Never Mind The Buzzcocks

Series 31 regulars interview

As Never Mind The Buzzcocks returns for a third series on Sky Max, we talk to the four regulars - Greg Davies, Daisy May Cooper, Noel Fielding and Jamali Maddix - about what we can expect from the new episodes, and discuss their own musical histories.

Greg Davies

What can you tell us about the new series?

It's business as usual with a couple of extra new rounds. I really like one where they have to describe a music video to their teammates without referencing anything but what they can see. Really does make you realise how insane some of the starting points for pop videos have been over the years.

My favourite, Mick Hucknall's photobomb, is back. We cover a picture of a cultural event or a popstar with Mick Hucknall's face as though he's photobombed them. I can't really tell you why I find it so funny but the idea of Mick jumping in front of other popstars just gets me. He is yet to accept multiple offers to be on the show. Sort it out, Mick.

What can you tell us about the guests this series?

We've had all sorts but the one that springs to mind straight away is Suggs. In every series we've had one of my heroes from my musical past or youth. We had Holly Johnson from Frankie Goes To Hollywood last series and we've also had the boys from Happy Mondays, who I was a mad fan of.

When I was 11, I was obsessed by Madness and their album, Complete Madness, was the first I ever bought. What I find endlessly crushing is that I meet these heroes and they're not that much older than me. When I was 11, Suggs was just an 18-year-old kid but to me he was a majestic pop deity.

Who has been your favourite panel guest of this series? Who has been the most outrageous?

It's a cliché, but everyone we had on was a laugh. Special mention to Gregory Porter though. That silky voiced crooner is a lot of fun.

What's it like filming Never Mind The Buzzcocks?

You feel a weight of responsibility as the host to keep things trotting on, but the general feeling is one of chaotic good times. When it's at its best, it doesn't feel like work. The live audience helps. Sometimes.

A real highlight this series is Alex Brooker fulfilling his boy band destiny. I'll leave it at that but will say, I was unexpectedly emotional to the extent that I feared I might be having a breakdown.

Which of your fellow panellists do you have the most rivalry with?

There's no rivalry because I'm the host, they all turn on me from time to time though. The awful truth is we all get on really well, unless any of them have slagged me off in which case they're all preening dicks.

Which panellist is the cheekiest? Who has the best banter?

There's no real beef with any of them although Jamali is very quick to jump on me if I don't understand aspects of youth culture. He calls himself my conduit to the street. He hasn't really helped me apart from telling me once that I do my trainers up too tightly. I like my feet hugged and if the street doesn't like that, so be it.

I really am starting to make a stand about the 'Greg is fucking old' thread. Jordan Stephens from Rizzle Kicks suggested I was too ancient to know who Destiny's Child were!? I was 22 when they formed, Stephens! I was ready for their jelly before you were born.

Who on the panel causes the most chaos?

When it comes to the line-up round, Jamali causes the most chaos because he just says things about those poor people that make my balls go inside my body with embarrassment. They're such brilliant observations about someone's look or the way they're standing. He also gives them entire back stories just from looking at them. It's a masterclass in non-malicious bullying.

Noel causes his own chaos and goes off on brilliant flights of fancy and increasingly I think he has a story about getting hammered with every cool musician there has ever been. It's like a paddling pool full of cats all on their own agenda and my job is to try and herd them back into the paddling pool. I don't know why it's a paddling pool, but I stand by it.

How do you prepare for filming? Do you have any pre-filming rituals?

I need 15 minutes to let my brain settle down before the show because it's been bombarded all day. There is always a danger that grandad's going to forget it all when he's on camera. It's not very rock and roll. I have also started drinking Red Bull just before I go on. That's the extent of my drug use these days. An energy drink favoured by school children. Tragic.

Which of your fellow panellists would make the most successful rock or popstar?

I think the obvious answer is Noel because he has basically been living as a rockstar for twenty odd years. I can't imagine the other two in a band. I can imagine Daisy throwing herself at 90s boybands because I've seen it happen. She'd make a good, but terrifying, groupie. I could imagine Jamali as a performance poet reciting bleak poetry about men who have to look after kids that aren't theirs.

