Mocking up a world of edgy comedy
Polly Weeks talks to comedy star Russell Howard and finds he is pulling no punches to get the big laughs
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PHONE-in scandals, the Jonathan Ross-Russell Brand saga, expenses revelations – the BBC has taken some fearful hits to its reputation in the past year. The corporation is under massive pressure to justify its licence fee revenues, and is being a lot more careful with the content it broadcasts.
That’s a concern for edgy young comedian Russell Howard, who returns as a panellist in the seventh series of Mock the Week on BBC2.
The 29-year-old took over from Brand when the controversial comedian left his Sunday morning slot on BBC6 in late 2006, but himself quit after a year and a half.
“You’re just in a room talking with your mates. And when you’re with your mates what do you do? You get naughtier and naughtier,” he said.
“Then you slowly forget what you’re doing is public broadcasting. So I stopped because I just didn’t like the idea of being in someone’s house talking in the morning.”
Howard has some sympathy for Brand, who has fled to the US to pursue an acting career in the wake of his ill-judged prank calls, with Ross, to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.
“I find it really depressing because maybe 0.5% of the population cared and the rest of the nation were just shrugging their shoulders going: ‘Hmmm, I’m not really bothered’,” he said.
“What might happen now is we get comedy which is not as innovative because people are worried about trivial things. I imagine, though, it’ll blow over.”
Howard insists he will pull no punches in Mock the Week, with his role alongside host Dara O’Briain and fellow-panellists Frankie Boyle and Andy Parsons.
“After the Russell Brand-Jonathan Ross thing, we don’t have to be toothless,” he says. “That would be a real shame. Half the battle is compliance – what can and can’t be shown.
“It’s not the usual topical joke show. What I like about Mock the Week is that it’s big belly laughs rather than that kind of sneering laugh.”
Like a cross between Whose Line is it Anyway and Have I Got News For You, it includes some of the UK’s best-loved comedians.
Outnumbered star Hugh Dennis often features, while this series will also see appearances from Frank Skinner and David Mitchell.
Filming of each half-hour episode takes about three hours, in front of a live studio audience.
“There are moments where our brains go blank and when we say stuff that could never, ever get on TV,” said Russell. “Then we have to rein it back in and remember it’s a TV show.”
For Russell, the potential restrictions on comedians aren’t enough to sour his love for his career – which he has been forging since the age of 15.
“I had about five mates at school,” he admits. “My life wasn’t dissimilar to (Channel 4 school comedy) The Inbetweeners.”
His goal of becoming a stand-up comic didn’t endear him much to family and friends.
“Ed Byrne said something which is very true: before you do stand-up, you’re a real pain because everyone you meet is an audience and you try to make them laugh as much as you can. You go to the post office and you’re trying to make jokes to the person behind the counter. Now, though, I just get my stamps and leave.”
After school, he headed to Bristol, gaining an economics degree from the University of West of England. He started doing five-minute slots at comedy nights and earning a reputation which gradually saw him take on gigs around the UK.
Russell has now left his beloved West Country behind and moved to Leamington Spa, where his girlfriend is studying.
He still returns to his favourite comedy club haunts to try out his new material and check out the new talent.
“I get to go and see new comedians who are really good and make me realise I had better go and get really good again,” he said.
“With Mock the Week, the great thing is that it’s topical, so every time there’s a new story we have to have a new approach to it.”
Mock the Week returns to BBC2 next Thursday.
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