NI comedian Shane Todd is hosting a dance party to keep people indoors

Comedians Shane Todd and Dave Elliott are hoping to provide a reason for people to celebrate St Patrick’s Day at home when they hit our screens tomorrow night for a dance party of epic proportions.

The pair have brought their hit Radio Ulster show to TV for one night only, playing old school dance hits that would have graced venues like Kellys, the Coach and Clubland.

Shane said: “If you tune in on a Friday night to our radio show – it’s silly, it’s definitely not a high brow show. It’s two mates having a bit of craic and hopefully everybody feels like they’re in it with us. I know it’s a show I would like to listen to – that’s why we enjoy doing it.”

Shane said the TV version which goes out at 10.45pm tonight is an extension of that allowing for some more visual content including footage of ‘kitchen raves’ across Ulster.

He said: “Dave and I give each other dogs abuse on the show and off the show and when we’re doing gigs together we love to slabber at each other, but it pains me to say it that we are best friends and have been for years.

“We’re trying to make people feel good and think about something else. That’s why I enjoy that old school music nowadays – it takes me back to when I would have listened to that kind of stuff on the radio or during the summer, when you’re in your granny’s garden and someone nextdoor was blaring Sash ‘Ecuador’ out of a ghettoblaster.

“I remember in 1995 there was a heatwave that summer, it felt like it lasted about nine months. It was such a great time, that’s partly why we decided at the start of lockdown with the radio show to ask as a one-off could we play real old school dance like Mr Vain, Scooter and things like that. I didn’t think we’d be able to do it but [Radio Ulster] were 100% up for it. We ran with it.

“Then we asked could we do it again the next week. Then it became what we do.”

He commented: “I hadn’t been to a nightclub in years before lockdown, now as soon as they’re open again I’ll be the first one in line. Though times will change – I’ll have a fleece on, comfy shoes, slippers maybe even.

“The Limelight was always a good spot. I do like places where you can have a seat, have a chat, do a bit of people watching. That’s my night out.”

The comedian, who has spent lockdown with his wife and eight-month-old son, said: “There’s been ups and downs, but the ups outweigh the downs, so I can’t really complain too much.

“It’s like anybody who’s self employed in any field – you have to adapt, do things a little bit different. I’ve been lucky enough to have the radio show, podcast, and do a little bit of video work. It’s taken a while to get used to not going out [to do stand up] a couple of nights a week and talking to audiences. That excitement, those nerves, that adrenalin – it’s what I live by. I would give anything to go out now and do a really bad gig, just to be doing a gig.

“We’re all going to have a bit of rust at the start, but it’s going to be so exciting to get back on stage and feel those nerves almost like the first time.”

Asked if he has planned to do any material on the pandemic, Shane said: “I don’t think I’m going to do any Covid stuff. I think we’ve a really good sense of humour here. I think people could laugh at Covid stuff, but when I put myself as an audience member it’s probably not what I want to hear about. We’ve been hearing about it every day for a year. I think people will want to go to stand up comedy to get away from that.”

• Shane Todd’s Lockdown Rave to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day is on tomorrow night at 10.45pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor