Sara Pascoe: I Am a Strange Gloop review – terrific standup's uphill struggles
All that is amusing if familiar. So, too, her material on her manchild husband, which – coming from an act who once laid siege to gender essentialism – cleaves surprisingly to stereotype. Where our host gets sharper is in the philosophical dimension she gives this new chapter of life, conjuring with a sense of self so undermined by becoming a mum, and by shouldering adult responsibilities, that she's not sure what's left of prior-Pascoe – see one terrific joke about escaping, like her two kids did before her, from her own body.
There are other ways to cheat biology, of course: the show's second recurring subject is the transhumanist fantasy of remaining forever young. There's also a counterintuitive section on AI porn, and a story about meeting Robbie Williams that brings middle-aged Sara into contact with the teenage Take That fan she used to be.
This may not add up to as tight or conceptually rich a show as the 44-year-old has delivered in years gone by. Her closing set-piece, a new chapter she's written to add to the Bible, is apropos of nothing that precedes it. But she delivers some fine material – about Sisyphus, revolting against capitalism, and an excellent running joke (in more ways than one) about Paula Radcliffe – even if doesn't unite into a coherent whole. Forever young? That's not happening. Forever interesting? Without a doubt.
Touring until 29 March
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Robbie Williams shares devastating health update on his parents in emotional post
Pop star Robbie Williams shared with fans an update on the deteriorating health of his parents and his mother-in-law in an emotional social media post over the weekend Robbie Williams recently posted a candid health update on both his parents and his mother-in-law. The former Take That star, who is currently on a Britpop stadium tour, revealed that his mum who suffers with dementia is unable to recognise him now. He went on to add that his father, who he has credited for his love of music, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and is now unable to leave the house. In addition, his mother-in-law is battling cervical cancer, Lupus and Parkinson's all at the same time. In a lengthy emotional post, the pop icon, who is struggling with a virus while on tour wrote: "Things at home with my parents? VERY precarious right now." He added: "It's real world stuff that deeply affects me and my wife. And if my wife is affected, you can bet I am. So the maths are: Virus + ill parents + stadium tour." The star who shot to fame in the nineties, alongside Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, continued: "Every single moment of every single day is in preparation for those 2+ hours on stage. " He said: "Outside of that? I have nothing. There is nothing to offer. I don't mind stating to those around me, I need protecting. And in return I protect them." Reassuring fans of his dedication to make every show as amazing as the other, he declared that he would be "on top of his game" but claimed: "Outside of that - I have nothing to offer or give, for the time being." His candid and honest post comes after he recently paid tribute to his family while on stage and stated that he "isn't ready for it", in reference to his mother's inability to remember him. Speaking to the crowd, he said: "My mother has dementia and she doesn't know who I am anymore. She doesn't know where she is anymore. My dad has Parkinson's and he can't leave the house." He went on to say: "He used to sing with me every night on stage, he would come out, steal the show and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. " Robbie explained: "Now he can't leave the house. My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses. "She's for lupus, Parkinson's and cancer. She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting," he said. He concluded his address to the crowd: "It's a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old, it's very strange to be the grown up. I'm not ready for it."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
What happened to X Factor bad boy Frankie Cocozza? Where the lothario is now after a CBB stint, famous flings and £200K booze blowout
At just 18 he became the X Factor 's bad boy with his foul mouth, unbrushed hair and names of seven sexual partners tattooed on his bottom, which he proudly showed off to millions of viewers during his audition. In 2011, Frankie Cocozza made an instant impact on the ITV talent competition and under the mentorship of Gary Barlow reached the live shows, before being axed for 'boasting about cocaine-fuelled sex sessions'. Still in his teens the singer issued an apologetic statement admitting his life had 'gone out of control', while Take That's Gary said he was 'hugely disappointed' that Frankie 'threw away an opportunity'. Despite leaving the show in disgrace, Frankie cashed in on his fame with several reality TV stints and headline grabbing antics. Yet he then fell out of the public eye and ended up working for £7.50 an hour on a building site job after years of hard partying and blowing £200,000 on