Just A Minute

The team for the next recording of JAM is

Sir Clement Freud, Paul Merton, Tony Hawks and Dave Gorman.

Lovely to have Clement and Tony back again. And Dave Gorman! For those
who haven't heard about him, he is a very different style of stand-up
comic. Have a look around his website http://www.davegorm an.com/ and
you'll see what I mean.

He has also blogged already about how nervous he is about coming on
JAM ! And how much he loves the show! And Clement! And linked to a
certain other blog! :-)

You can find the blog entry here.
//http://gormano. blogspot. com/2007/ 07/just-minute. html. But I'll quote
it to you anyway.

Since we finished recording this last series of Genius I've been
enjoying my writing much more. With nothing else to distract me I've
found it easier to immerse myself in the book and suddenly I see the
tale with more clarity. Hurrah for things like that.

In order to remain focussed on the book I've been turning down
everything else I'm offered. I know I'd enjoy popping up on bubbalub and
chatting to Dermot about this series of Big Brother - and I think
there's a lot to be said about the current crop of housemates - but I've
decided that, for now, the book is more important.

I thought I was going to maintain my no-other-work rule no matter what
but then along came an offer that was simply too good to refuse: Just A
Minute. JAM is one of the great radio shows. (There's only really I'm
Sorry I Haven't A Clue that can compare.) So how could I possibly say no
when asked to take part? I couldn't. I said yes without hesitation. Or
the other two.

And then, I suddenly found myself increasingly worried about what I'd
agreed to. Because while I love the show it's also incredibly
intimidating. The other contestants will be Paul Merton, Tony Hawks and
Clement Freud all of whom are exceedingly skilled players of the game
with buckets of experience on their side. Clement Freud had been doing
the show since before I was born.

Whatever the show, regulars always have an edge with the audience
because their relationship already exists - they've already earned their
respect. Anyone new has to try and win that trust anew. I reckon that
the longer the regulars have been on a show the harder it gets for any
incomers... and there aren't many shows that have been running longer
than JAM.

Not that I'm complaining about the situation. They've earned their place
in the audience's heart after all. And besides, as a fan of the show I'd
be disappointed if Clement Freud wasn't there.

Suddenly it feels like I'm stepping into a boxing ring for my first ever
bout and I've been pitted against a an undefeated heavyweight. I will be
pummelled. Gulp.

When Tilusha, the show's producer, called me to talk about the show and
explain some of its subtleties I confessed that I was feeling
intimidated by it. She told me that most people did and that yes, it was
quite an intimidating show to step into for just those reasons. Which
didn't make for the peppiest of pep talks.

She then told me that Michael Palin had written about the show in his
diaries. He appeared on the show in 1975 and he was intimidated by the
show then for much the same reasons. I googled it and found the extract
here. (this is where he links to my blog.)

"The three regulars have been playing the game together for five years,
Williams and Freud for eight, and it shows. They are smooth and
polished, they know when to ad-lib, when to bend the rules a little, and
when to be cross with each other."

and

"The game became easier but I never mastered the technique of
microphone-hogging which they have all perfected."

Gulp.

Somehow the fact that Michael Palin - official comedy God and
NicestManInTheWhole WideWorld felt slightly out of his depth doing the
show isn't particularly reassuring.

Having spoken to Tilusha about the show I was surprised to find that our
paths crossed again later the same day when we were both at the same
book launch. The book being launched was How to Bring Up Your Parents by
Emma Kennedy. Emma writes one of my favourite blogs and it's no surprise
that such a consistently funny bloggess has turned out such a funny book.

Seeing Emma's pride and excitement as her tome makes its way into the
big wide world was a good reminder of why it is that I want to
concentrate my efforts on my own book. It has to be something I can be
proud of. So other things must go by the wayside. Apart from exciting
and intimidating invitations to enter hallowed radio institutions. They
must be accepted. I'll be recording two episodes on Tuesday night at the
Radio Theatre.

Welcome aboard, Mister Gorman! Good luck! We hope Clement takes pity on
you!