The funniest standup I’ve ever seen …
After graduating, I ran the Canal Café in Little Venice and one of the regulars was Steve Delaney performing the beautifully observed Count Arthur. I remain forever in awe.
The funniest sketch I’ve ever seen …
My big sisters took me to see French and Saunders in Portsmouth with Raw Sex in support when I was 12. There’s something about the Star Pets sketch: the characterisation is so deep, Jennifer barely says anything but their relationship with each other is electric.
The funniest book I’ve ever read …
I have really fond memories of a comic called Oink!. There was a pro-vegetarian song called the Oink Rap. “Don’t eat pigs cause they’re made of ham/ Eat the nasty butcherman!” Timeless.
The funniest film I’ve ever seen …
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Spinal Tap and the Muppet Movie are all up there but a firm perennial favourite in my household has to be The Jerk. It’s an amazing film that withstands multiple watches. Reiner and Martin were on fire and like all good comedy, the gags have been mined in countless shows.
The funniest number …
The Brit in me says 69, for all the obvious, sexually repressed reasons. However, the MASSIVE League of Gentleman fan in me says twelvety. Courtesy of our beloved Tubbs.
The funniest person I know …
Anne Bancroft once said of her life partner, Mel Brooks: “He makes me laugh a lot. I get excited when I hear his key in the door. It’s like, ‘Ooh! The party’s going to start!’” That’s true for me: the real funny always ignites when my partner gets home.
The funniest item of clothing I’ve ever owned …
Hands down, it has to be a Prada man dress. What a garment. It was for a psychic character I created a while back. I kept it though, as I did his huge white PVC and fake fur coat and the S&M bridle. Second and third place respectively.
The funniest word …
Eranu and Uvavu win joint first place for me. Bob and Vic are by far the most inventive, anarchic and charming comics ever.
