Charlie Baker interview

Written by: Lucy Anna Gray
Published: Monday 28th October 2013

Baker's Dozen, Charlie Baker's live show mixing stand-up and singing, has turned into a big hit. Below Lucy Anna Gray finds out more about that, and asks about his relationship with television...

Hi Charlie. How are you?

Very well indeed. I did Brighton Comedy Festival recently - it was the first time I've done my show, Baker's Dozen, since Edinburgh and it just reminded me how much I love doing it!

I was really nervous all week. I think I had such good memories from the summer, because I had such a laugh... You know when you go back to something and it wasn't as good as you remembered? Like when you go back to your old school and it's a bit rubbish? But it wasn't like that at all, there just seems to be something in the show that people really like, which is strangely new for me!

I'm sure it's not!

I've done good shows before and had nice reviews and stuff, but this is the most word-of-mouth I've ever had. You don't really understand 'buzz' around a show until you experience it. We didn't get reviewed for the first two weeks, but we were still selling out, so people must've been talking about it. To re-visit that was nerve racking, but they loved it! They stood up! Plus Brighton is such a nice festival.

I saw you compere at Brighton's Best Of The Fest night and the audience absolutely loved you then as well. Quite a lot of older women in the audience I must say...

I'm discovering that the Cliff Richard fans are my audience. Anyone who wants to come to my show, I'm happy with that. Originally in Edinburgh I put a 14+ rating on the show, but now I look at the show and think 'hmm, 'cock in the eye?' - maybe I should make it higher.' I suppose I see it all as being very silly, so I think I can get away with it.

How does it feel to be singing again?

It's so nice. I love singing and being a singer. I've sung with jazz bands, big bands and all that kind of stuff, but I got out of that to become a comedian because that felt like what I wanted to do.

How long ago was that?

About 8 years ago, when I was in the So You Think You're Funny? [new act competition] final in Edinburgh - it was my sixth gig. I was in the biggest room in Edinburgh, filled with all the industry you can shake a stick at, and I basically died on my hole. I look back now and I think, 'well it was your sixth gig, it's no surprise.'

That final was the classic year; there was Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, Tom Allen, Joe Wilkinson, Rob Broderick (Abandoman), Stuart Goldsmith... I mean, the really classic year. What I love about it is still working, and lots of them are enormously successful.

Why did you decide to mix the comedy and music together?

I've always wanted to find a way of mixing singing (properly, not in an ironic way) with stand-up. I think that is a skill and an art form that has been lost a bit; proper cabaret.

Once upon a time, that all round entertainer did exist, but at the same time I didn't want to do it and go, 'Hey look! Let's pretend we're in 1940s Las Vegas!' I can't bare those shows, I just think they're like watching a museum and it's just awful.

So I wanted to find a way of doing that, and I've always said that if I can't make the music as relevant as the comedy, then I'm not going to do it. I then came up with the 13 songs in a baker's dozen and it then forced me to narrow the music into those particular songs.

It's especially fun that nearly all of the songs are pretty awful. They're the biggest selling UK singles in the last 13 years and they were all terrible. It was especially difficult making Bob The Builder sound like a good piece of music. Then I have to work out how I mix it with my stand-up as well.

At first I wasn't sure, but after a couple of runs it got easier. Also in the show I have a piano player, Kirsty Newton, and she helped me arrange all of the songs and was very much involved from the beginning of the show.

Is the show more singing or comedy?

It's very comedy based I'd say. I wanted to do a variety show without calling it that...because I wanted people to come and watch it... Comedy is at the centre of everything I do.

You seem to have done a lot of different things for TV, but nothing that's been very regular. Why do you think this is?

The thing about being a comedian, especially when you're starting out, is that you take every opportunity you can. I've had quite a lot of opportunity, so I have ended up saying 'yes' to a lot of things.

I realise I've sort of done it the wrong way round. Like when I won the dance competition [Let's Dance For Comic Relief, pictured], I was thrilled, it was amazing... but I ended up getting people saying to me, "Oh I didn't know that you did jokes!".

I really enjoy doing television and I wouldn't say 'no' to the right thing, but it's not the be all and end all. I'm happy building my audience, writing my shows and just performing. What I've learnt is: keep writing, keep creating and keep gigging.

What's the next step for you?

I'm touring A Baker's Dozen this year and over lots of Sunday nights next year. Hopefully I'll get the chance to do a monthly club night based on the show because I really love the format.

I've also got something that I've been sitting on for a year because I'm not allowed to say. I've been trying to say it for ages, but I'm under contract. Let's just say it's something massive, and it's something that's going to be very big in the industry.

Charlie Baker is currently touring the UK including one night at London's Leicester Square Theatre on 9th November. Find out more