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Month: May 2020
The David Mitchell Fan Interviews – Meet Ryoka
Twitter handle: @ryonially
What I do: I’m studying music at a college in Japan, specialising in piano performance and composition. I love all kinds of music though I tend to play quite a lot of classical music (frankly, I don’t know why I’m such a huge fan of a man that’s declared that “music is shit”, haha). I also love spending hours on YouTube watching all kinds of British comedy programmes because we don’t get them on Japanese TV.
The moment I realised I was a David Mitchell fan: I was hooked the second I discovered Would I Lie To You? on YouTube – fairly early on in my time as a comedy fan.
Favourite David Mitchell show: Hard to choose, but I’d say WILTY?, only because that’s where it all started for me. I always watch an episode when I’m feeling a bit down, and it never fails to cheer me up. Upstart Crow is a close second.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb sketch: “Are We The Baddies”, because it’s an absolute classic! Other favourites are the football sketch and “Chip and Pin”. I also love the “Behind The Scenes” sketches though I don’t know why – probably because I like watching or hearing about behind-the-scenes stories in general!
Favourite Peep Show episode: “Business Secrets of the Pharaohs” (the episode where Mark gives Jez a fake life coach certificate).
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/peep-show/on-demand/51380-002
Favourite Peep Show character: Mark, only because I identify with his awkwardness – definitely not a good thing!
Favourite Upstart Crow episode: What Bloody Man Is That? because I’ve always loved Macbeth ever since we did it in English at school. I also found the episode Food of Love hysterical – Noel Fielding (as Thomas Morley) is a hoot in that episode!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07fd593/upstart-crow-series-1-5-what-bloody-man-is-that
Favourite Upstart Crow character: Will! Bottom is also a great character in my opinion, and I find it amusing that he doesn’t seem to give a toss about Shakespeare’s work.
Favourite Upstart Crow line: All the lines where Will is complaining about public transport!
Favourite WILTY? moment: All the crazy Bob Mortimer stories, and whenever David gets agitated over an argument with Lee Mack or Rhod Gilbert.
Favourite WILTY? guest: Bob Mortimer, Henning Wehn and Kevin Bridges (just because of the horse story!)
Favourite David Mitchell rant: “Get to the point is not an exhortation that can be fairly used during a parlour game! There is no point, this is a pointless exercise! We are whiling away our finite time before the grave.” I’ve watched that clip so many times I’ve actually memorised it without meaning to!
Favourite character in entire Mitchell & Webb extended universe: I’m not going to include the characters Mitchell & Webb have played because I just can’t choose – so it’s going to be Sophie from Peep Show (not just because I like her but also because I wanted to give Olivia Colman some credit!)
Other favourite comedies: A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder, Monty Python, The IT Crowd, Whites (why did they axe that show after one series?!), After Life…to name a few. I also enjoy panel shows like QI, Cats Does Countdown, and Taskmaster.
Other favourite comedians: Stephen Fry (not just as a comedian – I respect and look up to him as a human being in general haha), Jimmy Carr (because he’s the only British comedian I’ve seen live in Tokyo and also because he’s good at setting off a David Mitchell rant), Alan Davies (because I watch QI every day, and also because Whites was really good), Joe Lycett (watching a clip of him on Cats Does Countdown got me into watching panel shows) and Michael McIntyre (watching a clip of his standup show got me into British comedy in the first place) etc.
Twitter page recommendations: @doseofdavidm, @RealDMitchell, @arobertwebb, @TheComedyBlog1, @qikipedia
Favourite TV shows: There is one Japanese comedy/variety programme that I love watching called Kakuzuke (apparently the English name for it is “Who Is The Real Celebrity?”). It’s basically a celebrity challenge where they have to distinguish all kinds of posh products from the rip-offs. The host of this show is incredibly funny, and it’s pretty much the only laugh-out-loud programme currently on Japanese TV for me.
Favourite book: I enjoyed Mythos and Heroes by Stephen Fry, as I have always had an interest in ancient myths.
