I played in the second annual Critics v Comedians football match the other day, writes Leo Benedictus. Having been 3-1 down at half time, we put in a stout display to win 5-3, with the Sunday Herald's Edd McCracken bagging a splendid hat-trick (the last of which, I might add, I presented to him on a plate). The comedians weren't making many jokes by the end, I can tell you.
It's a tricky business meeting people you've been reviewing. Nearly as tricky, I would imagine, as reviewing people you've met.
They, you can be sure, have seen what you wrote about them, and if it wasn't unstinting praise they probably did not agree with it.
Facing me in the comedians' team, for instance, were Richard Herring (whom I awarded an unspectacular three stars) and, right beside me, at centre-half, Omid Djalili ("predictable and worthy", two stars). If either of them had welcomed me to the pitch with hearty "reducing" tackles, I would have quite understood.
But both, I am glad to say, were perfect gents. And Djalili, in particular, being of foreign extraction, was quite the best ball-player on the park.
At the end, we all shook hands, and Djalili even suggested a rematch. To think people say comedians are touchy and insecure…
