'Jo Brand: ‘If you’re doing comedy, you must be funny first and preach second’' diff viewer (0/1)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on May 15, 2016 08:06 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/15/jo-brand-you-ask-the-questions-going-forward-comedy

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Previous version 1 Next version

Previous version 1 Next version

Version 0	Version 1
Jo Brand: ‘If you’re doing comedy, you must be funny first and preach second’	Jo Brand: ‘If you’re doing comedy, you must be funny first and preach second’
2016-05-15 08:10:08 UTC	2016-08-29 15:05:25 UTC (4 months later)
‘My mum is always pestering me to do various charitable events,” says Jo Brand, hunkering down into a deep armchair. “So recently I did a talk at her library to raise money, and there was a Q&A afterwards. And the first question was: ‘What’s it like to be hated?’” Her expression is impassive; an unflappability perhaps developed in her first career as a psychiatric nurse dealing with highly unstable inmates in an emergency ward. Brand continues, her voice unchanged: “So that was a nice one to start on.”	‘My mum is always pestering me to do various charitable events,” says Jo Brand, hunkering down into a deep armchair. “So recently I did a talk at her library to raise money, and there was a Q&A afterwards. And the first question was: ‘What’s it like to be hated?’” Her expression is impassive; an unflappability perhaps developed in her first career as a psychiatric nurse dealing with highly unstable inmates in an emergency ward. Brand continues, her voice unchanged: “So that was a nice one to start on.”
We are in the Observer’s office in King’s Cross for Brand to negotiate our occasional feature You Ask the Questions – “you” being you, the readers, and a smattering of celebrities whose paths the 58-year-old comedian has crossed in three decades of standup and television appearances. Good news, I say: no one has asked that. “I don’t mind even if they have,” she says. “I’m ready for anything.”	We are in the Observer’s office in King’s Cross for Brand to negotiate our occasional feature You Ask the Questions – “you” being you, the readers, and a smattering of celebrities whose paths the 58-year-old comedian has crossed in three decades of standup and television appearances. Good news, I say: no one has asked that. “I don’t mind even if they have,” she says. “I’m ready for anything.”
Brand, as that tactful person in her mum’s library noted, has been a divisive figure. The first time she performed live, according to legend, a male heckler shouted “Fuck off, you fat cow” for most of her set. In the 1980s and 1990s especially, there was a strongly feminist tone to her comedy, which was enough to see her labelled anti-men or, in extreme cases, a lesbian. (For the record, Brand is married to Bernie, a psychiatric nurse, and they have two children.)	Brand, as that tactful person in her mum’s library noted, has been a divisive figure. The first time she performed live, according to legend, a male heckler shouted “Fuck off, you fat cow” for most of her set. In the 1980s and 1990s especially, there was a strongly feminist tone to her comedy, which was enough to see her labelled anti-men or, in extreme cases, a lesbian. (For the record, Brand is married to Bernie, a psychiatric nurse, and they have two children.)
“When people insulted me in the press, they always picked on the very obvious thing: weight, how you look, how you dress; you don’t wear dresses very often ergo you are a lesbian – like that’s a big insult anyway,” says Brand. “Have they not heard of pretty lesbians that wear dresses? They obviously hadn’t in those days. It obviously meant that you looked like a plumber.”	“When people insulted me in the press, they always picked on the very obvious thing: weight, how you look, how you dress; you don’t wear dresses very often ergo you are a lesbian – like that’s a big insult anyway,” says Brand. “Have they not heard of pretty lesbians that wear dresses? They obviously hadn’t in those days. It obviously meant that you looked like a plumber.”
These days, though, Brand is clearly regarded more fondly. More than one question submitted for this feature referred to her as “a national treasure”. There are maybe two main reasons for the change in the perception. One was the Hell of a Walk that she completed in January for Sport Relief. She stomped from one side of the country to the other – 135 miles from the mouth of the Humber to Liverpool – in seven days and raised more than £1m.	These days, though, Brand is clearly regarded more fondly. More than one question submitted for this feature referred to her as “a national treasure”. There are maybe two main reasons for the change in the perception. One was the Hell of a Walk that she completed in January for Sport Relief. She stomped from one side of the country to the other – 135 miles from the mouth of the Humber to Liverpool – in seven days and raised more than £1m.