Thanks for taking part Ryoka!
The David Mitchell Fan Interviews – Meet Chas!
Twitter Handle: @ChasquiPenguin
What you do? Or what you love to do?
I am retired, having worked in the NHS for many years as a medical secretary. After 6 years of retirement I can confirm that I am so busy now I don’t know how I found time to go to work! Writing is one of my main loves, as well as reading. I have been a huge comedy fan for as long as I can remember, dating back to Hancock in the 50s, and am an aficionada of history and love to research into it, incorporating my interest in the life and works of Marlowe and Shakespeare. Music (especially 70s rock) is a big part of my life, not forgetting my special fondness for penguins, pandas and dolphins. I also compile and host the Upstart Crow quizzes on Twitter and put together the Upstart Crow Facts lists on @doseofdavidm – fun to do and both provide me with a great opportunity to do some historical research.
The moment that you realised you were a David Mitchell fan?
When I was in the audience for the recording of an episode of Doctors and Nurses in which David played Dr Toby Stephens back in 2003.
Your favourite David Mitchell show?
Upstart Crow because it has been so well written by Ben Elton who must have invested much time in research for the series. The script, cast and production seem to have been made for each other. For me this is one of the best sitcoms ever.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb sketch:
The Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesar (too difficult to choose just one of those Holmes and Watson parodies).
Favourite Upstart Crow scene/moment?
Our introduction to Kit Marlowe, when he entered Will’s lodgings, gave us an insight into this character, as he announced that he had let himself in, then sat down, put his feet on the table and had reached across and grabbed Will’s mug of ale, all in one smooth move (The Play’s the Thing – S1, Ep2). In the next ep, having let himself in, Kit explained, “Don’t really do manners. Just kinda go where I please”!
Favourite Mitchell & Webb deep cut?
Seeing Robert Webb as Bertie Wooster at one of our local theatres when the play Perfect Nonsense was touring the UK in 2014. I saw this in the afternoon and in the evening I returned to the adjacent venue to see Dylan Moran live on his tour. Quite a comedy day!
Favourite Upstart Crow episode?
So difficult to choose across the three series as they are all outstanding in their own way but I Did Adore a Twinkling Star and Go on and I Will Follow are among my favourites. The former because it showed a caring Kit, at least initially, and I had high hopes he would be quoting Ovid’s Amores in Latin to her, but it was not to be! The second episode for the delicate and poignant way the subject of Hamnet’s death was handled, much along the lines of the last episode of Blackadder Goes Forth, and yet it started with an Awards Ceremony which provided so many laughs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p05dt16t/upstart-crow-series-2-3-i-did-adore-a-twinkling-star
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bmgftc/upstart-crow-series-3-6-go-on-and-i-will-follow
Favourite Upstart Crow character?
Difficult choice as the whole cast is so good but am letting Will and Kit tie for top place. At times they are like a double act!
Favourite: Upstart Crow line?
I love well-worded comedy and Ben Elton has excelled so often with this, but from the many wonderful lines in Upstart Crow here are a few of my favourites:
Will’s opinion of Robert Greene’s A Groats-worth of Wit:
“…take ‘wit’, subtract two Greenes and add a call for silence” (from What Bloody Man is This – S1, Ep5)
Kate’s veiled view of men in general and Will in particular at the time: Patron-icing bard-starred (from The Quality of Mercy – S1, Ep6) &
Mail, show, Venice, star, soul (from Beware my Sting – S2, Ep5)
And not forgetting Kit’s question:
“Are we allowed sweet fillings at this pie gathering metaphor?” (from Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death – S3, Ep2)
Favourite David Mitchell rant?
This has to be from Upstart Crow as well, as there are so many brilliant transport rants which David, as Will, expresses so eloquently and hilariously but my favourite is the one which ends: “Finally, spake a stern and warty spinster who had paid a farthing for a double-discount cut-rate supesome-dupesome, savey-wavey, chips-and-gravy, age-concession, off-peaky-weaky, purchased in a previous life and valid only on coaches where the driver’s middle name was Gerald! I am not a soothsayer” (from S3, Ep3 – Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death).
