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you found this, yay!
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Ups and downs,

or how I learned to stop worrying and respect Robin Ince


Look, there’s some of the cast having the time of their lives!
And there’s me (unpictured) not being allowed to join the queue!

The following tale relates to the day of the series 1 DVD release, when I set off to meet Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, and Lucy Davis at HMV Oxford Street. It could also be considered a big free advert for Robin Ince’s Edinburgh show next year. So you’ve got enough time to plan it ok. And thanks to Paul Moss for the above photo.

First things first

All those of you who went along just to get a DVD signed to sell it later that evening on eBay, you’re bastards. I mean this in the sense of being very immoral and annoying, and getting in the queue when I failed to, and immoral again.

Meeting Dawn, Tim and tubby

You can imagine it means something to me, can’t you? To be able to meet some of the cast for the first time. This is just a fan site remember, I’m just a guy who likes The Office (not even that much) and does all this as a hobby. Anyway, the point I’m trying to drive home without any subtlety or confusion is that I just wanted an autograph, not a chat, not time to talk about this site, but just the chance to make a bit of easy money on eBay. And I failed.

I got there too late of course. Not by a lot (where’s the fun in that!) but I just managed to not be the last person to be in the queue. Put it this way, I could have joined the queue when I first got to the end of it, although with nothing for them to sign, but by the time I had gone and bought the DVD, a security guard was explaining one of the main functions of a barrier, emphasising the importance of already being on the other side of it.

Gutting.

So, feeling gutted, I stood to one side of where the signings were, with Ricky, Martin and the very lovely Lucy about two metres away. I had a nice chat with some people about the show and stuff, and watched as they slowly got through the last of the signings. At this stage of course, I still had some hope of saying hi.

When they had finished, and after a few photo, they were escorted across the store to an anonymous doorway, and were gone.

Gutting. But I was getting used to it.

Danny Wallace and Robin Ince

During my wacky feeling gutted and chatting with strangers antics, I noticed that someone in the queue was being filmed meeting the cast members. How odd and sad I thought, until I recognised the man in front of the camera as Robin Ince, as pictured above. For those of you that are but casual watchers, that little pic should say it all, for those of you who aren’t, Robin Ince had a very small role in the first series. The reason he was filming there was for his new Edinburgh show.

And Danny Wallace?

He was the guy with the camera.

And Danny Wallace?

Alright, he’s best known for being mates with Dave Gorman, and why not! Recognising him but not knowing his name was like being asked what the capital of Finland is, you know you know it...

So they’d finished the signing then...

However, on my way out, with only steps left to the escalator, I saw Robin Ince again, and decided that I was going to get at least one autograph from someone in the show, so asked him for one and I did!

Is that it?

Yep.
He went round the back and got the cast to sign my DVD as well I guess, and I had a nice chat with Danny Wallace, but I think I’ve covered it all.

Now get back to do doing something worthwhile with your lives, rather than reading this hastily written up crap!

Me showing off:

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