Why The Fuss?

stop press

'A miracle of comic compression and control' - Tony Patrick,  The Times

UK Favourite, HELEN LEDERER, is to return to the London stage to host two new shows called

 on May 9th and 6th June at the St James Theatre, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA.

 In these new shows, Helen is determined to tease out the meaning of life with the help of an eminent guest and the undoubted intelligence of the audience.

She asks: What is happiness? Is there a point? What’s better, laughter or sex, and does anyone use side-plates anymore?

In an ideal world, such noteworthy heavyweights as Mary Beard, Jeremy Clarkson, Kevin McCloud, Chris Evans, Gareth Malone or Gok Wan will be joining her on stage. And if not. Helen promises to offer up someone else famous. Either way WTF? promises to be a pleasurable journey and one that Darwin would be sad to miss.

ST. JAMES THEATRE

12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

 The theatre is a 5 minute walk from Victoria tube station.

 T. 0844 264 2140   E. info@stjamestheatre.co.uk

 http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/helen-lederer-asks-wtf/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT MELANIE FALDO AT KEITH BISHOP ASSOCIATES 0207 734 9995 OR 07956 657227 melanie@keithbishopassociates.com

To book Helen’s show on either Thursday May 9th or Thursday June 6th go to: http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk.

Merry Christmas!

Absolutely Fabulous is back!

Christmas Day at 22.00 on BBC1 there's the first of the new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The second episode is at 21.40 on New Year's Day. Absolutely worth watching! I know coz I was there...

And here's my inner Welsh side waiting to be unleashed....

Merry Christmas!

Join me for a virtual Welsh Christmas blow-out with my Welsh besties.  I loves them. I expect you might too.

Must watch Cariad@iaith Christmas Special on Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day

The only thing is you have to watch it on Sky 134  or  Freesat 120. I'm sure you'll rally.



Wishing you and me a prosperous and pithy  New Year!

love

Helen x

Star studded week – watch the vodka

The first excitement was going to open Stella McCartney’s shop http://bit.ly/rwapYJ

Actually I didn’t have to open it – the shop was already open – but Jennifer Saunders switched on the lights in a very witty way

big and bold expression trying to make up for dressing down

Huge Corinthian columns of vodka floated by – I made it my job to capture them lest they escape and get into the wrong hands like Richard E Grant for one –who I forced to acknowledge me.  Poor man: there was a lot of acknowledging –and it can be overwhelming unless you’re someone like me, who is quite persistent.

Paul McCartney (member of The Beatles and father of shop owner ) came over to me – yes he came over - with lovely new wife and remembered a gag I’d told once about Tippex on the sheet - I can’t remember, can you? Must have been on Naked Video http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/nakedvideo/

We then explained the Tippex and the sex and the sheet bits (quite a few times) to the lovely American wife who was extremely kind. I also love Stella’s bags (faux leather with zip bits on)

Next stop BAFTA for screening of AB FAB

By now I cannot stand up or focus on speech - due to the Corinthian vodka quantity consumed - our mission was to arrive early and drink the place dry which we more than accomplished. Pity I didn’t get a cab into my bedroom then and there and cut out on a high.

looking quizical at camera while waiting for a refill

I get to Bafta. More free glasses of alcohol. I say something to a star. I can’t quite remember what - but I get roundly told off. I cry (nearly) but the episodes of AB FAB are excellent (which I manage to view through my hurt tears)


Next day a lunch party – ‘what’s on stage awards’
I arrive subdued and quiet. I bump into Ruby Wax. She asks me what I’m doing there. I reply ‘not having vodka’ – but I do get invited over to a booth with my pal Kimberley Walsh who I adore-

Photo:JAB Promotions

– Kimberley to win – we did ‘Horrid Henry’ and she is rum. Mercifully no tears on this occasion.

Got up right early on sat to beaver across to Sky TV studios for the privilege of reviewing the papers. 

However the lure and urgent need of mascara, foundation and socket line applied by a make up professional came first - leaving me with NO TIME to read the 4 stories I was expected to select and then review.

A very nice but anxious researcher hovered while my socket lines were addressed before offering (through only slightly clenched teeth) to choose the stories for me? Well I’d only just sat down and I wanted to choose my own stories thank you. The make up girl hovered with her sponge mid air – ‘Ok then you choose ‘em then,’ I reluctantly caved in – but not really wanting to do the ‘Mousetrap on tour’ if I’m being truthful.  

Worse to come – we  were about to go on air – radio pack  now firmly tucked in my pants  by a scurrying radio person who seemed to be doubling up as an everything else person saying cheerily “what else can go wrong this morning”  while I’m chasing the researcher  for the photocopies of the selected stories she’d selected   (she’d gone off with the top copies ) before I practically  snatched two of them out of her hands and dashed off to the sofa. 

A nice man journo  from The Express Michael Booker mercifully was doing  the papers as well and  - having avoided  all the shortbread  in the green room I noticed unlike me  -  offered to bale me out should push come to shove. It did.

Michael did his first story (properly) and then  the presenter  turned to me and said “and what’s your view of the strike, Helen?” Well that hadn’t officially  been my story  had it - but I mustered a response ‘Yes definitely’ I said  and waited for the subject to move on to the Mousetrap. It didn’t – The nice presenter swiftly moved to the story I hadn’t read since it hadn’t yet been photocopied about a son stealing money from his Mum to buy a house. I lamely said ‘well it's always a tricky one when a son steals from his mother isn’t it?” The stable and kind presenter did closure by saying ‘and of course there’s more info on that story that we haven’t time for…’

However for the second paper review slot me and Mike (I call him Mike now) cosied  up to share views about the plethora of ‘perfect Christmas countdown chef instructions’ across all the red tops by varyingly rich TV chefs.

