The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Holiday Cover
This is me, on my own, waiting to review this week's films as Mark Kermode in the 5 Live studio, while Mark Radcliffe, who was playing Simon Mayo, was in Headingly, straining to hear me over the sound of appeals and various other crowd noises, not to mention a chorus of Just One Cornetto at one point (I don't understand cricket). I very rarely get to "be" Mark Kermode with Simon Mayo, as when Mark's away, Simon is usually away too. Mind you, they get quality holiday cover in for him, usually Phil Williams or Colin Murray or Richard Bacon, but whatever the pairing, we always know we're on a hiding to nothing trying to fill the chasm left by the people's favourites "Dr K" and "Dr M".If you could see me on a webcam now, I'm looking just as bored - or thoughtful - in a BBC News green room, waiting to "be" Mark Kermode on Film 24. It can be a lonely life moving from studio to studio (I was even grabbed by the Six O'Clock News to give a soundbite about the late John Hughes - at least I was already in a shirt). This open-plan odyssey is animated only by the actual radio/TV appearance itself, when at least I get to talk. Due to "the cricket", my bulging portfolio of new films seen - seven! - was cruelly truncated on 5 Live by the unscheduled appearance of Sir Geoffrey Boycott at Mark Radcliffe's side for his own comment on England's collapse at the Ashes (that's what was happening, isn't it?), and I didn't even get the chance to rave about Mesrine: Killer Instinct - easily my film of the week. At least they only require three films on Film 24, so I know I'll get my chance to rave about it on the swivel chair.
I made a joke on last week's Film 24 about not being able to get wi-fi access at the BBC, which used to be true. Now I seem to be able to connect, which is why I'm wiling away the downtime writing about wiling away the downtime. Cheers.
PS: Just realised that all my Film 24 appearances are logged on the BBC website here (including tonight's - they work fast in BBC online). It seems I have been sitting or perching on Mark's chair for almost two years. I didn't know it had been so long. I've had a lot of use out of this suit.
PPS: Thanks to Paul Bailey for the grab. Nicely done.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 4:46 PM
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24 Comments:
I do like the screen grab it's got a nice quality to it. look forward to hearing your reviews on the SM podcasts
Aww! You look so sad!
Weird to have the presenters chair empty too.
Just saw Film 24. Hurrah, they finally lowered the chairs so it doesn’t look like you’re balancing on a little perch! And you got the flirty, leggy Emily Maitlis as a host. I guess that makes up for sitting alone in the drab 5 Live studio.
nice smooth performance on film 24 andrew, I noticed you had a better chemistry with Emily Maitlis than with the man before, she was flirting with you and when reviewing killer instinct she almost did her impression of basic instinct. I was impressed you were unphased but I guess you are used to being seduced by your even more provocative colleague richard.
Not a cricket fan either, but I believe Renato of "Save Your Love" fame died yesterday. He also sang "Just One Cornetto".
How this relates to cricket?
--Baffled, Jonathan (Ogilvie75 on Twitter)
I may put "Andrew Collins' photographic supplier" on my CV!
Damn your eyes! It should be "whiling", not "wiling"!
A.N Pedant
Good old Mark Radcliffe. Him and Lard kept me sane when I was driving a van around London. Stopped listening to Radio 1 after they left...
The odd thing is the branding in the background. Now, I love Five Live - I'm actually a bit obsessed and have a radio tuned to it in every last room of the house - but do the presenters and guests really need reminding which station they're on while in the studio?
Looking forward to listening to the SM podcast for this, Andrew...
Robin
I imagine you've seen this - says much about the kind of man John Hughes was: http://tinyurl.com/ngg2tn
How many suits are you up to now? At last count in the book it was eight (but really only 5 in service!)....and I'm pleased to report I have managed to get off at Vauxhall and struggled into work on time! (only 10 pages left though - you need to write another one)
I think it's four, now - two black, one pinstriped, one dark with a very light check. One of the blacks is lighter, and thus better suited to summer (and that's the one I've been wearing on the News).
Very stylish. You're obviously very disciplined on the wardrobe front - I still have outfits in mine that would pass as late 80's fancy dress
and your thoughts on the passing of John Hughes? (I missed your BBC contribution). A large chunk of my teenage memories are enmeshed in his films
Colbert Tells Us Which Movies Are Destroying America
Wasn't there a review of Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus promised? Come one, that's what we're all waiting for. The review, not the actual film!
Brief review of Mega Shark on the 5 Live show, which is, of course, available as a podcast.
Karl said "but I guess you are used to being seduced by your even more provocative colleague richard."
And with RKH currently in far away Edinburgh perhaps "The loneliness of the long distance bummer" will be the headline of Andrew's next post.
When's the next podcast?
you handled the interruption of your explanation of aspergers well.. having the cricket score interrupting you had a Partridgesque tinge to it :)
Good photo! You look like you're wearing a single giant Mickey Mouse ear.
Word verification; expleb. That's me.
"... when Mark's away, Simon is usually away too." Interesting. Do you think the Kermode and Mayo families go on holiday together? I imagine the two paterfamiliases (what's the plural of paterfamilias?) arguing away over the evening meal while the kids roll their eyes at each other: "Can we get down from the table please Mum, we're not THAT interested in why Dad dislikes John Boorman and we've heard it all before anyway..."
Can't help thinking you look like a credit crunch Bond villain in this shot.
The circle is complete...
First we had Collins and Maconie, then Radcliffe and Maconie and now Radcliffe and Collins!
Now we just need Herring and Lard...
Hang on... Does that lead to Stuart Lee playing for The Fall?
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