Webchat with DAWN FRENCH, Wednesday 21 October, 1.45-2.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

We're delighted that Dawn French will be joining us for a webchat about her new novel, According to Yes on Wednesday 21 October from 1.45 to 2.30pm.

In 2010 Dawn's first novel, A Tiny Bit Marvellous became the biggest selling debut hardback fiction ever and was followed two years later by Oh Dear Sylvia. On the launch of both books she visited MNHQ for webchats and we’re thrilled that she is coming back to chat about her latest novel.

Everyone who joins the thread will be entered into a draw to win one of three signed copies of the novel. If you're unable to make it on Wednesday, post your questions here in advance.

sorry dawn for the dullo question but what's the secret of your weightloss? I am struggling and hoping for inspiration.

You have always looked gorgeous by the way-especially your hair.

Oh no! Poopsikins!

I'm in Edinburgh, I can't believe I missed you. I am a ninkswink!

Well you know my username now send me a wee message next time your coming by

@DaisyDando

Which comedians do you most admire?

My favourite funny people are Eric Morecambe, Jennifer Saunders, Paul Whitehouse, Cathy Burke, Catherine Tate, Jessica Hines and my nephew Jack.

I changed my whole vacation plans to come and see you in London, I was coming over from the states for my mums birthday but will be a tad late for it as i wanted to see you. I figure she wont care if i am late just that i show up. I haven't seen her for 3 years.

Can I have a new question?

Who has been your absolute favourite person to work with? Obviously Richard Armitage wins the good looks category but aside from that

@ArriettyClockAgain

Please tell me your hair doesn't look so glossy and great when you first get out of bed in the morning?!

No, of course it doesn't. I use straightening balm (Kerastase, Ciment Thermique) and I'm a fiend with the straighteners!

@Peaceloveandpartyrings

Hello Dawn! If your daughter were to follow in your footsteps career-wise, would you prefer for her to choose writing, acting, or comedy, and why?

First of all, nothing would be further from my daughter's desires than to follow in my footsteps, career-wise or anything else.

But if she did, I suppose writing would be what I would recommend. Acting is such a precarious career, full of rejection and unemployment. Not sure I could bear that for her.

@waitforrose

I cried in your autobiography: when you talked about your dad's little bit of advice to you as you tried to slip out of the house as a teenager dressed to the nines. I will remember that for my own daughter. Thank you. You've played it forward very well.

Thank you for that. In my show Thirty Million Minutes (Vaudeville Theatre, from 11th November) I talk about that very incident. I genuinely feel that it shaped my confidence forever, and gave me armour, so thanks Dad!

Dawn you always have such perfect beautiful hair. Please tell me your secret. I have hair the same length and colour but never manage to look as fantastic as you.

Ah ignore, missed you answering that question. Ahem, as you were.

@JugglingFromHereToThere

Hi Dawn, thanks for coming to chat to us here on Mumsnet Can you tell us a bit about your new novel - plot and characters and such like? I haven't read your other novels - yet - but I did enjoy your autobiography very much. You could tell us a bit about your other books too? I also love the gentle Vicar of Dibley series - thank you for that sweet gift to the nation, and all the other ways you've entertained us and made us laugh through the years

Yes of course, happy to. The new novel is called "According To Yes". It's about a 38-year-old primary school teacher called Rosie Kitto who is escaping some sadness, so flees from her life in Cornwall and gets on a plane to her new job in Manhattan which is being nanny to ten-year-old twins. Their parents are divorcing and it's a bit tricky. Rosie arrives into a very repressed, cold, dark, fractured family, ruled over by a strict matriarch called Glenn. So it's Rosie, the bright light, a mega-watt optimist versus Glenn, the brittle boss of the family. Rosie has decided to change her outlook and to live her life "according to yes". So she is going to say yes to many more things than before. She gets embroiled in the family politics and along the way she says yes to perhaps more than she should... Leading to some fairly saucy moments...

People keep asking me if Rosie is me. She isn't but boy, would I like to be her. I wanted to write a shiningly positive character. I also wanted to write three generations of men.

When I was 18 I won a scholarship to study in New York. I lived with a lovely family on the Upper East Side. I ran out of money very quickly because I spent everything I had saved being a chambermaid (£200) on pizza. So I had to find a job. I used to babysit for lots of families. They gave me their keys to their apartments and full charge of their children. Funny how much people will trust an eighteen-year-old! That was my springboard for this novel. I fell in love with New York and I wanted to write about it.

Finding adventures to have with ten-year-olds in New York was of the best fun I've had doing research.

Dawn Actual French!!

Ahem. What is your absolute favourite French and Saunders sketch?

Ooo nearly missed you!
Just been watching you on youtube.
No further inspiring questions though, just glad to be here.

@UpOnDown

Hi Dawn,

Which of your many tv roles was your favourite?

So hard to answer. I guess I have to say Geraldine Granger in Vicar of Dibley but almost everything with Jennifer rates up there too.

Oo and Val in Roger and Val.

Oo and Rosie in Jam and Jerusalem.

Oo and Caroline in Larkrise to Candleford

Oo and...

@liptolinford

Hi Dawn,

You're top of the list at my fantasy dinner party

Question: What was the last TV show/ book that made you have a good ol' belly laugh?

Gogglebox!

OK, I'll re-ask my question from further up thread - any chance of any more "French and Saunders" sketch shows ever?

@Choughed

Hello Dawn,

from Cornwall. It's lovely down here today.

Firstly, what is your current biscuit of choice? (I can't believe no one has asked the all important biscuit question yet).

Secondly, are you often seen chugging pints in the Students' Union bar at Falmouth University now that you are their Chancellor? I imagine the students are chuffed to have you there.

Wagon Wheel except they've gotten smaller... Grrr

@MargaretRiver

Huge fan, Dawn Of you & Jennifer both I love the fact that you have kept your dignity & humour despite life having thrown some fairly shitty cards at you Inspiration to us all in our unpredictable lives What is your advice to your daughter/ all our daughters? xxx

The main advice I try to give my kids is that however awful it is, it will pass.

@ThumbWitchesAbroad

OK, I'll re-ask my question from further up thread - any chance of any more "French and Saunders" sketch shows ever?

Doubt if we'll do sketches again but always wanting to work together, so watch this space!

Yay - will keep my eyes skinned!

@henbane

Hi Dawn, you seem to have been concentrating on writing lately & it seems a long time since you did live stand up, are you looking forward to your solo show in London next month?

Very much looking forward to it, with a tiny bit of bum-twitching nerves! I did it a hundred times last year, and it still scares me. But that's a good thing. I want it to be good every night, and I love performing it. Please come and see it because I won't do it again in this country. I can only do it for a month at the Vaudeville Theatre because the set has to go to Australia mid-December, so roll up roll up!

Dawn has to leave us now. Thanks to all those who joined us today and massive thanks to Dawn for getting through so many questions.

Thanks Dawn, it has been a total pleasure :)

OOOO! Coming to Australia
(DH, I know what I want for Christmas...)

Thanks Dawn, you're a superstar.