A NORWEGIAN comedian has established a new world record for the longest solo stand-up comedy show, a distinction that was previously held by Irish comic Tommy Tiernan.
Hans Morten Hansen (46), from Stavanger, the third-largest city in Norway, broke the previous record by eight minutes at the Oslo Comedy Festival yesterday.
The record was first established by Tiernan in Galway in April 2009 with a performance that lasted for 36 hours and 15 minutes. His record was broken by Australian comic Lindsay Webb at the Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane, Queensland, last October with a new time of 38 hours and six minutes.
The new record now stands at 38 hours and 14 minutes. Hansen began his show on Wednesday at 10pm and finished at 12.14pm yesterday.
Hansen, who was too exhausted to speak to reporters yesterday, told The Irish Timeslast week that he had been inspired to go for the record attempt after reading about Tiernan's achievement.
Hansen’s show was streamed online, and members of the public were invited to send in comments to the comic. His health was closely monitored throughout the event by fellow stand-up comedian Jonas Kinge Bergland, who is a qualified doctor.
Hansen will be returning to the stage shortly and among his forthcoming shows is a support slot to Irish comedian Ed Byrne at the Great Norwegian Comedy Festival 2010 in October.
A TASTE OF HANSEN'S JOKES
"To be honest, you haven’t been really drunk at Cobra (a well-known disco in Oslo) until you’ve woken up on the floor and the police are drawing up chalk lines around you.
Here’s a fact many of you probably didn’t know – I actually grew up with Ole “Mister Sandman” Klemetsen (a former professional boxer). I sincerely believe I am the only one in Norway who has knocked him out, stone cold. It’s true. He was six and I was eighteen years old . . .”
