The atmosphere in the studio was electric as Rob Beckett sauntered onto the stage, all smiles and promises of a new book that would keep us guessing. But before he could dive into the details of his murder mystery, A Bad Case of Sith, he decided to tease us with a taste of the unexpected. Known for his razor-sharp wit, Beckett took a sharp turn into the world of erotic fiction, claiming on the spot that he was "one of Britain's leading erotic novelists." The crowd chuckled at the sudden pivot, but what followed was less titillating and more cringe-inducing.
He began reading an excerpt aloud, and it was clear from the start that this wasn't just any amateurish attempt. Product placement was woven seamlessly—or not so seamlessly—into the narrative. Beckett, looking a bit sheepish, tried to sell us on the idea that these brand insertions were clever, not crass. But the audience's amusement quickly soured. When he described a character's intimate encounter with a toilet, complete with condom references and a rather specific brand of patio cleaner, the laughter turned into stunned silence. Some in the audience even buried their faces in their hands, mortified by the sheer awkwardness. It was a moment that left everyone questioning whether this was a joke or a genuine attempt at shock value.
Across the room, Katherine Parkinson watched it all unfold, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. She seemed to be enjoying the chaos, perhaps even betting on how long the audience could stay seated. Meanwhile, Adam, our ever-resourceful guest in Dictionary Corner, shifted the focus to something more relatable—or so he thought. He shared a "life hack" for maintaining a long-term relationship: keeping an argument log. The idea was simple, yet deeply personal as he read from his own notebook, detailing everything from his wife's "moody" phases to debates about which family was more dysfunctional. It was endearing, if not a bit dramatic, and had the crowd roaring with laughter.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Beckett's excerpt had left an indelible mark. The event was a whirlwind of embarrassment and hilarity, a perfect storm of cringe and connection. While we're still waiting to see if A Bad Case of Sith hits the right notes, one thing is certain: this performance guaranteed conversations for weeks to come.