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DJ 2015 Report (Part 1)
May. 6th, 2015 04:54 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
janamelie.livejournal.com(Sorry, I'm on a library PC and can't insert a cut. I really want to get this posted. Will edit later.)
Chris Barrie and Hattie Hayridge getting on down to “Uptown Funk”. A little girl dressed as the Joy Squid winning the Costume Competition. A Geordie who looked a bit like Nigel from The Tank hugging a sobbing-with-happiness American lawyer and inviting her to his wedding.
Oh, and the small matter of TWO new series of Red Dwarf. Wow.
Day 1 (Friday)
The event officially started at 5.30pm and the Opening Ceremony was very amusing. They’d got Hattie and Rebecca Blackstone to record audio as Holly and Pree respectively. Hattie’s sketch was based around Holly malfunctioning and insulting the organisers regarding bald spots etc.
We then went straight on to the Pub Quiz (hosted by Mac McDonald) which was a lot of fun but much harder than the last one. So Kat and I were surprised to be on the winning team! We have small business-sized cards to prove it. I’m proud of myself for remembering that the last four words of Series X are actually “You killed my brother!”, not “The slime’s coming home”.
And then there was karaoke, which was far better than last time for two reasons – firstly, they had a compere (Dave Benson-Phillips, a children’s TV presenter and RD fan). Secondly, there were a whole bunch of really talented people who clearly do this a lot. Many were already in costume, for example a woman dressed as Miss Lola from “Gunmen”.
And Kat did a lovely version of “Black Velvet”. Grrr, aren’t some people just sickeningly talented? ;)
Two of the singers were – it became obvious as one of them drank more and more – a gay couple. He kept trying to grope his poor embarrassed boyfriend as they performed “Common People”.
The show continued as they came down and sat at the next table to Kat and myself. Now, they were young and fairly attractive (although nothing like Lister and Rimmer) so you may imagine we enjoyed it. Actually we were torn between amusement and wishing they would get a room. I joked to Kat: “There aren’t any gay RD fans, you know!”
Day 2 (Saturday)
Well. What a day.
We started with a joint Q&A with Mac and the Shend, who were both affably amusing, Mac especially. Once you realise that he’s joking 90% of the time he makes a lot more sense (as RoseCathy put it elsewhere).
Highlights – Mac was asked which Kochanski he finds more attractive (yeah, I know) and diplomatically said that they’re both lovely, but he prefers Clare.
He related an anecdote about John Barrowman being an arsehole (his word) and the Shend agreed with him. Apparently when the latter appeared in “Torchwood” he asked JB if he was in a particular scene and he replied: “It’s my show. I’m in the scene”.
Mac was next to him at a con signing and tried to make conversation by saying: “You know, I’m American too.” The reply “Yes, you are” was the last thing JB said to him all day.
When asked what his dream role would be, Mac said The Incredible Hulk and dramatically took his shirt off. I’m sure it’s probably on Youtube.
The auction was postponed because of the Announcement. We were waiting for Chris’s Q&A when “a very special surprise guest” was announced. I correctly guessed that it was Doug.
You could have heard a pin drop as he went into his speech. I can’t recall the exact words but it was along the lines of “I know there have been reports that I’m about to announce a new series of RD. I’m not here to do that”. Split second of agonising disappointment, but before the audience could react he added: “I’m here to announce TWO new series of Red Dwarf!”
Pandemonium. Everyone was on their feet, clapping and going insane. It was wonderful to be in that room.
Then Chris made his entrance and shared his Q&A with Doug. I have never seen either of them so happy and relaxed, as though a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Which of course it had – the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Highlights which I can remember – Doug doesn’t intend to wrap the series up with XII. The budget is sufficient for their needs, especially as they already have a bunkroom. There will be a Cat episode and apparently he’ll lose his virginity. A bloke behind me muttered: “To Ace Rimmer!”
There will be an ep where everyone’s Kryten. And Doug’s already submitted 9 out of 12 scripts. Good.
Despite not being scheduled to do so, Doug volunteered to sign autographs for an hour or so. I have never ever seen him so happy. I asked if Howard Burden was doing the costumes again and he said he couldn’t confirm that, but he thinks so as Howard’s always put RD first.
After lunch it was time for guest autographs. I asked Mac what his favourite episode was which he appears in and he said “Pete”. There you go, someone likes it. ;)
Hattie is impossibly nice, possibly even more so than Robert. Her queue was as long as Chris’s because she spent so long chatting to everyone and posing for photographs. Apparently she buys new outfits for every DJ so regular attendees can have different pics. She looked amazing in a glamorous red dress.
She wasn’t sure which of her episodes she liked most, so told me to ask her later, even specifying that I didn’t have to do so during her Q&A if I’d prefer to approach her personally.
Not long afterwards, Mac made a big show of storming over to her table (in a joking fashion, obviously) and said loudly: “You need to stop being so nice!”
Chris was also the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He gave a lengthy answer when I asked him his favourite Series X ep – it’s “Lemons” for its cleverness, but he also loves “Trojan” and “The Beginning” and waxed lyrical about Series X in general.
