Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Comedy star set for Rep
SCOTTISH comedy star Fred MacAulay is set to perform in Dundee.
The stand-up will be at the Rep on Saturday April 1.
The 60-year-old — who spent much of his early life in Blairgowrie and was made rector of the University of Dundee in 2001 — became an established name on the Scottish entertainment scene thanks to his BBC Radio Scotland programme MacAulay and Co.
MacAulay’s national TV appearances include stints on Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News For You, and The Late Late Show.
He also has 27 Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows under his belt.
Joining him on the night will be award-winning stand-up Scott Gibson, who recently won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
The Glasgow funnyman was the first Scot to win the award.
Tickets for MacAulay’s show at the Rep are available from dundeerep. co.uk.
Fitness fanatic Scott Malone, 29, from Ardler, appeared on hit ITV show Ninja Warrior UK — presented by Chris Kamara, Ben Shephard and Rochelle Humes — at the weekend.
Scott was selected for the show, which was filmed in August, after an audition in Glasgow in June.
Scott, who competes in mixed martial arts (MMA) and teaches judo, said: “I was watching the show on TV and thought it looked quite easy.
“After the show, there were details of how to apply, so I went for it.
“They chose me for the audition after I sent them pictures and a bit about my MMA and sports background.
“We had to do things like chin-ups, climbing ropes and running up a flat wall. Even after the audition they don’t say for certain you will be on the show, they just say, ‘be ready’, so I kept on training and then was told I would be on the show.”
Scott went down to the Manchester Arena with wife Joanne, and was put up in a hotel for two nights.
He said: “It was kind of surreal being down there. I was a wee bit taken aback by it all.
“When I arrived, I was sent through to watch other people taking part. Five were selected at a time and they would go out and warm up to get ready.
“Then we were taken through to the main arena. I was amazed at the size of the place.
“You only see about a quarter of it on TV but it’s absolutely huge — I’d say it’s about the size of Tannadice.
“They walked us through the course showing us what to do but we weren’t actually given the chance to try it beforehand.
A DUNDEE man has been put through his paces on one of the UK’s toughest game shows.
“I did a warm-up then went out. The arena itself holds about 2,000 to 3,000 people, so it was quite daunting.
“As I was walking out, my hands were shaking. I made it to the same bit of the course that a lot of people failed on — the wheel.
“You’re hanging and have to swing back and forward to get momentum and then jump and grab on to a net that hangs down.
“As I was doing it, I just lost all momentum and fell back.
“I was really, really angry with myself and disappointed. I got interviewed by Rochelle from the Saturdays afterwards, and she said, ‘Man, you’re a sore loser’. I know I could have done better.”
While not planning to take on anything similar any time soon, Scott has his sights set on his fourth MMA fight, with details still to be confirmed. Despite his disappointment, he was proud to be able to show his son Bradley, 7, and daughters Arlo, 6, and two-year-old Perla the clip of him on the show.
He said: “The kids were chuffed to see me, shouting, ‘Dad, you’re on TV’.”