Questions and Answers with Graeme and Tim: Part 3

Graeme: It didn’t take us long to decide to hit the road again –and the dates have already been announced!

Tim: Thank you for asking that question. Is it from our PR department?

We had such a good time on the last tour – I swear Humph shed 70 years, which now means he can’t drink alcohol poor boy. Dates for next year, hopefully, have now been announced.

Graeme: We knew the radio recordings sold out quickly, but we weren’t sure if a stage show, which involved people sitting at desks would sell as well with a higher ticket price. We were relieved and delighted when the theatres were full and the audiences seemed happy with what we had to offer!

Tim: We prayed that they would sell out as quickly as the broadcasts, and were knocked out at the rush for tickets. The test then was to supply a show that worked. We tinkered with it throughout the tour and that, I think, was a good idea and helped the show.

Graeme: It was very pleasant not having to think up new material for every show. However we avoided getting stale by trying out new lines unexpectedly and the bits we did have to make up as we went along, eg 84 Chicken Cross Road, kept us on our toes.

Tim: What was particularly good was that, though we changed the show nightly, we knew there were certain moments that would always work. Sometimes with the recordings we have that dread feeling that this could be the day when the audience finally wakes up to the fact that we’re just being really silly and not remotely funny.

Funnily enough the most enjoyable moments for me were when Jeremy and I were wriggling about trying to make the genuinely ad libbed ‘Chicken Cross Road’ sort of work.

Not many negatives, though hotel living is not my kind of fun.

Graeme: Yes. We have a sound recording and it would make sense to capture the show on video too. However we wouldn’t want to release anything commercially until we’ve got the most out of the touring stage show.

Tim: I suppose it’s a possibility, but we wouldn’t do it until we’d decided that we were never going to tour again.

Graeme: We’ve all worked and travelled together for so long I don’t think there is much left to learn.

Tim: The best thing we learned was that the show definitely appeals to a wide group of people. I also learned how incredibly kind and thoughtful Jeremy is. But please don’t tell him.

Graeme: No – there are certain things like standing at the mike to sing and using the sound effects table that we want to keep just for the stage show.

Tim: I found that trying out New Definitions on tour was exceptionally useful. Every night I chickened out of ‘Country – a bit like George Galloway’, but because of an unexpected feed at Manchester I was able to pick it out of the air. Though whether it gets into the final edit or not, I don’t know.

Graeme: We do resurrect from time to time, but usually give the old round a new twist and/or name! There are probably several rounds we should bring back, but as we’ve played over 300 different rounds on the show, it would be hard work going through them all. Any suggestions for return rounds?

Tim: Not that I can think of. Are there any you’d like? I love Late Arrivals, as does Barry, but Jon and Graeme have to be fought to include it.

Graeme: It’s not really up to me to envisage it! I’d like to think of it going on and on as long as there people prepared to play it and others prepared to listen!

Tim: Wash your mouth out

Graeme: I didn’t see her, but Samantha claims she glimpsed her in Tunbridge Wells.

Tim: I expect so but she, wisely, always appears in disguise. Last time, I believe, as a Minx.

Graeme: There was a lot of fun to be had. I think I noted some of the amusing moments in the little tour diary I posted – I’d have to go there to look them up!

Tim: Gosh yes, but Graeme pinched them all for his diary.