Mike  was sure that in his office real men didn’t like to cook the turkey for more than two hours (controversial)  –  and as we  continued to debate this topic  in the studio together as a team I felt I had finally arrived  

I do hope I’ll be asked back  - I  felt I brought something  to the table…

Next week will be at the screening of the recent  Ab Fab  shows -  unfortunately I have had my fringe cut too short –  and it’s SO scary to attend anything glam with a short fringe – but  nevertheless doable  for  free fiz. 

Ab fab and bits on the side

Completed my AB FAB episode – am now besties with Lulu I do hope – LOVE her hair. Would have asked for the name of her hair dye if I’d thought, but was too busy remembering my lines. How does she do it? I must copy

Kirsty Walk playing herself – (not with) which is a feat in itself –listen if I could play myself I’d be the success I’d always wanted to be –but shyness always kicks in dam it.

Now then – A BIG segue into youth culture. I was invited on to Big Brother’s Bit On The Side – http://www.channel5.com/shows/big-brothers-bit-on-the-side/episodes/episode-15-137 I got to sit between two much younger women with shiny beige corrective shoes and competing false eyelashes (both were very generous – the eyelashes) I felt like I was their Nan. I sensed they did too.

As I was required to comment on the latest ‘goings on’ in the house (studio) I made it my business to watch avidly the proper BIG BROTHER for authenticity (in between rehearsing as a lesbian fortune teller in ‘Killing of Sister George’) . Trouble was I called the STORE CUPBOARD – THE FRIDGE! I know! Everyone stared at me as if I’d said ‘plop’ (someone had mentioned fisting earlier so I felt I was safe). Then clever Emma Willis deciphered I was referring to the "store room" where I’d noticed a heinous crime occurring between the now ejected Rebekka (spelt with quite a few K’s) who had whistle blown on those Ferrals who ate biscuits: HOW DARE THEY? I loved it – am going back

• My birthday – I fell twice. Man on drugs made a play – yes I can still pull – (if people have taken artificial stimulants )

This man was not  the man on drugs but he was wearing a  hat. Name of Paul Burston ( writer)

I’m now rehearsing for THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE at THE ARTS THEATE
A week to go before we DO IT. Am so scared I can hardly type.
Meera Syal , Belinda Lang, Lilly Cadwallader are all proper good actresses
Does anyone know it’s on? It’s that nice pretty red seated little theatre in Newport Street which I count as WEST END. YOU COMING?

All of this is true

Was asked by TIME OUT to cite my top film – the moment you’ve pick one – you think of loads more don’t you like ‘the wicker man’ with Edward Woodward –or ‘straw dogs’ if one is sticking with the hay theme

Omigod this week! two new jobs back to back –very exhausting trying to make new people like you – made one relaxed joke today about men and sperm that got a laugh – so maybe I’ve turned the corner

The ABFAB rehearsing week has been colourful... Baby Spice arrives – I luvs her I hold her hand for a long time – Lulu arrives –teeny, white trousers and gorgeous hair –amazingly calm and cheery for someone whose on that dancy dancy show as well - Lindsay Duncan amazing actress- and soooo normal so I start rabbiting on about clothes- and my gorgeous Jane Horrocks ( genius) who makes me talk about fabrics - And this is in the first ten minutes… don’t know if I’m coming or going

I’m going –cos I have to moonlight over to rehearse with more scarily good actresses for Killing of Sister George at The Arts Theatre – where we share the varying agendas of sexuality,  politics and minority groups….much coffee

Then a book launch - Isabel Wolff’s new book (www.Isabelwolff.com) Bought one. Free champagne and even more brainy people ..oh nooooo. Got drunk this time. A bright young woman asked to be taken away from me by her mother. I don’t blame her.


Time Out Article: http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/1529/100-best-comedy-movies
Killing of Sister George:5th to 29th October Box Office 0207 907 7092 Open Mon-Sun 9am to 8pm (excluding public holidays)

Coming Up

Looking forward to filming Ab Fab next week –wonder what clothes will be issued? –apparently Jennifer is well up on fashion so better not turn up to rehearse in over t shirt and flared jeans (wrong denim)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/29/absolutely-fabulous-prescient-ab-fab

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2030549/Crack-open-Bolly-Ab-Fab-Eddy-Patsy-shopping-storm-filming-Christmas-special.html

I am then in a play called The Killing Of Sister George at www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk – which will be nice. A bit like The Archers but with Lezbianz (I think) haven’t started yet –can’t wait - AND nice actresses in it hurrah

Blast from the past

blast from past! @SOTCAA: 'In One Ear' article by Barry Took, Radio Times, 30 November 1985 http://twitpic.com/5y4wye


excitement -found this on twitter -imagine my delight when I opened it to find a young looking team -for one moment I thought we had all re cast ourselves and we were doing a programme live… tonight …something about the lack of lines on face told me no ..it was an archive

I wish that will happen with absolutely fabulous in September but will there be time for me to sew my own dresses which make me look as good as the other lasses?