Celeb for the night: Phil picks up some tips from Tarby at Saturday's do

11.03.03 @ 12:51 AM PDT [link]

The afternoon after the night before
We didn't quite manage 35 celebs last night, but we did have a great time. Our mystery venue was the Dog & Duck in the heart of London's Soho district - a boozer frequented on one famous occasion by Madonna, if press reports are to be believed. Although we were a relatively small number of people in cosy pub function room, we felt the presence of all the other 35 fans around the world. Literally hundreds of thousands of people knew about our little gathering and I couldn't help feeling you were all there in spirit.

The lab boys are working on the photographs as we speak and I anticipate being able to upload to the blog in the next day or so. The 35forphil web team will then sort out a more formal gallery to be archived for posterity. You may be a little surprised to see a 35-year-old London man dressed in a tuxedo in the middle of a traditional rub-a-dub. That was me - prepared for any last-minute celebrity visitors. I didn't look as out of place as you might think, because the drinkers in the main bar just assumed I was a doorman. A quick glance was enough to tell them not to start any trouble.

Thanks to all my friends who came along and in particular, Russ and Simon, who have been instrumental in putting Britain's barmiest birthday party together. Russ bought me a book in which comic Jimmy Tarbuck reminisces about his time in show business. Lots of great anecdotes about the likes of Kenny Lynch and other former variety entertainers.

Now that I'm 35, I'm a little bit older and wiser.

Slebs are busy people. Perhaps I should have given them all an extra week to reply.

11.02.03 @ 06:02 AM PDT [link]

Looking back at 35forphil
When Millsy told me today that he wasn't able to come to the party, I hope the emotion didn't show in my voice. I knew I was on national radio and had to hold things together. It's just that Scott's been such a champion of the 35forphil cause that it would have meant an awful lot to see him propping up the bar of an anonymous London boozer tomorrow night. I completely understand his contractual commitments though. Radio 1 probably pay him top dollar and they rightly expect him to drop anything - even prior engagements with long-standing friends - if they have something they need him to do. Don't feel bad about it, Scott, mate. It obviously just wasn't meant to be. Me and my friends will drink a toast you on Saturday. We may even start a campaign to get you permanently elevated to the afternoon slot.

OK. Now I've got the emotional bit off my chest, I thought tonight might be a good time to look back on some of the highlights of 35forphil...

It all started when I broadcast news of the party to troops serving in 15 countries around the world on British Forces Radio. I forgot to mention the website address, but thankfully the calls started coming in from other radio stations around the world. Ireland... Australia... America...New Zealand. Everyone wanted to know about the bizarre birthday party that was planned in London on November 1st. The Aussies and Kiwis particularly loved the idea and I was delighted to discover that the citizens of Perth knew all about Are you being served? We hit it off straight away when I told them that John Inman sadly wasn't free.

Hits on the website started going through the roof and over the course of the past month I have come into contact with all kinds of folk I wouldn't otherwise have expected to meet. Carlos, for instance, who runs the Mexican S-Club 7 fan site. Sandra, from the German television network, who needed approval from her studio overseas to film my party. And, of course, the much-admired, exotic songstress, Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

The thing that's brought me most enjoyment, however, is contact with other ordinary, everyday folk, just like me. People who've made suggestions about the site, nominated celebrities or simply wished me a happy 35th birthday. Thanks for making the experience so worthwhile.

Congratulations to fellow Londoner Mark for winning the competition with an entry that is not really repeatable here. I'll get in touch tomorrow and line up a pint on the bar for you. And thanks to everyone else who took part. Many of the entries certainly put a smile on my face.

What happens to the website from here? Well, a few party pictures perhaps wouldn't go amiss early next week. I'll see what I can do. But for the moment, I'll sign off.

34 for the very last time. ;-)

10.31.03 @ 02:45 PM PDT [link]

Germans, celeb lookalikes and the 35forphil comp
Lunchtime was a little strange today, as I didn't appear on national radio. Never mind. My old friend Scott Mills apparently said that he'd be inviting me back on the show on Friday. Probably just for a general catch-up and a bit of chit-chat. And the chance to update Radio 1 listeners on the latest 35forphil news.

