Hugh Dennis - join the actor and comedian for live webchat on Wednesday, 17 December, 1.30-2.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Last Christmas we brought you Idris Elba and this year we're delighted that comedian actor and Outnumbered's long-suffering dad Hugh Dennis is joining us for a pre-Christmas webchat this Wednesday (17 December) between 1.30 and 2.30 (no pressure there Hugh )

Hugh is just back from Myanmar (Burma) with the international anti-poverty charity ActionAid to highlight child poverty this Christmas.Hugh now sponsors 5 year old Lae Yi Soe in the ‘dry zone’ region of Myanmar and he got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet her and her family and to see the difference ActionAid is making to her and so many other children in the area.

Come and chat to Hugh this Wednesday 17 December from 1.30pm or if you’re unable to join us at that time, post your questions to him in advance on this thread.

ActionAid has launched an urgent appeal to find UK sponsors for 2,700 children in countries affected by extreme poverty and war to help give them a future. Click here to find out how you can help.

I am a little bit in love with Hugh Dennis

I also love ActionAid and would like to ask Hugh what he thinks makes ActionAid different from other international development charities?

I'm going to lower the tone quite early on & exasperate all of you who are asking serious grave questions about charity work :)

Hugh - welcome to mumsnet. You have been around for years & I remember you popping up on various comedy panel shows before Outnumbered. How old are you? I guess between 35-65 but you have an ageless face. Come on now, be truthful :)

PS you look all rugged with a beard!

I think you're fabulous. Do you by any chance, during the 90s, remember a teenage girl at Gatwick Airport shopping village spotting you and saying to her parents "oh look! It's what's-his-name!" well within your earshot?

He's 52 Magrats.

Yay!! I adore you

I came to see you about 20 years ago when you did the Milky Milky tour with Steve Punt. I'm sure you will remember me from the front row in Glasgow!

I need to come up with a question don't I?

What has been your most enjoyable part of your career? Do you have plans to tour again? Can you make sure you come back up here?

I always see Hugh (I think he's great :D) as being a proper family man and having the balance right. By that I mean he always seems to be working but not in the '100 date tour make a million quid at the 02' sense.

So I suppose my question is, lovely Hugh, do you have any regrets about the way your career has panned out?

Am a big outnumbered fan!

The London terrace house is like my dream house. DH gets fed up with my house envy/moaning when watching the programme from commuterville. Please tell me it was a set and not real/is actually really horrible!

As an aspiring comedy writer, what's the best way of forcing people to read a script/notice my genius? Blackmail, bribery or threats?

< Resists urge to copy and paste 40 pages of a sitcom script. >

< But will if provoked. >

Tiggy Do it. Do it. You know you want to...

What do you think of Russell Brand? Be honest.

Hugh, do you find yourself coming out with lines that could easily feature in Outnumbered, in real life? I certainly do. Although AbFab is probably nearer the mark in my case

Hi Hugh :)
I read that some of Outnumbered is improvised, how much of Pete is really you?

Hi Hugh huge fan of your eyebrows

Who was the least terrifying more competent driver, Ben Fogel or David Baddiel?

Arse, spelt Fogle wrong in my excitement , I met Mr Fogle once when my (very tiny) ds tried to climb up his leg at Crufts

Question: Will Monsoon Poultry Hospital be coming to a cinema near us this Christmas?

Hi Hugh, I was wondering how you feel about working on radio as opposed to television? I'm a fan of your work on both and would be interested to know what you find are the pros and cons of each and which you prefer. Thanks

Which of the three children's characters in Outnumbered was your favourite ?

Is it finished now ? Maybe a Xmas special in a few years when you could be the grandparents ?

I'm a big fan of both ActionAid & Hugh (esp the wonderful Now show) but I have to admit I have a few concerns about the child sponsorship model, & the emotional relationship set up. Obviously it works to earn much needed cash, but what do you see as the other advantages?

Mintty that's a bit unkind - I'm sure Hugh donates to a lot of other charities and helps in other ways as well as sponsoring a child.

are you still in touch with Steve Punt and any other chances to do more specials with him?

Oooh, DH and I are big Outnumbered and Mock The Week fans

Hugh, who were your comedic influences?

Have you ever wondered how your life might have turned out if you had joined MI5 after they approached you at Cambridge?

Ooh Hugh Dennis. Massive fan.

How can the milky milky tour be twenty years ago?!