Interview: Mark Watson
What’s up, Watson?
Mark Watson is touring the world to promote his new book The Knot, which is yet another string to the comedian’s bow. He takes time out to speak to Victoria Nangle ahead of his Brighton Comedy Festival appearance this month.
Mark Watson has set tongues wagging with his original shows – from the 24-hour stand-up and improvisation through to last year’s foray into comedic theatre writing and directing with The Hotel. And then there’s his own TV and radio shows alongside the requisite comedy panel show appearances. He has just released his sixth book, at the Edinburgh Book Festival, proving that Mark Watson is a man who just cannot sit still creatively. So what makes him tick? We endeavour to find out…
How are you today?
“Oh, can’t complain. I’m in Australia, actually. I’m promoting my book out here at literary festivals. I have a slight headache but overall the outlook is sunny. Thanks for asking.”
Comedian, author, screenwriter, game show host… what can’t this renaissance man do?
“Everything else. In particular I can’t cook, ride a bike, or remember the names of film stars. If you shoved me into a saddle, put a saucepan in my hand and ordered me to identify Seth Rogen from a photo, you’d see me completely melt down.”
Are there likely to be any more series of We Need Answers?
“It would be nice. The BBC pulled it because it only had a cult following, i.e. not much of a following. But of all the things I’ve ever done, it’s the one that comes up most in ‘are there ever likely to be any more…’ conversations. It attracted real hardcore fans, but not quite enough. So, the answer is probably not, but you never know. Maybe it’ll become a YouTube sensation.”
You’re a dad now. Belated congratulations. Are you any good at bedtime stories, and would you consider writing children’s books?
“I’m not bad at bedtime stories but I can’t quite imagine writing a kids’ book. I don’t fully understand what kids like, yet. Mine is only two and a half. He likes diggers, trains, and recently learned to say ‘chocolate and painkillers’ because he broke his femur and had to be bribed to take his medicine. I’m not sure if that’s enough for a book.”
Your BBC Radio 4 Live Address To The Nation went well. What would you do if you ruled the nation for a week?
“I’d make a series of decisions which I then immediately revoked, because I lack courage and decisiveness. I’d probably get as far as on-the-spot fines for annoying ringtones/excessively loud mobile use. And prison sentences for honking your horn just because you’re cross that there’s a traffic jam. And that would be about it; I would then hand back to Cameron.”
You seem to have a core group of like-minded comics you gravitate to – including Alex Horne, Tim Key, Tom Basden and Tim Minchin. You give the impression of a comedy version of Richmal Crompton’s William The Outlaw, plotting and having adventures. Would this be fair?
“I’d be delighted to think of myself and my friends like that, yes. Although Minchin has become too big for the Outlaws now he’s in Jesus Christ Superstar. So we might be recruiting soon.”
What’s your most favourite memory of performing ever?
“Big question. I suppose I have to go for a montage of memories from my various 24-hour shows. There was the time I realised I was going to get through the first one and loads of people had showed up; the time we spent 18 hours mostly persuading the mayor of Melbourne to drop in; the time an audience member got to France and back before the show ended; and so on. Most of it doesn’t sound at all interesting unless you were there, but that’s memories for you.”
Do you have a warm-up routine before you go on stage?
“Wine. Is that a routine?”
I enjoyed your pilot show, Improvisation My Dear Mark Watson. Would you ever consider putting together a comedy improv supergroup for a one-off live show?
“You’re full of ideas. I wouldn’t rule it out, but there are a lot of problems with improv – some of which stopped that show from getting a full series. If I did, though, I’d maybe go for: Kristen Schaal, Tim Key, John Cleese, Humphrey Ker and then a couple of surprises like John Humphrys or Louis Theroux. And one more girl. Sarah Silverman. All alive. I don’t want to start booking dead acts.”
What’s in the pipeline in the next 12 months?
“My new novel [The Knot] will come out in paperback and I’ve also been collaborating on a graphic novel with an illustrator. There should be another series of the Live Address show on Radio 4. I’m touring till Christmas but after that I plan to embark on various other writing projects, some of them slightly overambitious.”
What’s your usual response when cab drivers ask you to tell them a joke?
“I pretend to have passed out.”
Mark Watson, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Sunday 14 October 2012, 8pm, £17.50, 01273 709709, www.brightoncomedyfestival.com
