Simon Amstell Interview
Simon Says
After lampooning popstars in Never Mind The Buzzcocks, writing and starring in his own television sitcom, and a residency doing stand up in New York, when Simon Amstell talks, it’s worth listening. Victoria Nangle finds out more
Hiya Simon, how are you doing today?
I am good. How are you?
Also well, thank you. I really enjoyed your television comedy Grandma’s House.
Thank you.
It felt very much like a real family. And I think it’s the first time I’ve seen heavy upper lip hair on a woman on TV, and without anyone mentioning it. Was that something you felt strongly was a part of the aunt character?
I think there was a very subtle reference to the character’s upper lip in the first script, which Samantha Spiro really ran with. By the second series it was quite thick, but the character wanted to control everything around her, so I guess we thought it would be funny if there was hair growing out of her face.
Do you think you’ll return to Grandma’s House?
I think we felt we’d written all the pain out of us. After writing and acting in two series, I felt healed.
I understood who I was in relation to my family and why it was so tricky for us all to be in the same room. It turned out it was my fault for wanting to change them. Which was quite upsetting.
It was very much written as if to appear to be autobiographical – making reference to bits of your own career history, keeping your own name in character. How true to life is it?
The emotions I was feeling were true, the events and the characters were created, but the psychological pain underneath it all was very real.
What did your family make of it?
Some of them definitely, really loved it. Probably not for them.
And now you’re back baring your soul in stand-up. You had a residency in New York – what did they make of the North London Jewish humour?
I don’t really know what that is. I’m on stage telling stories about finding freedom from myself, I’m talking about experiencing joy and love, there are stories about sex and regret and success and suffering and dreaming and healing … just human things.
… the truth is funny and sets you free, so lying would be silly.
Your material feels very honest. Have you ever rejected something because it feels too personal to you – even though it’s very funny?
I do try to avoid what feels like incredibly shameful stuff for a while, but eventually it just forces its way out of me. It’s not really my decision in the end. And I’m on stage to be funny and free, and the truth is funny and sets you free, so lying would be silly.
You keep your personal life very personal – you’re never caught in the red tops or the tattlers.
Is this a concerted decision to avoid the same lampooning as you used to deliver, or do you simply prefer a night in a local pub with friends to West End Decadence?
I think I may have made a decision to not be someone whose life could be exploited by anyone other than me, maybe.
What are your plans personally and professionally for the next 12 months?
I have just finished writing a couple of new things that I shouldn’t talk about, and I’m in America again next month performing this new show.
Thank you very much. Have a gorgeous day.
Simon Amstell: To Be Free, Brighton Comedy Festival, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Friday 17 October 2014, 8pm, £21/18, 01273 709 709, www.brightoncomedyfestival.com
