July 2020

Aussies! UPRIGHT is now also available on these digital platforms:

Apple
Google Play
YouTube
Fetch
Microsoft
PlayStation

More information on UPRIGHT can be found here.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announced today that Tim will be opening and closing this year’s star-studded Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards 2020 with a couple of special musical performances.

He’ll perform an original song, written specially for the occasion, to open the show and he’ll close with ‘Carry You’, which he wrote for his TV Series UPRIGHT.

Friday 31st July, BBC One, 7pm BST

UPDATE (31/07/20): Here are the two songs Tim performed:

‘2020 Baftas’ Lyrics below.

‘Carry You’ a song he wrote for his comedy drama TV series UPRIGHT – a wild road trip across the Australian outback. (Lyrics to ‘Carry You’ can be found here.)

Tim: “I would very much like to be in a lovely theatre in beautiful London, dressed in an on-loan tuxedo, trying to stay sober enough to remember the lyrics I last-minute wrote for the opening of UK film and telly’s night of nights. As it is, I’ve prerecorded the song from Sydney in the 25-yr old tux I had in my closet, and I remembered the words fine because we filmed it in the morning, and neither the pandemic nor the high quality of affordable Australian wines have as yet driven me to AM drinking. (I’m incredibly honoured to have been asked and am excited to see how the whole thing is put together, given how very hard the BAFTAs folk have worked to make it special.)”

Filmed at Television Centre and hosted by Richard Ayoade, the ceremony, featuring a host of guest appearances, will take place behind closed doors. In place of the usual red carpet programme ahead of the show on BBC One, comedian Tom Allen will be hosting a Pre-Show, which will stream live on BAFTA’s social channels from 6pm BST, leading up to the main event.

**2020 BAFTAS**

Perhaps my greatest fear among my many fears vis-à-vis
Covid-19 is that in the coming years there will be
Even more films and episodic TV about zombies.

I think I’ll write a zombie film set in Hollywood in which
The writers all get bitten by a zombie carrying a disease
Which, when you are infected, manifests in a desire
To write zombie films.

I know our job is to hold a mirror up to society,
But I’ve been avoiding mirrors of late, cos it’s got so goddamn ugly.
Remember when Cercei Lannister was absurd hyperbole?
But now she seems quite tame
And her naked walk of shame
Being pelted with human poo
Is just what we daily do on twitter.
(Daily do on twitter)
I know I sound bitter, but tell me
How do you make great art
When reality has jumped the shark?
(Who cares?)

Let’s raise the rafters
It’s the 2020 BAFTAs (2020 BAFTAs)
No one’s stronger than an artist in a crisis!
(Artist in a crisis)
Come hell or high water,
Pandemic or disorder,
We will stand up (stand up!)
To give each other prizes.

If there’s no one to applaud me, who am I?
(No one to applaud him who is he?)
No camera to record these real tears that I cry?
(Real tears that he cries)
Will I just shrivel up and die?
(Die! Die! Die!)
If an actor dressed as a tree falls in a forest (Crash!)
And the self-tape doesn’t upload (Oh no!)
Does she even exist? (Does she even exist?)
And if Matilda stays closed, am I still rich?

Welcome you arty martyrs
To the 2020 BAFTAs
Tell me, who is the designer of your tracksuit?
(Tell me, tell me, who designed your tracksuit?)
Let’s get through these awards
Then get back to our real jobs,
Signing virtuous petitions in our Ugg Boots.
(Lovely, lovely Ugg Boots)

To all you clever nominees:
I hope you’re very, very pleased,
I’m not bitter that my show wasn’t nominated.
(It’s got 8.6 on IMDB)
I hope you have fun,
Remember whether you lost or won
Doesn’t matter, (doesn’t matter)
Cos the planet’s almost dead.

All the legends and the laughter
Of the 2020 BAFTAs,
Gee it’s gonna be a helluva party!
(Virtually! Virtually a party!)
If this song was too ironic,
Sarcastic or sardonic,
We’d better hand you back to Richard Ayoade.
(Richard Ayoade)

North American friends! The first 2 eps of #UPRIGHT are premiering on the ATX YouTube channel with ATX Festival, eOne and Sundance Now on Tuesday, July 21st at 7pm CT.

I’ll be chatting online as it’s airing with the awesome Milly Alcock. Afterwards the legend that is Judd Apatow is hosting a Q&A with… me. Huzzah. The full Q&A will be made available worldwide on July 22nd at 8am PT / 10am CT. Time Zone Converter

UPDATE: Here’s the Q&A with Judd Apatow:

If you’re in the US you can use the promo code ‘UPRIGHT’ to join Sundance Now for a 30-day-free-trial ready to watch UPRIGHT when it premieres on there August 6th.

More information on UPRIGHT can be found here. But in short, it’s wicked, you’ll love it. tx

Tim will be joining Robbie Rozelle for the Broadway Records Matilda Listening Party on Tuesday 14th July at 7pm EDT.

Handy Time Zone Converter

They’ll be listening to selections from Matilda, discussing them and answering questions.

The listening party will be available worldwide on Broadway Records YouTube Channel and Broadway Records Facebook Page where you can set reminders if you wish.

If you’re unable to watch this live, fear not, it will remain available afterwards on their YouTube channel, Facebook page and website for catch-up. (UPDATED to add video above).

Tim will be performing one of his compositions from Matilda The Musical with Elise McCann, Hayden Tee and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for PLAY IT ON, a unique online concert in support of Australian artists who have lost income as a result of the nationwide shutdown of the live entertainment industry.

Thursday 9th July at 7pm (AEST)

The concert will stream free-of-charge worldwide via the Sydney Symphony Website and the Sydney Symphony Facebook page

Enjoy the virtual concert and please donate, if you can, here: abfnsw.org/play

Funds raised will be directed to Actors Benevolent Funds and Trusts in each state, as well as Support Act, recently founded to support actors, musicians and arts workers who are struggling as a result of shutdowns.

PLAY IT ON is an initiative created by Australian performer Elise McCann: “Each of the composers, orchestrators, performers, audio engineers, graphic designers, video editors, and a whole array of creative individuals have donated their time and talent to create this project and give back to their community.

Play It On is a chance for the Australian public to show their support for Australian artists as we raise funds for individual workers nationwide. It is also a chance for audiences to come together and be entertained, inspired, uplifted and moved — which is what arts and culture is all about.”

More details on the Sydney Symphony website here.

Footage of the concert will be made available after the event, so you’ll be able to catch-up and donate then if you wish.