If you thought running a marathon was the ultimate test of endurance, you’ve obviously never seen a 26.2 hour-long comedy gig.
Mark Watson, known for inflicting these mammoth fundraising feats upon himself, was joined on the Pleasance Theatre stage by a host of fellow comedians, actors and public figures to assist him in his task.
Beginning at 9:48pm on Wednesday February 27 and finishing at midnight yesterday, Watson and friends helped raise more than £20,000 for Dementia Revolution by undergoing some downright ridiculous tasks.
Rufus Hound, Adam Kay, Deborah Frances White, Angela Barnes, Tim Key, Jayde Adams and Adam Hills were among the guests to feature in person, with Ed Miliband and Bradley Walsh clocking in over Skype.
Challenges ranged from Guilty Feminist podcast host Deborah Frances White singing Liza Minnelli’s Mein Herr dressed as Theresa May, to comedian Cerys Nelmes getting a tattoo of a brussels sprout with Watson’s face on it. Tim Key cut the hair of Watson’s doppelganger, while an audience member drew portraits of Bradley Walsh non-stop for the entire 26.2 hours.
Audience members did their bit as well by attempting their own challenges, including two who played Countdown for 24 hours.
Watson said of the show, which celebrated the launch of his new Audible podcast, Mark Watson’s Comedy Marathon: “Everyone knows I’m an ambitious guy, and by that I mean: stupid.”
The fundraiser is still open for donations at uk.virginmoneygiving.com