It was clearly a gruelling effort that took a lot out of Brand and she – unlike some celebrity challengers – did not hide this fact from the cameras. “I realise I was quite bad tempered,” she says, “but I do think it’s fairly reasonable to demonstrate that you have the same moods as other people would have if they were in the same position. There was this teacher who walked along with me at about 6pm and she said, ‘Do you mind if I walk with you?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t mind but I’m in a really bad mood and I might be quite rude to you.’ And she said, ‘No, that’s perfectly all right.’	It was clearly a gruelling effort that took a lot out of Brand and she – unlike some celebrity challengers – did not hide this fact from the cameras. “I realise I was quite bad tempered,” she says, “but I do think it’s fairly reasonable to demonstrate that you have the same moods as other people would have if they were in the same position. There was this teacher who walked along with me at about 6pm and she said, ‘Do you mind if I walk with you?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t mind but I’m in a really bad mood and I might be quite rude to you.’ And she said, ‘No, that’s perfectly all right.’
“Then she said to me, ‘Can I tell my pupils I haven’t marked their homework because I’m walking with you?’ And I said, ‘Do what you want!’ And she went, ‘How dare you!’ and got in a real tizz and walked off. That was the desired result but I thought, ‘Well, I did tell you I was grumpy…’ So I did try to warn people.”	“Then she said to me, ‘Can I tell my pupils I haven’t marked their homework because I’m walking with you?’ And I said, ‘Do what you want!’ And she went, ‘How dare you!’ and got in a real tizz and walked off. That was the desired result but I thought, ‘Well, I did tell you I was grumpy…’ So I did try to warn people.”
Another reason for the surge in affection for Brand was the BBC4 comedy Getting On, in which she played a nurse called Kim Wilde who worked in a female geriatric ward. The show, which she created with Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan, ran for three series from 2009 to 2012 and won Brand a Bafta in 2010 for her performance. It was a warm, naturalistic turn and she will be reprising the role of Kim – minus Pepperdine and Scanlan – in a new spin-off, Going Forward, which will be shown in three instalments on BBC4 later this month.	Another reason for the surge in affection for Brand was the BBC4 comedy Getting On, in which she played a nurse called Kim Wilde who worked in a female geriatric ward. The show, which she created with Vicki Pepperdine and Joanna Scanlan, ran for three series from 2009 to 2012 and won Brand a Bafta in 2010 for her performance. It was a warm, naturalistic turn and she will be reprising the role of Kim – minus Pepperdine and Scanlan – in a new spin-off, Going Forward, which will be shown in three instalments on BBC4 later this month.
In Going Forward, Kim has left the NHS and now works as a care assistant in the community, dashing between appointments with her elderly patients and juggling a chaotic home life. Her husband Dave, played by Omid Djalili, is a private-hire car driver and similarly embattled. The series has a few serious points to make – notably about private companies taking over health provision, and zero-hours contracts – but Brand was determined that it should be a comedy above all else. “Oh yes, if you’re doing comedy, you must be funny first and preach second,” she says. “Because if you do it the other way around then it’s just irritating for people. We’d just be doing a party political broadcast.”	In Going Forward, Kim has left the NHS and now works as a care assistant in the community, dashing between appointments with her elderly patients and juggling a chaotic home life. Her husband Dave, played by Omid Djalili, is a private-hire car driver and similarly embattled. The series has a few serious points to make – notably about private companies taking over health provision, and zero-hours contracts – but Brand was determined that it should be a comedy above all else. “Oh yes, if you’re doing comedy, you must be funny first and preach second,” she says. “Because if you do it the other way around then it’s just irritating for people. We’d just be doing a party political broadcast.”
After three series of Getting On, a split developed between its creators. “There were substantial differences between the ways which we worked, because Jo and Vicky were actors and I’m a standup,” Brand says. “We tried to improvise most of it and, they may say that I’m wrong over this, but I think they felt more comfortable not doing that. So I suppose by the end of three series, we were separating out a bit and looking at going different ways. And they were keen to go to the States” – where the show has been reimagined by HBO, and Pepperdine and Scanlan have both taken cameos – “and I wasn’t.”	After three series of Getting On, a split developed between its creators. “There were substantial differences between the ways which we worked, because Jo and Vicky were actors and I’m a standup,” Brand says. “We tried to improvise most of it and, they may say that I’m wrong over this, but I think they felt more comfortable not doing that. So I suppose by the end of three series, we were separating out a bit and looking at going different ways. And they were keen to go to the States” – where the show has been reimagined by HBO, and Pepperdine and Scanlan have both taken cameos – “and I wasn’t.”
