Mark Watson

Comic Relief stand-up marathon sells out

Tickets for comedian Mark Watson's 25-hour stand-up show, to raise money for Comic Relief's 25th anniversary, have sold out in four minutes.

Feature: Mark Watson's 25 hour long gig

It makes sitting in a bath of baked beans look, well, a bit silly. Mark Watson is preparing to perform stand-up for 25 hours non-stop to raise money for the 25th anniversary of Comic Relief.

This three-part documentary series, narrated by journalist Eddie Mair, looks at the 'darker', money-making side of the comedy world.

The first episode looks at how many comics, in particular stand-ups, make money by performing at corporates. It shows performances from The Real Variety Show where comics play in front of business people keen on booking them for events.

Then it follows the world of adverts, discussing comics like Mark Arden and Stephen Frost (who did ads for Carling Black Label) to QI creator John Lloyd (who first met Alan Davies when Lloyd directed ads for Abbey National.) I know there's a history of comics doing adverts - despite the public outrage at Mark Watson a few years back - but I was suprised at the frequency of appearances. Most of the ads were produced 'before my time' as it were, so were quite shocking in a way. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie advertising tobacco?

It's definitely a growing trend, though; if you're feeling bored, you can play a little game where you try to spot how many times in a three-minute period you can hear the voice of Hugh Dennis.

Off all the people on Funny Business, though, the most interesting was Rhod Gilbert. Rhod explained how one corporate gig resulted in him sacking them off altogether, and how he justified doing adverts for the Welsh tourist board because he was promoting a country rather than a product. There were also interesting contributions from Mark Thomas, who attacked just about any involvement of comedians and advertising. The only advertising I can think that he has been involved in was with early episodes of The Mark Thomas Comedy Product, which were sponsored by small independent shops - like a gentlemen's hairdressers and a record shop.

Funny Business declares that the problem with advertising is that there's no funny ads. I can't help but think the problem's that there are ads to start with.

Mark Watson to perform 25 hour show for Comic Relief

You can't really turn Comic Relief down. It is their 25th anniversary this year; they asked for a 25-hour show. Featuring challenges by members of the public and audience members alike, being broadcast on various radio stations and streamed online, and all in all making money for good causes.

Five reasons to go see Mark Watson

The comedian has previously assumed a Welsh persona and had spats with Stewart Lee and Frankie Boyle.

If you're missing Josh Widdicombe from Adam Hills's Paralympics show The Last Leg, then you get another dose of the droll comic in this belated Edinburgh dispatch as he hosts Welsh wonder Mark Watson, cosy Iranian Shappi Khorsandi and Radio 4 regular turned Spamalot star Marcus Brigstocke.

My Edinburgh: Mark Watson, comedian

I've been to the past thirteen Edinburgh Fringes as a punter, student, director, aspiring stand-up, actual stand-up, 24-hour marathon man and - my current incarnation - jaded old veteran. There are various tricks you learn, when you've been in the game as long as I have.

Mark Watson: 'Being an arsehole is mistaken for edgy'

Mark Watson gave us tips on how to make it in the comedy world, explained his stance on controversial humour ("it's cheap shots at people who can't defend themselves") and gave us his take on one of the biggest comedy novels ever, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Comedy's Rite of Passage

Edinburgh has launched stand-up greats, from Dudley Moore to Mark Watson.