INSPIRATION can be found in the funniest places - as Globe columnist Peter Grant found when trying to think of a name for a double act appearing in this year’s Liverpool comedy festival.
The journalist, poet and theatre critic is one half of The Panama Hats - appearing in their review show Through The Catflap ... at Parr Street 2 in Liverpool on Sunday, September 18.
The other half of the popular duo is Liverpool-based singer Steve Macfarlane.
Steve McFarlane and Peter Grant - aka The Panama Hats
Peter said he idea for the act's name came, literally off the top of his head, while out shopping.
He told the Globe: "I was in Primark and saw a sale of Panama hats, funny but true, so I checked on Google to see if there were any bands called The Panama Hats.
"Luckily there weren’t, so we decided to call ourselves that and it seems to have worked.
"Before that, we had toyed with other names, like Fish & Chips or Chalk & Cheese, but they didn't really seem to have the same appeal for us."
Peter Grant enjoys the hilari-tea
Taking their inspiration from BBC comedy legends The Two Ronnies, the show is a mix of poems, punchlines and plenty of music from their album Happy Daze, which will be available to buy on the day, and the hit show Moggies the Mewsical – which was based on the stories by Pete's partner, Cathy Roberts, who is among the special guests.
Also appearing is Billy Hui, conductor of the SingMe Merseyside choir.
There will also be songs from Birkenhead actor/musician Robbie Southworth.
Looking forward to the show, Peter said: "It features moggie-themed songs, poetry and gags to make you feeline groovy.
"We formed the double act about six or seven years ago. In those days we did poems and music.
"We have had quite a following over the years, which we have tried to shake off at the railway station."
Explaining the show’s format, he continued: "I'm a huge fan of The Two Ronnies and our show is inspired by their BBC shows from the 1970s and '80s, in that there are songs, interspersed with sketches and special guest.
"It promises to be a fun afternoon.
"We joke, on the poster, that the guests will appear subject to mood and how much we pay them.
"For example, there's a sketch between a customer and a book owner."
Steve McFarlane and Peter Grant - aka The Panama Hats
"I'm very much inspired by Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, The Marx Brothers and Monty Python.
"Steve's a big fan of Vaudeville, so there's a lot of 'I say', 'I say', 'I say' business going on too.
"Steve's partner, the former mayor of Liverpool Gary Millar is directing the show. He's a very good co-ordinator."
Admission to the show is free and there will be a collection for the Whitechapel Homeless Centre, a charity close to Steve's heart.
Among those endorsing Peter and Steve's act is fellow comic Stan Boardman, who jokes in the programme notes that "The Krankies won't be losing any sleep."
Also praise is BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Lyon, who said: "You will never see or hear anything like it again. Well I hope not."
Admission to their show, which starts at 4pm on September 18, is free.
Full details and tickets for the festival are from liverpoolcomedyfestival.com
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