If you and your fellow panellists were in band, what would that band be called and who would be the lead singer?

Noel would be the lead singer, in a cloak and full lace veil. I'd play the drums for no other reason than I want to. Daisy would be our Bez; just dancing and making chicken noises. Jamali would stand motionless behind a keyboard like the guy from Sparks. We would be called 'Unholy Mismatch' and we would be truly shit.

Who would be your dream Glastonbury headliner?

If they could bring Andy Rourke, the bass player, back to life and in the unlikely event that the rest of them started speaking to each other again, The Smiths. I'd be excited to see that, although I know it would never happen. It's only a matter of time until Billy Joel will fill the legend slot. I saw him once and he was incredible. Headliner on Saturday would be The Smiths.

I'm going to give you three, I'm going to give you the Friday night headliner too: I'd have the little-known Californian rap outfit from the 90s called Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.. One of my all-time favourite lyrics: 'hit the gas, put on a ski mask, smoke that ass'. I do not condone gang violence unless it makes me laugh because of its rhyme structure.

Favourite album of all time?

That changes a lot. Moondance by Van Morrison is never far from my playlists. I know several people who have met him and not one of them had anything positive to say which sort of adds to my enjoyment. As is tradition, I'll also mention Hup by The Wonder Stuff. My teenage heroes who remain criminally unsung IMO.

First ever CD/album/gig?

Well, it wasn't a CD, that's how old I am, it was vinyl. My first album was Complete Madness by Madness. My first single was the brilliant, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

My first gig was also surprisingly quite cool, it was Public Image Limited. I will never forget John Lydon sneering at the crowd; 'if you don't stop spitting at me, I'll walk off this fucking stage'. Seemed fair.

Do you have a favourite album cover of all time?

I think the artwork from Welcome To The Pleasuredome has really stuck with me. A trail of animals disappearing into a giant penis was a bold choice.

Daisy May Cooper

What's new for this series?

It's just so much fun, I can't believe I get paid for farting about with my big brothers. We've got a couple of new games. There's Alive or Dead, which might get cut because it's a bit on the nose. We had to guess whether certain dead musicians were alive by the time of a certain pop culture moment. For example, was Prince alive when Psy's Gangnam Style came out?

What can you tell us about the guests this series? Who can we expect to see?

We had 911, which I went fucking nuts for. They were in the identity parade, but I knew them immediately. Three of the members of Blue did a song with Alex Brooker. Duncan is absolutely ripped, although I was more of an Anthony Costa girl. He's really fit and so sweet. There was a rumour going round on set about whether he started Costa Coffee, and I worked there many moons ago. He could've been my boss... or area manager.

Who has been your favourite panel guest of this series? Who has been the most outrageous?

I loved Danny from McFly. He was so much fun, I really loved him. He doesn't have a filter when it comes to stories and I'm a bit like that. He's my canary in a coal mine because if he fucks up, I know when to shut my mouth. He told a story about a mother and daughter fan who were a bit nuts and about a poo prank as well.

What's the best thing about filming Never Mind The Buzzcocks?

It feels like I've been reunited with my three older brothers. Well, two older brothers and the young fuck-up one. There's the one who's studying law, the one who's got his own rock band, and the one who just smokes spliffs all the time. I'm the middle child, the slag who's doing just okay. Every family needs one. It just gets better as the series rolls on. You get closer, get a better chemistry... I absolutely adore it.

Which of your fellow panellists do you have the most rivalry with?

Definitely Greg, because he says that I sing like a chicken. I sort of do, but my teammates guess the songs most of the time so it's a good tactic to have.

Which panellist is the cheekiest? Who has the best banter?

I think Noel is cheeky in a sweet way. He could say the cheekiest thing but because he does it with a smile, you just can't be angry at him. All of them have great banter, but fucking hell, Jamali makes me laugh until I cry. I don't know where he's come from but God, I love him.

Who on the panel causes the most chaos?

Jamali, without a fucking doubt.

How do you prepare for filming? Do you have any pre-filming rituals?