With Djalili especially, Brand felt more relaxed drifting off script. “Oh, the whole thing is improvised,” she says. “There’s obviously a narrative, because we couldn’t improvise the plot as we went along. We knew that in this episode Dave is going to find out that his pay has been substantially cut because of all the extras, paying for renting this, that and the other from the car firm. But yeah, there was no script as such.”	With Djalili especially, Brand felt more relaxed drifting off script. “Oh, the whole thing is improvised,” she says. “There’s obviously a narrative, because we couldn’t improvise the plot as we went along. We knew that in this episode Dave is going to find out that his pay has been substantially cut because of all the extras, paying for renting this, that and the other from the car firm. But yeah, there was no script as such.”
Such light-footedness should be perfect preparation for doing You Ask the Questions then – and so it turns out.	Such light-footedness should be perfect preparation for doing You Ask the Questions then – and so it turns out.
You ask the questions	You ask the questions
Do you wish you were starting now, when female comedians are just allowed to be comedians, or did you enjoy being a trailblazer?Stewart Lee, comedianOoh, well thank you Stewart for calling me a trailblazer. No, I’m happy with the time I did start out. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I was a trailblazer, but it was a much more exciting time really. What we called “alternative comedy” was in its infancy and the atmosphere at clubs was fantastic. You used to have the weirdest people on the circuit. There was a guy who melted a block of ice with a blowtorch and that was his act. He was called the Iceman, unsurprisingly. There was a woman who used to make very rude noises through her vagina, who would go down very well at the Tunnel Club [the notorious 1980s venue in east London] because they like that sort of thing down there.	Do you wish you were starting now, when female comedians are just allowed to be comedians, or did you enjoy being a trailblazer?Stewart Lee, comedianOoh, well thank you Stewart for calling me a trailblazer. No, I’m happy with the time I did start out. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I was a trailblazer, but it was a much more exciting time really. What we called “alternative comedy” was in its infancy and the atmosphere at clubs was fantastic. You used to have the weirdest people on the circuit. There was a guy who melted a block of ice with a blowtorch and that was his act. He was called the Iceman, unsurprisingly. There was a woman who used to make very rude noises through her vagina, who would go down very well at the Tunnel Club [the notorious 1980s venue in east London] because they like that sort of thing down there.
Standup has all become a bit more commercial and a bit slicker. And I certainly wasn’t slick. Women performers like Sarah Millican and Bridget Christie are very polished and not nearly as badly organised as I am. They work much harder. I felt like I just winged it quite a lot and it was easier in those days to do that.	Standup has all become a bit more commercial and a bit slicker. And I certainly wasn’t slick. Women performers like Sarah Millican and Bridget Christie are very polished and not nearly as badly organised as I am. They work much harder. I felt like I just winged it quite a lot and it was easier in those days to do that.
You used to go on stage for years as the “Sea Monster” instead of your own name, which I’ve always loved. Do you still remember some of your first standup sets and has your style changed much from when you started?Aisling Bea, comedian and actor	You used to go on stage for years as the “Sea Monster” instead of your own name, which I’ve always loved. Do you still remember some of your first standup sets and has your style changed much from when you started?Aisling Bea, comedian and actor
Yeah, I remember those days very well. The Sea Monster was merely to cover up my true identity in case people from work came to see me. Because I was a psychiatric nurse and I didn’t really want anyone to know I was doing it. So I just wanted a few months without anyone there. That went on for about six months to a year.	Yeah, I remember those days very well. The Sea Monster was merely to cover up my true identity in case people from work came to see me. Because I was a psychiatric nurse and I didn’t really want anyone to know I was doing it. So I just wanted a few months without anyone there. That went on for about six months to a year.
Two things I remember about starting were, one, I was very nervous and I didn’t know how to deliver a comedy line, so I did it in a monotone way. The first review I ever got at the Edinburgh festival said I sounded like I was reading the football results. And it was perfectly fair. The other thing was that I had a lot of hit-and-miss jokes. My favourite was where I’d hold a blood capsule in my mouth just before I came on and I’d wear a big white T-shirt. The compere would say: “Please welcome the Sea Monster…” and I’d go on, cough all over this shirt and then say, “Must give up smoking.” No one ever really laughed at it except me.	Two things I remember about starting were, one, I was very nervous and I didn’t know how to deliver a comedy line, so I did it in a monotone way. The first review I ever got at the Edinburgh festival said I sounded like I was reading the football results. And it was perfectly fair. The other thing was that I had a lot of hit-and-miss jokes. My favourite was where I’d hold a blood capsule in my mouth just before I came on and I’d wear a big white T-shirt. The compere would say: “Please welcome the Sea Monster…” and I’d go on, cough all over this shirt and then say, “Must give up smoking.” No one ever really laughed at it except me.
