Comic completes 24-hour routine

Watson won the Daily Telegraph Open Mic comedy award in 2002

A comedian has completed a 24-hour bid to break the world record for the longest stand-up routine by proposing to his girlfriend on stage.

Mark Watson's Overambitious 24-Hour Show began at 2355 BST on Sunday as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

It ended with the 160-strong Cowgate Central audience witnessing girlfriend Emily Howes accept Watson's proposal.

The former Cambridge Footlights member, originally from Bristol, said he felt "pretty dazed and very happy".

Brief appearances

Watson's eclectic show included a blind date, a debate on the existence of God, a Euro 2004 review and readings from his novel, Bullet Points.

The comedian began games of Chinese Whispers among the audience to cover his toilet breaks.

The 24-hour show also featured brief appearances by fellow comics Adam Hills, Stewart Lee, Dara O'Briain and Jenny Eclair.

It's the best thing I've ever seen at the Fringe - it created its own little universe, sub-plots and stories Adam Hills

The show began at Edinburgh's Wilkie House Chapel venue, but moved to the larger Cowgate venue on the arrival of a bigger audience than expected.

Watson has performed at the Fringe in four previous years, winning the Daily Telegraph Open Mic award in 2002.

Before starting his routine Watson, 24, said the Edinburgh Festival had become "very commercial and competitive".

"I wanted to try to buck that trend, and I quite like endurance acts and the idea of doing things others would not try."

'Complete shock'

Afterwards comedian Adam Hills said: "It's the best thing I've ever seen at the Fringe. It created its own little universe, sub-plots and stories.

"The fact that he thought of it, saw it all the way through, and created such a feeling in the room is either a testament to comedy genius or proof that the Stockholm Syndrome does exist amongst hostages."

Watson's fiancée Ms Howes, 23, was among 12 people present throughout the entire show. She said the onstage proposal was a "complete shock".

She said: "It was really beautiful, but obviously Mark was the star of the whole thing and he orchestrated it."