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MNHQ

Webchat with Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney - Tuesday 1 December, 9-10pm

210 replies

RachelMumsnet · 30/11/2015 14:34

Calling all Catastrophe fans: We’re very excited to announce that co-authors and stars Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney will be joining us for a webchat tomorrow eve (9-10pm), directly before transmission of the final episode of the season.

Sharon Horgan is an irish actress, writer and director. She won a British Comedy Award for her BBC show Pulling which was also nominated for a BAFTA for Best Sitcom. Rob famously rose to fame on twitter where his hilarious tweets soon caught the eye of comedy promoters. He now has 1.2 million followers and it was on twitter where he first met Sharon and they conceived the idea for the series.

Join us on this thread on Tuesday evening to chat with Sharon and Rob and if you’re unable to join us then, post your questions in advance on this thread.

Webchat with Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney - Tuesday 1 December, 9-10pm
OP posts:
SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:07

@DickDewy

Me and DH totally love this too! They have captured the realities of a relationship so well I've actually idly panicked a bit that it IS about us! Anyway.

Sharon's character is actually pretty awful, maybe that's why I identify with her so much.

I'd like to know how hard it is for Rob and the other bloke to film those wanking scenes. They're so er, graphic. There would never be the equivalent with Sharon's character, is that just a step too far?

Rob practices with Daniel La Paine (the other guy) in the Green Room.

DickDewy · 01/12/2015 21:07

This is my husband's question, so not mine Grin

Are either of you Mumsnetters? Some lines seem very MN-y.

heylottie · 01/12/2015 21:08

How does the mechanics of writing a comedy together work? Do you sit together and 'bounce lines around' or do you work remotely and say, one writes the bones and the other the meat?
Meat. See what I did there Rob ey?

I love your series, I haven't laughed so much in ages....

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:08

@DickDewy

And I want to know the answer to my wanking question.

'I'd like to know how hard it is for Rob and the other bloke to film those wanking scenes. They're so er, graphic. There would never be the equivalent with Sharon's character, is that just a step too far?'

Honestly yes, my wanking scene was embarrassing to shoot. There's a crew there and I'm trying to make it seem like I'm genuinely wanking, so no getting around it, it's embarrassing. I don't know if Daniel Lapaine was embarrassed "masturbating" in front of the crew because he would often do it even when we weren't filming, at lunch, etc.

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:09

@VenusInFauxFurs

Do you want me to repeat my inappropriate penis question from earlier?

Just re-watched the first episode of Series 1. Rob says "A terrible thing has happened. Let's make the best of it." That kind of sums up Catastrophe, doesn't it?

I think in many ways it does. That's life, right? It might not be THAT bleak but it's a way I personally feel often. x

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:09

@berylbainbridge

I really enjoy the show too. Only watched first series a few weeks ago. I'm not sure how to put this question without seeming rude.... I think the characters of Sharon and Rob are kind of arseholey. Realistic, believable and very, very funny etc but arseholes a lot of the time! Was this a deliberate choice to make them quite unsympathetic as characters?

Yeah defo, berylbainbridge. They are flawed like all of us. Or most of us. We wanted realistic reactions to real problems not TV reactions to sitcom problems. Also we all love a bit of arsehole.

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:10

@PerkinsRents

DH and I love the show and although season 2 was a slow burn for us we're now enjoying it more than season 1 as it's dealt with big issues balancing careers and new roles after kids. postnatal depression, elderly parents with real warmth and humour.

One question: how the he'll do they afford that house?

PerkinsRents, we worked out that if Rob left his job in Boston - got a severance package AND he owned a portion of the business. So he had some money. And with selling Sharon’s Hackney flat they would have been able to afford a bigger house in a less trendy area. But also Rob sold his soul and works at a pharmaceutical company that he hates. The time jump made us think that their situation should have changed. They have more money but similar problems / issues.

KimmySchmidty · 01/12/2015 21:10

"Did you ask Alan about Cornwall?
I'm kidding, FUCK OFF."

