Monte Carlo loves AU

For the second year in a row the battle for the Golden Bedpan will be refereed by Esben Bjerre and Peter Falktoft - better known to Danish TV viewers and radio listeners as Monte Carlo. The commentators will entertain spectators with their sharp, flippant and sarcastic comments as the Regatta takes place. Omnibus has talked to the popular radio duo to make sure that they are ready for this great responsibility - they promise to bring high spirits and confetti.

[Translate to English:] Drengene fra Monte Carlo er klar til endnu en tørn som konferenciers ved Kapsejladsen: ”Men nu er det heldigvis ikke os, der er centrum, men når det så er sagt, er det selvfølgelig os, der er i centrum.” Foto: Jesper Rais

You have the honour of repeating your success. Has success gone to your heads?

"Absolutely. But we are trying hard to keep it in check."

AU obviously loves Monte Carlo - is it mutual?

"It most certainly is. Much more attractive than KU (University of Copenhagen), fewer of those slick types than at SDU (University of Southern Denmark), and yes, RUC (Roskilde University) and AAU (Aalborg University) can do whatever they want to, we don’t really have anything to do with them. We love Aarhus.  The University Park is the most beautiful place in the whole Kingdom of Denmark - and definitely the only place where you will find such a large concentration of young people who simply refuse to allow themselves to be seduced by the lowest common denominator. That is as close as you can get to a personification of our target group - if we actually had one. We feel more at home in the University Park than in DR’s Radio and TV House."

How do a couple of award-winning radio hosts and men-of-the-world such as yourselves feel about being the focal point of an event which primarily consists of muddy lake water, alcohol, duck faeces and students who have been in the sun too long (and what’s worse)?

"Like fish in water. The whole thing is elegantly camouflaged in academic surroundings - exactly like DR. But luckily, we’re not actually the focal point - though having said that, of course we’re the focal point."

What makes the Regatta special and makes you want to come back again?

"The history, the setting, the people and the party. It’s hard not to be a little bit impressed when you stand there and look at 25,000 young people who are cheering, singing, clapping, drinking or worse. It almost makes you want to play a song by TV-2. (TV-2 are a well-known Danish rock- and pop band from Aarhus, ed.). The zeal and enthusiasm are incredible. Now we’re even running out of superlatives…"

What can the beer-pickled spectators expect of the dynamic radio duo this year?

"Enthusiasm, tempo and high spirits. This year we’re even better prepared."

How do you get ready to party with a University Park that’s already at boiling point?

"You can never be ready for that! But we’ve got confetti!"

Just remember to bring your good spirits!

"No worries." 

Translated by Peter Lambourne