As a blog reader, you're ahead of the game, so when you tune into the show tomorrow, you'll know what's going to be said already. A bit like television psychic Tony Stockwell, who hasn't yet responded to my party invite. It's strange, because I was sure he'd have a head start over the other guests. (Have you ever seen his show on cable? He stops people at Lakeside and tells their fortune. "I see mounting credit card debts and a Mitsubishi Shogun heading back towards Romford...")

OK. So what's happening on B-day minus two? Well, sadly the Germans have pulled the plug on the boulevard programme. I think it was to be expected. The proposal went to the Board of the TV network in Hamburg or wherever and someone's probably asked that stupid question about who is actually attending the party. Millsy's name wouldn't have cut any ice out there, because he doesn't have quite the same hero status that he does in the UK. We'll pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and move on. The way I look at it, there's all the more room for the domestic stations now.

Sources tell me there may have been some talk about celebrity lookalikes on Scott's show today too, which is a strange coincidence, because my mate Russ has been enquiring on my behalf. I think he's been foolishly worrying there won't be any real celebs turning up. One agency he called had three Kylies on their books, but only one available. She would have to schlep down from Manchester and cost £500 plus petrol. What's more, she didn't sing. Russ made his excuses. We could hire the real one for that price, although I'm obviously hoping a pint of Fosters will be enough to tempt her.

The competition will close on Friday evening and I'll post the name of the lucky winner on this blog page. I won't be able to respond to every unsuccessful applicant in person, but will keep your details on file for my 40th. If you didn't win, but were a close runner up, I'll try to drop you a personal note, which you can keep as a memento of the world's wackiest birthday celebration.

To the lady who hoped for strobe lighting, I've checked out the boozer and that's all a bit sophisticated, to be honest. Please go ahead and have your teeth whitened anyway though.



10.30.03 @ 02:07 PM PDT [link]

Very minor celebs, party buses and Crimewatch reconstructions
That young Scott Mills really is a character. He only had me back on his show again today, didn't he? Forget about Mark and Lard. More like Mills and Phil these days.

Anyway, I was able to announce details of my competition to win a place at Britain's barmiest birthday bash. There are still a couple of days to go, but I wanted to make some initial observations.

First of all, a message for some of the ladies applying. My wife only lets me do this party thing on the basis that she's allowed to read all my e-mail. OK? Enough said. Just keep it clean.

Some of the people claiming to be very minor celebrities are actually quite plausible and, yes, in theory, it would be nice to have someone who'd been one of the military instructors on Lads' Army. The problem is that this competition just isn't about the 35 celeb spots.

I'm looking for an ordinary Joe or Jo who has taken the 35 idea to heart. If they have acting experience it would be at the level of a guy called Ben, who claims to have been in a Crimewatch reconstruction at the age of 15. (Just out of interest, do any actors and actresses actually put credits for reconstructions on their professional CVs? "Second ambulanceman in 999 with Michael Buerk" and that kind of thing? If you've seen any stuff like that on a luvvie job application, do let me know at info@35forphil.com - subject line 'reconstructions'.)

There's a guy in East London who says he can bring a bus for the celebrities. All I can say is that it better be a double decker, because I'm hoping for a lot of replies in the next 48 hours. Hold on tight now! Room for a few more slebs on top!

Adrian says he knows what a German boulevard programme is, which certainly puts him at an advantage over me. The latest news on that score, incidentally, is that network bigwigs are making a decision in Berlin or Frankfurt or somewhere. It normally takes a week or two, but I've asked them to speed up the process on this occasion.

I'm a sucker for rhymes and poems and things like that, so the people who've made a real effort with their competition entries will definitely get extra marks. It's going to be hard to make a decision. After all, every 35 fan is family to me now. Get those competition entries flooding in.

One final word for fans in New Zealand. With a bit of luck, I'll be back on Rock FM for your Monday breakfast show. I'll tell you guys what happened at the world's most bizarre birthday.

10.29.03 @ 02:12 PM PDT [link]

Me, Millsy and Sophie have a party on the phone
What a day! It all started when my old mate Scott Mills from Radio 1 called me up. He wanted me to go on the air and issue the final invitations for the party at the weekend. I checked my diary and discovered I was free, so I said yes.