Your Numberwang number?
Twentyton – has a pre-Upstart Crow ring to it!
Favourite That Mitchell and Webb Sound sketch?
The Adrian Locket sketches – such a laidback DJ, he’s the exact opposite of most of his counterparts on the radio, which makes the character so hilarious. Sketches I could listen to over and over again and which are perfect for radio, of course.
Do you think Andrew is really evil in Back? What do you think will happen in the end?
I don’t think he’s evil, but I wouldn’t trust him an inch. The ending could go one way or the other – Andrew’s success with the pub marks a turning point for him and he becomes more likeable even to Stephen, or Andrew shows himself in his true colours and is exiled by the family to Stephen’s immense gain.
Are you more like Mark, Jez or Super Hans?
Mark, thankfully!
Your favourite character in the entire Mitchell & Webb extended universe?
Will Shakespeare.
What are your Other favourite comedies and/or comedians?
Favourite comedies: Blackadder, Monty Python, Ripping Yarns, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, Father Ted, Hippies, Green Wing, The Young Ones, Bottom, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, The Armstrong and Miller Show, Year of the Rabbit, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, Plebs, Not Only…But Also, Marty/It’s Marty, I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again (1960s radio), The Big Bang Theory etc. etc.
Favourite comedians: Ben Elton, Eddie Izzard, Noel Fielding, Dylan Moran, Alexei Sayle, Rhod Gilbert and so many more, with favourite comedy actors from all the above comedies.
The twitter pages you’d love to recommend:
@doseofdavidm
@TheComedyBlog1
@arobertwebb
@TimDownie1
@UpstartCrowPlay
@restorationhat
@pitchblacksteed
Your Favourite TV Shows:
Mostly comedies, chronologically from Not Only…But Also, Marty and Monty Python’s Flying Circus to Upstart Crow and Year of the Rabbit, as well as history documentaries (on almost any era and civilisation).
Your favourite movie:
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Your Favourite Book:
Too numerous to name but in the last few years have been reading a great series by MJ Trow (The Christopher Marlowe Mystery books) written with much historical accuracy around the theory that Kit was a government spy, with his character likeable and sympathetic.
The David Mitchell Fan Interviews – Meet Angela
Twitter handle: @OldershawAngela
What you do? Or what you love to do? I Love to dance to BTS –Haha!
The moment that you realised you were a David Mitchell fan? The second that Peep Show started!
Your favourite David Mitchell show? Peep Show
Favourite Mitchell & Webb sketch: The ‘newsletter’ – when Rob reads out his mate’s ‘married with kids’ annual round robin and David makes him feel bad.
Favourite Peep Show episode? The very first – Mark is so pitiful.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/peep-show/on-demand/33196-001
Favourite Peep Show character? Jeremy
Favourite Peep Show line? “He’s done something there – like real music’ when Jeremy listens to the demo.
Favourite Upstart Crow episode? The first Christmas special.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09l2dvj/upstart-crow-a-christmas-crow
Favourite Upstart Crow character? William of course
Favourite: Upstart Crow line? Anything with ‘futtocking’
Favourite Wilty? moment? David voting TRUE to Chris Rea’s egg
Favourite Wilty? guest? Bob Mortimer
Favourite David Mitchell rant? The sausage rolls!
Favourite David Mitchell quote? “This is my chance to be a proper human being.”
Your Numberwang number? 7
Favourite That Mitchell and Webb Sound sketch? The cash registers
Are you more like Mark, Jez or Super Hans? Jeremy
Your favourite character in the entire Mitchell & Webb extended universe? Dry Super Hans in Smoothie mode.
What are your Other favourite comedies and/or comedians? Moone Boy.
