63336 celebrity answers – Alex Horne
In 2007, 63336 met up with Alex Horne in a cafe to talk about setting up a comedy show based around texts to and from 63336, and so "We Need Answers" was born. After two years of hectic late night performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, the show's now been picked up and now showing on BBC Four.
We caught up with Alex after the filming of the first episode to ask him a few questions about his life, involvement in comedy, and beards. Catch his answers below, and then you can catch him on TV later. Want to find something out for yourself? You can ask your first question for free.
Q. Who is Alex Horne?
A. Alex Horne is a writer, comedian and reluctant birdwatcher. He is currently attempting to get into the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man in the world.
Q. What is the meaning of life?
A. Survival. That's why, despite everything, humans are doing ok but turtles and giant squids are better.
Q. What's the first joke you can ever remember being told?
A. It was a joke about a magic tractor. It turned into a field.
Q. What is the best question you have asked 63336?
A. According to the 63336 Club I have asked 1,007 questions. My favourite: how many baked beans can you fit in an egg?
Q. You're the 'geek' in We Need Answers. What training did you do for the BBC show?
A. I have been making increasingly complicated powerpoint presentations for the last six years. Finally, I get to demonstrate these impressive and often highly erotic skills on telly.
Q. Do bearded geeks have special powers?
A. My beard is the first ever 'handlebeard': long moustache over short facial hair. It enables me to think more deeply and adhere to velcro.
Q. Who would win in a fight between Mark and Tim, your co-hosts on We Need Answers?
A. It would go on for several days but eventually Tim would win because he's got greater stamina (he's doing the marathon this year). Also, Mark can't really do things.
Q. What did your Dad think about your latest book, Birdwatchingwatching?
A. At first he was nervous (he is, after all, the subject and star). He was then, I think, proud. But having read and approved of the book, he has since become rather pedantic, drawing me up a list of birdwatching related quibbles that he'd like to see rectified in the paperback edition.
Q. And, what should I do to my bird tonight?
A. If, like me, you have chickens, make sure the coop is securely closed and if the temperature is still below zero, shut the hutch door itself to make sure they're warm enough. Maybe even rub a little vaseline into their wattles.
Q. Would you say you are genuinely funny or do you have to work at your jokes?
A. Hopefully, a bit of both. I don't think you can be a comedian without being the former. But you also can't be a good comedian without doing the latter.
Q. If you weren't a comedian/pcgenius/manontv who would you rather be?
A. Full-time dad, footballer or sixteenth century explorer please.
Q. Can you give us a joke that will charm the pants off someone in a pub?
A. Not literally, no. You'd need Derren Brown for that. But my dad used to work in a tiddly winks factory. Gave up because it was counter-productive.
Q. What's the worst gig you've ever done?
A. 'Adults Comedy Night' in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Buy and read Birdwatchingwatching for full and excruciating details.
Q. Can we give away some free tickets to your next gig?
A. I guess so! I always have a guest list and rarely any guests, so why not? As long as they buy a book. I've written a book by the way. It's called Birdwatchingwatching and is about my dad...