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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:
RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:45

@hangingoutattheendofmywick

There was a joke in an episode this series that you didn't want to check on the baby and how bad it would be if they woke up.... Compared to them being dead. My partner and I howled and shouted yes... But as a writer id never ever have the courage to put that joke out there. So my Q is - how do you know where the line is with jokes and how do you get the courage to use them! (People get so offended nowadays when it's obviously not a SERIOUS deliberation).

Haaaa! So glad you liked that. We FIGURED people would relate, but I know I was concerned about that one. I think parents of young kids do make a lot of macabre jokes because it's SO HARD and you're afraid that if you fuck up, they MAY actually die. Anyway, NOTHING compared to how upset people got about the dog in episode one of series two. That was so absurd we began to enjoy the hate we got. Or at least I did, I won't speak for Sharon on that one! x

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:45

@RomComPhooey

Are the Chris/Fran couple based on people you know in real life? We find Chris' complete disregard for usual social niceties hilarious - like when he said he'd drawn the short straw and had to come to the party in the first episode of this season.

RomComPhooey they are based on about four different people combined. We love Chris so much too

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:46

@SharonHorgan

[quote Lurleene] I have another question if I may?

What do you think the series would be like if Rob took Sharon and the children to the USA? Is that something you would consider?

I think we'd love to do that at some point. Has to be somewhere warm though. With relaxed gambling laws.[/quote]

Sharon is a HUGE gambler and we often had to scour the local William Hills and BetFreds to find her, especially after sunset when her addiction really takes hold. x

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 01/12/2015 21:47

Which one of you is better looking?

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:47

@hangingoutattheendofmywick

There was a joke in an episode this series that you didn't want to check on the baby and how bad it would be if they woke up.... Compared to them being dead. My partner and I howled and shouted yes... But as a writer id never ever have the courage to put that joke out there. So my Q is - how do you know where the line is with jokes and how do you get the courage to use them! (People get so offended nowadays when it's obviously not a SERIOUS deliberation).

hangingoutattheendofmywick I think the trick is to be as honest as you can. As you dare. And then assume that there are people out there as flawed as you. Like you and your partner.

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:47

@FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld

Which one of you is better looking?

So obviously Rob "Desperate Dan' Delaney

Everythingstaken · 01/12/2015 21:48

I just wanted to say I bloody love this programme - thank you!! I've just been through similar antenatal scares during what has been a surprise 3rd pregnancy at 40 and watching series one again allowed me to cry through my tears. Sharon you are simply a beautiful talented lady and Rob you are very funny and handsome too! Thank you and roll on series three x

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:48

@JustRosieHere

Catastrophe seems very British, Rob as an American how do you find writing for a British audience? Also do you tailor your stand up to different audiences or is funny stuff funny on both sides of the Atlantic?

I love writing for a British audience. I have to be that much funnier. I do NOT tailor my standup by country. That would feel like lying to me! I think funny is funny, and it has to sometimes be even funnier to work in both places. So I try to do stuff that works both places, and Australia. (But not South Africa) x

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:48

@redlou

Thanks for replying to my earlier message Sharon. :)

What's been your favourite episode to write so far - and why?

i love ep 3 series 2 and just because I've lived those holidays and it's a love letter to PAris too

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:49

@Everythingstaken

I just wanted to say I bloody love this programme - thank you!! I've just been through similar antenatal scares during what has been a surprise 3rd pregnancy at 40 and watching series one again allowed me to cry through my tears. Sharon you are simply a beautiful talented lady and Rob you are very funny and handsome too! Thank you and roll on series three x

my takeaway from what you've written is "Blah blah blah Rob is handsome blah blah.." Kidding! So happy the show spoke to those experiences you've had. xx

RomComPhooey · 01/12/2015 21:49

My husband wants to know if Rob sings on the theme tune, which he loves more than is healthy.

BrianBettyGrable · 01/12/2015 21:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request

MsJuniper · 01/12/2015 21:49

Thank you for answering my non-question, Sharon. I also had to veto a name after my dearly-loved Irish in-laws corrected my pronunciation which I thought might be a bit much in the long term.