What’s the latest you’ve ever turned up to a gig (your own) and why?Isy Suttie, comedianWell, it’s such a long time ago, I feel I can say this now. Mark Thomas and I were doing a gig in Aberdeen and we were flying up from Heathrow on a Friday night and neither of us wanted to go. So we deliberately missed the flight and then we phoned Off the Kerb, [the talent agency] whose gig it was, and said to Joe Norris: “We’ve missed the flight and we can’t do the gig.” And he went, “Just hang on there.” And he rang back 10 minutes later and said, “I’ve got you on the next one.”	What’s the latest you’ve ever turned up to a gig (your own) and why?Isy Suttie, comedianWell, it’s such a long time ago, I feel I can say this now. Mark Thomas and I were doing a gig in Aberdeen and we were flying up from Heathrow on a Friday night and neither of us wanted to go. So we deliberately missed the flight and then we phoned Off the Kerb, [the talent agency] whose gig it was, and said to Joe Norris: “We’ve missed the flight and we can’t do the gig.” And he went, “Just hang on there.” And he rang back 10 minutes later and said, “I’ve got you on the next one.”
So we arrived at the gig two hours late and the audience was in such a bad mood that we both died on our arses. It served us right – I never did that again.	So we arrived at the gig two hours late and the audience was in such a bad mood that we both died on our arses. It served us right – I never did that again.
When sectors of the press launched a sustained and personal attack on you, and invented lies to push their own tabloid agenda of generating hatred, how did you manage to remain funny, and keep creating great work?Shazia Mirza, comedianOccasionally I’ll read about a celebrity complaining about the way they’ve been treated by the press and however realistic and valid that complaint is, they always look like an arse. So that teaches you that you can’t complain about things, because there are people that don’t have enough to eat and you’re saying, “I didn’t like Gary Bushell calling me fat” or whatever it is. What helped with me was, having been a psychiatric nurse for a long time, having been in charge of the psychiatric A&E where I worked, some very difficult, challenging, potentially very violent people would come in and they would want something, either to be admitted or some methadone and, because I was in charge, I was always wheeled out to tell them that they couldn’t. So I really got used to getting a mouthful of quite horrendous abuse on a regular basis. So there we are: you just have to deal with it really.	When sectors of the press launched a sustained and personal attack on you, and invented lies to push their own tabloid agenda of generating hatred, how did you manage to remain funny, and keep creating great work?Shazia Mirza, comedianOccasionally I’ll read about a celebrity complaining about the way they’ve been treated by the press and however realistic and valid that complaint is, they always look like an arse. So that teaches you that you can’t complain about things, because there are people that don’t have enough to eat and you’re saying, “I didn’t like Gary Bushell calling me fat” or whatever it is. What helped with me was, having been a psychiatric nurse for a long time, having been in charge of the psychiatric A&E where I worked, some very difficult, challenging, potentially very violent people would come in and they would want something, either to be admitted or some methadone and, because I was in charge, I was always wheeled out to tell them that they couldn’t. So I really got used to getting a mouthful of quite horrendous abuse on a regular basis. So there we are: you just have to deal with it really.
Where in the world do you find peace from the noise of life?Davina McCall, TV presenterWhen I’m asleep, I suppose, or watching someone being horribly murdered on TV. That’s a bit odd. I find peace when someone’s having a plastic bag put over their head.	Where in the world do you find peace from the noise of life?Davina McCall, TV presenterWhen I’m asleep, I suppose, or watching someone being horribly murdered on TV. That’s a bit odd. I find peace when someone’s having a plastic bag put over their head.
