Watson finishes another 24hr show

The British stand-up has been performing such endurance shows since the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe, but has threatened to call it a day for fears of the format becoming stale – let alone the effect on his health.

But he seemed as full of good ideas as ever in a show that joined forces with a satellite show in North London, linked over the internet.

Around 400 people attended Watson’s show at its peak, which ended just after midnight local time.

Highlights included

• Adam Hills dressing as a Goth – only without any trousers – for much of the show, only hours after receiving a nomination for the greatest accolade in Australian TV, the Golden Logie.

• An appearance by Melbourne Lord Mayor John So, who had been wooed unsuccessfully, but doggedly, to attend last year.

• This was trumped by the London gig attracting former Python Terry Jones, who read a children’s story about a crocodile.

• Australian Idol star Natalie Gauci performing a duet with A-May, an unemployed pharmacist who Watson was grooming to be a singing star.

• Several games played across the globe with between the two audiences, including a stare-off, rock-paper-scissors, and ‘who’s got the smallest head?’

• The completion of a giant quilt, with one panel for every one of the 192 countries of the world recognised by the United Nations, plus all disputed territories, by a team led by comics Josie Long and Maeve Higgins, singer Ali McGregor and Watson’s wife, Emily.

• The quest to discover the identity of a mysterious half-naked giant koala, largely suspected to be Phil Nichol, who delivered a message to the show.

• A song dedicated to Bert O’Loughlin, 13-year-old son of Alice Springs comedian Fiona O’Loughlin, who was the youngest person ever to complete a 24-hour show.

For more about what happened, visit the official website.

Published: 7 Apr 2008