Gone off Eddie Izzard a bit although it pains me to say it

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

just that, really. I suppose I feel in my gut that his latest mammoth marathon effort (and every respect to him for achieving it as I was born in same year and couldn't even run for 5 mins) is not 100% about raising money for charity. I do wonder just how much "cor blimey you are just SO AMAZING and compassionate" type of validation any individual needs.

www.advocate.com/comedy/2013/03/08/eddie-izzard-atheism-transgender-and-invisible-bloke-upstairs

A lot of people are brought up to think they should "put something back" and help those less fortunate than themselves. It's a pivotal part of most religions too.

So it's been around a long time. Thank fully most people are pleased to see others doing something for others.

I'm sure i saw he had aims for politics...?

Yeah, he does. Mayor of London ?

Importantly he calls himself a transgender guy not a transgender woman. A big difference IMHO

Ah ok yes I think he views transgender and transvestite as bp

Explaining why he did marathons (from first attempt). Hats off.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/nov/20/zoe-williams-eddie-izzard-saturday-interview

I find him quite fascinating. It's correct to call him "him" I believe.

And his nails were fab, even after 27 marathons.

I really cannot say whether I like him though.

Jason Manford, however, I am pretty sure about that one.

^being the same thing. Afaik he is happy being male and is attracted to women but just likes wearing women's clothes. None of which really make a difference to the amazing feat he just achieved :D He is brilliant.

Oh dear Bibbity you seem to have touched a nerve. Can't quite understand the vitriol you've received - is Eddie Izzard the new Mother Theresa? Jeez.

For the record I am in awe of his achievement but think it's slightly self-flagellating - glad it's raised loads of money though.

Anyway it looks like it's veering off into a thread about transgender-ism now. - could rumble on for quite some time...

Such begrudgery. He's a very funny guy, clearly secure in his own skin whatever he chooses to label himself, extremely intelligent, and has pushed his body through hell to raise a shit load of cash for charity. And you've gone off him a bit! So what if he gets a bit of flattery, adulation, a (massive) sense of achievement from it all? I think he deserves it, particularly if it helps him chase any demons he has. I think he deserves a bloody medal.

piper Jason Manford is a bandwagon jumper extraordinaire.

I saw the footage of Eddie's final few yards of the marathon.

There were about half a dozen puzzled-looking people there. It was a bit strange.

He's been a active member of the Labour Party for a number of years and is planning to stand for the National Executive internal elections this year.

And no, you cannot make any negative assumptions about his marathon achievements being a way to further a political career, as the work he does is largely behind the scenes and not dependant upon media coverage.

Silver the sex tape will change all that

Yes even though I feel I might have gone off him a bit, I was sorry to see such a low-key reception for him at the finish line.

The sex tape may actually bring some much needed excitement back into my dear Party Chipped

I met him when he was just about to become famous. He was absolutely bloody lovely. Genuinely nice.

Yes, he's using his fame to make money for charity. Do you prefer others who use their fame only to benefit themselves, OP?

Chipped - brilliant analogy grin]

Met Eddie Izzard around 7 years ago at an event in Manchester, he was very pleasant. Seems to be a good guy, down to earth

If he was a transgender guy he would have a vagina. I cannot understand why a man who has proudly been a gender non conforming, heterosexual man who likes make up for the last 40+ years has now decided to call himself transgender. Transgender appears to be the opposite of what he has always presented himself as, which is a man who enjoys some 'feminine' things. That disappointed me a fair bit, I had always appreciated his approach to gender as sensible and very cool, now it appears he wants to define himself very differently.

Still adore his early comedy, nothing is funnier than his 90s stand up, and the marathon stuff is fucking incredible. He never eats refined sugar though, not much fun to hang out with maybe. A bit obsessive.

I can see how he equates being transvestite with transgender. Gender is a social construct.
Sex, on the other hand, is biological. He is not transexual as he is physically a male and he seems happy as a biological male.
I've heard him explain how he sometimes feels like dressing more like a woman and sometimes more like a man. Maybe not so different to me. I have times when I like putting on make up and doing my nails, and other times I'm happy in jeans and top. I don't have to explain it, thankfully.
He is not your typical transvestite either.
If anything he seems random gender or agender, if there's such a term.

And I usually love his comedy.

I don't care about him one way or the other but the hysteria on this thread because someone dared to criticise or have a negative opinion on a man that none of you actually know, has been somewhat entertaining.

There are so many crap money grabbing pointless self centred celebs out there, why not have a pop at one of them instead?

Why does anybody fundraiser? Why wouldn't a celeb use his/her fame to do a massive fundraise? He clearly loves running long distance and has a big hear.