Sat on a train to Leuven to take part in a two-day musical improv workshop with members of Showstoppers. Huge opportunity to learn from the best. My voice is about 89% recovered from spending all weekend at Sing Out, Louise in London. The queue for the coffee shop on the platform was too long…

For Americans, the best I can describe the British Dennis the Menace is: imagine if Charlie Brown had the personality of Lobo

He Is Risen?

You may not know @taskmaster.tv. It's hilarious & joyful. I begged to do it, worked out my schedule a year ahead of time to make it happen & got to do the best show on TV w/ the loveliest ppl. Ep 1 is out &, trust me, you need this joy. All seasons free on youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRfH...

Sat on a night bus being grumpy at the new Broadway Chess soundtrack because they fucked with the structure and harmonies on No Deal and my favourite moment isn’t there.

So… we don’t even get to find out best supporting actor and actress for a musical? I also don’t recall seeing choreography or musical contribution…

Or-banned-from-office(by-losing-the-election)?

Magyar's report of an Orbán concession in English.

Orban is out?

I scrub up ok. On my way to the Olivier watch party at Sing Out Louise. And very late night singing - open til 4am, and I beee to check in for my Euro tunnel at 12.30 tomorrow!

When I get a new follower

About 20 minutes into the latest SNL UK, and it seems like they’ve got some incredible sketches and then some prick has shoehorned Jack Whitehall into the show to sabotage the whole thing.

Sat underneath Waterloo station for Ancient Grease. The runway in front of me will, apparently, feature actual vehicles.

Back at the National Theatre, for a performance of Summerfolk. I’ve been to the National loads, but always in the Lyttelton. I don’t think I’ve been in the Olivier since… 2004, when Stephen Rea was Cyrano de Bergerac in a not good version of the play.

Of course literally the day after that, in a world-class attempt at boredom-prevention, "Rock Around the Clock" was recorded.

A 10am chaotic dash through the day’s unlocked rush tickets on TodayTix yielded me this great seat at the Coliseum for the new production of Kinky Boots. For about a hundred quid less than the base price.

I don’t remember the last time I got to watch the first episode of a new series of Taskmaster at the moment it goes out. Probably not since I left the UK. Go team Ianucci!

A movie couple who would definitely have a podcast

Stakeholders is such a nebulous term, a properly-vague bit of business bullshit. However. If your list of stakeholders didn’t include a single person who was capable of going ‘uh, maybe this isn’t the greatest idea in the world’ then that’s entirely on you for existing in your echo chamber.

Today’s the day, lads.

I guess they’re doing adverts in the middle of shit on prime in the uk now. As in, I’m watching something, and there are fucking adverts. Lovely way to destroy the momentum built up by Dara O Briain in his latest special.

One little touch with SNL UK that I really like is on camera transitions that are usually hidden behind a commercial in the US. Rox Ahmed stepping out of the seagull sketch, walking across the floor, being handed a microphone as he goes, and introducing Kasabian in one smooth shot was great.

I’ve seen the New Old Who, and it’s very good. Particularly loved the unhooded Zephon, very effective execution of the seaweed-face makeup, the first appearance of the Dalek in episode one, and all the Nicholas Courtney.

I always knew that one day, Gail would come for my adopted country...

From about 1am this morning, the fantastic Nyah at Sing Out, Olivia, accompanied by Rex, takes on I’m Breaking Down from Falsettos. Being able to sit that close to someone absolutely owning a song like this is just one of the reasons why I love going to this place.

The Audible sale is looking particularly effective…

They say that Klaw is a baddie but I know he's sound.

The last time I was here was probably in 2006? Robin Ince was hosting, I got introduced to Henning Wehn (his comedy, not personally), and we all got very excited when an unbilled Jimmy Carr came on to try some new material. It’s fair to say my reaction to that would be quite different today.

I have to be up in 7 hours to load the car to drive the UK. I should be packing or sleeping. I'm definitely not singing Disney karaoke, ok?

Stuart Townsend is about to do the funniest thing since the multiple Fandral castings…

Thomas gets taken to a black ops site

Last Dutch class before a two week Easter break. Which will include, for me, trip to the Comedy Store, many visits to Mum in her home, childhood takeaway faves, doctor who on blu ray, National Theatre, piano bar, Olivier watch party, and a two day improv workshop with Showstoppers. And sleep.

The traditional #gally1 midnight picture has been released into the wild. Can you spot me?

Everything, with alt text.

It is so very on brand for him to be late.

It is so very on brand for him to be late.

Hands down my favourite Batman series of the past few years. Four three-issue stories, each of them deftly plotted and surprising, with incredible artwork. This should be a perennial bat-title.

Anyone else who backed the A1 Deadline kickstarter suddenly found themselves subscribed to a substack they never signed up for?

Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer Film is Fabulous! are delighted to confirm the two episodes of ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’, which were recovered from a private film collection, will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am, on Friday 3rd April. This is earlier than previously suggested.

Anyone else who backed the A1 Deadline kickstarter suddenly found themselves subscribed to a substack they never signed up for?

Ugh, there goes the SNLUK goodwill…

Huh, shouldn’t make the joke without being aware of the wider context, right?

🎵whenever I gaze on Scott Mills Bridge sunset I am in paradise🎵

I cannot describe how happy I am to see @davidwynne.bsky.social back on art duties for @xplainthexmen.bsky.social. Also, New X-Men.

America is about to wake up, and someone is going to have to explain Jools Holland to them…

If you see this, post a concert picture you took

Had one of the best night's sleep in ages. Confused by my dreams where I was a crew member on multiple seasons of Below Deck, possibly the chef - I attempted to pull rank to get a better room - with a former work nemesis as the chief stew. We spent most of our time in hotels, naturally.

Inexplicably, HBO Max in Belgium has added all the Spider-Man movies - Maguire, Garfield, and Holland - but doesn’t have Dune Part Two.

Sadly, not available in my area. But if it is in yours, get it.

Finished reading the novelisation of The Sensorites today. What a slog. I really liked Nigel Robinson’s work on Edge of Destruction, where he heightened the tension and expanded the TARDIS interior in inventive ways that could never have been done on television.