NJ runner

Justin - Azerbaijan has been accused of paying ten million dollars to guarantee two gold medals at the London Olympic games - who knew a sport where two men repeatedly punch each other in the face could be so unfair. I am now joined by a government official from Azerbaijan - welcome

Man 1 - Thanks for having me

Justin - If you don't mind I'm going to dive straight in and ask the question everyone wants to know

Man 1 - Of course. We are south of Iran

Justin - Not that - south? Really? Okay. Did you pay ten million dollars for certain assurances about the twenty twelve games?

Man 1 - Yes

Justin - Oh. That was easy. Better looking than Paxman and a better interviewer.

Man 1 - You've got it wrong. We paid ten million for assurances that we wouldn't win any medals

Justin - Excuse me?

Man 1 - Can you sing the Azerbaijan national anthem?

Justin - Erm no

Man 1 - Nor can we. It's been so long since we won something every one's forgotten it.

Justin - That's embarrassing

Man 1 - Booking a holiday on Dale Farm is embarrassing this is unbelievable. We really need help. That's why I agreed to this interview. If I sing some songs maybe you will recognize ours?

Justin - (Reluctant) I don't know

Man 1 - Ten million?

Justin -Okay

Man 1 - (Singing to the tune of Chico time) It's chico time!

Justin - No, that's the anthem of the talentless

Man 1 - (Singing to the tune Friends Theme tune) So no one told you life was going to be this way (MAN 1 claps hands in tune)

Justin - The theme tune to Friends and also what was sung at Nick Clegg at the Lib Dem conference

Man 1 - What about? (Singing EastEnders theme) Everybody falls in love (MAN 1 imitates the Eastender F/X ending "duff duffs")

Justin - (Defeated) Sure, why not

END

V/O - And in the right corner, representing Azerbaijan he has overcome personal problems to be here at his first Olympic games - including drug addiction and alcoholism he is Phil Mitchell

END

Commentator 1 - Have you ever seen a boxer with such garish attire. I mean look at those ear rings

Commentator 2 - The Azerbaijan Olympic hopeful sure has a unique dress sense

Commentator 1 - That's Pat Butcher for you

END

V/O - We are lucky enough to be granted the first interview with the new gold medalist. Hailing from Azerbaijan he's tough, he's mean he's WellArd!

F/X dog barking

END

Personally, I would have stopped the sketch at the first END and I think it's maybe lacking a decent punchline, but I really enjoyed it, it has a great premise and the south of Iran line got a genuine belly laugh from me so I think it could easily have been chosen.

Thanks Humberfloob - to be honest I only did the runner thing because the first two epsidoe of this series had runners so was playing the odds. Thanks for belly laugh though - chuffed with that

You're welcome. I haven't had any success with sketches but I think one of the Newsjack guys gave some sound advice and said make your sketch about one thing, one strong funny idea, and I thnk this sketch has that ...

I agree -- there is one strong funny idea here and it made me laugh more than once and properly laugh at It's Chico Time.

They may have been put off by the music rights, as I believe it costs a fortune in rights to even quote a line from a song, let alone three, as you have.

To be honest though, you should probably rewrite with the Chico Time line to finish it, as it's the big laugh you want.

Well done though. Enjoyed it.

Dan