Madness, Marti and me... Now that’s a trip home
ITwas a mad trip back to the UK last week – mad, but enjoyable.
I had lots of great moments, which included a memorable encounter with a woman in the beautiful Principal Hotel in Edinburgh.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” she said.
That was a hard one to deny!
It was even harder when she added: “I don’t know your name... but it’s you!”
I often say the same when I look in the mirror after a heavy night out.
And it was great to share on-screen time this week with my old pal, Marti Pellow, who’s celebrating 30 years in the biz and is all set to do a massive solo tour.
He takes his Private Collection show to Dunfermline, Glasgow and Edinburgh next month – so check it out if you’re into The Wets, and Marti’s solo stuff.
Wet Wet Wet were always one of my favourite bands and I’m very honoured to be the first person to play them on the radio. It was their demo version of the Stevie Wonder classic, Heaven Help Us All . . . three decades ago.
Did they ever thank me?
You bet they did – they gave me a triple platinum album of Popped In Souled Out! Thanks, guys!
Speaking of popping in somewhere, after Edinburgh I flew south to check in to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel in London.
There I was met by a woman saying: “Jonathan Ross, you’ve brought the sunshine from LA.”
I chuckled and said: “Actually, it’s Ross…” “Of course it is,” she replied. “Ross Kemp – I’d know you anywhere!”
Before I left for London I managed to pop along to the most wonderful tailor, Andrew Brookes on George Street in Edinburgh. He made my wedding suit and my suit for the Oscars, but now has the unenviable task of making a King look fit for a Queen. The pressure is on for Andrew – my investiture is on July 3.
Actually, the pressure is on me to get to the weight and size I promised him I would be by then…
I’m looking forward to my investiture – although at first I thought it meant I had a meeting with my financial adviser.
I’ll instead be receiving my MBE, and will treasure the medal and it’ll go alongside my last big award, my Knightswood Community Centre Disco Best Dancer Third Place Badge...