Victoria Coren Mitchell - Writer, Broadcaster & Poker Player


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Thursday, 29 April 2010

Well, the first good news is that I’ve had a nice result in the European Poker Tour final in Monte Carlo: 26th place (out of 848 runners) for €40,000. I’m supposed to be depressed today, waking up after being knocked out of the tournament, but actually I’m very happy: proud of a decent series of tournament results so far this year (they’re on the POKER page of this site if you’re curious), giggling at the bundles of euro in my safe, smiling at the sunshine on the sea, and ‘sick’ enough to be hurrying over to play an alternative €2,000 tournament that starts at noon. Never mind sunbathing on the Riviera when there’s a dark room for me to be sitting in, clutching cards and asking when we’ve got a cigarette break.

  The second thing is, with my other hat on, we start recording Heresy next week - the Radio 4 comedy/debate series where we challenge received opinion. It won’t start going out on the radio until the end of May or June (not sure yet, I’ll let you know), but we have live audiences to the recordings in central London, which are FREE if you’d like to come along.

  The first show, next Wednesday (May 5th) at 7pm, is going to be a great one I think. We’ve got my favourite artist, Grayson Perry (who was brilliant on Have I Got News For You), comedian and BBC One dancing star Rufus Hound, and political journalist Julia Hartley Brewer. We’re going to be talking about art, outer space and the beginnings of the universe, and ladies’ clothing. You’ve got to call that range. If you feel especially strongly on any of these subjects, bear in mind we do ask for opinions from the audience - though it’s totally optional, no forced speaking. The only thing we MAKE the audience do is vote on each topic at the start, but on the night before May 6th that should qualify as ‘practice’.

  The recording lasts about 45 minutes, all over by dinner time (if you have dinner at 8pm; if you insist on having it at 7.15pm you’ll be sunk), so if you fancy a bit of free chat - or maybe you’ve got a date that night, you’ve promised something unusual but haven’t got round to planning anything at all - then go to this website and get a ticket for May 5th. Or two, I suppose, if it’s a date. That would be only polite.

  I’ll let you know what subjects are going to be on the later shows nearer the time.

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Comments

john smith at 10:43 am on April 29th, 2010

pick a day when I’m not stuck on an oil rig for next time please!


Peter Jackson at 10:56 am on April 29th, 2010

Sorry, can’t be in London next week, but DO keep up the poker tournament tweets ... great fun!


Russ at 12:25 pm on April 29th, 2010

Well done on the Poker. Was following your progress on Twitter.  Hope you enjoy today’s game.
Have my tickets for Heresy on the 12th. Looking forward to a trip up to the Big Smoke. Not sure how these radio recordings work - would there be an opportunity to grab an autograph?


ian at 1:43 pm on April 29th, 2010

all the best for the recording Victoria, and again (as you no doubt didnt see the tweets lol) congrats on a good result yesterday

Ian ( @mayclem72 ) x


david at 1:44 pm on April 29th, 2010

thanks for the invitation; if i’d been in London might have been tempted…some other time perhaps ))

well done in Monte Carlo!

D.


Andrew Palmer at 2:23 pm on April 29th, 2010

Booked in for the 26th of May - My Birthday - ask me a question, ask me a question - go on, ask me a question…


Rob King at 4:56 pm on April 29th, 2010

Congratulations on the cash, your results this year are making me quite envious if I’m honest.
Nice to see a winning poker player who can string more than 4 words together in a coherent sentence, the TV interviews with most of the internet pros are becoming either mono-syllabic, or Helmuth like.
For this I really rate you as one of the best ambassadors of the game, and the fact you look rather good in a dress.


Red Deer at 7:16 pm on April 29th, 2010

Dear Victoria,

This comment isn’t very relevant, but I’m afraid that your picture is distracting me from your insightful blog. Is clothing part of your poker strategy?  I suppose this is relevant to the ladies clothing section of the heresy show.

thanks


Francis Chu at 9:51 pm on April 29th, 2010

I thought your performance at Monte Carlo was outstanding, and that the 40000 euros you earned was well deserved - considering the fact that you were almost knocked out 100 places below where you eventually finished.
You even outlasted every other female poker player, which says good things about your performance there.
Well done!!!


The Tim at 12:15 am on April 30th, 2010

Hmm. - art,  beginning of the universe, and clothing - that certanly is a wide range. Can’t wait to hear what you’ll be wearing.


Red Deer at 12:39 pm on April 30th, 2010

Vicky, congrats on your poker win. Looks like you’re building up a nice nest egg for a rainy day.  Your new show sounds fun, and about covers my range of interests, except perhaps the art. I was thinking of applying for tickets but having discussed this with my mental crisis team they suggest it could lead to an inappropriate situation. What do you think?

Yours expectantly


Malcolm at 3:42 pm on April 30th, 2010

I`m so glad that you are proud of your display in the tournament!
Hope your good form continues!
Congratulations!!!
Do you need a minder now!!!


MarkJB at 4:42 pm on April 30th, 2010

Wow, Grayson Perry (my favourite too) Art, Outer Space and the beginnings of the universe…
You knew I was coming, right?


RomanticRecluse at 1:10 am on May 3rd, 2010

Vicky, well done on making the cash in four consecutive months in different locations.  It sounds like a run to me.  Are there reasons why you’re on this run and on it now?  I’m wondering because if there are, if you can find those reasons and if they are in your control you could continue your run or make it even better.

Nottingham next and the WSOP starts in about four weeks.  Here’s to future successes.


Victoria Coren

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