hitchin

While 22nd February’s Hitchin Mostly Comedy with HENNING WEHN officially sold out in advance in just twenty minutes, there’s still a good chance of snapping up return tickets on the night.

HENNING is the self-proclaimed German Comedy Ambassador to the UK; prior to working in comedy he studied Business Administration in Münster. In 2002, he moved to the UK to work in the marketing department of Wycombe Wanderers. Around that time, he attended an open mic night and decided to try his hand at stand-up; since then, he hasn't looked back.

Henning's now a familiar media face, having been seen on BBC's QI, Have I Got News For You and Would I Lie To You? and C4's 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and heard on BBC Radio 4's The Unbelievable Truth and Radio 5Live's Fighting Talk, to name a few. This will be his fifth appearance at Mostly Comedy.

Political comic GRÁINNE MAGUIRE joins Henning on the bill. Her credits include BBC1′s Question Time and Daily Politics, ITV1′s Agenda, Comedy Central’s Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Experience, RTE’s The Year That’s In It, BBC3′s Free Speech, Radio 5Live’s Seven Day Sunday and Hit List and writing for C4's Alternative Election Night, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Radio 4’s News Quiz.

Comic actor KATHRYN BOND completes the line-up. One half of the critically acclaimed Edinburgh and Soho Theatre sellout act That Pair, Kathryn's TV and radio credits include BBC's Call the Midwife, Sky's The Greatest, C4's Blaps and BBC Radio 4, amongst others.

The gig is emceed by Mostly Comedy’s custodians: the “polished, natural comedians” (Camden Fringe Voyeur) DOGGETT & EPHGRAVE. Doors open at 7:30pm, with the first act on at 8:00pm. A waiting list will be taken on the door from 7:15pm, with any returns distributed just before 8:00pm on a first-come, first-served basis. Returns do tend to come up (there were eight for JACK DEE’s appearance in November, which had an unprecedented advance interest) so it's worth a try. For more information on this and other dates - and how to join the club’s mailing list - visit www.mostlycomedy.co.uk.

Date:              Thursday 22nd February 2018
Venue:           The Sun Hotel, Sun Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1AF
Time:             Bar open all day. Doors at 7:30pm. First act on at 8:00pm.
Admission:   £11.00. Waiting list from 7:15pm. More info at www.mostlycomedy.co.uk


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