Each year the UK’s Comic Relief appeal seems to go from strength to strength, with some of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment coming together with a simple plan to ‘do something funny for money’.
So far this year, a staggering £74,360,207 has been raised, proving that even in a recession, people can still find it in themselves to dig deep and do their bit for others.
Richard Martin Lighting (RML) showed its support by supplying lighting equipment for the Red Nose Day event, which was filmed live at BBC Television Centre (TVC). The show was themed with a bright new bubble-themed set, and once again lighting designer Chris Kempton (and his trusted team) were invited back to design the lighting. Bill Peachment assisted Chris as moving light operator.
Consisting of over 200 lights, a huge lighting rig illuminated the various stages and catwalks used by the show hosts that included Fearne Cotton, Graham Norton, Davina McCall and Dermot O’Leary.
Spotlights from a number of manufacturers were used including Clay Paky’s Alpha Wash 1200 and 700, and RML’s most recent purchase the Clay Paky Sharpy, which has been busy earning its keep since the company first purchased it earlier this year.
Weighing just 16kg, the tiny, 189W Sharpy produces an intense laser-like beam that only far larger and more expensive spotlights are able to achieve. Since launching in January 2011, the Sharpy has been rapidly adopted on a wide range of shows including BBC’s Let’s Dance, BBC Blue Peter, Channel 4’s Alan Carr Chatty Man, Sky TV’s Oscars Night and the NME Music Awards.