The twitter pages you’d love to recommend: @wayhomeproject
Your Favourite TV Shows: all kdrama – My Love from the Star, Encounter, Descendants of the Sun.
Your favourite movie: The Big Lebowski
Your Favourite Book: Dracula
Thanks again for contributing!
The David Mitchell Fan Interviews – Meet Rhianna
Twitter handle: @jazzyjaney
What you do? Or what you love to do? I’m a carer for my mum and a comedy blogger and artist. I’m also a bit of a saxophone player on the side and I run A Dose of David Mitchell!
The moment that you realised you were a David Mitchell fan?
I remember this quite clearly. Extras series two had just debuted on BBC2 and I stuck around to watch what was coming on next, back then BBC2 had this rather lovely ‘Thursdays are funny’ branding with idents and everything. Anyway, the show that came on next was the first ever episode of That Mitchell & Webb Look. I saw the ‘Are We the Baddies?’ sketch and realised that I was watching something quite special! It was very different to everything else at the time, it felt fresh and exciting. That must have been 2006, and I think that WILTY? started that same year. So, it all began there.
Your favourite David Mitchell show? This is stupid because I’m setting the questions and yet now I can’t answer my own question! I can’t pick one because I love them all in different ways, that’s what I love about David’s comedy, he spans all the comedy genres, probably more than any other comedian.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb sketch: It would be hard not to pick ‘Are We the Baddies?’ or ‘Rocket Science’ because they’re so classic. They’re the ‘Four Candles’ of That Mitchell & Webb Look. But I really love ‘The Green Clarinet Man’ or ‘The Garden Centre Tribe’ – I adore the craziness of those sketches.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb scene/moment? I love a serious moment in a comedy show, so I would have to choose the final Holmes and Watson sketch, superbly acted and I almost find it too heart-breaking to watch. It’s brilliant.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb deep cut? Ambassadors. I’m still devastated that we didn’t get to see a second series and find out what Neil was really up to! Everything about that show was amazing, it looked like a Hollywood movie and all the characters were so memorable, especially Matthew Macfadyen’s POD and Keeley Hawes is always fantastic in anything she’s in. I remember watching the final episode on the edge of my seat, that scene in the van where Keith says ‘This could be one of those moments’ I loved that. It was a true comedy/drama. I wish we’d seen more.
I’d also like to give a special mention to Greed. I love David’s role as the charming Nick and it’s a film with such an important message. It left a lasting impression and I thought it was fantastic.
Favourite Peep Show episode? This is tricky, in terms of iconic moments I’d pick Jeremy Makes It but my favourite series is Series 9 and It would be difficult to choose between The William Morris Years and Threeism. Ultimately, David’s eye-shadow surely has to win the day.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/peep-show/on-demand/51399-003
Favourite Peep Show character? Well, you can probably guess, it’s Mark.
Favourite Peep Show line? ‘So, I ate both his pickled onions’ That’s from Series 9 when April is talking to Mark about her worries over Angus, and he reveals that they went for a ploughman’s lunch together but ‘The mood was pretty sombre’. I have no clue why this makes me laugh so much.
Another one is Mark looking at his phone and thinking ‘No messages, everyone I know doesn’t want to talk to me’ we’ve all been there.
Favourite Upstart Crow episode? Go On and I Will Follow – An amazing episode from start to finish, that ending was so beautifully acted, but just like its Blackadder counterpart there was still plenty of humour throughout the episode leading up to that moment. I also love A Christmas Crow Carol and in particular the coach scene with Kenneth Branagh.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bmgftc/upstart-crow-series-3-6-go-on-and-i-will-follow
Favourite Upstart Crow character? You guessed it! It’s William Shakespeare, but I love Kate, Botsky, Kit, Greene, John Shakespeare, Anne and the entire Upstart Crow gang.
Favourite: Upstart Crow line? There’s a bit in The Apparel Proclaims the Man where Will hides behind a chair from Greene and then says ‘God’s conkers here’s a minty fix’ to the side camera, I think that expression should enter common usage. Also, any of the Upstart Crowisms ‘puffling pants’ and ‘Futtock’ are particularly great.
