Webchat with Julian Clary on Wednesday 29 July at 1pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce that Julian Clary will be joining us for a webchat on Wednesday 29 July at 1pm.

Julian has recently published The Bolds, his first book for children - packed with wildly hilarious jokes, eccentric characters and brilliant illustrations. The book is perfect for children aged 7+.

Mr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house, they have nice jobs and they love to have a bit of a giggle. There's just one slight difference: they're hyenas.
So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena) - is their secret about to be revealed?

Julian has made numerous appearances on TV and on stage, published four books and continues to tour the UK and Australia with his one man shows. He also does panto most years as he enjoys wearing silly clothes and lots of make-up.

Please do join us on the day here for a live discussion from 1pm on Wednesday 29 July but if you can’t make it, leave your question for Julian on this thread. As ever, please remember our webchat guidelines.

Thanks

@Stillnoidea

Hi Julian

I still remember you talking about "fisting the chancellor's red box" live on telly - one of my fave TV moments of all time! Was that pre planned or did it just slip out? And how did that affect your career? (I think you were banned from bbc for a while?)

Sorry that's more like 3 questions!

This is hardly the place to discuss my sordid faux pas from 1993. But seeing as you asked! It just slipped out, I was banned from LWT for about 5 minutes and I took myself off to Australia for a nine month tour. So not so bad!

@SmileAndNod

Actually, do you have any plans for more stand up? I could do with a night out and a bloody good laugh

I'm doing a stand up tour next spring! I'm going to call it 'The Joy of Mincing'. Six weeks on the road, coming to a town near you etc.

@TensionWheelsCoolHeels

Hi Julian

I've adored you for years! Loved so much of what you've done. I too remember the Joan Collins fan club but I think my favourite 'thing' you've done was sticky moments. Would love you to bring that back.

I admit I am biased (as always a fan of yours) but I was v angry on your behalf when the whole comedy awards incident occurred. The backlash you got, IMVHO, was so disproportionate & over the top, and it saddened me that your career was so badly affected. I'm so glad you are still here, still working & still being fabulously outrageous & funny. Much love to you

I can't even think of a question I will check out the book though - sounds just like something my DD would love.

Ok, just thought of a question - of all the many things you've done/continue to do, what do you enjoy the most? Stand up/TV/dancing/writing? Or something we don't know about you?

I'm 56. Of a certain age. So therefore I only do things that I enjoy. What I find works for me is to rotate various activities: stand up, Just A Minute (Radio 4), writing, panto, a spot of TV if I must.

Something you don't know about me? Occasionally I drink tap water.

Are there any plans for the Bolds to be turned into a TV show? I would put it on the schedule for Boxing Day

@JennyOnTheBlocks

I saw you on stage a very long time ago in N'ton. My dad refused to speak to me and my sister for weeks afterwards because he's a bigotted twat , anyway, i digress before i broke my twitter access (passwords are for keep, yeah?) i loved your garden pictures, do you still take them? if so, what do you use and would you consider putting them into a book too?

Lots of lovely flower pics on my Twitter account (@JulianClary) lately. My sunflowers have just come out (not a euphemism). I take all my pictures with my iPhone. Simples.

Yay! Though spring is a looong time - any time you're in deepest Wiltshire feel free to pop in. I have tea, TMS and baking on the go. It's all rock n roll here I tell you

@GallopingFoxley

You have lively skin so my question is .. What products do you use and have you had any (much?) work done?

Your book looks fab , I've pre ordered it

How kind of you. Of course you only see me in full slap, lit from behind, and filmed through gauze. When I get up in the morning I look like cross between an old prune and Lord Jessop.

I've had my kneees botoxed, that's all. This was due to a lot of wear and tear in the 90s. We can blame my lifestyle for that.

So Julian you are saying that you are wearing elasticated trousers and a beige blouson jacket.

@Only1scoop

Julian ....Hello ....I seem to recall you doing a tandem skydive many years ago with the Red Devils?

Have you ever felt the urge since?

Yes, it's true. I was once tossed out of a hatch, strapped to a Red Devil called Keith. He still writes.

I don't recommend it.

Will you be part of the Glasgow Comedy Festival next year then, slip it in as part of your tour? It's usually March/lead up to Easter? I'll be there if you do

@DelGirl

Another one here who's loved you since the early 80's when I first saw you at the cabaret club somewhere in the south with fanny . Just expressing my adoration too, I don't actually have a question except what's your favourite biscuit

I enjoy a chocolate finger most afternoons at about 4pm.

@TensionWheelsCoolHeels

Will you be part of the Glasgow Comedy Festival next year then, slip it in as part of your tour? It's usually March/lead up to Easter? I'll be there if you do

Yes I will! March sometime isn't it? I'm looking forward to it. Glasgow is one frisky city and you know how to have a good laugh.

@derxa

So Julian you are saying that you are wearing elasticated trousers and a beige blouson jacket.

You've been peeping through my net curtains.

Yay! Looking forward to it!

@LocalEditorLancashire

Are there any plans for the Bolds to be turned into a TV show? I would put it on the schedule for Boxing Day

You'll be the first to know if it happens.

@chockbic

Julian, would you ever star in a Carry On film? If they remade them.

My dear, I already have. Check out Carry on Columbus, if you dare. I believe it's a very good cure for insomnia.

I'll stop stalking you now.

@derxa

What are you wearing today, Julian? An oatmeal beige affair? PS Love you on Just A Minute and everything else. Dx

Certainly not. I've opted for a black linen suit and a white cotton shirt. And a little too much slap, if I'm honest. I wanted to blend in with the staff here at Mumsnet Towers (summer frocks, a lot of denim and, shall we say, natural complexions).

Hi Julian, I loved The Bolds, I want to ask...What's your favourite children's book of all time, and if you could rewrite any children's story for a modern audience which would it be?

Good news about you touring - looking forward to that, dear boy!

@Roseformeplease

Any advice for a teenager growing up gay now? It must have been hard and I hope, for this generation's sake, things really have changed.

Who are you calling gay? How very dare you.

I don't think gay peeps today need any advice from the likes of me. They seem delightfully confident and liberated, in general. The only thing I'd say is Grindr may not be the way forward.

Do you like to cook and what is your best dish?

Hope I'm allowed a second question

Do you like to cook and what is your best dish?

Hope I'm allowed a second question

Hello again Julian,
I've just got back from a weekend's camping. I've been in a field with a load of other people - lots of feathers, sequins and innuendo. You'd be a great headline act at the cabaret show.
Do you have any advice for suitable innuendo I can use next time we go? I've managed to slip in things about tent pegs, getting it up (the tent) and the size of various erections (big top, etc.). Or should I just put on my wellies and poncho and shut up?

@addingtothenoise

Hi Julian, I loved The Bolds, I want to ask...What's your favourite children's book of all time, and if you could rewrite any children's story for a modern audience which would it be?

My favourite book as a child was Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. But by the age of 12 I started reading DH Lawrence for some reason, then I moved on to Thomas Hardy, Muriel Spark.

But when I was younger I loved Rupert Bear Annuals. Maybe these could be modernised, although they were always fairly surreal and the worry would be they might lose their charm. We'll probably never know.