Mark ROTHMAN, who established one of London’s best stand-up venues, has said the decision to forbid comedy clubs from reopening with 24 hours’ notice “beggars belief”.
“Like, are you f***ing kidding?” the Top Secret Comedy Club founder told The Londoner. “You didn’t have to say opening in 13 days and then reverse it 24 hours before the actual event — that’s just madness.”
The Government U-turned on Saturday, blaming the rise in coronavirus cases and saying it will reconsider in two weeks. But producers like Rothman are fuming, especially at the initially short notice for reopening, announced a few weeks ago.
“By that point,” he explained, “we didn’t have any toilets. We were really cramming in the work to get it finished. My builder was doing 16-18 hour days.”
The Top Secret Comedy Club in Holborn has hosted gigs by the likes of Amy Schumer and Jack Whitehall. Performers are not announced beforehand and tickets are only £4, plus donations.
Rothman adds: “You have to be prepared to change your plan in 24 hours. How do you get an audience in 24 hours?” On the plus side, they now have extra women’s loos.
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FEMINIST icon Gloria Steinem has strong words about Trump. She tells the How to Fail podcast: “We have a virus who happens to be president ... I apologise for imposing him on the world.” She likens America to a woman about to escape a controlling partner. “The good news is she’s about to be free. The bad news is it’s a moment of maximum danger.”
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Broadcaster Iain Dale’s new book Why Can’t We All Just Get Along is out today. He tells of when he tried to become a Tory MP in North Norfolk in 2005. A woman bedecked in Meatloaf tattoos told him “you took the words right out of my mouth.” He responded “it must have been while you were kissing me.” He got her vote but didn’t win the seat.
SW1A
THE Home Office is looking for a bright spark to lead its policy and innovation lab which aims to use digital expertise and apply it across government. Perhaps they could start with track and trace. The role is based in Croydon and pays about £75,000. The unit is known as CoLab which is also the name of a dry shampoo. Time for the department to freshen up those policy roots.
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Douglas Ross, who quit as a junior minister over Dominic Cummings’ day trip to Barnard Castle, became the leader of the Scottish Tories yesterday. Journalist Alexander Brown congratulated him and reminisced about playing football with the MP, who is a referee. He “awarded me a free kick for knocking Matt Hancock to the ground, causing his hand to hit the ball”. Blue on blue.
Jittery Jamelia’s hair book is a hit, naturally
Singer Jamelia thanked fans who bought her book The Natural Hair Journal. She was nervous about launching it, but happily that’s all changed. Meanwhile, Gok Wan looked good (with clothes) beneath blossom. And it was an evening for couples: both Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez, and Frankie and Wayne Bridge made night of it, the latter for Wayne’s 40th birthday. Cheers!