The thing that's great about Catastrophe is that it doesn't rely on those moments in most sitcoms where a misunderstanding could easily be sorted out or explained. I think that's why it seems so real.

V excited about watching tonight's episode. Will there be an end of series party with loads of champagne or will you just have a nice early night and a cup of tea? Will biscuits be involved? (Has anyone asked the biscuit question?)

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:50

@SaigonSaigon

Sharon - your clothes are bloody amazing. I'm inspired.

But the highlight for me this series has been Mark Bonner in the buff. But you're a close 2nd, Rob...

i was personally devastated that we cut the shot where his penis was revealed

hangingoutattheendofmywick · 01/12/2015 21:50

Thank you SO much for answering my question - I'm such a massive fan of your show. Also have 2 kids (one toddler and one baby) and we got together because I accidentally got pregnant (getting married this week) so basically I feel we are you!

Though unfortunately my partner isn't as strapping as Rob!

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:50

@BrianBettyGrable

Thanks for answering my question about stand up.

Sharon, while I am glad your life isn't fucked up enough to do it, I am sad because you would be hilarious on stage. And very well dressed, which is always nice.

Off to make my cup of tea for the finale. Thank you for making people think about how hard it is for the drinker in a relationship with an alcoholic. I mean that, it sounds sarcastic, but we're always listening to alcoholics going on about hard it is for them. Seriously, spare a thought for their drinker partners. Hard work.

Thanks too Sharon for putting Penge on the map with Pulling. I think I moved here just after it aired. We now have a tourist board and everything, look.

Penge Tourist Board

very welcome! #Penge

VenusInFauxFurs · 01/12/2015 21:51

or gently wank under a blanket when Mark Bonnar is onscreen.

Oh, Rob, you are too modest. If I'm sexually objectifying anyone when watching Catastrophe, it's not Mark. :)

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:52

@ThruUlikeAshortcut

Have to be here for this one - I'm expecting big laughs Grin no pressure

Question for Sharon - I too am an ex convent girl but I had a great time at my school - Who was your favourite and least favourite nun and why?

I liked the stupid nuns. The smart were more dangerous.

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:52

@MsJuniper

Thank you for answering my non-question, Sharon. I also had to veto a name after my dearly-loved Irish in-laws corrected my pronunciation which I thought might be a bit much in the long term.

The thing that's great about Catastrophe is that it doesn't rely on those moments in most sitcoms where a misunderstanding could easily be sorted out or explained. I think that's why it seems so real.

V excited about watching tonight's episode. Will there be an end of series party with loads of champagne or will you just have a nice early night and a cup of tea? Will biscuits be involved? (Has anyone asked the biscuit question?)

I will drink tea by myself and watch. My wife is out somewhere doing god knows what with god knows whom. x

RomComPhooey · 01/12/2015 21:54

I'm also off to make a cuppa before the finale, but thanks for being such good sports (and answering so many of my questions). We'll keep our fingers crossed for a 3rd series and Rob including a Bristol tour date next spring.

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:54

@cjbk1

I love the show, even more so this series, I'd like to know, in a non-pervy way, what does real life Sharon do for exercise and lifestyle, I'd love that figure again and I know she's a real life mum/mammy, maybe I'm just getting confused because Sharon the character is a big boozer and doesn't bang on about exercise Wink

First of all my body looks a lot better with clothes ON. Second I do exercise ( a bit) and eat healthily. Usually one less meal a day than I want. Boring answer. Less boringly I enjoy multiple helpings of booze on a weekly basis.

SharonHorgan · 01/12/2015 21:55

@Twerking9to5

Another huge fan here!

I was wondering about the writing process. Do you lock yourselves away, making each other howl with laughter, until it's done? Or is it more methodical/stressful/long distance?

Some long distance. A good part of it and then a big chunk side by side laughing and eating and typing and farting quietly

Everythingstaken · 01/12/2015 21:55

Sorry my comment was a bit blah, blah! Fuck I hate being pregnant it makes me all nice and gushing! Bloody hormones!

RobDelaney · 01/12/2015 21:56

Five minutes till the final episode of Series 2!! Thank you all, this has really been fun! xx

MsJuniper · 01/12/2015 21:56

But we still don't know what your favourite biscuit is.