I just come in and watch shite on YouTube. I watched an episode of Botched the other day where one woman had a bulbous nose and the other had wonky tits, so I enjoyed that. Ghost stuff too. And then finding out which celebrities are coming on, asking the runners how fit they are and if they're single.

Which of your fellow panellists would make the most successful rock or popstar?

It's got to be Noel, hasn't it? Unless Status Quo are looking for another member and would take on Greg.

If you and your fellow panellists were in band, what would that band be called and who would be the lead singer?

Faecal Matter, and the lead singer would be Noel for sure. I would be a groupie. I wouldn't even be in the band. I'd be sucking them off afterwards or providing them with heroine.

If you were in a band, which other celebrities or musicians would you want to play alongside?

Me, Honey G, Kathy Burke and we'd call ourselves Atomic Pussy.

Who would be your dream Glastonbury headliner?

Stephen King. I'd love to hear him reciting one of his books to Calvin Harris music or get him a remix done by Joel Corry. That would be a fucking dream.

What's your favourite album of all time?

There's a really fucking insane tribute album called Urban Renewal from 2001 which includes R&B versions of Phil Collins songs and I love it. Brandy and Ray J did Another Day In Paradise and Lil Kim did In The Air Tonight. Either that, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill or Steps One, every song from that album is a banger.

What was your first ever CD? Album?

My first cassette was Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl, which I bought from Our Price. My first album was probably something really fucking lame like Now 23.

First gig?

I went to go and see PJ & Duncan in Cardiff. I even had the VHS tape of all their music videos. I was a hardcore fan. I was a pop queen then it turned to R&B as soon as I could dance on a pole in clubs.

What's your favourite album cover of all time?

Nevermind by Nirvana, that was genius. Pink Floyd's was also quite iconic. And again, Steps One.

Who, or what, is your musical guilty pleasure?

The thing is, other people's guilty pleasures are what my actual music taste is. I bought The Tweenies' single No. 1 because it was an actual banger. I also loved One Step Closer by S Club Juniors. Daisy was my favourite.

Noel has appeared in a number of music videos, from Kate Bush to Kasabian: which modern artist's video would you like to be in?

I actually was in a music video for the Ragga Twins about a haunted smoke machine which they filmed on a budget of £200. I played a bar manager who gets possessed by the haunted smoke machine... It was fucking ludicrous. Every morning before school I'd watch music videos on the music channels. Do you remember the really shit ones that used to be on the box, that were like bad CGI like Danger! High Voltage?.

NMTB first aired when you were just ten. What's your earliest memory of the show?

Phill Jupitus saying some sort of quip and me getting him completely confused with the guy who played Hagrid.

Noel Fielding

What's new for this series? Are there any new games or updated rounds?

I feel like people love the Buzzcocks format and they would freak out if we changed it. The show is so famous it's one of those that can go on forever and it doesn't matter who's in it.

The weird Mick Hucknall game that Greg is obsessed with is back. He essentially puts Mick Hucknall's picture over someone else's face and we guess who's behind it.

What can you tell us about the guests this series? Who can we expect to see?

The Nova Twins were on my team who were hilarious... and telepathic. They're for young people but I'm quite interested in their music. There's also been Suggs from Madness and Harry Hill, which was exciting. Katherine Ryan was also very funny.

Gregory Porter was absolutely amazing. No one really knew what he was going to be like, because he has that smooth beautiful soul voice, but he was really funny. He pitched it really well. Americans are always good at that, coming in, working out what is going on, then finding the right level and tone and joining in. He is a class act.

What has been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

What, ever? Jesus... When I was partying, I had a lot of weird encounters. Pete Doherty bit my ear once. Not off, but he did draw blood. I'm trying to think of things that won't get other people in trouble.

What's the best thing about filming Never Mind The Buzzcocks? What's the worst?

I have a soft spot for the show because I spent five or six years doing it with Phill Jupitus so it's part of my life weirdly. It's always 'Bs' with me, there's some kind of magic with the letter B. Boosh, Bake Off and Buzzcocks. I'm scared to make a show that doesn't begin with B.