BEST.LINE.EVER. Grin

RomComPhooey · 01/12/2015 21:10

How did you and Sharon meet and when did you realise you'd make a good writing team?

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:10

@fufulina

I also have no question, and also wanted to say that episode one, series one, made me laugh more than anything I've watched on telly in fifteen years.

The rest of series one and this series have been brilliant. I love how it is all just a tiny bit too close to the bone. I spend a lot the time watching it slightly uncomfortably tense. But in a good way...

I am just replying to this because I like the specificity of "fifteen years." Sometimes people say it's the best thing in 5 years, or occasionally 10, but that will never satisfy me again now that you've said 15. I will tell my mum you said this. xx

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:10

@RomComPhooey

Also, how did you meet and realise you'd make good writing partners?

We met on twitter and just liked each other’s thing/vibe/filth level.

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 01/12/2015 21:11

As we've heard about Rob's penis, I think we need similar from Sharon. Sharon if you had a penis, would it be two and a half inches?

Moanranger · 01/12/2015 21:11

Has the show been sold to any other countries?

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:11

@DancingDuck

The only question I can think of is: Rob, how do you concentrate, working with a woman with legs like that? I'm straight but they'd distract me.

When we're not filming I ask Sharon to wear baggy sweatpants filled with newspaper and pillows.

RomComPhooey · 01/12/2015 21:11

Thanks Sharon.

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:12

@FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld

As we've heard about Rob's penis, I think we need similar from Sharon. Sharon if you had a penis, would it be two and a half inches?

Thickness yes.

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:13

@BoffinMum

DH thinks you are recording our conversations, this programme is so true to life.

Seriously, you are very good. Very good indeed. And my question is how embarrassing were the shagging scenes in the beginning?

They're embarrassing sure. But there are so many people around that it's so odd in a different way that you just sort of get past it. Plus our shagging scenes tend to be funny and silly and choreographed and all that so we have a bunch of other stuff to think about too. x

RomComPhooey · 01/12/2015 21:13

How often do you come up with a line or scenario and think "no, that's too close to the bone/filthy"? (Because it seems to us that you don't pull many punches.)

miaowmix · 01/12/2015 21:13

You two have amazing chemistry. Is it more fun writing or acting together?

Just FYI I also have house envy, especially Sharon's brother's pad.

ggirl · 01/12/2015 21:14

how do you spell the childs name? moirin?

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:14

@heylottie

How does the mechanics of writing a comedy together work? Do you sit together and 'bounce lines around' or do you work remotely and say, one writes the bones and the other the meat? Meat. See what I did there Rob ey?

I love your series, I haven't laughed so much in ages....

Generally we try to be in the same room and just talk it out. And hell yes we want to make the other person laugh. So we're always talking, talking, then writing, reading out loud and refining. We write remotely sometimes but that's not as fun. x

turnerryan1992 · 01/12/2015 21:15

Heya, love the show, quick question about the littlest Norris!

How did you choose her name?

The reason I ask, I won a signed script from yourselves this year and it was turned into a gift for my partner Mairin. You wrote charming notes to her, then we see an unpronounceably-named child called Mwirin (sp?) on screen!

Is there any link? Or do you have a similarly ridiculously named person in your life/lives?

Aptamilespresso · 01/12/2015 21:15

As a new parent I love the approach to all the new baby problems: sex, bonding and people sticking fingers in baby's mouth. So accurate.

Any chance of a booklet being produced for new parents to be to let them know the real truths of parenthood?

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:15

@GreyGardens

You two have amazing chemistry. Is it more fun writing or acting together?

Just FYI I also have house envy, especially Sharon's brother's pad.

They're both super fun, writing and acting. If I had to pick one, I'd pick writing by the TINIEST margin. I kind of feel like a lot of people can act but only we could write this exact sort of silliness. x

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:16

@DickDewy

This is my husband's question, so not mine Grin

Are either of you Mumsnetters? Some lines seem very MN-y.

I'm a mumsnet virgin.