Alexander Armstrong interview
How did you find it hosting The Imitation Game?
I hugely enjoyed it. Everything about it is really exciting. It's got such charm. It's a fun, slightly smutty, incurably childish parlour game. What is especially ingenious is that no one has come up with this idea before. It is the perfect vehicle for impressionists. You get 30 impressions an episode. They come thick and fast. In a one-minute burst, you can have Theresa May, Donald Trump, Mary Berry, Andy Murray and Stormzy - and no one has had to spend three hours in make-up. It's dish after dish of treats. It's a wonderful show, and it's tremendous fun to do!
How would you describe the atmosphere of The Imitation Game?
It's got a really nice team feel to it. So often panel shows are about individuals with sharp elbows racing to get to the line first and tread on everyone else's toes. This show is different; it makes huge space for everyone and encourages all the contributors to go for it.
What has it been like working with the impressionists?
It's been such a joy. When I'm sitting in the host's seat, there are only four impressionists with me, but I've got 600 voices to choose from. You can hurl voices at them without warning, and they can do them on a sixpence. In the first episode, our guest impressionist Luke Kempner is more Biggins than Biggins himself. He is doing something phenomenal with levels of soundwaves and projections to capture that voice. It's such a joy!
Why do we love impressions so much?
We take such delight in watching them because a very good impression is really addictive. You sit on the edge of your seat and laugh like an idiot child as someone brings a celebrity to life right in front of you. Without being mean, there's something conspiratorial about it. Impressions trigger a chemical reaction and release endorphins in your brain. That's why impressions give you such pleasure.
Tell us more...
Impressions are such a thrill because the voice is a great signify of someone's personality, good and bad. It conveys humour, anxiety, magnanimity - there are so many different colours in a voice. For instance, I always loved to hear the smile in the voice of the former Bishop of London Richard Chartres. Every time he spoke, I didn't mind what he said - I simply wanted to sit and listen to him.
Are you a good impressionist yourself?
No. I'm a poor impressionist, but I've always loved doing them. I worked on Spitting Image during its fading days. I did catch-all, walk-on voices as junior ministers and lawyers. I was a rent-an-establishment-figure.
Can you recall when you started doing impressions?
Yes. My first showbiz experience was when I discovered I could do the maths teacher at school. When I found out that I could also do the pottery teacher, I was suddenly a star and started building up my repertoire. As soon as your features assume a particular face, that helps you create a familiar voice. Sometimes characters come alive for writers and start speaking to them. It's the same with impressions. They take on a life of their own and wonderful, tangential flights of fantasies can emerge.
Is the satire in The Imitation Game ripped from the morning's headlines?
No. It is not a topical show, which is very much in its favour. It means we have to go for timeless and classic jokes rather than bang-up-to-the-minute gags about, say, Network Rail.
Do you take particular pleasure in watching the impressionists in action from your privileged position in the host's seat?
Absolutely. I love the fact that you watch the people sitting behind the desk transform before your very eyes. Watch Rory as he limbers up to do Trump. A quick intake of breath, and suddenly the US President is right there in front of you! It's the same with Debra's Tina Turner. It's her dance. Debra has got it so completely right. That on its own makes the show worth watching.
Do you have a favourite moment from the series?
I absolutely loved Debra doing Miss Piggy. That was a proper moment of classic TV. It's five minutes of Solid Viral Gold - if that doesn't sound too much like something you buy over the counter at Boots!