All I want for Christmas is a transparent toaster ...or a
A24-HOUR seasonal smorgasbord of science, comedy, music and more is to be broadcast live online to the world to bring some much needed festive cheer and raise money for charity.
Hosted by Robin Ince, The Cosmic Shambles Network’s production of Nine Lessons And Carols For Socially Distanced People features guests including Professor Brian Cox, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Monty Python’s Eric Idle and comedian Milton Jones, as well as Apollo 9 Lunar Module pilot Rusty Schweickart and fellow astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
Here a few of the other performers tell us about their Christmas plans.
ROBIN INCE:
AS I had a telescope a few years ago I think a microscope then, like my grandfather, I can peer at the Stilton and refuse to eat it until it waves back at me.
CHRISTMAS this year is going to be a strange one for everyone.
My husband and I recently moved to Singapore and were planning on having Christmas somewhere exciting and tropical – maybe
Bali, or a Thai island – but travel restrictions means that’s not possible. They also mean that I now haven’t seen my family for nearly 10 months. So, if I could have anything, it would be to give my parents and gran a hug.
As it is, we will most likely still be in Singapore for Christmas, but we will do our best to make it feel special by cooking our favourite festive treats – even if mince pies in 30 degree heat might take a bit of getting used to!
BEC HILL:
SNOW! I have never experienced a White Christmas.
IF we’re under lockdown, then maybe I can attempt a challenge of 24 hours straight of marking school maths papers with a five minute break every hour to watch Christmas University Challenge.
DR HELEN CZERSKI:
A TRANSPARENT toaster. I’m all in favour of being able to see inside things to see how they work, and apparently someone has worked out how to do this with a toaster.
Just imagine how satisfying it would be. And no more burnt toast.
Or (if someone really wanted to splash out) my own submarine – also transparent, obviously – so I could park on the ocean floor and watch what goes past.
Christmas wildlife-spotting/ counting events that you could join in with at your local park on Christmas morning? Or a big outdoor sing-song of cheesy pop tunes? This might not be the year for singing, though.
Or Paddington Bear-inspired walks around London, with marmalade sandwiches and whisky along the way?
PROFESSOR JIM AL-KHALILI:
I SHOULD say a vaccine for Covid, but I guess you mean a present for me, and I’m young(ish) fit and healthy. So how about a luxury yacht.
Well you did say the perfect present, so I’m thinking big, even though I know it’ll be socks, a bottle of whisky and a Chocolate Orange.
ANYTHING GOES FOR MEGAN MULLALLY
WILL & GRACE TV star Megan Mullally, right, is to make her West End musical debut next May starring opposite Robert Lindsay in a new revival of the award-winning Cole Porter classic Anything Goes.
Megan says: “Anything really does go, is the thing, and I’m excited to be coming to London, where Robert Lindsay and I will promptly unleash ourselves upon that wonderful town for 15 weeks of farce and frolic.” The musical runs at the Barbican from May 8.