If you were an absolute ruler of Britain for the day, what new law would you bring in immediately and which current law would you abolish?Shappi Khorsandi, comedianI would abolish public schools. And what would I bring in? I’d bring back Sure Start, because that was a fantastic initiative and the fact it’s gone has really left a massive hole. When children are at that very vulnerable age before five, that’s when anything that’s going to be negative in their later life starts to formulate. If you can catch them early and put them on a more positive road then that’s the time to do it.	If you were an absolute ruler of Britain for the day, what new law would you bring in immediately and which current law would you abolish?Shappi Khorsandi, comedianI would abolish public schools. And what would I bring in? I’d bring back Sure Start, because that was a fantastic initiative and the fact it’s gone has really left a massive hole. When children are at that very vulnerable age before five, that’s when anything that’s going to be negative in their later life starts to formulate. If you can catch them early and put them on a more positive road then that’s the time to do it.
Also – people that say they are going to leave the country if the Labour party get in, I’d make it law that they actually had to. Loads of them do that and it’s really annoying.	Also – people that say they are going to leave the country if the Labour party get in, I’d make it law that they actually had to. Loads of them do that and it’s really annoying.
You’ve been a huge inspiration to me professionally, but you’ve also always struck me as fundamentally a fair and reasonable, level-headed person who cares deeply about humanity. You work tirelessly for mental health charities – raising awareness and funds – and also give your time generously to many other causes. You’re never cruel and, to me at least, seem to have perfect judgment on all manner of things, especially politicians. With that in mind, if you were having dinner with Jeremy Hunt and Donald Trump, in a deserted restaurant with no one else around for miles, and they both started choking at the same time, who would you choose to give the Heimlich manoeuvre to, and why?Bridget Christie, comedianI’d give it to Jeremy Hunt, because globally he’s much less of a threat than Donald Trump. Because given that Donald Trump now has the Republican nomination in the bag, that means that it’s actually a possibility that he could be… Can you even believe it? But Americans are a totally different kettle of fish voting-wise and a vast majority of them, just because he says he’s going to build a wall between America and Mexico, might go for him. Jeremy Hunt, well, he’s just a problem in England really, so I’d have to Heimlich manoeuvre him.	You’ve been a huge inspiration to me professionally, but you’ve also always struck me as fundamentally a fair and reasonable, level-headed person who cares deeply about humanity. You work tirelessly for mental health charities – raising awareness and funds – and also give your time generously to many other causes. You’re never cruel and, to me at least, seem to have perfect judgment on all manner of things, especially politicians. With that in mind, if you were having dinner with Jeremy Hunt and Donald Trump, in a deserted restaurant with no one else around for miles, and they both started choking at the same time, who would you choose to give the Heimlich manoeuvre to, and why?Bridget Christie, comedianI’d give it to Jeremy Hunt, because globally he’s much less of a threat than Donald Trump. Because given that Donald Trump now has the Republican nomination in the bag, that means that it’s actually a possibility that he could be… Can you even believe it? But Americans are a totally different kettle of fish voting-wise and a vast majority of them, just because he says he’s going to build a wall between America and Mexico, might go for him. Jeremy Hunt, well, he’s just a problem in England really, so I’d have to Heimlich manoeuvre him.
What’s the most hilariously crazy act you remember from the 1980s?Mark Steel, comedianWe’ve already talked about vagina woman, she was very crazy. And of course Chris Lynam, who used to put a firework up his arse at the end of his act and on occasion burned himself quite badly. But it looked amazing because he’s got such a demonic elfin face, with his big hair and loads of eyeliner. So a lot of brilliant craziness.	What’s the most hilariously crazy act you remember from the 1980s?Mark Steel, comedianWe’ve already talked about vagina woman, she was very crazy. And of course Chris Lynam, who used to put a firework up his arse at the end of his act and on occasion burned himself quite badly. But it looked amazing because he’s got such a demonic elfin face, with his big hair and loads of eyeliner. So a lot of brilliant craziness.
What nourishes you? (Apart from crusty white bloomer dipped in salad cream.)Tamsin Greig, actorYes, we found that we both really, really like that. We felt bad about it because we know actually it’s very working class to like salad cream. And that Yotam Ottolenghi has never used salad cream in a recipe once. Errr, what nourishes me? Gawd. It used to be fags. I used to so love smoking. So much. More than anything. It looks visually like it’s food I really love but actually it was always smoking. I gave up when I was 39 before I had kids and then I started again about five years later in a “I can control this” kind of way, when I really couldn’t. It’s probably been about three years now, with a few blips along the way.	What nourishes you? (Apart from crusty white bloomer dipped in salad cream.)Tamsin Greig, actorYes, we found that we both really, really like that. We felt bad about it because we know actually it’s very working class to like salad cream. And that Yotam Ottolenghi has never used salad cream in a recipe once. Errr, what nourishes me? Gawd. It used to be fags. I used to so love smoking. So much. More than anything. It looks visually like it’s food I really love but actually it was always smoking. I gave up when I was 39 before I had kids and then I started again about five years later in a “I can control this” kind of way, when I really couldn’t. It’s probably been about three years now, with a few blips along the way.