booze. Nowadays, Frankie lives a quiet life in Australia - and MailOnline has documented the star's journey from reality show fodder to life Down Under. Frankie was said to have been kicked off The X Factor after boasted about drug use in front of production staff. He later confessed: 'I'm a drug addict. Simple as that. I just am. I love cocaine. I'm sorry, I do.' The singer provoked controversy throughout his time on the show and during an appearance on spin-off the Xtra Factor crudely claimed he had 'banged' Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan after the pair were snapped kissing. He told hosts Olly Murs and the late Caroline Flack: 'I met her... I banged her', before putting his hand to his mouth and saying: 'Sorry, I shouldn't have said that'. Holly was left mortified by the remark and told Daily Star years later: 'Frankie was so famous at that moment in time, the bad boy of X Factor, the talking point of the nation and that night, my date'. 'We all know what happened, yes, we had sex and we were pictured snogging outside of this apartment, the pictures ended up on the front cover of the Daily Star newspaper. 'Yet I wasn't prepared for what would happen that night, when Frankie was being interviewed live for The Xtra Factor.' However a decade later in 2022, Frankie claimed that he was paid by the reality star and her management whopping £1,100 to stage the smooch. During an appearance on The James Smith Podcast he said: 'Anyway, this lovely girl, and she is lovely, she's a sweetheart and she goes, "Oh Frank, I've just been talking to my manager and, basically, he's willing to give you £1500 in cash if we can have a photo outside getting off with each other"'. 'Are you winding me up? This is after week one on the X Factor. I haven't earned a penny, right? £1500 was like, f***ing hell, mind blowing'. He continued: 'Go outside, this little ratty geezer turns up in this s****y little motor, he goes, "Here you go, I've only got £1100. I'll give you £400 in a cheque"' Only to claim the cheque later bounced. MailOnline have contacted Holly's reps for comment. Following his 2011 X Factor exit Frankie said in a statement: 'I'd like to apologise to Gary, my fellow contestants and everyone who has voted for me, but, as of today, I will no longer be in the X Factor. 'My life during the show has gone out of control and my behaviour off stage has over-stepped the rules of the competition. I no longer deserve my place in the show, so I am therefore leaving. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me.' He was also forced to issue a hasty clarification about his tattoo and said the women simply visited the bar where he worked while they were on holiday in Crete, after they denied sleeping with him. The women revealed that they agreed to have their names inked on his bottom as part of a drunken dare. The names belonged to two groups of Scottish students. And following his claims on the X Factor many of them were forced to call family and boyfriends to reassure them that they had not had sex with the contestant. Natasha Hendry, Emma Dodds, Cara Dolan and Roxanne Fowler from West Calder, near Edinburgh, were inked on one cheek and Rachel Cathro, Jenna Robb and Ailsa Kane, from Dundee, on the other. Roxanne told MailOnline at the time: 'We never would have done it if we thought he was going to show the whole world. It's horrible to think people would believe any of us – or even all four – slept with him.' He went on to have limited success as a solo artist before forming short-lived pop rock band The Telescreen. The band have not be active since 2015 and Frankie has not released music in years, despite fans' pleas, but still describes himself as a 'musician'. Riding high on his new found fame, Frankie then landed a reported £30,000 payday in 2011 to appear in Celebrity Big Brother, and finished in a respectable second place behind Denise Welch. He then appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2017 alongside Charlotte Dawson and the couple dated only for the relationship to quickly fizzle out soon after filming ended. The daughter of the late Les Dawson slammed the singer following their split, claiming she was 'used' to get more airtime. He then appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2017 alongside Charlotte Dawson (pictured together) and the couple dated only for the relationship to quickly fizzle out soon after filming ended She told Star magazine: 'I don't speak to him. We had a good connection - as you could see on Celebs Go Dating, it was very genuine and real.' Yet revealing she feared he used her to play up for the cameras, Charlotte added: 'I didn't have him down for being a showman type of person, so it was a shock. It was horrible.' Despite adding that Frankie was 'an idiot' and 'stupid', Charlotte admitted that she still had a soft spot for the X Factor star. 