WTF: Weekly Trivia File

• ‘Comedians have the monopoly on really complex breakdowns within the arts world.’ Mark Watson

• Before he came along to host the Chortle Awards on Monday, Al Murray was driving a tank around the streets of Kingston, Surrey – filming a new campaign for Comic Relief-branded crisps with his name on. More worryingly, Jimmy Carr is also in the ad – and that involved a 30ft version of his own head being trundled through the streets of the town. So almost life-sized, then. There are pictures here.

• It’s Simon Pegg’s 41st birthday on Monday. But it probably won’t be as eventful as last year’s – when he acted out his own execution. ‘The day I turned 40 I filmed my execution, which was so weird. I was standing on the gallows with a noose round my neck being sung Happy Birthday to me by all these peasants, with my friend Bill Bailey about to pull the lever on me. It was for the Black Comedy Burke And Hare.

• Pegg also popped into Absolute Radio’s breakfast show yesterday to discuss his new alien comedy Paul with host Christian O’Connell… but took something of a tumble on the way into the studio:
  

• Ricky Gervais has been coaching Jerry Seinfeld ahead of his £100-a-ticket shows at London O2 Arena. But the American was suspicious of his motives, Gervais reveals: ‘We were talking about cultural reference changes for his London gigs, and half way through he panicked and said, "How do I know you're not stitching me up, and I'll be saying the most offensive things?" I'm getting a bad reputation.’

• The joys of the open mic circuit. Johnny Armstrong, in a tiger suit, versus a heckler, in an angry strop:
  

• Daniel Sloss says one of his greatest achievements is being insulted by Jimmy Carr. He said: ‘He called me a lanky streak of piss once, which I kinda liked. We were talking about weight and he said, “You’re like a lanky streak of piss”, and I was like, “yay!”. It’s one of my dreams to be insulted by Jimmy Carr.’

• Tweets Of The Week
  H Anthony Hildebrand (@hahildebrand):One of the things I regret most in my life is not having the foresight to write a list of my top 10 Most Regrettable Moments.
  Twop Twips (@TwopTwips) : submitted by Adam Bloom (@adambloomie): CDs make the perfect Vanity mirror for women who don't like their noses
  Emo Philips (@EmoPhilips): Don't wear fur! Did you know that a single fur coat takes 14 trees just for the protest signs?

SOURCES: York Press, Kingston Guardian, Daily Record, Absolute Radio, Rickygervais.com, YouTube, Latest 7, Twitter

Published: 11 Feb 2011