I always feel the name Carfest is somewhat misleading as the event has grown in so many ways. For my part, it sometimes feels like a parallel universe. One moment we are listening to Sir Bob Geldof sitting on the hay bales with Lee Mack and Rob Brydon, telling us back stage gossip from Live Aid (and a story of how as a teenager, he snatched a coffee cup out of Mick Jagger’s hand, and still has that cup to this day - when he told Sir Mick over breakfast some 40 years later, Mick asked if he would like the bacon and eggs to go with it), and the next minute I am having a chat with Mr Motivator who is still as fit and strong as ever. I shook hands with one of the guys from SAS Who dares wins (who was clearly staying in character no matter what - maybe that is his character…. ) and listened to a wonderful interview with author Cecila Aherne and the fabulous Ryan Turbridy.
One of the perks of being involved (in my own, very, very minuscule way) is being given a pass into The Green Room which sits by the Author’s stage and Starfest. A spacious fenced off area with complimentary tea and coffee, lunchtime sandwiches and more importantly, comfy chairs and clean toilets. There was I, sitting with a cup of tea and a cheese and pickle triangle when the Rev. Richard Coles sat down with me and started chatting. He thought he knew me and when I didn’t respond in a “yes I know you” appropriate manner, was sweet enough to introduce himself, clearly thinking that, with my mouth full of sandwich and my humble “Juliet’s Pilates” T shirt, I had forgotten him. “Yes, I know exactly who you are” I replied, “but I don’t think I am who you think!”
Anyway, gentleman that he is, he joined me for a cuppa and we had a lovely chat for a good 45 mins or so. He told me all about the passion for “cosy crime” lit. and we were able to chat at length as I agreed how my daughters and I have loved tv like Death in Paradise and so forth as we do like a nice friendly murder but apparantly this is now less popular (surely not?) and how he was looking at writing a ghost story.
Ghost stories you say? Well! You can imagine my delight - I was only too eager to furnish him with all the details of my upcoming members” ghost hunting event and I am sure he would have loved to know more except his “person” came to collect him and pop him into a golf buggy and whisk him the 15 yards around the back to the author’s stage.
Serendipity - I hadn’t intended listening to his talk as it clashed with something else but having enjoyed our chat so much, I walked (leisurely and on my own 2 feet) the 15 yards to the stage. I managed to wriggle my way to almost the front and felt sure he would be delighted to see me there, should he need some eye contact from time to time.
I am so pleased I did. His talk was superb - hilarious, entertaining, charming… and with lots of gossip. He took us from his sex and drugs and rocknroll days of being in the Communards (he and Jimmy Sommerville live reasonably close to each other and are still in touch) through his calling to the church and on to greater celebrity status. Of Strictly, he was telling us all about the fake tan addiction and a wonderful story - the Arch Deacon of Harrogate (I think?!) Summoned him for an informal chat over a couple of matters. While sitting outside a coffee shop having a natter together, they noticed a very tanned young lady walk past. “Looks like she has just got back from somewhere lovely” commented the Arch Deacon to be corrected by The Rev - “No, No, Arch Deacon. I think you will find that is Venetian Double dark!”.
We were treated to lots of behind the scenes gossip on I’m a celebrity and how they are smuggled into camp, what it is really like living in front of 80 cameras, with hidden mics capturing every single word 24 hours and day and so on. One thing that interested Richard in particular was the role of the Continuity manager. He was fascinated and wanted to know more - the fact is that this is a juggernaut of a show that has to go out live every day and nothing can stop that from happening. “So” he asked… “What would be the greatest continuity challenge?” To which he was told that was strictly confidential. “Oh go on” he encouraged, “do tell”…. “Well” she replied,” you are a vicar so I guess I can trust you but this mustn’t go ANY further”… so the biggest risk? Is…wait for this… That one camp mate kills another!!
Fortunately Richard asked the question we all wanted to - “So have you ever considered that to be a real risk?” To which the answer was “3 words. Lady Colin Campbell”.
He wrapped up with stories of the current filming of his book headed onto our screens very soon and the fact that he chose for the vicar to have 2 daschunds. As Exec. Producer, he is on set and fully involved. He delighted in telling us of how totally chaotic and wilful these dogs have been in filming to the extent that the producer, on one particularly exasperating day said “Why, o WHY did you have to have EFFIN Daschunds? Why couldn’t you have Labradors like normal vicars?”.
