Homepage News Reviews - Acts - Shows - Screen - Radio - Books - Clubs Interviews Awards 2006 Edinburgh 2005 - Reviews - Blog - Previews Features Archive Awards 2005 Edinburgh 2004: - Previews - Shows - Diary Guestbook Forum © Emporium Of Mirth 2004 Editor: Lauren Murphy Reporters: Fiona Wilkie Natalie Joanne	Emporium of Mirth Emma Kennedy A quick Chat with Emma Kennedy More widely known as ‘the-lady-off-them-‘Heat’-ads’ or, if you’ve caught ‘The Terry and Gabby show’ on a Monday/Friday, as ‘that woman who does them TV / film reviews’; Emma Kennedy is a witty and wonderful lady. I caught up with the madam of mirth after her Friday film review session in County Hall to find out about her recent shenanigans on Old Mother Thames and glean some comedy and entertainment recommendations. Anyone who has logged on to Emma’s lovingly and hilariously penned daily web logs will be aware that this fair lady has been in training of late; Oh sweet lord above has she’s been training. Ms Kennedy is not only taking part in this year’s London Marathon, but she has just taken part in ‘The Other Boat Race’. ‘The whaaa?’ I hear you cry – yes, you heard right, the other boat race. To commemorate one and a half centuries of Oxbridge’s academic elite messing about in boats, BBC3 are televising an event where celebrity alumni of said ivory towers have - to use a water-based metaphor - thrown themselves in at the deep end, forming crews and undergoing 5 weeks of intense, gruelling training, culminating in the race itself which took place on a bitterly cold and windy Wednesday at the end of February. While I am not at liberty to divulge who won (I crossed my heart and hoped to die so am sworn to secrecy as playground law dictates otherwise its needles in the eye for me); the BBC3 documentary covering the highs and lows of training, and the race itself promises to be exciting, compulsive and ‘a real corker’. In contrast to other celebrities-do-the-funniest-things-for-extra-meeja-attention-and-pockets-full-of-dosh programmes, this one has a certain integrity -yes, integrity- about it. The main focus of the event takes precedence over the personalities involved, and the process of teams forming and working together make for a refreshing change to shows where individuals slog it out one against the other for greater press coverage or a lucrative advertising contract. I have been given a few moments in Emma’s hectic schedule to extract hot nuggets of information about the race and her experience of the project. So, sandwiched between timeslots of her sharing a TV sofa with Peter ‘Insaniac’ Andre and Lee Cerreri (‘Bruno’ off of ‘Fame) and dashing off to a film screening, I ask rapid fire questions and scribble away. Far from being exhausted from her escapade on the Thames, Emma is bright and energized as I quiz her on all things boat shaped. But what possessed this dame of daytime entertainment reviews and writer and performer of comedy to exchange the comfortable confines of comedy and broadcasting to don a splash-proof jacket and a punishing 5 week intensive training schedule? ‘The prospect of meeting Sir Steve Redgrave and being trained by the wonderful Martin Cross or ‘Jesus’’ she replies. Emma has a real glint of joy in her eyes as she regales me about her recent sporting endeavours. ‘What did the training involve? ‘Gym training and going out on the river. Lots. Learning rowing technique from the world’s finest. After five minutes technique coaching with Matthew Pinsent my split time (that’s average stroke rate after rowing 500m to those not in the realm of rowing) reduced from 2.14 to 1.45 seconds which was just amazing’. As she talks, I cannot help getting swept along with her enthusiasm for her newly found sport, her esteem for the awesome achievements of her Olympic rower trainers, and her dedication and devotion to her crew. ‘So what was your most memorable moment of the whole training experience?’ ‘Going out in a boat on the river at night time with Matthew Pinsent to get a ‘feel’ of the boat. It was pitch dark and magical.’ ‘A sort of Mr-Miake-from-‘Karate Kid’ of the rowing world?’ ‘Yes, yes, you could say that.’ ‘And your worst experience?’ ‘Any rower will tell you they all dread the erg test – that’s rowing on an erg (indoor rowing machine) as fast as you can for 2000m.’ ‘Isn’t that the one when Sir Steve collapsed on camera in the documentary about the Olympic crew in training for the last Olympics?’ I say. She nods to confirm and continues, ‘at the end of an erg session overseen by Matthew Pinsent my lungs began bleeding and I was coughing up blood.’ Ms Kennedy, the brave and plucky soul that she is found out during her medical that she suffers from asthma, and this test brought on her first asthma attack. My esteem for her is swollen in an instant, and I feel a lowly mortal in her presence. ‘So what have you gained from taking part in this experience?’ ‘Blistered hands, thighs like sprung steel, and bonding with a crew of people I love.’ It is apparent from speaking to her and her crew-mate and long serving friend Richard Herring, that the Oxford crew saw themselves as the ‘underdogs’, but clearly this did not lead them to give up. They began to refer to themselves and the rest of the Oxford crew as ‘the hobbits’ giving rise to such steely determination that nothing, and I mean NOTHING could break it. The question is, will the rowing fellowship continue after the boat race itself? ‘Do you intend to carry on rowing now The Other Boat Race has taken place?’ ‘Yes. Me, ‘Breaking News’ and ‘Pippin’* intend to continue [*code names of other rowers in Oxford celebrity boat … see, you’ll have to watch the programme now to know who the hell that Kennedy lady is on about – I for one have no idea …]. We’re looking into the Vesta rowing club in Putney.’ So what are Emma’s future plans on land now that the boat race is completed? Well, she continues writing ‘Tracy Beaker’ for CBBC and filming is about to begin on a new BBC2 comedy drama called The Smoking Room. The Smoking Room is a cross between The Royle Family and The Office and is written by first time writer Brian Dooley. The scripts are very funny. Emma will be playing a character called ‘Heidi’ and will appear in episodes 5, 6, 7 and 8. ‘My character has been on maternity leave for 6 months which is why I turn up half way through the series and I’m so boring that no one has even noticed I’ve been gone ages. I am also writing a new Radio 4 comedy. The people at ‘Heat’ have also asked me to do another advert for them which will be screened throughout March, but I think that will be the last one.’ As we both leave, I wish her all the best for the London Marathon. Emma is running for the British Red Cross with a target sponsorship of £5000. Every penny pledged is gratefully received. The London Marathon is hard. I Know. I’m still living off the kudos from taking part 6 years ago and feel mighty ashamed at my post-marathon inactivity next to a woman who has completed one fitness feat and is now exchanging it for another. I warn her of the adolescent St John Ambulance volunteers spotted around the 26.2 mile route with their surgical gloves smeared with family-sized pots of Vaseline. ‘I found they kept me running away from them and helped me break through ‘the wall’ at about 20 miles’ I say. ‘What time did you complete it in?’ she enquires. I mumble my measly finishing time and wish her every success with the race and the fundraising. She is an inspiring, funny, and amiable lady. For what she has completed, and what she is about to do, please give generously and sponsor her. The Other Boat Race: The training highs and lows will be screened nightly on BBC3 from Monday 22nd March 2004. The actual race proper of The Other Boat Race will be screened in a 90minute special on BBC1 on 27th March 2004. The seemingly invincible Emma Kennedy will also be running the London Marathon on Saturday 18th April 2004. To sponsor Emma in her marathon endeavours, please visit her website at www.emmakennedy.net and give generously, or else! Quick fire round Who would you vote for as Best British Sitcom? ‘Either ‘Dads Army’ or ‘Spaced’. For shear longevity and amazing characters it would have to be ‘Dads Army’ without a doubt. Favourite Comedienne / Comedy Performer? ‘Jessica Stevenson, Gracie Allen’ What are you listening to at the moment? ‘Norah Jones’s new album and the compilation CD that I made for our crew of the boat race.’ Last play you went to see? ‘Dinner’ at Wyndhams Theatre. Last film? Torque (‘terrible’), ‘House of sand and fog’, and ‘Valantin’ Favourite Film? Spinal Tap Emma’s one to watch: ‘Lizzie Roper’ Emma’s one to avoid: ‘Phil Jupitus because he’s a lazy, smug, self-satisfied bastard.’ Interview by Jo, Spring 2004 Click on the images to view full size RSS  Printable version	Visit our Siamese Twin Sister Site!