We spoke to comedian Matt Lucas ahead of his appearance at Birmingham Comedy Festival this month.
Little Me is your first autobiography. What made you decide to write it, and what inspired the A-Z format?
Well, I decided it was time to upload some things out of my head and free up some space! I didn’t want to write a conventional autobiography because I knew I wanted to steer clear of some things and obsess over others. This format allowed me to do that.
You talk very honestly and openly about going bald at the tender age of six, and about the lack of bald men in the public eye when you were growing up. Who were your role models as a child and how important were they to you?
Duncan Goodhew, because he was hairless and a winner. And Kojak, because he could always get hold of a lollipop.
You talk about your time at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School in the book. How important were your schooldays in encouraging your love of theatre, and what’s your happiest memory from school?
The school plays were my escape - and also in school holidays my mum and grandma would take me to the West End to see shows. There was nothing more thrilling than when the lights went down and the overture began.
Who are your comedy heroes?
Laurel & Hardy and Reeves & Mortimer. Perfect chemistry. Like brothers. Destined to be together.
We love your ‘clangs’ every time a famous person you’ve met and worked with is mentioned. Is there anyone you’ve never had the chance to work with but would love to?
Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows spring to mind. Chris Morris. And I think I would love to appear onstage with Nathan Lane and Patti Lupone.
You did your time on the comedy circuit before success with Shooting Stars and Little Britain. Do you have any advice for young comedians starting out?
Yes, record every gig on your phone and listen to it on the way home. It’s never as bad (or as good) as you thought.
Little Britain was such a defining moment in British comedy. Are there any characters you regret, or ones you’d love to recreate and work on again?
There are some I like more than others, certainly some I wouldn’t do now, but few I regret. It was a show of its time. I would love to play Marjorie again, but I think things are different now, and it would be considered fat-shaming. You have to move with the times.
You’ve created and played so many legendary characters. Do you have a favourite?
Probably Marjorie, Andy Pipkin, maybe Taaj from Come Fly With Me. I used to enjoy playing Gary Barlow. My favourite is Pompidou.
You’ve found success on stage, screen, and in the movies with roles in Les Mis, Bridesmaids, Alice In Wonderland and more. Do you have a favourite medium?
Actually my favourite thing to do is write, more than perform. And write music at that.
You’re much loved by Doctor Who fans. What do you like about Nardole, and does he love the new female Doctor Who?
I liked playing Nardole because, let’s face it, how often do you get to play a hybrid of alien, robot and human? He’s a one-off. And I’ve loved all the Doctors. I doubt Nardole has any interest in the concept of love. There are worlds to save.
What’s next...?
Cuppa tea.
What’s the best thing that ever happened to you in Birmingham?
Once got a room at the Crowne Plaza for £25 a night. Tiny it was, mind.
Matt talks about his new book Little Me: My Life From A-Z at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 14 October, at 2pm. For tickets, visit thsh.co.uk
We spoke to comedian Matt Lucas ahead of his appearance at Birmingham Comedy Festival this month.
Little Me is your first autobiography. What made you decide to write it, and what inspired the A-Z format?
Well, I decided it was time to upload some things out of my head and free up some space! I didn’t want to write a conventional autobiography because I knew I wanted to steer clear of some things and obsess over others. This format allowed me to do that.
You talk very honestly and openly about going bald at the tender age of six, and about the lack of bald men in the public eye when you were growing up. Who were your role models as a child and how important were they to you?
Duncan Goodhew, because he was hairless and a winner. And Kojak, because he could always get hold of a lollipop.
You talk about your time at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School in the book. How important were your schooldays in encouraging your love of theatre, and what’s your happiest memory from school?
The school plays were my escape - and also in school holidays my mum and grandma would take me to the West End to see shows. There was nothing more thrilling than when the lights went down and the overture began.
Who are your comedy heroes?
Laurel & Hardy and Reeves & Mortimer. Perfect chemistry. Like brothers. Destined to be together.
We love your ‘clangs’ every time a famous person you’ve met and worked with is mentioned. Is there anyone you’ve never had the chance to work with but would love to?
Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows spring to mind. Chris Morris. And I think I would love to appear onstage with Nathan Lane and Patti Lupone.
You did your time on the comedy circuit before success with Shooting Stars and Little Britain. Do you have any advice for young comedians starting out?
Yes, record every gig on your phone and listen to it on the way home. It’s never as bad (or as good) as you thought.
Little Britain was such a defining moment in British comedy. Are there any characters you regret, or ones you’d love to recreate and work on again?
There are some I like more than others, certainly some I wouldn’t do now, but few I regret. It was a show of its time. I would love to play Marjorie again, but I think things are different now, and it would be considered fat-shaming. You have to move with the times.
You’ve created and played so many legendary characters. Do you have a favourite?
Probably Marjorie, Andy Pipkin, maybe Taaj from Come Fly With Me. I used to enjoy playing Gary Barlow. My favourite is Pompidou.
You’ve found success on stage, screen, and in the movies with roles in Les Mis, Bridesmaids, Alice In Wonderland and more. Do you have a favourite medium?
Actually my favourite thing to do is write, more than perform. And write music at that.
You’re much loved by Doctor Who fans. What do you like about Nardole, and does he love the new female Doctor Who?
I liked playing Nardole because, let’s face it, how often do you get to play a hybrid of alien, robot and human? He’s a one-off. And I’ve loved all the Doctors. I doubt Nardole has any interest in the concept of love. There are worlds to save.
What’s next...?
Cuppa tea.
What’s the best thing that ever happened to you in Birmingham?
Once got a room at the Crowne Plaza for £25 a night. Tiny it was, mind.
Matt talks about his new book Little Me: My Life From A-Z at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 14 October, at 2pm. For tickets, visit thsh.co.uk