I like that it's about music as there doesn't seem to be any other shows out there about music. I love all the people on it so it's easy for me to do. I also like the fact there's an audience because it makes it quite exciting.

You first appeared on the show way back in 2007. What's changed since then?

It's interesting doing it this time now that I'm older. When I used to do it, I would get shitfaced before the show and take the guests out to The Groucho Club and it would end up really messy. I would sometimes even do the show without going to bed the night before.

I remember once I hadn't been to bed for a few days and when I came into the studio, Lorraine Kelly chased me around and spanked me over the desk with a wooden spoon. At that point I didn't know if I was dreaming, or if that was real, but I knew I needed to go to bed.

Another time I was out at a party, and someone had to come and get me and bring me in. Weirdly, they went quite well, those shows.

Now I've got two children, it's more like a cup of tea and then home.

Which of your fellow panellists do you have the most rivalry with?

I like taking the piss out of Greg, but me and Jamali aren't that bothered about winning. We're not adverse to cheating but to be honest we never win so it doesn't make a difference. I feel like we've only won once throughout the whole three series! The downfall is down to us both.

Which panellist is the cheekiest?

I wouldn't describe anyone as cheeky, so maybe that means I am. Greg's quite cheeky, he makes it quite jovial and fun. Daisy is the most ridiculous, and I mean that as a compliment, because she says things you would never think of saying and does things that you can't believe your eyes are seeing. Jamali is absolutely vicious, he can destroy people. He is the most troublesome because he absolutely annihilates the identity parade line-up but that's his thing, he's like a viper. He just sits back and bang.

Who has the best banter?

Me and Greg have quite good banter because we've known each other for quite a long time. We did stand-up together so we're old mates. I love working with Jamali, we're like the double act that no one knew they needed in a bad cop movie.

Who on the panel causes the most chaos?

Daisy. She is chaos. She dresses amazingly though and has been killing it with some amazing dresses and looks.

If you and your fellow panellists were in band, what would that band be called and who would be the lead singer?

Oh Jesus Christ. I'd have to be the lead singer, wouldn't I? Greg on drums. I feel like Jamali wouldn't turn up, he couldn't be fucked, but if he was there, he'd be on bass. I'd have to be pulling some shapes at the front although Daisy could also do that.

If you were in a band, which other celebrities or musicians would you want to play alongside?

I used to be in a band with Serge from Kasabian called Loose Tapestries. We never performed live, but I would've liked to. It was mostly TV soundtrack stuff.

I was also the lead singer in couple of bands years ago, around the same time I started comedy, which were called Smee and Slam Icabod.

I've also done some things with Razorlight. I did a gig at The Royal Albert Hall and Jonny Burrell came on. What was good about making The Mighty Boosh, was that Julian [Barratt] and I could make different types of music but when you're in a band you have to choose one genre. We could do surf rock, electro, funk, and jazz because it was a comedy show.

Who would be your dream Glastonbury headliner?

Elvis would be good, I love Elvis. The Beatles would be good, but don't tell Jamali I said that. Black Sabbath or Jimi Hendrix would be amazing. The Doors as well.

I used to go on stage with Kasabian dressed as Vlad the Impaler and dance around like Bez, a vampire Bez, and one time I went on at Glastonbury. Dolly Parton was on before them, so we chatted for about half an hour, and she complimented my outfit. There must be a picture of us somewhere.

What's your favourite album of all time?

That's a hard one. I'm going to have to say Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones. My mum and dad are full rock and rollers, so I grew up on Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Doors, The Stones, The Kinks and Black Sabbath. I like the Beastie Boys too.

When we did The Mighty Boosh we were quite into the Wu Tang Clan and Kool Keith. Lots of rap. Beck was quite big then too. Iggy Pop, The Peaches, Joni Mitchell. I like folk, I like everything.

First gig?

It was probably Status Quo or David Bowie with my parents. It was a good start. I remember seeing Oasis before they had an album out. When I was in college it was the likes of Blur, Pulp, Oasis, and Supergrass. When we got famous as The Boosh, we were hanging out with The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The White Stripes. Then it all went a bit pop.