You may have heard me, just before half one. I named Max Clifford as celebrity number 34 (on the basis that he knows a lot of the other slebs and could try to rally support for the party). And no surprises when it came to number 35. I asked Millsy himself, as he'd received far and away the most nominations from you, the voting public. The DJ said that he couldn't think of anything better to do with his Saturday evening. I was over the moon, as you can imagine.

Then events took an even more exciting turn. Millsy only tells me that Sophie Ellis-Bextor is coming into the studio, doesn't he? What's more, he says I can pop the question to her too. There were a few minutes to spare, so I had a quick shave and a wash-and-brush-up. Then, with my heart all a flutter, I somehow summoned up the courage to ask the world-famous songstress to my 35th. She definitely seemed keen, but unfortunately couldn't make it. The important thing is that she took the trouble to talk to me and explain. If only some of the other celebs had been so forthcoming.

I tried to strike up more general conversation, but Scott rightly stopped me in my tracks. He said I was milking it. Fair comment, mate. But if you were an unknown 34-year-old Londoner who'd got talking to Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the eau de cologne, you'd probably milk it too. Anyway, to summarise, I have talked today to two real bona fide celebrities. It was almost like a party on the phone.

Before I do the 35 sign off for tonight, there are a couple of final points I need to make on general administrative matters.

First of all, a general message for all foreign TV channels who are interested in covering the party. No, there isn't pooled satellite feed from the event. Yes, you can bring a camera and an interviewer, but not one of those big vans with a fifteen-foot aerial sticking out the top. Negotiations are ongoing with that German company about a feature for a 'boulevard' show. More as I have it.

If you've had problems with the recommendation or competition forms on the website, my apologies. The 35forphil IT support team is definitely on the case, but we do have a problem with what travel presenters call 'sheer weight of traffic'. I'm assured that if you go to the website less, you'll find it easier to use.

10.28.03 @ 02:00 PM PDT [link]

The media frenzy
Obviously there's hot competition to broadcast my final nominations tomorrow. I can't reveal at this stage the precise wheres and whens, but I've always had a soft spot for Radio 1, haven't you? There's this young, up-and-coming DJ called Scott Mills who's standing in for Mark and Lard on the 1-3 pm slot. Always worth a listen.

A German television channel apparently wants to film the event at the weekend for a 'boulevard' programme. If anyone knows what that is, please e-mail me at info@35forphil.com They've also enquired about whether the TV feeds are going to be pooled. This could be someone taking the mickey out of Phil, so I'm having my people check it out. My fear is that it's real.

An American radio station e-mailed to say that they'd be delighted to have me on the show, but I have to be there in person. Funny that, because a telephone was fine for New Zealand. And quite a bit cheaper than the first-class air fare they'd have to provide.

Talking of New Zealand, a warm welcome to listeners of Rock FM. The guys that do your breakfast show certainly know how to have fun.

10.27.03 @ 01:23 PM PDT [link]

A recap for Mark & Lard regulars
If you're visiting this site having heard about it on Radio 1 for the first time today, let me give you a big 35forphil welcome, as well as a summary of what's gone on so far. (This is the bit on the American TV shows where they say "previously on 35forphil...")

Basically, it goes something like this.

Crazy guy (me) plans 35th birthday in a London boozer with my mates and 35 celebs. BBC weathergirl, Carol Kirkwood, sent me a hand-drawn card and signed photo, but she can't make it. John Inman's agent says the former Are you being served? star isn't free either. In fact, I haven't yet had a positive response from any of the original slebs featured on the home page, although I live in hope.

Luckily, I've kept two star invites up my sleeve. They're going to be announced on Tuesday.

And what's all this business with Scott Mills? Well, Millsy's taken a big interest in the event and has said he's up for coming along. His regular Early Show listeners have been nominating him left, right and centre on my 'recommend a celeb' page.

Will he get an invitation? Will he say yes? And who else will I invite? All will be revealed tomorrow.

10.27.03 @ 07:21 AM PDT [link]