Spencer Jones interview
We chat to Spencer Jones about his BBC pilot, The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk...
Hi Spencer. How has your summer been? It was your first year for a while without a solo show in Edinburgh...
Every year we all go up to the Edinburgh Festival but instead, this year, me and the family decided to have a proper camping holiday. Not all in one big chunk of time but instead doing every weekend at a different music festival.
We started off good with Deershed Festival, all very nice, but then came Standon Calling and the hottest weekend in the history of Essex. Bloody hell it was hot and knackering and my three year-old woman child (daughter) needed carrying everywhere. I've now got a wonky back and bad knees.
We spent way more than I earned. Currently, in my bank account, I have £8.60 available funds. The mortgage goes out tomorrow. I'm living the dream and don't let anyone tell you any different.
So who is Herbert Clunderdunk?
Herbert Clunkerdunk is me, but re-branded like The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson. He does it to hide his wrestling past perhaps? But I do it so Spencer (me) can do the important meetings and Herbert takes over for the live performance.
Having said that, Herbert in the BBC TV show The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk is me just being me and telling you about my life. Except when my imagination takes over, then I become Herbert.
When I am writing scripts at home, 'Spencer' is definitely in charge and sat at the computer. Herbert is pacing around the room chipping in and being a dickhead. What's that? It sounds like I have issues? Oh yes I have issues, but I'm trying to make them (Spencer and Herbert) work for me. I'm not actually sure which one is writing this. Me and Him, probably. He's nodding.
We recognise some of the visual elements in this BBC short from your live shows. Was it a challenge to work out which bits to squeeze it to the 10 minutes?
It was great working it all out. The BBC and Tiger Aspect guided me a bit but let me do my thing.
I have 4 hours of material to choose from that's already been on stage and there's another 10 hours of material in books and videos and songs that I can choose from. Squeezing it in is always a decision based on loads of chats with the people I am working with.
Everyone wants to make the best thing possible and everyone brings different opinions to the table. My job is to listen to everyone and make the best choices for the audience.
When I perform live the audience is the most important thing, so in this TV comedy I have decided to completely break the fourth wall throughout. I thought this would be the best way to make the audience feel important and involved. Also, one of my favourite programmes is Homes Under The Hammer and I wanted to do something a bit like that!
What did the script look like? Some of it must have been quite hard to describe on paper?
The script was much the same as any other at first glance, but I had to explain, act out and do videos of every single bit of it to Dave Simpson (the producer) and Jon Riche (the director).
Also, the Puppeteers I have worked with for years - Jonny and Will - are totally on the same wave length as me and they added so much too. And my go-to music man Andy Jones. I have a great relationship with these people and have faith in them and they understand how my brain works.
It's taken years, but when you have people like that around, you listen to them! And everyone! Runners, caterers, sound department often come up with a golden nugget. Even producers sometimes. Something that is funny can always be improved.
It looks like there's lots of scope to spend more time in the mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk. Presumably you'd be up for making a series?
Yes, please BBC! This first one could be just the tip of the iceberg. I'm very lucky to know some proper funny people and managed to get some in the show. They were criminally underused because it had to be only ten minutes long.
Imagine 6 half hours with some of the funniest people in the UK making appearances, what's not to like? That said, if the Beeb just want me to make another short one I would have their arm off.
The visual comedy in Mr Bean has made that programme one of the most watched TV formats around the globe. Do you have any international aspirations for Herbert?
I have a family, and I need to put food on the table and shoes on their feet. And I would be lying if I said I wouldn't love international stuff to happen. That would mean I could pay back all the people I owe money to (Mum, Carl, Matt, Ken: I'm good for it, give me a couple more weeks).
But with comedy, or telly, or music, or whatever it is you're are making, all you can do is make stuff and put it out there and let the people decide. The important thing is just to make it as good as you can.
As the saying goes: If you build it they will come. My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard etc. etc.
It's a busy time for you, TV wise... Upstart Crow is back for Series 3...
Yes, we filmed that at the start of the year. It's a brilliant thing to be involved in. The cast are a mixture of people I've always looked up to and new people I now look up to.
I've made some brilliant friends and learn all the time when I am there, watching the proper professionals. Also, Dom Coleman is great to bully and poke and prod. I know he could take me in a fight easily but I stop just at the right time and he calms down. I put on his hat and glasses and steal his cycle. He laughs but deep down I know he wants to end me.
Have you met Ricky Gervais by the way? We have a feeling he might have something to say about your portrayal of Kempe.
Never met him. I would love to but I know I would be all weird around him. Not just because I am doing a version of him. I'm weird around all the people I've seen on the telly. It's embarrassing. Cats Does Countdown was an absolute nightmare!
You're filming a full series of BBC sitcom Mister Winner next?
Yes, we are. It starts really soon. I'm currently watching audition tapes, which is really interesting. So many good actors to choose from. It makes you realise how close some people get to getting a role and it might be the tiniest thing which pushes another actor over the line first. Most of the time it's not about acting ability, it's about whether they are right for the role, which fills me with hope when I usually 'fail' most auditions. Hang in there, Jones!
Watch The Mind Of Herbert Clunkerdunk on BBC iPlayer