mostly david ephgrave

Yesterday's Mostly Comedy was another good one, though this was pretty inevitable with Ardal O'Hanlon on the bill. Ardal at last night's show. It's only the second time he's appeared at the club, with his first visit being almost exactly two years ago to the day. What was evident from the off was how nice he is, as well as being generous with praise; the first thing he said as I walked backstage after Glyn's and my opening set was, "That was a very strong beginning; it was great"; kind words from a performer I've always rated very highly and looked up to since I first became aware of him from Father Ted back in the day. Daniel Cook in the blue. The other act on the bill last night is also a special one and a very nice chap - my former venue-buddy from two years' worth of Edinburgh Fringes, Daniel Cook - who's only ever appeared on a Mostly bill once before, when he shared a preview with me at The Market Theatre as part of ou...

My whole life currently consists of me rushing about to get nothing done. Today's a good example as there's a Mostly Comedy at the end of it that I haven't had the time to prepare for, and as I attempt to do this, my attention is completely split. It probably doesn't help that I don't feel match-fit to perform tonight, as I haven't really had my comedy head on lately (not in a Frank Sidebottom sense); I've been mostly knee-deep in admin (he says melodramatically), which is hardly a suitable warm-up. Hopefully the fact Glyn's back with us tonight - he had to miss the last show due to touring - will help. The plus-(and sometimes minus)-side to Mostly Comedy is we're seldom the focus and more the glue between the acts the audience came to see. That's not to say we can get away with not performing, but Glyn's and my time together is so minimal at the moment, there's no chance of us doing anything new; if I've been working on solo mate...

Last night saw another of those surreal Mostly Comedys I've grown accustomed to expect. February 2017's Hitchin Mostly line-up: Jenny Collier, Glyn Doggett, David Ephgrave & Ardal O'Hanlon (left to right). It’s reached the stage where we’re fortunate enough to have big names at the club as a matter of course, with the odd leap occurring at regular intervals. Only four months ago we had Rory Bremner on the bill, which was both ridiculous and ridiculously good ; the dust had barely settled from this to be kicked up again by yesterday’s headliner: Ardal O’Hanlon. Ardal O'Hanlon at Hitchin Mostly Comedy (16.02.17) It’s no exaggeration to say we’ve been after him for years. While I’d hoped our diaries would eventually sync, there was always the stumbling block that he lived in Ireland, which made it less likely we’d find a time when he happened to be in England and free. David Ephgrave at Hitchin Mostly Comedy (16.02....

As it stands, we're currently sixteen days away from playing host to the legendary comic actor Ardal O'Hanlon , which is very exciting; it's like waiting for a Dougal-Themed Christmas. See below for the press release for the gig, which I've included in lieu of a propery blog post; Exciting times are definitely ahead and I want to make the most of them: Press Release – 27.01.17 mostly comedy a monthly comedy and music club at the sun hotel in hitchin While February’s Hitchin Mostly Comedy is officially sold out for the third month running, there’s still a chance to snap up return tickets on the night. This month, the club’s custodians DOGGETT & EPHGRAVE play host to ARDAL O’HANLON (best known as Dougal in Father Ted). Son of the Irish politician Rory O’Hanlon, Ardal was born in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, in 1965. After attending school there, he enrolled at Dublin City University, where he stud...

Today we confirmed Ardal O’Hanlon for February’s Hitchin Mostly Comedy, which was the act I was intimating I was trying to snare yesterday (in a non-hunting capacity, of course). Often, when I find myself feeling less enthused about Mostly Comedy, or I worry about how we’re going to follow and / or better the people we’ve already had on the bill, something like this comes up and brings back the excitement. Ardal is someone I’ve longed to have at the club for years, and finally the diaries allow it. The thought of meeting and sharing a stage with him, however briefly, is a thrill. (I’m starting to sound like a fangirl.) I was talking to my friend Stephen today about it, when I realised that Ardal O’Hanlon was one of the first people to make me aware of stand-up. I have a dim memory of watching him host a mixed-bill programme on telly - clearly lured in by the fact I was a fan of Father Ted - and vaguely taking on board that I was watching a ...