Catherine Tate webchat – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/live/2014/nov/24/catherine-tate-webchat-post-your-questions

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2.29pm GMT14:29

That’s it! Thank you for your questions, and to Catherine for coming in to answer them

Thank you for all your questions! Sorry I'm not able to answer all of them. See you around!

2.28pm GMT14:28

matthewkathmandu asks:

What do you remember about performing in a play about Elizabeth I at St Mary’s College Twickenham? It was in the late 1980s and I still can’t believe that I acted with you! (I’m a shockingly bad actor so I hope you don’t remember my contribution.)

I do remember that! I learned everything I know from you. And owe everything I have to you.

2.27pm GMT14:27

everythingvintage asks:

Hello Catherine we went to see Nativity3 at the weekend. How much did you enjoy it ? It certainly made us laugh. What’s your singing voice like?

If you've seen the film you should know! I loved working on Nativity 3 - there was no script and it was totally improvised, although the storyline was very tight and in place before we started work. But we had a blast. It's quite liberating - when you've got a director like Debbie who doesn't censor you it's liberating to not have a script. And working with kids is great as well, because they're just always pleased to be there.

2.23pm GMT14:23

Anna Wilhelm asks:

I may or may not be up at 12am the night before two tests for this because of time zones ...

anything for my idol :)

Go to sleep! You'll regret it in the morning.

2.21pm GMT14:21

Chris Harrison asks:

Why the lateral shift from comedy to mainstream acting? Were the comedy series a means of ‘earning’ but your real love was elsewhere?

No, my love is performing and writing, and I'm lucky to have the opportunity of keeping comedy running alongside drama and musicals.

2.19pm GMT14:19

Wildfou asks:

Sketch shows seem to be out of favour with TV commissioners. As someone who made such a successful one how do you feel about this? Has it been a help or a handicap in your career?

I think formats come in and out of fashion, and the sketch show will undoubtedly return. It was a great springboard for me and I loved every minute of it.

2.18pm GMT14:18

ID6261584 asks:

Hi Catherine - If you could go for a drink with any of the characters you have played, who would you go with and why?

I'd like to go for a drink with Sarah Jane Moore, my Assassins character, because she's a real person and is still alive. I think it would be fascinating to talk to someone whose life you're portraying, and find out what actually makes her tick.

2.16pm GMT14:16

Rachel Nikki Hervé asks:

Hello.

If you are somehow invited , will you go to a french convention and meeting your french fans ? A lots of them hopes to and want to hear you speaking french live , it seems you speaks french quite well .

One of your biggest french fan.

Merci beaucoup! Yes, I'd love to.

2.15pm GMT14:15

ValerieSelden asks:

I suppose Lauren has left school now. Could you tell us what job she’s doing?

Well, if we're going to follow the logic, she's dead. I killed her off. But I'd like to think that if she did survive the kayaking accident, she'd have bucked up her ideas, and got herself a part on The Only Way Is Essex.

2.14pm GMT14:14

ID6261584 asks:

How do you take your tea?

I don't like tea! Never have, never drunk it.

2.13pm GMT14:13

Natalie Wainwright asked:

Your skit with Daniel Craig on your show was hilarious. How did it come about? Did he agree to be on your show and then you wrote it, or did you write it with him in mind and then he came on board?

I actually can't remember how it came about, but Daniel and I were in National Youth Theatre together, and when Comic Relief suggested it I think I must have just asked him, and then wrote the sketch after he said yes. I was at National Youth Theatre at the same time as Daniel, Jessica Hynes, Rupert Penry-Jones, Jonathan Rather, Katy Carmichael, among others. We were all in the same production of Blood Wedding. I think we toured it for about three years. And I've still got the photos. Happy days!

2.04pm GMT14:04

harrymeadows asks:

What sort of shed should I buy?

I love a shed. But you're not giving me much to go on. What's your budget? What size is your garden? Do you live in an area where wind and snow load are considerations? With so little to go on, I'm going to have to suggest vinyl. Affordable, durable, and less noisy inside. Let me know how you get on.

2.03pm GMT14:03

"David Tennant and I are looking for future projects together"

Ana Clarissa Kolbow asks:

Can you talk about working with David Tennant? You’ve known him enough time now, so is he that great a guy? Also, you guys have an awesome chemistry. Have you experienced this kind of chemistry in any other films/projects you’ve worked on?

PS: work together again and make girls all around the world happy.