No disrespect to pop but it's not my thing, X Factor and all that shit. I feel slightly sorry for the kids. Not that I don't love pop - I love ABBA, I love The Bee Gees and Britney Spears. I love bands though, there's something quite magical about bands.

Five of us would perform as The Boosh - if it went well, we could go and celebrate together, and it would be us against the world. You want to like a band when you're young, don't you? Someone that's a little bit rebellious.

Jamali Maddix

What can you tell us about the new series?

If you liked the last series, then you'll like this one. The rest is a secret.

What can you tell us about the guests this series? Who can we expect to see?

Chesney Hawkes, he was cool. Stefflon Don, she was cool. We've had a real eclectic mix of people. It's like a very weird dinner party.

Who has been your favourite panel guest of this series? Who has been the most outrageous?

Who is the jazz singer that wears the hat? Gregory Porter. He was funny as fuck, like steal-the-show funny. Naturally funny, charismatic, and sharp... I liked him a lot.

What has been your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I live such a normal life that I never meet celebrities. Even the guests, I only really meet them on set.

What's the best thing about filming Never Mind The Buzzcocks? What's the worst?

I genuinely like the people I work with and enjoy seeing them all. For me, that's the best thing about working on it.
The worst? The distance the studio is from my house, it's far.

Which of your fellow panellists do you have the most rivalry with?

Probably Greg.

Who on the panel causes the most chaos?

Ooh, we all cause different types of chaos. Daisy causes behavioural chaos and Noel causes general chaos. We're all chaotic people but it just works... synergy wise. We match each other's levels.

How do you prepare for filming? Do you have any pre-filming rituals?

Yeah, vaping heavy. My flavour of choice at the moment is Sour Raspberry. It's not new for this series, I've been vaping heavy for all three series. I like to find out who the guests are and chat. What people think happens backstage isn't what actually happens. I think if the audience were to see what happens backstage, they would be disappointed. There's lots of standing around having cups of tea and having quite mundane conversations about the traffic and stuff. Not conversations like this one, this is hands down the best interview of my life!

Which of your fellow panellists would make the most successful rock or popstar?

Noel because he's got the experience. I feel like he could go on stage and throw glitter on people. He's got proper rockstar energy. He wears Cuban heels and tight jeans and shirts with weird shit on them and I ain't even mad at it! Like, he has the Sistine Chapel on his shirt and is just working it.

If you and your fellow panellists were in band, what would that band be called and who would be the lead singer?

I think Noel would be the lead singer and we'd be called The Mental Health Facility, We Need Help or Sectioned.

If you were in a band, which other celebrities or musicians would you want to play alongside?

Past and present? Ooh, I don't know what the name would be called but I'd have MF Doom, J Dilla as DJ and Guru would be there too. I'd just be the hype man, giving it a few "Yeah"s and "you heard it", "say it Doom". I'd be the real Flava Flav of the situation.

Who would be your dream Glastonbury headliner?

There's two for me, Sade or Rage Against The Machine.

What's your favourite album of all time?

I've got so many favourite albums of all time. It's not even an album, it's a mixtape, but it was important to me when I heard it, it was exactly what I wanted to hear at that time. It was called the Cilvia Demo by Isaiah Rashad from 2014.

What was your first ever CD? Album? Gig?

I remember buying two on the same day. It was the Genesis album by Busta Rhymes and Slix's mixtape Down Vol. 1. I got it at a little kiosk that sold CDs and that in my local shopping centre.

My first gig was Dead Prez at the Jazz Café in Camden when I was in my early 20s.

What's your favourite album cover of all time?

I love album covers. I think album covers are some of my favourite art. I really like Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, it's just some weird, mad art and that. Madvillain's Madvillainy is another one.

Who, or what, is your musical guilty pleasure?

I like 80s pop you know. I like shitty 80s pop. I can't think of any songs in particular, but that really kind of synthy, repetitive shit, that always talks about very basic subjects? That stuff I like. What else do I like? Nelly! I don't know why but I just love the Nellyville album. There's one song by Nelly that starts with a bit of country. There's something about that mix... if it works it works.