Michael Legge

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 3rd December 2021

Does righteous fury translate to the printed page? Let's ask Michael Legge, our leading purveyor of onstage rage, who's got a book out.

"Strawberries To Pigs is a collection of some of my least popular blogs that I thought were worthy of a lot more," he explains. "That's just yet another reason why I hate the internet and everyone on it. So, I rewrote some of them and made a book that is both a distraction from social media as well as an apology for me inventing online anger. It was cute when it was just me being angry about shit TV comedy, but you lot went way too far. So, stop it now, please."

It's like a legendary band releasing an album of rarities, all newly remastered, whatever that actually means.

"I have treated the book like an album, I suppose, in as much as I released a single from it," he says. "I don't think many books have had singles. And it's a proper single too. Actual music, but with me reading an edited passage from the book. I call this brand-new artform 'rap' and I hope it catches on."

And what else is Legge up to? Quite a lot, it turns out.

"Right now I'm putting my new live show together. At the moment, it's called Kayleigh. There's a brand new series of the celebrity greetings podcast Famous For 15 Quid that just started last week. It features Dan Mersh, Paul Litchfield and me sneering at people who are more successful than us. It's really good. I'll have two more new podcast series starting in the new year. Podcasts are great. You never need to leave the house. I wish everyone did one."

Give it time. And speaking of time, let's go back in it.

First gig - can you remember that far back?

Not much. It was a case of mistaken identity. My number was given instead of a stand-up comedian's. But I pretended I did stand-up and went to the gig. It was a TV warm up for a chat show. I got that call at 3pm and was on stage at 5pm. The idiots actually asked me back.

Favourite show, ever?

I don't think I enjoy them enough to know. I like Fringe runs and I think my last Edinburgh show The Idiot is probably the most fun I've had on stage on my own. I enjoyed that a lot. Mainly because I got to perform it at The Stand every day. But I guess I really enjoy it when people hate me on stage too. Doing Two Stupids every day with Caroline Mabey was brilliant. We had so many walkouts every day. Sometimes practically the whole room. I enjoyed that.

Worst gig?

They're all horrendous. Think about it. Why should any gig happen? It's fucking warped.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

I should say Rik Mayall or David Letterman, because they're the two I've stolen from the most. But I'm the comedian who has influenced my comedy most. I find it bizarre and funny that I get upset and demonstrative over things I should just leave. It's like I'm watching me do it and egging me on. I'm a right prick to me.

And who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

Billy Connolly. He's a right cunt. We started out at the same time and he was always horrible. A genuine sack of fucking shit.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

My act from 2008 to date.

Have any of the ideas in this book bits ended up on stage - or vice versa?

Not much and not for long. I'm happy that they're two different things really. I might do politics next. I reckon I could ruin that too. Although, hey, one Mr Boris Johnson seems to be doing a very good job of that, am I right, readers? *snort*

Any reviews, heckles or post-gig reactions stick in the mind?

My favourite heckle was at The Stand in Glasgow. Three minutes on stage and this voice from the back just shouted "Michael! What are you doing?!!" Turns out it was someone I went to school with and we'd not seen each other since we were 16.

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

If anyone reading this has seen my career, please contact me immediately. My career is lost and sick and desperately needs help. Thank you.

Strawberries To Pigs is out now, from Go Faster Stripe