Interview: Mark Watson

Mark Watson is a creative comedian. He’s known for 24-hour (and longer) shows, a hotel of performance – and other marvellous ideas, as well as being a novelist. Victoria Nangle finds out more

Hi Mark, how are you today?
I’m not bad, thanks for asking.

Thank you very much for the concept of the MW tour – playing to locations beginning with M or W. I especially like mention of the show on a ferry on the Mersey. Are there any you’re a bit worried about or looking forward to logistically?
As well as the ferry, there’s one on a train (from Marylebone to Wycombe, so double MW points) – those two, I’m particularly looking forward to, because not enough of my tours have featured shows live on public transport before. They do carry a certain element of risk too, especially the ferry (mass seasickness, shipwrecking). I’m also looking forward to the numerous Ms and Ws which I haven’t visited before, which include Matlock, Wharfedale… and of course Worthing.

This playing with concepts is something you’ve been known for at the Edinburgh Fringe for years. Has there ever been a concept that you’ve had to abandon due to practical reasons but are still drawn back to? If so, what is it?
A long time ago I had a show which involved writing a book with the audience, a chapter a day, and then meeting up to workshop the following chapter and so on. It was pretty fun, but totally impractical and I never finished the book (if I had, it would have been gibberish). There have been other things – shows conducted while touring on foot around the city, Olympic-themed celebrations – which I’ve had fun with, but not explored to their limits. I’m always trying to push the boundaries of what I can get away with in Edinburgh, but sometimes common sense or law get in the way.

Congratulations on your book ‘Dan And Sam’ being picked up by Amblin – fantastic news! You mentioned that a screenplay is being written now – how much input are you able to have on the script development?
I met up with the screenwriter, but I’m trying to be as unobtrusive as possible in the process. It was my book and I’m very happy they’re adapting it, but I don’t feel like I have ownership over the film version of it. I suppose if it went all the way to the big screen and it turned out they’d made it into a dragon epic, I’d be a bit disappointed, but that would be a nice problem to have.

I’ll pitch it to Minchin if I can find my way past the attack dogs

Would you consider collaborating with your ‘Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better’ support Tim Minchin off the back of his Broadway success, and create your own musical? What do you think such a show might cover – maybe bring in Tim Key too and get him to do a song and dance number?
Minchin and Key have been distracted by their own projects, especially – as you say – Minchin’s dalliances with Broadway. It wasn’t even possible to keep the group together for our radio series (though we’ve always managed to find excellent replacements). So maybe it will, indeed, take a musical to unite the old team. I’ll pitch it to Minchin if I can find my way past the attack dogs who guard his Hollywood estate.

Sorry, I’m sure I was getting carried away there. Thanks for your patience. Are you working on anything new currently for the radio?
My regular series (these days featuring Sam Simmons and Will Adamsdale) will be back next year, and I’ve also written a radio sitcom pilot, about life coaches, which we’re going to record later this year. So, enough to be going on with. I also pop up on the radio quite often without even warning you.

Looking back on the life and times of Mark Watson, what was your favourite age to be and why?
Now, is the honest answer. I had lots of good times in my twenties but I’m not nostalgic for any of it. The only time worth valuing above all others is the moment you’re currently in. Maybe I’ll write a self-help book while I’m in this sort of mood.

Did your 24-hour (and longer) epic comedy marathons help prepare you at all for the non-stop demands of being a parent?
Not at all, really. People often regard the marathon comedy shows as some special act of endurance, and in a way they are/were, but you are greatly assisted by the energy and enthusiasm of the audience, and by the general adrenalin of the whole situation. Parenting has all the fatigue of a 24-hour show, but minus most of the encouragement. An average day looking after two small children is tougher than doing a marathon comedy show, it’s just that nobody will sponsor you to do it.

Wishing you a most excellent rest of your day.
Thank YOU! And a good day to you too.

Mark Watson – The MW Tour, Connaught Theatre, Worthing, Saturday 23 September 2017, 8pm, £20/18.50