[from whatsonne.co.uk]
NEXT year’s Great North Run could have a new celebrity face in the running pack, in the shape of Eddie Izzard.
The comedian told the Chronicle today he would consider taking part in the event – having successfully run 1,200 miles around the UK for Sport Relief. That’s 43 marathons in 51 days.
“I’ve never done an organised one, so that is something I must do,” says Eddie, who is at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Thursday and Friday next week.
“Never say never, so you may see me there. I am certainly keeping up my training and doing two marathons a week.”
Eddie admitted he was absolutely exhausted after his nationwide trek – which raised more than £200,000 for Sport Relief – ended last month.
“It was good to do, it was very tough. I didn’t really enjoy the running, but I enjoyed the stopping.
“Towards the end, I got more into the running. I knew I could do it without it being too hellish. The pain had cut down. the first two weeks were very painful and after that it got less painful.
“To see people happy to come out and run with me. It was wonderful. A very primal thing.”
I suggest it was a huge undertaking for him, but Eddie replies: “I think anyone could do it. No- one has really tried it that much so, if motivated enough, then you would do it. If you were being chased by a bear, you would do it!
“The motivation in the head is very important. It was so tiring and knackering, though, and initially the shredding in my feet was terrible. You get used to it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Eddie recently broke box office records by selling out a five-week residency in London’s West End in less than 48 hours.
With bootleg tickets changing hands for thousands of pounds, Stripped was indisputably the must- have tickets on both sides of the Atlantic, coming hot on the heels of an American sell-out tour which played across 34 US cities – including three packed out nights at New York’s legendary Radio City Music Hall.
Stripped arrived at the Lyric theatre, where the live DVD – out on November 23 – was filmed and played to overwhelming critical acclaim. The show sees Eddie back at his very best.
It comes to the Toon complete with a fleet of Stripped trucks, three LED screens, nine set screens and sky trackers.
In January next year, he will become only the fourth comedian ever to play Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Eddie has been hailed as one of the foremost stand-ups of his generation.
He takes ideas and situations and extrapolates them into bizarre, tangential, absurd and surreal comic narratives.
Since his first stage appearance on London’s West End in 1993, there have been a succession of sell-outs and critically-acclaimed international tours.
His musings have earned him countless awards, including two Emmys. While initially renowned as a comedian, he is now equally respected as a film, theatre and TV actor.
Earlier this year, he shared the big screen with Tom Cruise in Valkyrie and, over Christmas, he will star opposite Joely Richardson and Dougray Scott in the BBC’s remake of Day of the Triffids.
Of Stripped, he says: “I did the five weeks in London as an archetype of what I am now doing in arena.
“I wanted to make sure the material was in a good place.
“I’m looking forward to Triffids coming out. A great cast and great story. I really enjoyed doing it – I play a charismatic sociopath.
“Filmed drama is such a long time before you see what you have done. Valkyrie took a year and a half – it is so different to what you get doing stand-up.”