Then he said “I’ve met you before, haven’t I?”. Yes, once. Two years ago. Mind suitably boggled.
(End of Part 1.)
Chris Barrie and Hattie Hayridge getting on down to “Uptown Funk”. A little girl dressed as the Joy Squid winning the Costume Competition. A Geordie who looked a bit like Nigel from The Tank hugging a sobbing-with-happiness American lawyer and inviting her to his wedding.
Oh, and the small matter of TWO new series of Red Dwarf. Wow.
Day 1 (Friday)
The event officially started at 5.30pm and the Opening Ceremony was very amusing. They’d got Hattie and Rebecca Blackstone to record audio as Holly and Pree respectively. Hattie’s sketch was based around Holly malfunctioning and insulting the organisers regarding bald spots etc.
We then went straight on to the Pub Quiz (hosted by Mac McDonald) which was a lot of fun but much harder than the last one. So Kat and I were surprised to be on the winning team! We have small business-sized cards to prove it. I’m proud of myself for remembering that the last four words of Series X are actually “You killed my brother!”, not “The slime’s coming home”.
And then there was karaoke, which was far better than last time for two reasons – firstly, they had a compere (Dave Benson-Phillips, a children’s TV presenter and RD fan). Secondly, there were a whole bunch of really talented people who clearly do this a lot. Many were already in costume, for example a woman dressed as Miss Lola from “Gunmen”.
And Kat did a lovely version of “Black Velvet”. Grrr, aren’t some people just sickeningly talented? ;)
Two of the singers were – it became obvious as one of them drank more and more – a gay couple. He kept trying to grope his poor embarrassed boyfriend as they performed “Common People”.
The show continued as they came down and sat at the next table to Kat and myself. Now, they were young and fairly attractive (although nothing like Lister and Rimmer) so you may imagine we enjoyed it. Actually we were torn between amusement and wishing they would get a room. I joked to Kat: “There aren’t any gay RD fans, you know!”
Day 2 (Saturday)
Well. What a day.
We started with a joint Q&A with Mac and the Shend, who were both affably amusing, Mac especially. Once you realise that he’s joking 90% of the time he makes a lot more sense (as RoseCathy put it elsewhere).
Highlights – Mac was asked which Kochanski he finds more attractive (yeah, I know) and diplomatically said that they’re both lovely, but he prefers Clare.
He related an anecdote about John Barrowman being an arsehole (his word) and the Shend agreed with him. Apparently when the latter appeared in “Torchwood” he asked JB if he was in a particular scene and he replied: “It’s my show. I’m in the scene”.
Mac was next to him at a con signing and tried to make conversation by saying: “You know, I’m American too.” The reply “Yes, you are” was the last thing JB said to him all day.
When asked what his dream role would be, Mac said The Incredible Hulk and dramatically took his shirt off. I’m sure it’s probably on Youtube.
The auction was postponed because of the Announcement. We were waiting for Chris’s Q&A when “a very special surprise guest” was announced. I correctly guessed that it was Doug.
You could have heard a pin drop as he went into his speech. I can’t recall the exact words but it was along the lines of “I know there have been reports that I’m about to announce a new series of RD. I’m not here to do that”. Split second of agonising disappointment, but before the audience could react he added: “I’m here to announce TWO new series of Red Dwarf!”
Pandemonium. Everyone was on their feet, clapping and going insane. It was wonderful to be in that room.
Then Chris made his entrance and shared his Q&A with Doug. I have never seen either of them so happy and relaxed, as though a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Which of course it had – the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Highlights which I can remember – Doug doesn’t intend to wrap the series up with XII. The budget is sufficient for their needs, especially as they already have a bunkroom. There will be a Cat episode and apparently he’ll lose his virginity. A bloke behind me muttered: “To Ace Rimmer!”
There will be an ep where everyone’s Kryten. And Doug’s already submitted 9 out of 12 scripts. Good.
Despite not being scheduled to do so, Doug volunteered to sign autographs for an hour or so. I have never ever seen him so happy. I asked if Howard Burden was doing the costumes again and he said he couldn’t confirm that, but he thinks so as Howard’s always put RD first.
After lunch it was time for guest autographs. I asked Mac what his favourite episode was which he appears in and he said “Pete”. There you go, someone likes it. ;)
Hattie is impossibly nice, possibly even more so than Robert. Her queue was as long as Chris’s because she spent so long chatting to everyone and posing for photographs. Apparently she buys new outfits for every DJ so regular attendees can have different pics. She looked amazing in a glamorous red dress.
She wasn’t sure which of her episodes she liked most, so told me to ask her later, even specifying that I didn’t have to do so during her Q&A if I’d prefer to approach her personally.
Not long afterwards, Mac made a big show of storming over to her table (in a joking fashion, obviously) and said loudly: “You need to stop being so nice!”
Chris was also the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He gave a lengthy answer when I asked him his favourite Series X ep – it’s “Lemons” for its cleverness, but he also loves “Trojan” and “The Beginning” and waxed lyrical about Series X in general.
Then he said “I’ve met you before, haven’t I?”. Yes, once. Two years ago. Mind suitably boggled.
(End of Part 1.)
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