You gave me a lift back from a gig at Oxford Poly in about 1992 and wouldn’t take any petrol money. I feel I owe you £5 plus 24 years of interest. Where would you like me to send this sum?Richard Herring, comedianHaha! I remember that gig really well actually. I used to be the comedy circuit driver and counsellor really. So I was always the one that was sober who would give a load of really pissed people a lift home and I would actually do that thing of dropping people at their houses.	You gave me a lift back from a gig at Oxford Poly in about 1992 and wouldn’t take any petrol money. I feel I owe you £5 plus 24 years of interest. Where would you like me to send this sum?Richard Herring, comedianHaha! I remember that gig really well actually. I used to be the comedy circuit driver and counsellor really. So I was always the one that was sober who would give a load of really pissed people a lift home and I would actually do that thing of dropping people at their houses.
It kind of came back to haunt me a few times. One of my mum’s favourite sayings is: “No good deed ever goes unpunished.” And it’s so true in a way. I once borrowed a friend’s car and took a load of comics up to Nottingham University for a gig. On the way back, we all decided to stop for breakfast at 3am at Scratchwood services and I went in the wrong car park and a French juggernaut reversed into the car. He broke both of the headlights and punctured the radiator and then when he heard the crunch, we all had to do O-level French: there was Bob Mills, Mandy Knight and Johnny Immaterial all going: “Bon soir.”	It kind of came back to haunt me a few times. One of my mum’s favourite sayings is: “No good deed ever goes unpunished.” And it’s so true in a way. I once borrowed a friend’s car and took a load of comics up to Nottingham University for a gig. On the way back, we all decided to stop for breakfast at 3am at Scratchwood services and I went in the wrong car park and a French juggernaut reversed into the car. He broke both of the headlights and punctured the radiator and then when he heard the crunch, we all had to do O-level French: there was Bob Mills, Mandy Knight and Johnny Immaterial all going: “Bon soir.”
That did put me off giving people lifts for a bit, but I never asked people for petrol money and so he doesn’t owe me a thing. And thank you for remembering, Richard.	That did put me off giving people lifts for a bit, but I never asked people for petrol money and so he doesn’t owe me a thing. And thank you for remembering, Richard.
Is your character Kim on a zero-hours contract? And if so, how do you feel about that? Also, is she getting paid for travelling time between appointments?Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green PartyYes, she is on a zero-hours contract and no, she isn’t getting paid for travelling. I think what she thinks about it as a character is really what I think about it as a person, which is, I think it opens the floodgates for all sorts of unacceptable employment law. It encourages lots of nefarious work practices and it’s a really backwards step in a civilised country that led the way with the NHS. So I find it really depressing.	Is your character Kim on a zero-hours contract? And if so, how do you feel about that? Also, is she getting paid for travelling time between appointments?Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green PartyYes, she is on a zero-hours contract and no, she isn’t getting paid for travelling. I think what she thinks about it as a character is really what I think about it as a person, which is, I think it opens the floodgates for all sorts of unacceptable employment law. It encourages lots of nefarious work practices and it’s a really backwards step in a civilised country that led the way with the NHS. So I find it really depressing.
Are you going to the FA Cup final?Alan Davies, comedianNo, I’m not, because I simply can’t stand the stress of it. I went to the play-offs before Crystal Palace went up into the Premier League and I just found it excruciating because it’s a weird mixture of wanting to focus on the match and being really nervous and stressed, but loads of people coming up and saying, “Oh, hi! How are you?” And not being able to say, “Oh fuck off, I’m concentrating on this…” So I just decided that I can’t do that again and I won’t even watch the match, I’ll just have text alerts on, so I know what’s going on.	Are you going to the FA Cup final?Alan Davies, comedianNo, I’m not, because I simply can’t stand the stress of it. I went to the play-offs before Crystal Palace went up into the Premier League and I just found it excruciating because it’s a weird mixture of wanting to focus on the match and being really nervous and stressed, but loads of people coming up and saying, “Oh, hi! How are you?” And not being able to say, “Oh fuck off, I’m concentrating on this…” So I just decided that I can’t do that again and I won’t even watch the match, I’ll just have text alerts on, so I know what’s going on.
