Comic Relief

Greg Davies gets grilled by a room of kids

Greg Davies visits Comic Relief HQ for an important audition for a Red Nose Day but gets quite the surprise when he's met with 'The Committee', who are ready to put Greg through his paces.

Featuring: Greg Davies.

In this sketch, Greg Davies is seen patiently waiting in the reception area of Comic Relief HQ ahead of a meeting with some of the charity's executives. Here his interest is drawn to a steely eyed, determined group - seen channelling their best Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada) - as they march past the comedian.

Confused and perplexed, Greg is soon summoned to the boardroom, where the reality of the situation quickly hits home. If this former teacher was to have any chance of securing a part in this year's Red Nose Day campaign, he was going to need to impress his old adversary... school children.

With time seemingly of the essence, this group of executives - aged 6-10 - launch straight into a series of questioning that couldn't be less befitting of Jeremy Paxman, or a Line Of Duty interrogation. From 'what are you famous for?' to 'how are you a comedian if you're not so funny?', the questions leave the former teacher of 13 years puzzled, but with no choice but to persevere - relying on his powers of persuasion, humour, and wit. Batting away question after question, Greg still has high hopes of winning over the demanding and unruly committee members in this battle of the ages.

However, patience and interest soon begins to wear thin among some of the committee's harshest members who seem unconvinced by the comedic star. Seemingly on the brink of losing the room, Greg's hopes take a positive turn when he is tasked with reading a script for the voiceover of an upcoming advert about Comic Relief's new Red Noses, the funniest and most sustainable collection to date. Will this be enough to save the comedian? Will the interrogators masks slip as joy and laughter sees through?

Greg Davies said: "When my agent first told me I'd be meeting a small committee of Comic Relief execs, your mind naturally goes in one direction - 'a nice informal chat over coffee with Sir Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis you say... of course, clear the diary and I'll grab my Red Nose'. I didn't think to take it quite so literally, yet I couldn't have been more wrong, could I. Though if I'm being totally honest, it's not the strangest audition in my time.

"Filming the sketch took me right back to my teaching days on Red Nose Day - the chaos of it all and the feeling that kids were taking a bit of ownership. It was brilliant. For me, Red Nose Day was always a lot like the phenomena of there being a dog in the school - something that used to drive the children crazy in the most amazing way. Helped by everyone wearing a big, silly looking Red Nose on their hooter - there was just a positive lunacy to it all that'd make for such a special atmosphere. It's something I'll always remember very fondly."

Greg added: "Comic Relief is such an amazing charity that does incredible work, especially at a time when poverty is unfortunately such a big part of so many people's lives. If anything, it feels more relevant and pertinent than ever, so I'm delighted to be taking part... even if it does mean being dealt the crushing blow of rejection by a 6-year-old."

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