All together now, Omid's interview, take one.
Ready?
I'm Omid Djalili,
I'm best known as a stand-up comedian and actor.
# You better pick a pocket or two!
# Why should we all break our backs?
# Better pick a pocket or two! #
Now, whenever I've done musicals, it's been well-received,
but they've always said, "Oh, what a shame you can't sing."
So I feel I have something to prove,
because reviewers are wrong.
I would really like something that just made us happy
and made us laugh and made us sort of smile and go, "You know what?
"Wasn't great singing, but who cares?"
I am really out of my comfort zone, but the only way to deal with it
is to really go full pelt.
So tonight, am I dialling it up to 11?
No. Dialling up to 15?
No. I'm dialling it up to 100, baby.
Here comes the next celebrity act of the night.
He needs more than 75 to get into the top three.
APPLAUSE
Good evening, my name is Omid Djalili.
The song I've chosen tonight is so old,
those of you who want to join in might need help getting up.
LAUGHTER
I hope he's good.
OK, here he goes. He's got swagger, he's got some swagger.
# When marimba rhythms start to play
# Dance with me, make me sway
# Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore... #
This is good! # Hold me close, sway me more
# Like a flower bending in the breeze... #
You can't push it yet! Millie! # Bend with me, sway with ease
# When we dance you have a way with me
# Stay with me, sway with me
# Other dancers may be on the floor
# Dear, but my eyes will see only you
# Only you have that magic technique
# When we sway, I go weak
# I can hear the sound of violins
# Long before it begins
# Make me thrill as only you know how
# Sway me smooth, sway me now
# When marimbas start to play!
# Hold me close, make me sway
# Like an ocean hugs the shore
# Hold me close, sway me more
# Like a flower bending in the breeze
# Bend with me, sway with ease
# When we dance you have a way with me
# Stay with me, stay with me. #
Ay, caramba!
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
I loved it! Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God!
Omid! This is so nuts.
97! You're in the top spot, well done!
Oh, I-I-I-I'm over the moon.
I don't know what to say.
What's it like standing there? Were you intimidated?
I was very intimidated,
because some of these guys, I've seen your acts,
and these are actually some awesome singers here,
they're not just anybody you've just brought in.
So, it really means a lot, thank you very much.
Well, someone you impressed that is very difficult to impress
was Paulus.
CHEERING
Well, he's bald, he's...
He's in the bald community, it's fine.
Is it looking after a bald brother, is that what it is?
That's 100% what it was about, yes.
No, it was because I could hear every single word.
Thank you so much! Thank you.
You also love a story when someone's performing.
What was the story there for you?
The story was I never want to see any of that dancing ever again.
That was... I need to wash my eyes.
But as far as what I could hear is concerned, that was really nice.
Thank you, Paulus.
Someone else who loved it was our singing dentist, Milad.
You enjoyed that?
I absolutely loved it.
Honestly, watching you, it's like seeing my future
in 15 years' time. So thank you.
LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
Nice one, brother.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's an absolute bald love-in here, innit?
It is, it is, so much. And look... I've just got to say though,
from one Iranian to another, barikala, Omid.
I loved it. Smashed it, smashed it.
Thank you. Wow. Thank you. Mersi.
Geri, what did you think?
Look, you got 97 people
on their feet. That's extraordinary, yes, thank you.
That's not easy. You've got rappers, reverends, these cool boys.
They never stand up for anyone.
Well done. Thank you very much, I appreciate that, thank you.
Someone else who was absolutely loving it,
our cabaret performer, Lili la Scala. You enjoyed that?
Hello, darling. I did enjoy that, I was so excited,
I forgot how my button worked and I got up far too early
and pressed it rather hard. It is quite confusing,
innit, that one? It was very hard.
You are just cool personified.
And I could just see you in a sort of a late-night Vegas club...
OK, do you want to calm it down a bit?
It's a family show. I'm sorry.
You've got to rein it in a bit, Lili.
You can't be called Lili Djalili either, can you imagine that?
if you got married? Lili Djalili?
I can't even get it out!