Jason Reid has a sherry with the drag legend
The countdown to the QX and RVT Comedy Roast of Rose Garden continues with just three weeks to go until the big night. Have you got your ticket yet? Called round the girls to coordinate outfits? Deleted that niche porn on your iPhone to free up storage so that you can capture the golden catty moments? Do it soon! ALL proceeds go directly to the wonderful HIV/AIDS charity, Terrence Higgins Trust.
This week, host for the evening Mrs. Moore, fresh from her Saturday morning (1.30pm is morning in the drag world, OKAY!) bath, brew and fag, took a few minutes out of her exceedingly busy schedule to chat with our Jason Reid…
Hey Mrs. M, how are you?
She’s delicate today, dear. Actually, she’s rough as a badgers arse. I was on the wine last night.
Hair of the dog will sort you out. So Rose’s roast is on the horizon. Are you excited?
Oh, absolutely! I’m thrilled to be hosting the night. And I’m very excited about roasting the old Northern Irish tart.
Any teasers you can share?
Well I’m currently re-writing a Rose Garden classic, like I did for Mary Mac’s roast. That’s coming together nicely. I’m hoping to open the show with it. That’s all you’re getting right now. Don’t wanna spoil the surprise and Rose’s reaction.
You’re quite an old hand at the RVT roasts. How many have you been involved with?
I’ve done Sandra’s, Myra’s, Lola’s and Mary’s roast, so this will be my fifth. I’m an old pro, dear.
So almost all of them, apart from the one we don’t speak of…
[laughs] I wasn’t involved with THAT one, or Maisie’s.
Most memorable moments?
Performing I Know Him So Well with Myra DuBois, with a puppet mask on, was a treat. Also, my rehash of Mary Mac’s infamous She’s a Maniac song. It popped up on my Timehop today and it’s exactly one year ago. But from the first roast (of Sandra); just to be asked to be on that stage amongst your friends for such a special night is an honour. Rose and I fall out every other week anyway…
Do you really? Is your relationship a tempestuous one?
Oh yes, dear! It’s a love-hate relationship: I hate her and she loves me [laughs]
It could get very tense on the night then?
Well, it will be interesting to see how she handles it and if she’ll keep her composure until the end. Something to look forward to.
Two of your fellow roasters, Tia Kofi and Miss Penny, are making their RVT roast debuts Do you have any advice for them?
Don’t hold back. If you think it’s ‘too much’, say it even louder. Dig up all the delicious dirt you can remember. I usually phone round mutual friends. I’ll be calling Dolly Diamond (Rose’s good friend in Australia) this week to get some down under stories from her that Rose may have forgotten about.
The other roaster is Miss Jason who is, like you, an old hand at this lark.
She’s a joy. We always have such a laugh together. And of course we’re fellow skittle bomb and Jägerbomb aficionados.
You’re well known for serving up comedy with a large portion of innuendo and your influences hark back to the times of Carry On and Kenneth Williams. Are you an old spirit at heart?
Absolutely, like Marti Kane on acid. I’m a woman of the 70’s light entertainment era. Carry On films, Dick Emery and Les Dawson are all favourites.
Do you like any current comedians?
I like Russell Howard but that’s probably because I secretly (or not so now) fancy him, and I think he’d be good in the sack. There’s another one, I forget his name. The queen that presented the Great British Bake Off thing?
I don’t know. What does he look like?
He’s bald and quite posh.
It’s Tom Allen. I googled it.
That’s it; very dry and camp in his delivery. Almost John Inman-esque.
Finally, what’s your message to Rose?
Good luck, you’re gonna need it.
The Comedy Roast of Rose Garden is on Thursday 23rd August at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5HY.
