I wrote a sketch for That Mitchell and Webb Look, where a job candidate is being interviewed by a panel of three, one of whom is there to provide “extreme negative feedback”. As the interviewee (Mitchell) responds to questions, the negative feedback panellist (Webb) reacts with obscene comments and eventually violence. The sketch went down well enough; especially the end, when I threw a rubber typewriter at David’s head. Ding!

A few months later, I was watching a DVD of the first episode of one of my favourite sketch shows of the 1980s, Absolutely. In sheer horror, my nostrils expanded to the size of bowling ball finger-grips as the negative feedback sketch started to play itself out before my eyes. I’d seen it in 1989, loved it, forgotten it, and then “had the idea” 17 years later.

The next time I ran into Jack Docherty who had played “my” part in the original, I explained and apologised. I was both relieved and disappointed to see that he obviously didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. He hadn’t seen my sketch and could barely remember his own. “Still, sounds like a good idea,” he said. “Someone should write that.”

Rob is this week’s One Last Thing person in The Guardian today.

I think we can say that was a success. More please!

So at this point, aged about 15, I was basically a revolutionary communist. OK, maybe it is obvious: there is such a thing as rebellion. But most of the other boys and girls at that school didn’t see any need for rebellion: it was a nice school and they were happy. I was happy too; I just also wanted to burn the place down.

Where were we? Yes, you introduced yourself and then I insisted on talking about politics. I’m so sorry, that was very boring of me. I’m glad it’s you, though. The guy opposite has that sweaty, embittered look about him that makes you think that he’d love to vote BNP but has only the bravery for UKIP. Let’s talk about him, shall we? Oh darn, I’ve run out of words again. Never mind, there’s always next week. He seems to be shouting rather vulgarly about “Britishness”, though. Who invited him?

I do so love Rob’s new(ish) column in the Telegraph, a place I never thought I would find anything I wanted to read. What a pleasant surprise.

Webb returns for ‘Let’s Dance’ final

Comedian Robert Webb will return for the final of this year’s Let’s Dance For Sport Relief.

The Peep Show star won the first series of the BBC One talent show last year, when he recreated the dance routine to ‘What A Feeling’ from the film Flashdance.

Webb will be on the judging panel next week alongside comedians Jon Culshaw and Jack Dee.

Rufus Hound, Katy Brand, Kate Garraway & Richard Arnold, Debra Stephenson and the two best acts from this week’s heat will compete in the final on March 13.

Let’s Dance For Sport Relief airs on Saturday at 7.15pm on BBC One.

An “ooh” moment.

Mr & Mrs after the event.

Spot the (pingpong) ball.

You could buy the magazine (for the articles) or just give some money to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Peep Show is halfway through filming now and here’s a photo of Jez in a suit:

From Radio Times:
My Life in Verse: Robert Webb
Friday 05 June 9:00pm – 10:00pm BBC2

Robert Webb goes on a journey to find out more about the poem The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock and the poet who captured his imagination at a young age, TS Eliot. He returns to the Lincolnshire classroom where he first heard Prufrock and visits the school hall where he made his first forays into comedy, as well as travelling to Paris where he discovers that the young TS Eliot shocked his respectable American family by spending a year in the famously decadent city.