Apologies in advance for the lack of images but due to Copyright rules no photos inside the studio were allowed.
On Sunday night after a previous failed attempt, two of my darling friends and I were Prioritised entrance into Comedy Rocks hosted by the Twitter banned Jason Mansford. We arrived to the ITV's South Bank studios in the rain and were greeted with mulled wine which was a nice touch to get the punters giggling. On entering we sat ourselves plonk in the middle section. Later we were to discover that this meant we could only see the heads of the comedians and not their full bodies. Top tip to future TV live audience goers - go to the sides not centre!
Alas the night was a great hoot featuring the Rocks from the one and only Paloma Faith and her band. Paloma should be kindly creditted also for being a great house band lead with a brilliant cackle and a constant support to the acts and host himseld Mr Mansford. Jason was clearly jilted from his time on telly hosting The One Show. His gags were short in line with his hosting duties and he showed us all how TV is all rather patched together by the artists in the back office (its not just TV you know!). We had plenty of double takes and rewordings during his interludes. He was kindly aided by the help of the "Filler" Charlie who kept us in stitches with tales of Devon and his plans to overthrough his doppleganger Jack Black. The official Comedy line-up of Irish funny man Jason Byrne who cracked a few of the same funnies I saw last year at Live at the Apollo (obviously I am a freebie loving comedy goer - sorry Comedians but I do laugh loud in the free tv crowds (insert smiley-winky face - if I used emoticons!)) which was a bit disappointing. Young Newcastle Floppy Haired boy Chris Ramsay who has a bit to learn about not giggling at his own gags. The physically fastforwarded Russell Kane who shared tales of first class and the pro's of being an Apple convert (I cringe a little inside). A well placed regular on this new show.
And the draw for best act of the night was a mix of Oldy but Goody and a Fresh to Funky Town Internet Sensation. Please welcome for the first time on British Television The Axis of Awesome. Their 4 Chord Song is a strike of brilliance that any great songwriter or any musical enthusiast should take a good hard listen too. Get onto catching this viral piece of work...
Let it be noted this version was made for the Australian audience and some tunes were changed to cater for the British audience.
A lifetime of comedy for me started with great antipodean acts and the other awesome act in the Oldy but goody category of the night - take your bow now - or indeed curtsy, floated the boat in my house was the glittering gaytime, The One, The Only, royal affiliated, Dame Edna Everage (the one sequined Australian welcomed on the tele in Hilbre Ave).
Using the PVC wearing Paloma as her Comedians Assistant Dame Edna hosted a hilarious union of two equally compatiable subjects. The bride may have a very jilted husband of 39 years to deal with after the episode airs on Friday! Dame Edna was an old school professional whereby she was the constant entertainer, unlike the others throughout the night who had been quite happy for Charlie the "Filler" to help with the gaps between takes, acts and re recordings of gaffs. But for me it was her striking getup that had me excited. (I will try and find a pic to add later) The sequined dress of the Australian flag with the shoulder inspirations from the great Sydney tourist site - the Opera house. Just priceless. I can't quite capture the essence of this experience in words I am sorry to say, but the warm feeling of seeing such a comedy great on stage was so heartwarming. I couldn't wait to get out of the auditorium to call Hilbre Ave!
Check it out if you get the chance. I sure will be.
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