It’s a bit pathetic, but I’m in the age of the stroke zone anyway, so if I went I might have a stroke and I don’t want to. So lots of reasons.	It’s a bit pathetic, but I’m in the age of the stroke zone anyway, so if I went I might have a stroke and I don’t want to. So lots of reasons.
After a hard day I favour cake and swearing, but what’s your recipe for days when life kicks you in the arse?Kerry Hudson, authorAfter a hard day, what really sorts me out is watching some sort of hideous Scandinavian thriller with subtitles, people murdering each other in a really horrible way. The Killing, The Bridge, I love all those.	After a hard day I favour cake and swearing, but what’s your recipe for days when life kicks you in the arse?Kerry Hudson, authorAfter a hard day, what really sorts me out is watching some sort of hideous Scandinavian thriller with subtitles, people murdering each other in a really horrible way. The Killing, The Bridge, I love all those.
Is being married better than being single?Shermaine Williams, by emailOh, I don’t think you can possibly say that. For me personally or for everyone? Being in an awful marriage is so much worse than being single, so it’s very dependent on who you are married to really. And, just to be annoying, research shows that being married is better for the man and worse for the woman – surprise surprise. But personally I like being married because it takes the effort out of life. You don’t have to look any more, and you don’t have to bother any more. That’s my motto: don’t look any more and don’t bother!	Is being married better than being single?Shermaine Williams, by emailOh, I don’t think you can possibly say that. For me personally or for everyone? Being in an awful marriage is so much worse than being single, so it’s very dependent on who you are married to really. And, just to be annoying, research shows that being married is better for the man and worse for the woman – surprise surprise. But personally I like being married because it takes the effort out of life. You don’t have to look any more, and you don’t have to bother any more. That’s my motto: don’t look any more and don’t bother!
How different is your on-stage persona from how you would be at a dinner party, say?Bo Palle Hansen, by emailIt’s very different. Along with a lot of other people, my on-stage persona is quite contrived in a way. I say outrageous things to get a reaction from people. When I started, because I had a very heavily uncompromising feminist set, it was really designed to wind people up – not just men, women as well. And to shock people, because I think in those days women [comedians] were few and far between and in a way, in order to get your voice heard, you had to say something outrageous. But no, I’m totally different from how I am on stage. I don’t really go to dinner parties, but when I’m socialising, thankfully I socialise with people who don’t expect me to do jokes all the time. That would be so wearing – for them as well as me.	How different is your on-stage persona from how you would be at a dinner party, say?Bo Palle Hansen, by emailIt’s very different. Along with a lot of other people, my on-stage persona is quite contrived in a way. I say outrageous things to get a reaction from people. When I started, because I had a very heavily uncompromising feminist set, it was really designed to wind people up – not just men, women as well. And to shock people, because I think in those days women [comedians] were few and far between and in a way, in order to get your voice heard, you had to say something outrageous. But no, I’m totally different from how I am on stage. I don’t really go to dinner parties, but when I’m socialising, thankfully I socialise with people who don’t expect me to do jokes all the time. That would be so wearing – for them as well as me.
~~Related: Jo Brand’s Hell of a Walk review – oddly lovely and a little bit inspiring~~
How horrible was the Hell of a Walk when you were doing it and how good did you feel afterwards? Mad respect by the way.Veryumble, posted onlineThank you very much. I’d say the first two hours of each day were great and then it started to very gradually all dribble away positivity-wise after that. By the time it got dark, we’d have been walking for about eight or nine hours, so it started to hurt a bit and also Greg my trainer, he’s a terrible liar, because he always used to say it was much nearer than it actually was. I think that’s some sort of psychological ploy to make you keep going, but it really got on my nerves.	How horrible was the Hell of a Walk when you were doing it and how good did you feel afterwards? Mad respect by the way.Veryumble, posted onlineThank you very much. I’d say the first two hours of each day were great and then it started to very gradually all dribble away positivity-wise after that. By the time it got dark, we’d have been walking for about eight or nine hours, so it started to hurt a bit and also Greg my trainer, he’s a terrible liar, because he always used to say it was much nearer than it actually was. I think that’s some sort of psychological ploy to make you keep going, but it really got on my nerves.