Yes, working with David is the best. We get on so well and it's just always so much fun. I don't know how to describe it - it's just that something clicked when we first started working together from day one on The Runaway Bride and hopefully will continue to. We're looking for future projects together.

2.01pm GMT14:01

"Peter Capaldi's wit and intelligence shines in Dr Who"

Alina Sarkisyan asks:

Hello, Catherine, hot greetings from cold Russia! Thank you for all your roles especially in Doctor Who. How do you like Peter Capaldi as the Doctor? What can you say about the 8th season of the show?

Thanks for the answer! Russian fans love you! Be healthy, wealthy and creative, as always superexcellentive!

Alina (Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia)

Hello from not-quite-as-cold London! I think Peter is wonderful in the role, and I'm really enjoying the 8th season. He's a fantastic actor, and his wit and intelligence shines.

1.56pm GMT13:56

godstar29 asks:

Do you owe Lee Mack any money?

Has he been badmouthing me again? To be fair I probably do.

Updated at 1.57pm GMT

1.54pm GMT13:54

Emily Horsfall asks:

Do you know much more of Stephen Sondheim’s work? And if so, what role would you love to play?Look forward to seeing you in Assassins.Emily, Manchester

I'm a great fan of Sondheim's work. I don't think at the moment though I would throw my hat in the arena to suggest myself for any other roles in his musicals! I'm more than happy to be part of an ensemble piece playing the chaotic and complex Sarah Jane Moore.

1.49pm GMT13:49

ID0165792 asks:

Why was Adam James voted ‘diva of the production’ on Much Ado?

I didn't know he had been! But I'm sure he was a worthy winner.

1.48pm GMT13:48

"I was petrified hanging upside down from a harness in Much Ado About Nothing"

Bluebaby asks:

During Josie Rourke’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, you found yourself on stage hanging upside down in a harness - how difficult was it to enunciate your lines properly in that position? (and also was it scary the first time you did it?)

Happily I didn't have to speak when I was hanging upside down. It had been my suggestion to go up on a wire during Beatrice's gulling scene and really seemed like a great idea at the time. Then we got into the theatre and I tested it out for the first time and my resolve faded. Hanging upside down for the first time was petrifying. And it was all I could do to get the words out: "please get me down!" However over time it became a second nature, and I was turning somersaults and loving it.

1.43pm GMT13:43

clamda ask:

Hello Catherine,How has it felt to perform as part of an ensemble in Assassins?Best wishes from Devon

It's great to perform as an ensemble - I am in a company of brilliant actors who sing, dance, and most of them play instruments too. Proper triple threats. It just makes me wish I'd done more with my time in my youth.

1.41pm GMT13:41

bayern asks:

What can we normal people do to help stamp out gingerphobia in society?

I'd like to ask what you mean by 'normal' people? Do you mean people who aren't ginger?

Updated at 1.44pm GMT

1.40pm GMT13:40

mizzencast asks:

Can Sarah Postern from Big School really speak French? What was the greatest part about playing Donna Noble? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Yes she can, she's never been to France though. It's debatable how well she speaks it, but she certainly speaks it better than anyone else at Graybridge School.

Donna Noble was a fantastic part, I loved playing her, working with David was a dream job, the scripts were always fantastic, and we had a ball.

1.39pm GMT13:39

"I think Donna going back to Dr Who would kill her"

James Dopey Perry Bowker asks:

Now that Series 8 of Doctor Who has ended and is finished till Christmas, would you ever come back to Doctor Who if Steven Moffatt had a good story that had potential for your character to return back to the TARDIS.

I always cry like a woos when it comes to your dramatic scene where The 10th Doctor has to wipe your memories of him and the Tardis, because if you remember for one second you will burn up and die. it always gets me because your at the peak of your character development and in fast motion it is all took away from your very own “Best Friend” I always picture a return for you but who knows.

I guess you had the most easiest goodbye because The Doctor saved you from a life of regret, and upset because by you not remembering of the adventures you both took together you don’t need to regret the things you did and you don’t get upset because oyu don’t lose anything that would affect you in later life.

Rose Tyler died in real life to be separated from her Doctor in Bad Wolf Bay Norway in the Parallel universe.

Martha Jones had her family torn apart by the Master and she was the one to bring the pieces back together after the Doctor left her.

But with you had a better relationship with your Mum Sylvia Noble because as the Doctor puts it, “You should tell her that once in a while”

Unfortunately I think Donna's storyline would prevent her from coming back, because any memory of the Doctor, of her time travelling with him, and the adventures she embarked on, would kill her. So I can't see a storyline being able to bring her back.

