Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Partly cloudyMagazine
A bit about ... Agraman
by Ewen Storm26/ 5/2005
JOHN Marshall - better known as Agraman or the human anagram - was the compere at Chorlton's legendary Buzz Club for years. The holder of the Les Dawson Award for excellence in promoting comedy, he now lives in Hull and organises gigs around the north.
The first thing I do when I wake up is ... Look
for Marmaduke. He's a little teddy bear and sometimes falls down
the side of the bed.
Ideally I would spend every day ... Gardening in
the sunshine.
If money was no object I would ... Travel the
world.
The greatest gift I have ever received was ...
Brain inflammation. I had encephalitis. It wouldn't have been a
gift to most people, but it completely changed my outlook and I
wouldn't have gone into comedy if it hadn't happened.
My one piece of advice would be ... If you want to
do something, do it as soon as you can. That goes for jumping on
stage or anything at all. I constantly get people ringing me up and
saying they want to go into comedy, and I just tell them to get up
on stage and do it.
My first job was ... Working in a shop called Rare
Records on John Dalton Street. It's an Italian restaurant now so I
suppose they still do 12in disks. I started there in 1968 when I
was unemployable.
I'm scared of ... Heights, and I'm never going to
reach them.
I'm excited by ... Wildlife - birds and animals in
the garden. There's a little wild rabbit that's just decided to
live in my garden.
If I could go back in time and do one thing again it would
be ... Speak to my father.
I love ... The British weather and Indian
food.
I hate ... Violence, intolerance and
religion.
You have to read ... Galapagos, a science fiction
novel by Kurt Vonnegut.
Everyone should listen to ... Lambert Land by a
Finnish band called Tasavallan Presidentti, released on Sonnet
Records in 1970. You did ask. It was one of the records we used to
play in the shop.
You must watch ... Live comedy, because it's so
much better than it is on telly.
If I could be anyone else I would be ... David
Attenborough.
My ultimate ambition would be ... To die
peacefully in my sleep.
My biggest inspiration has been ... My father, for
his very unselfish attitude.
The first time I fell in love ... Was at primary
school. I went to this little girl's house and we had baked beans
on toast. She said: "Do you want to know what men and women do" and
I said: "No thanks".
I think God is ... Overrated.
I think the death penalty is ... Occasionally
warranted.
My epitaph would be ... Pa won't drink Bovril but
Ma might.
Fur or faux? Faux.
Mayonnaise or salad cream? Salad cream.
EastEnders or Coronation Street? Corrie.
Daily Mail or Guardian? The Guardian.
Harry or William? Neither.
United or City? Altrincham FC - just got through
to the Conference.
Chav or scally? Scally.
Got an opinion you want to share?| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| AA | 7.9% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Abbey Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
4.50% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
1.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
2.25% |