Eddie Izzard's Keynsham pub gig

He’s used to having comedy audiences eating out of his hand - but Eddie Izzard had a slightly trickier crowd to deal with when he visited Keynsham.
The comedian, actor and long-distance runner is the second celebrity campaigner to join the effort to help Labour’s Dan Norris hold on to his marginal seat.
For 90 minutes at the Trout Tavern in Temple Street, he regaled a packed pub garden with the reasons why they should vote for North East Somerset candidate Mr Norris – and announced his own political aspirations.
The 48-year-old star will be wowing Canadians on stage in Toronto on Friday, but yesterday he was on his 22nd stop out of 25 across the country to muster votes for Labour in the General Election.

“I was in Gloucester this morning...” said the indefatigable performer, before reeling off every town and city he has graced wearing a rosette before then.
“The sun is shining in Keynsham and that’s because of the Labour Party.
“As a street performer I’m used to talking to people a lot and I want to point out that Britain is not broken, like the Tories will tell you. It’s brilliant. And that’s the Britain I believe in.”
Izzard’s appearance was the second from a household name to back Mr Norris, a junior minister in the last government.
Queen guitarist Brian May joined Mr Norris at the weekend to back his stance against fox hunting.
Izzard, who has made his own election broadcast called Brilliant Britain, spent an hour fielding questions on issues from child tax credits to pensions alongside Mr Norris, who has represented the Wansdyke constituency – now redrawn and renamed North East Somerset – for the last 13 years.
Karen Perry, 51, from Winterbourne, was impressed with his impromptu performance.
She said: “It is great for a comedy actor to have a serious side. He put things across in layman’s terms and probably helped Dan Norris reach a few more people today.”
Izzard said he was happy to help the party: “I’m not wheeled out here. I’m self-propelled. I volunteered for this. “Judge the celebrities on what they’ve done with their lives and if you like it, listen. If you don’t like it, don’t listen.
“The public are intelligent enough that if they don’t agree with what I say then they won’t listen.”
Izzard is a valuable commodity after capturing the nation’s imagination running 43 marathons in 51 days around the UK, raising money for Sport Relief.
And his boundless enthusiasm is bound for politics – but not for a decade.
He said: “My own aspirations are for 10 years’ time. I’ve worked my backside off to get my career going so I’m not going to drop it. It would need to go into deep hibernation if I stand (as an MP).”
Pub landlord Jim McCarthy joked: “I’m just waiting for Bruce Springsteen to come here now.”

Eddie Izzard on Marathon.

Last summer Eddie Izzard decided to run around England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales though not necessarily, as Eric Morecambe said, in the right order. The touching and thought provoking programme, Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, was buried alive quite late at night on BBC3.

To say he did it for Sports Relief is true up to a point. The real reason is harder to fathom. He had to run 1,000 miles – 43 consecutive marathons – followed by a motorised rickshaw (with the camera crew) and an ice-cream van (with Flake 99s). To see him stumbling along in blinding rain, no cheers, no crowds, no pavements, carrying the sodden flag of the appropriate country, made you want to shout: "Excelsior!"

Towards the end of the 10th marathon, he collapsed. When they told him there were three switchback miles to go, he said: "I do that then." His therapist begged him to walk, but he did it running and, to celebrate, freewheeled downhill into Builth Wells (pop. approx 2,000) and a rousing civic reception.