1.35pm GMT13:35

Alison asks:

Hi Catherine,Do you think you can learn to be funny or do you think it’s something that you either have or don’t? Also do you have any tips for a young aspiring comedy writer?

I think you have to strike a balance between sticking to what you think is funny, and listening to the audience. So if no-one's laughing, you need to be flexible enough to learn from feedback while still being as true as you can to your own sensibilities. Writing comedy is an exposing thing because you're putting yourself on the line with every joke you write, and although you can't second guess an audience, if you want to be successful you have to write stuff people like.

I can remember doing standup and having to really reluctantly drop jokes that I thought were funny, but time and again, the audience didn't get. You have to learn from that, because sometimes you just get it wrong.

1.33pm GMT13:33

"There's no way Nan will be voting UKIP...She'd be happy to tell Nigel Farage where to go"

greysky asks:

Do you think ‘Nan’ will be voting UKIP next year?

No way. She lives in a multicultural society, and always has. And is happy to. She'd be very happy to tell Nigel Farage where to go.

...Though maybe it might be fun to see Nan and Nigel have a conversation.

1.31pm GMT13:31

Noodlescheyenne asks:

How did working on The US Office come about? And how did you find the experience?

Greg Daniels, who adapted the American version, rang to see if I would be interested in joining the cast. I was very excited, and went out to meet him, and then got the call to say they'd like me to come on board. It was a fantastic experience, I was a massive fan of both shows and am extremely honoured to be part of the ensemble of the American office.

1.26pm GMT13:26

Anna Wilhelm asks:

Hello! :)

How is that four part harmony acapella song going? As a musician I know how incredibly hard it must be! Best of luck x

Amazingly, just as Alan Williams the musical director said, if you just keep practising and practising as much as you can it will just become second nature. And it has. So far. I didn't ever think I would be able to just open my mouth and the notes be there, but fingers crossed, they are.

1.25pm GMT13:25

Isabella Alves asks:

Catherine, how was working with Dawn French in Wild West? Love you and your work. Thanks for being an inspiration for me. Big hugs from Brazil.

- Isabella

Working with Dawn - it was a joy from the word go, she was the most generous, funny, lovely person you could hope to meet. And has remained a very dear and special friend.

Updated at 1.28pm GMT

1.24pm GMT13:24

feelinglistless asks:

How did you get your first screen credit (according to the IMDb) which was Surgical Spirit in which you played “girlfriend”. I like origin stories. Thanks. x

The casting director used to own a sandwich shop nearby, that I used to go in. And she knew I was about to go to drama college, and gave me an audition. I was about 18, and I was quite nervous - we filmed in Manchester, I didn't know what I was doing. Duncan Preston was in it, who'd I'd been a big fan of working with Victoria Wood. He was really sweet to me, and he just played my dad in Nativity - it was lovely to see him again.

Updated at 1.29pm GMT

1.21pm GMT13:21

Catherine is now with us!

Here she is in the Guardian offices:

And she has started replying to your questions. sgamartin asks:

Can you please allow the game doctor who legacy use your likeness in their game? Every other modern companion is on there and as you’re the best, we all want you on there!

I had no idea I wasn't on the game! And would very much like to be included! Who do I speak to about this?

2.46pm GMT14:46

Post your questions for Catherine Tate

“Am I bovvered?” It’s the sort of ubiquitous catchphrase that can become a millstone around the neck of an aspiring comedian, even as it makes their name – but Catherine Tate, who constantly uttered it as the spectacularly jaded teen Lauren Cooper, has moved on in triumphant style.

Cooper was part of a gaggle of Tate characters including the equally scabrous Nan who dominated TV sketch comedy in the mid-00s, romping into the Royal Variety Performance as well as the playground and workplace chat of millions. While Tate has since continued to do comedy in the likes of Big School and the US version of The Office, she’s massively expanded her repertoire, taking dramatic roles in film and TV, most memorably as a sidekick to Doctor Who.

There’s also been stage work like Much Ado About Nothing alongside her Doctor co-star David Tennant, and her next role is in Assassins, a Stephen Sondheim musical now playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory. To mark the start of the run, she’s joining us to answer your questions in a live webchat on Wednesday 26 November from 1pm GMT onwards – post yours in the comments below, and she’ll try to answer as many as possible.