Dr Karl and his Band

In the UK there's only one programme daytime TV loving students follow more religiously than Countdown and that's Aussie soap Neighbours.
I went along and met Alan Fletcher, who plays the soap's Dr Karl Kennedy, when he brought his band to Bournemouth:

For those who don't know Neighbours checkout the BBC page or exhaustive fan site Perfect Blend

When Alan and his small entourage arrive in the afternoon the actor is barely recognisable and looks alarmingly unlike his screen presence. Wearing glasses, a puffer jacket and looking dishevelled is quite different from the merry, animated, clean cut Karl he plays.

With him are Guy and Pip’ his tour mangers, and the two other members of his band ‘Waiting Room’ who are both tanned young Aussie heartthrobs. Pip’, a wonderfully friendly and funny Australian woman, tells me this is the twelfth and final night of the tour explaining why they all look tired and hung over.

After checking out the venue, the band and managers retreat to their plush hotel for what looks like some much needed rest.
At 8 o’clock the club opens and quickly fills with mostly female students all wondering if ‘Karl’ is in the building yet.

The cheesy tour DJ continually plugs the ‘Waiting Room’ CD that you can buy from him for £10 guaranteeing the chance to meet Alan and get the album signed by him.
He also hypes the throbbing crowd up till you can literally feel the pheromones coming off the excited lady fans.

“Ladies and Gentleman please welcome Alan Fletcher and ‘Waiting Room’”
I’m at the side of the stage as Alan and the two hunks on guitar come on. The 800 strong crowd scream and hold out their hands trying to grab the star, who is now better presented in a white shirt and jeans.
Fletch’s singing and guitar playing bring to mind the phrase ‘don’t give up your day job!’

Thankfully the other two members of ‘Waiting Room’, Chris and Tommy, take lead vocals on many songs. They cover Blur’s ‘Song 2’, The Proclaimers’ ‘500 Miles’ and Oasis ‘Wonderwall’.
The hysterical crowd wave banners throughout with one young lady holding a sign that says ‘Kiss Me Karl’. Fletch obliges in between songs and goes in for an innocent kiss. The fan grabs hold of his shirt for as long as possible.
He hams it up asking the crowd who they’re favourite love interest of Karl’s is. They all scream back Susan and he follows it with an adapted ‘Living next door to Susan.’

I find myself thinking the soap star in his late 40’s does not make an obvious heartthrob, though the audience strongly disagree.
The security is tight as the students surge forward and the show ends to mass adulation Fletch disappears out the stage door, putting his coat over his head and running.
The bouncers assigned to look after him run too, struggling to keep up with the star as he tries to make it to his dressing room unharmed by the baying crowd. I eventually catch up with him when he’s safely backstage, locked away from the Neighbours’ fans.

“It was one of the best shows on the tour.” He said “The crowd were amazing and really up for it, they told me Bournemouth was a party town but now I know for myself.”
After Fletch and the band have a chance to rest I help with the signing session as the crowd form a long queue to meet him. Me and Pip take the photos for the fans as they get CDs, posters, arms and legs signed and meet the band.
While all three in the band are there nearly every audience member who comes up asks for a photo “just with Karl please.”

After about 5 minutes I’m bored of taking photos, Pip explains that the signings are so long and tedious that they just get drunk through them to numb the pain. The band drink a bottle of Sambuca and countless beers during the hour of autographs.
Although most of the audience are very merry and over-excited, Fletch’ smiles throughout.

The Fire Station management and security plead with him but the Neighbours’ actor will not finish till everyone in the line has met him.
I walk with the band and management as they walk through the club to their van to leave. When we enter the dance floor Fletch’ puts his coat over his head again and starts walking faster.

Suddenly a girl screams ‘KARL!’ and the star runs like his life depends on it. Fans start running after him and screaming his character’s name in unison.
He clearly has fun doing the shows and takes home a hefty appearance fee and money from CDs. Two weeks on tour has to be better than panto!

Checkout the samples of Fletch's songs on the Waiting Room Website

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