Hi Adrian. Who are you and what do you do in comedy?
I'm a comedy writer - short-form, long-form and everything in-between.
Tell us about how you first became involved in the comedy world.
Once, a long time ago, I became part of an Oxford University drama group (I wasn't at the university - I just stumbled into the audition). I began rehearsals for the revue that they were taking to Edinburgh the following week. We sat in a circle and agreed that the 10 minutes of material they had needed a bit of a nudge. So I wrote a whole bunch of new sketches which eventually formed the majority of the show. We had sketches that involved the underwater conversations between a maggot and a worm, what really happened during the lunar landings, a man threatened by a pear and how the Wild West was won by perfecting fancy cocktails.
It went down well. The Scotsman loved it.
Tell us about your comedy favourites.
I have a lot of favourites in modern comedy, far too many to detail here, but the following have inspired me.
Buster Keaton - the genius. His insight into human nature still grabs me by the throat. Nothing, but nothing has changed - we're still the same people he was writing about then: weak, proud, determined, trying to be something better than we are, crafty, romantic. His attention to detail and his work ethic should be an inspiration to everyone.
Alan Coren - the master. A mind of such extraordinary depth and flexibility. He could write from any perspective, in any form or style. Every column he wrote was intelligent, accessible, perfectly crafted and utterly hilarious. Such astonishing consistency. No-one else has come close. I doubt if they ever will.
Spike Milligan - the revolutionary. He took comedy to a place where no-one had ever looked. He was the first to understand that the possibilities of radio were limitless and he used them brilliantly.
Galton and Simpson - the guvnors. They perfected comedy about the absurdity of pretension, based it in relatable situations and wrapped it up in poignancy, pathos and yearning. And the scripts were very, very funny.
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue - the gold standard. Every episode defines the essence of British humour. It's very clever and very silly, and that dichotomy underpins a whole range of comedy forms - absurdism, word-play, running gags, irreverence and sharp improvisation. It often brings me to tears of delight - although only on a lateral.
The comedy industry is competitive. Why should people pick you to work with?
Firstly, punctuality is paramount to me. I like being on time. I like things to be on time. Early is even better. Early gives you another chance to polish.
Secondly, I understand the concept of the team. Everyone brings something to the party - something only they can, and that needs to be celebrated and respected.
Fourthly - organisational precision is critical and I'm good at that.
Thirdly and lastedly - "If I asked people what they wanted - they'd have asked for a faster horse" (Henry Ford on the Model-T). Innovation is everything - I always try to bring something new, something fresh - if we don't innovate then we ain't going nowhere...
What's the best advice you've ever been given, read or heard?
"I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am inspired at 9 o'clock every morning." - William Faulkner
"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." - Terry Pratchett
"Make sure the pointy end of the gun is facing away from you." - Mr Fothergill, School Shooting Instructor
Where would you like to be in 10 years' time?
Still alive would be nice.
Somewhere warm and sunny would be even better. (Lying in the shade cast by that enormous mountain of royalty statements).
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
Fishing - although that's simply an excuse to have a nice sit-down in the countryside for a few hours looking out for herons and kingfishers.
Watching Gloucester RFC play rugby. A curate's egg of emotions normally but the Shed is hilarious.
Listening to choral evensong in the bath - someone has to. It may as well be me.
If a genie offered you one wish, what would you ask for?
For 2020 to be repeated, this time without Covid.
Published: Friday 11th June 2021