(^2018) I SAGA.CO.UK/AUG-MAG (^33)
Interview
and more engaged. Some comics demand
centre stage. Paul prefers a full stage with
‘my mates’ batting ideas back and forth.
‘If I’m in a scene and somebody else is
getting the laughs, that’s absolutely fi ne. It’s
the general effect that you’re after rather
than saying I’m meant to be the funny one.
Some people thrive on the single voice of
stand-up – you can spot them on HIGNFY
because they’re the ones who don’t listen to
anybody else. Professionally they’re not
used to being on a stage when somebody
else is talking. It can be like trying to work
with a tsunami.’
That’s not his only complaint about the
show that made his name. ‘Quite often my
stuff gets cut. If a guest says something
that’s amusing that will be in because they
might not say much. Sometimes I do get
a bit frustrated but I do understand – they’re
trying to make it look like a balanced show.
If I’ve had a particularly good recording
and then it’s not refl ected in the edit I do get
a bit “aaargh”, though. That’s what I hate.’
Recently, bringing his surreal, timeless
humour to the show has not been easy, he
says. ‘Deep down I’m thinking, “Not
another question about Brexit. Oh, my.” Or
Donald Trump. It’s the fi rst time in the
history of the programme that two news
stories won’t go away.
‘In real time [pre-edit] you might be
spending an hour in the studio talking
about Brexit or Kim Jong-un. And it just
kills it. The audience don’t really want to
know. We have to address it. But make it
a question in the second round, so you’re
doing it but you’re not killing the show. Or
me – because I’ve got nothing funny to say
about Trump or Brexit or Kim Jong-un.’
How has HIGNFY infl uenced politics,
after a 28-year run? ‘It doesn’t have any
power, does it really? TV satire never really
has. Spitting Image was around for ages
Clowning around
‘I’ve still got that
playfulness... it
hasn’t been eroded
through nine-to-fi ve’
Z
sean pound
(Sean Pound)
#1