A TV producer is leaning on Richmond-based comedy Ted Lasso as he completes his 15th year of Movember.
Andrew Fenner, from Ormskirk in Lancashire, first took part in the initiative, raising money and awareness for men’s health, in 2011, and likes to find something unique to mark the occasion each year.
This year, he’s posting daily quotes from Lasso, the show’s main character, in a bid to make people smile and raise his desired £250.
Fenner, who has worked on shows such as The One Show and Songs of Praise, said: “The Ted Lasso idea came when we were watching it and I thought it made complete sense.
“It was one of the best comedies, I think, in the last five years. And it was so quotable, there were so many great lines in it.
“Also he has got the most brilliant moustache — so I began putting a daily quote from Ted Lasso on my site to cheer people up.”
As the loveable coach of fictional football team AFC Richmond, Lasso relies on his motivational and man-management skills, with his trademark saying: ‘Believe’.
Other lines on Fenner’s Ted LassMo site include ‘Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong’.
The team’s fictional ground, Nelson Road, is actually Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park in Croydon, while their training base is The SkyEx Community Stadium in Hillingdon, home of Hayes and Yeading FC.
Other filming locations in south west London include The Prince’s Head pub on Richmond Green (featured image), rebranded as the Crown and Anchor in the show, and Lasso’s home street, Paved Court.
The idea of Movember, with men growing moustaches to highlight their health, began with two brothers in Australia in 2003.
Initially, it focused mainly on prostate and testicular cancer, but has since branched out to cover mental health.
It specifically targets young men who may be less inclined to speak about their issues.
Fenner said: “I thought it seemed a very good cause to get men, particularly, thinking about their health.
“When you get into your 40s, you start to think more about your health and go to the doctor more, whereas in your 20s or your 30s you just tend to ignore it.
“I think when you’re younger there’s a certain embarrassment about it.
“What Movember does is target young men to say, ‘look, if you think there’s a problem with your health, go and talk to somebody about it’.
“I think that’s really good, because we don’t talk a lot about anything important unless it’s football or stuff like that down the pub.”
Fenner’s quirky fundraising-boosting ideas began with gingerbread moustaches for his workmates.
Since then, there’s been ‘Make me a Mo, Bro’, where he added a moustache and googly eyes onto everyday objects, and ‘Mo the Force be with you’, with moustaches added to his original 1977 Star Wars toys.
When Covid came and facemasks hid his moustache, Fenner adapted with ‘Mask with Mo-ment’, adding a tash to a new mask every day.
Alongside his humour and facial hair, Fenner regular completes the Movember 5km run and will be moving 60km this month to honour the 60 men lost hourly to suicide worldwide.
Last year he raised £138 and he is at £50 so far this year, taking his total to £1,999.
To find out more about Movember, visit the Movember website.
Visit Fenner’s page for more information and to donate.
Featured image credit: Callum Humphrey
