Citizen Khan Episode Taping In Manchester

For non UK people Citizen Khan is a BBC sitcom based on self proclaimed community leader Mr Khan and his long suffering family based in the densely Pakistani populated area of Sparkhill in Birmingham (Sparkhill is a real place by the way I checked).  To be honest it’s not the best comedy show in the world but it’s entertaining enough to keep you interested non the less.  It has just finished filming it’s 4th series (or season which ever term you prefer) and will air on 30th October this year.

(Here is a clip from an episode in series 1 that always has me in tears)

So a couple of weeks ago a friend of mine who lives in Manchester called Manny messaged me out of the blue.  He said he won a couple of free tickets to one of the episode tapings of Citizen Khan and asked if I was up for a visit.  I said yes but what then I asked what about his girlfriend, unfortunately they broke up the week before, plus I have never been to Manchester before.  Time wasn’t on my side, the taping was on a Thursday and I had work the next evening.  Thursday afternoon after 3 trains and 2 delays I finally got to Manchester Piccadilly, the station itself looked wonderful (not a fan of having to pay 30 pence to use the toilet though).  Manny greeted me and we went to a pub for a few drinks and something to eat before we traveled on the tram to the BBC studios at MediaCityUK.  We had time for a proper catch up first and then we talked about his ex, basically she felt they were just together because it was out of habit since they were together for nearly 5 years.  He suspects she cheated on him but has no proof.

Manchester city centre is such a nice place, very open and spacious and I didn’t feel claustrophobic in the busy crowds at all.  Workers who I came across from the security at the train station, the pub barman and waitress and the service people at the tram station we boarded to get to the studio were all very polite and friendly.  I would definitely visit Manchester again to do some sightseeing in the future.

We get to the MediaCityUK tram station, it was the first time I have ever been on a tram and I nearly shit myself when we were riding through an actual road as in where cars and such drive on.  We found the studio and waited 1 hour before the assistants or ushers etc showed us to our seats.  Every person got a complimentary bottle of room temperature water and melted chocolate bar (glad to see my TV licence money being put to good use).  As we were seated we got to have a good look at the sets, I couldn’t believe I was standing by their living room and kitchen (it looks alot smaller in person then it appears on the television, must be because of the cameras.)

Half past 7 we were greeted by the warm up comedian Ted Robbins (only thing I remember him in is Phoenix Nights where he plays the antagonist Den Perry).  He basically kept the audience entertained inbetween scenes and did the introductions to the cast members.  Adil Ray who is the show creator and who plays Mr Khan kept in character the entire time on and off the stage and remained hilarious.  Certain scenes were already prerecorded and our job was to laugh at them, then when they filmed the live scenes we had to laugh at them too.  I must state there was no applause or laugh sign where we were forced to laugh, so any laughs you hear on the show are genuine.  Sometimes the scenes were filmed up to 4 times because of bloopers and it got tiring having to laugh at the same jokes, so I assume the editors must use the laughs from the first take because they are the most genuine.

The whole taping took over 2 and a half hours and me and Manny had a great night, sitcoms are certainly funnier in person then on TV.  When we finally exited the studio Manny asked if I fancied going to a casino, at this point you can tell by now how little we see each other so then I confided in him about my gambling problem and my 2+ years abstinence.  We go back to his flat, watched a box set of Family Guy before going to sleep.  The next morning I didn’t even have time for breakfast as I had to catch an early train so that I could get back home and sort things out including a nap before my shift.  It was good to see Manny again and I hope he gets back on his feet woman wise.

Dear Alayna…

Alayna has been on my mind recently (check out my POF adventure posts for more in depth info).  Summary is if you don’t follow my blog first of all why don’t you follow my blog, it’s awesome?  Secondly Alayna is a girl I met on Plenty Of Fish and we went out on one date, she cancels our 2nd date on the actual day and then a couple days later tells me we should stay friends because she has mental issues and didn’t want to get me mixed up with that.  Below is a letter I have written for her what exactly has been on my mind regarding her the last couple of months.

Dear Alayna,

It’s been nearly 2 months now since you told me that we should stay friends because of your mental issues.  It’s also been nearly 2 months since we last spoke to each other.  A week after our last chat you posted a video of yourself and a couple of your friends looking very happy, for some reason that made me feel sad and that’s why I have blocked you off POF and other social media except Facebook where I just unfriended you but not blocked you.  Plus you may still have my number, I know I got yours.  You haven’t messaged me back either, so either you may be mad at me for the blocking etc or you just not bothered about talking to me.  If the latter is the case then please ignore everything from this point on.

I have been thinking about you, especially the last few days.  What I want to say to you may piss you off but that is not the overall tone of what this letter is about.  I look at what you told me in 2 ways. 

On the one hand you may have made it all up and just didn’t have the heart to tell me you wasn’t interested in me in that way.  But the only reason I would question that is because you didn’t have to Skype and still talk to me after the first date, you could of just said when you got home that night afterwards that I wasn’t the right kind of guy for you.  Therefore there was no need to agree to a second date and to cancel it on the day, I do believe that you went to visit family by the way.

On the other hand you are telling the truth, saying how it would be unfair to drag someone else into it does sound like you are being thoughtful and selfless.  To me it just says that you didn’t think highly of me enough that I could or that I would want to try and be with you.

Looking back now I am regretting just giving into your decision without trying to change your mind.  If that gave you any inclination that I wasn’t that interested in you you’re wrong.  Maybe that was because my first instinct was to ask you lots of questions about your mental issues but I knew that would be a bad idea.  I really got lucky when you agreed to go on a date with me and felt awesome after our first date and you agreeing to a second one.  You are beautiful, bright and a sense of humour that can even rival mine at times. 

Assuming at this point you don’t dislike me that much and admire my over thinking honesty, you owe me a “2nd date”.  No strings attached or nothing to be expected from you, I would just like to enjoy being in your company and pick up where we left off.

What do you think? Think she would reply? Think she will go on a 2nd date? Think she will tell me to fuck off? Think it was a bad idea I sent this letter?  Well those of you who answered yes to question 5 you will be happy to know I did not send the letter to her, I just wanted to write it all down.  At this moment in time I just sent a casual hi message just to test the water, we’ll see.