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.

Love Outnumbered and Mock the Week ??

Did you ever consider a 'normal' career or have you always wanted to make people laugh?

@Chandon

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

Sadly no. Hollywood have completely failed to see the potential of this brilliant idea!

"What do you mean pretend to be drunk? I actually am drunk (obviously, that's a lie). We all get on very well, as long as my team win."

In that case, Hugh, I hope MNHQ are offering you something from the secret gin stash, as well as the good biscuits!

@iwantaginsoakedXmas

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 ?

You mustn't have a favourite child!

The series is finished but we will be back, I am told, for specials and one-offs so maybe!

Hi Hugh. Just wondered if you had the choice would it be Strictly or the jungle?

@superbagpuss

Hi Hugh

What interested you in supported children in other countries rather then here in Britain?

Also, loved your last tour a couple of years ago as punt and dennis - any plans for another one?

Because my parents did it. They sponsored a child in the 1970's in Kenya so I grew up thinking it was a really good thing to do.

Thanks for replying to me Hugh, I was going to Canada if that aids your recall. I may have also said "milky milky"
I just wikipediaed you (that's a word) and see that we both grew up in Mill Hill. Did/do you like it there?

What's your opinion on "ostentatious breastfeeding"...?!

@FrankelandFilly

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

Hugh, who were your comedic influences?

All sorts, Morcambe and Wise, Ronnie Barker, Cleese, everyone on tele in my seventies childhood. Oh, and Sepp Blatter.

Hi Hugh,

I am a big fan of yours. I hear it all the time that you are a Cambridge graduate. Do you think this impacts on your career. Did it open doors or shut them right at the start? Considering you never actually studied what you do now. Be honest!

Hugh - thank you for answering my question

My grandparents in their time and my dad sponsered a child too so I am wondering about doing it myself.

@nobutreally

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?

Child sponsorship doesn't only benefit that individual child it goes to benefit the community in which they live.

Its point is that you feel a direct connection with the people to whom you are giving help but it isn't and shouldn't be a relationship of dependency. The money goes to provide water pipes, to help schooling, and to empower women to learn the skills they need to earn money.

It isn't about individual children really, it is about wider development and I certainly wouldn't do it if I felt that the child I was sponsoring was required to feel beholden to me or other child sponsors.

@halfdrunkmulledwine

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

How do you know I'm not with MI5?

@Papermover

What is your favourite biscuit?

Jaffa cake. It is the prince of biscuits. How they get that orange in it, I'll never know.

@LikeABadSethRogenMovie

I always wondered how they could afford that house too!

Did a U.S. version of Outnumbered ever get off the ground or was that just rumour? Personally I think The Middle ripped you off a little!

To be honest I don't know, but I think Modern Family covers much the same area. I know it is on BBC America because when I was hiring a car at San Francisco airport and having an argument with the clerk who was trying to charge me an additional $200 she threw me off track by asking me if I was a famous actor in the UK.

@Chandon

I am just going to throw another question at you, feel free to ignore.

I think you have it in you to play a really good evil villain, any roles like that coming up by any chance?

I agree with you. I think I could do evil. Sadly nothing on the horizon.

@PseudoBadger

Thanks for replying to me Hugh, I was going to Canada if that aids your recall. I may have also said "milky milky" I just wikipediaed you (that's a word) and see that we both grew up in Mill Hill. Did/do you like it there?

I did. My Dad was the vicar of a church called John Keeble on Deans Lane.

Thanks for the answer Hugh if I could ask a cheeky second question it would be are you still a keen cyclist and would you ever revisit the Tour?

@Sparklingbrook

Hi Hugh. Just wondered if you had the choice would it be Strictly or the jungle?

If I had a choice it would be neither Strictly nor the jungle.

@Mamushka

What's your opinion on "ostentatious breastfeeding"...?!

My opinion is that people should be allowed to breastfeed where they want to, it's a perfectly natural thing to do.

@LittleTurtle

Hi Hugh,

I am a big fan of yours. I hear it all the time that you are a Cambridge graduate. Do you think this impacts on your career. Did it open doors or shut them right at the start? Considering you never actually studied what you do now. Be honest!

I'm sure it has impacted on my career, but possibly not in the way you think. When Steve Punt and I started playing clubs in the 80's it was the worst place you could have come from. We were once introduced by a compere as having been in the Cambridge Footlights and we lasted about fifteen seconds. What I really think though, is that where you went to university is largely unimportant. You're only there for three years which means I have spent forty nine years not there. I don't think it defines my life.

Great answer, thanks :)

Hello Hugh!

Any plans to do another series of Fast and Loose? That had DH and I in stitches...!

@GobblersKnob

Thanks for the answer Hugh if I could ask a cheeky second question it would be are you still a keen cyclist and would you ever revisit the Tour?

Yes, sort of. Don't go quite so far now. This year though, I am meant to be doing long-distance rowing as a sort of challenge.