I am legend…

An exciting start to my year and a need perhaps to recalibrate my career, my accomplishments and my place in the world.

Because it turns out that I am in fact, a legend.

Who knew?

Not me and it seems not my son either when Daniel Kaluuya made the surprise announcement during an actor to actor chat.

I must confess that I have not seen any of Daniel’s movies, although I hear very good things about Get Out. But all of his films are now on my to-watch list because he is clearly a very discerning man. An individual of great taste and refinement and thereby likely to select worthy projects.

After the interview aired, fans (of Tom, I mean) were quick to alert me to my new status but were also at pains to observe that Tom seemed surprised.

Body language and expressions are so exposing and often they fail us by revealing our true thoughts and feelings.

Tom might as well have said…

“My dad is a what?”

That Tom Holland – he might be a fine young actor but there are limits to how convincing he can be.

But no hard feelings. Not from me, anyway. It made me howl with laughter and I happen to agree. I am many things in comedy. A trier. A stayer. I am delusional, defiant, obstinate and ever hopeful… but no offence Daniel, I am no legend.

Woody Allen, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Izzard, Richard Pryor, Billy Connolly, Lenny Bruce…

But Daniel, thank you. I am touched that somehow I reached in to your world.

(Mental note to self – send all my books to Mr KALUUYA)

But then another piece of evidence recently emerges supporting my dubious claim to legendary status…

With an email from BBC worldwide. It’s been two decades since the BBC has been in touch  (legend?) so this is noteworthy anyway.

I paraphrase the communication here but in essence…

The British Library have a recording of my first ever one man show – Red Hot Dutch with Dominic, recorded at a theatre in London in 1993 – and they would like my permission to release this recording for…

Wait for it…

“the cultural posterity of the arts in the United Kingdom…”

I kid you not.

Up there with Captain Sir Tom Moore – (RIP) who did so much to galvanise our country, I am being asked to lend my shoulder to the wheel.

…the people of Great Britain are tired and beleaguered. They need to feel good. They need to laugh. There is only one man for the job… dig out Dominic Holland’s first ever comedy show. His time has arrived. His country needs him…

My debut Edinburgh show. My most successful show to date, given it won awards and great notices. The pinnacle of my career in fact which I rue not realising at the time.

Who knew?

The British Library via the BBC sent me a recording of the show my approval – which I have yet to listen to. Too nervous. But naturally, I have granted permission. Who am I to deprive my nation?

In due course I will share the link for those interested and you can decide for yourselves whether Daniel is right or not.

But even this is not the end with yet more evidence emerging in support…

To round off the month and maybe topping the aforementioned, I am alerted to fact that I am followed on twitter by some bloke called Barack Obama – better known as Mr President.

You might be wondering whether or not these things are linked. Conceivably, Barack caught the Tom and Daniel interview. He has daughters and they might be fans (of Daniel or Tom, not me) or maybe Barack watched the interview himself and just wanted a piece of this legend he’d never heard of called DH?

More likely though that the bots are at play. That Mr President has social media minions who preside over his accounts. Unlike another former US President, I doubt whether President Obama actively uses twitter. That bots trawl and acquire accounts on his behalf and no doubt attract reciprocal follow backs. I did btw. It felt rude not to.

I took a screen shot (got my kids to, I mean) because I fully expect to be dropped in the weeks to come. But for now at least, welcome along Mr Obama. I will tag him also in this blog just in-case he finds himself at a loose end with nothing to read. You can scroll backwards sir for other blogs btw and if they chime, then may I draw your attention to Takes on Life Vol1 … which I will happily sign and dedicate if you wish – from one legend to another.

And it doesn’t end here…

In my recent podcast with Sam, I updated my progress on writing my latest novel and which I will shortly complete. Because it is a sequel to my debut novel, Only in America, I am enjoying rekindling old characters and also I am having fun making some references to my previous novels – Easter Eggs, I am told is the correct term.

Sam laughed hard at this.

“Blimey dad, you’re creating your own universe, a bit like Marvel and the MCU.”

This made me laugh too. The idea that Kevin Feige has been rumbled by a competitive storyteller.

I am certainly delusional but I would say healthily so. My delusions keep me in the game. Keep me writing and keep me standing-up when I am allowed to do so.

But I am not so delusional to believe any of the nonsense above.

That said the new novel is bloody great. Or at least, it could be. It has potential. I will publish it later this year and before Takes on Life Vol.2 and who knows, maybe these little beauts will explode and Mr Kaluuya is right after all. Just a few decades ahead of his time…

*

Coming soon I guess then – Red Hot Dutch with Dominic – subject to my approval of course and more importantly, the approval of my girlfriend at the time – and now my wife and owner.