'If I saw him tomorrow, we'd probably end up sleeping together,' she admitted, 'then I'd probably tell him to f**k off!' Frankie admitted he was determined to get back to work after being left in the showbiz wilderness and needing funds to support himself. He told The Mirror in 2017: 'I love being on the building site. I get so much grief, but its a crease up. I knock up pug (mortar mix) for the plasterers. It's fun. It gives me a reason to get up in the morning'. The star also made the startling revelation that he spent a mammoth £200,000 on booze, but after a feckless spending spree, was left with just £5 in the bank. He said: 'I didn't think it was going to end. I spent it all on Fred Perry and booze – among other things I won't say'. But the singer revealed he had gone through incredibly dark times, including the deaths of his beloved aunt Helen Cope from cancer and best friend Connor Saunders, 19, who was killed in an unprovoked attack. He said he blotted out his grief with alcohol and sank into depression, saying ' I covered it up by getting off my nut, which inevitably makes it worse'. He has now made a new life for himself in Australia and looks worlds away from his X Factor days with a clean cut style in snaps shared to his Instagram. Frankie is now dating lingerie model Emma Stubbs. He shared regular updates to his social media while living his best life down under and despite not releasing new music in almost a decade, his profile lists him as a musician. Prior to this, he was married to Bianca Murphy - with whom he shares six-year-old son Frankie Jr. Frankie and ex Bianca, who separated in 2022 after four years together, met shortly after Frankie moved down under. They tied the knot in May 2018 back in Brighton and the following year welcomed their son. The Sun reported that Frankie and Bianca remain on amicable terms for the sake of their Frankie Jr, with a source saying: 'Frankie and Bianca were madly in love but things just fizzled out over time. 'They have remained on good terms for the sake of their son, Frankie Jr, but have both moved on.'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Robbie Williams shares devastating update on parents' health battle in emotional post
Robbie posted an open message updating everyone on his family's complicated health struggles. Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROBBIE Williams has shared a heartbreaking update on his family's health battles – with his mum, dad and mother-in-law all currently battling illnesses. As the Something Beautiful icon, 51, continues his Britpop stadium tour, he has also been checking in and helping look after the family alongside wife, Ayda Field, 46. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Robbie has shared a brutally honest post about his family's health Credit: Getty 7 Robbie's father has Parkinson's and now struggles to leave the house Credit: Twitter 7 The star has shared that he's finding it difficult Credit: Getty 7 Robbie's mum has been diagnosed with dementia Credit: All Action His beloved mum, Janet, has dementia which has deteriorated her memory to the point that she struggles to recognise him, while his dad Pete – who he credits in his movie for his love of music and performance – has Parkinson's disease which leaves him unable to leave the house. On top of it all, Ayda's mother, Gwen, is battling cervical cancer, Lupus and Parkinson's at the same time. In a new post on Instagram, Robbie posted a long Q+A about himself and his family's situation - noting there were parts of the tour that he loved – crediting his band and support act Lottery Winners for bringing 'energy' he enjoys, as well as some of his more notable concerts so far. But then he added that he's been fighting off a bug across the past two weeks, and that life at home is incredibly tough. 'Things at home with my parents? VERY precarious right now,' he then wrote. 'It's real world stuff that deeply affects me and my wife. And if my wife is affected, you can bet I am. So the maths are: Virus + ill parents + stadium tour.' 'Every single moment of every single day is in preparation for those 2+ hours on stage. Outside of that? I have nothing',' he said. 'There is nothing to offer. I don't mind stating to those around me, I need protecting. And in return I protect them'. Despite this, he added a promise that he would be 'on top of his game' during the shows, though noted: 'Outside of that - I have nothing to offer or give, for the time being.' His brutally honest post comes after Robbie paid tribute to his family on stage during his tour, admitting on stage that his mum no longer knows who he is and he 'isn't ready for it'. Robbie Williams reveals the dark side of himself in the biopic Better Man out in January He told the crowd: 'My mother has dementia and she doesn't know who I am anymore. She doesn't know where she is anymore. My dad has Parkinson's and he can't leave the house. 'He used to sing with me every night on stage, he would come out, steal the show and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. Now he can't leave the house. 'My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses. She's for lupus, Parkinson's and cancer. She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting.' He added: "It's a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old, it's very strange to be the grown up. "I'm not ready for it." 7 Robbie is extremely close with his mum Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 7 Robbie's father inspired his love of music