I’ll also add a special mention for the King Lear storm scene in The Upstart Crow Play. An amazing piece of theatre.
Favourite Wilty? moment? ‘Mike Read?! Rapping?’ is a classic moment that I remember very fondly from early WILTY? Then there’s the cuddle jumper and Bob’s story about Chris Rea telling him to put an egg in his bath – so good it was nominated for an award!
Favourite Wilty? guest? Bob Mortimer!
Favourite David Mitchell rant? There have been so many amazing ones. The one that sticks in my mind is David’s rant about Jeremy Hunt’s idea for a rolling local news channel on the first ever episode of 10 0’clock Live, it still makes me laugh – ‘tell you what I’m going to do tonight I’m going to get the pizzas in and settle down to a Northwest tonight marathon’.
More recently Nutgate on The Unbelievable Truth, I was lucky enough to be in the audience for that one.
Favourite David Mitchell quote? I don’t think I could pick one. David has a knack of summing things up so well. ‘I’m not happy to say how I feel about anything, and that’s because I’m British’ sums things up rather well, for me anyway.
Your Numberwang number? Shinty six.
Favourite That Mitchell and Webb Sound sketch? I loved the Superman ones, and also the Pinocchio saga. The Cash Register/Doorbell Shop sketches are probably my favourites though. There’s one where a therapist likens crisps to heroin that I love, and also one where David is a train announcer, and recalls a relationship that he had through various inflections within the delivery of the station platform names he’s reading out, that one was very clever.
Do you think Andrew is really evil in Back? What do you think will happen in the end?
I don’t think Andrew is evil, I think there’s going to be a big twist. I wonder if Stephen and Andrew swapped places in some way when they were kids, so maybe Andrew is Ellen or Laurie’s son? Could Geoff be Stephen’s dad? That would be interesting. I’ve certainly no idea where it’s all going to go, but I’m very keen to find out! I hope Stephen has a happy ending whatever happens!
Are you more like Mark, Jez or Super Hans? Definitely Mark.
Your favourite character in the entire Mitchell & Webb extended universe? Mitchell & Webb taken as read, I’d go for Uncle Geoff! I love him.
What are your Other favourite comedies and/or comedians?
I’m a huge comedy fan, so here’s a short list of some of my other favourite sitcoms (excluding all my David Mitchell favourites, because I’m sure you can guess what those are!) – Blackadder, Father Ted, Red Dwarf, The Harry Hill Show (the parade is in but…half an hour), Paul Merton- The Series (probably the most underrated sketch show of all time), Count Arthur Strong, The Mighty Boosh, The Thin Blue Line, The Young Ones, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I should probably stop listing sitcoms now.
The twitter pages you’d love to recommend: @Britishcomedy , and of course, @RealDMitchell and @aRobertWebb . I’ll add a cheeky plug for my comedy blog as well @TheComedyBlog1
Your Favourite TV Shows: My favourite TV show that isn’t a comedy is undoubtedly Endeavour. It’s an incredible series that doesn’t get enough recognition. Roger Allam and Shaun Evans are sublime actors, and the show isn’t afraid to tackle challenging stories that other Sunday Night ITV dramas would probably shy away from. It’s got loads of heart, but also has you on the edge of your seat. The last two series have been incredible! I couldn’t recommend it highly enough!
Your favourite movie: It will always be The Back to Future Trilogy for me. A special mention for Terminator II as well, my Dad’s favourite film.
Your Favourite Book: Keeping with the David Mitchell theme, Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh. I read this after David chose it on his Desert Island Discs.It’s an incredible book, amusing and poignant, but it’s really subtle in its delivery. There was a fantastic radio adaptation a few years ago, where Tom Hollander played Otto – he delivered the ‘big wheel’ speech at the end so beautifully. I don’t know if that’s available on the iplayer BBC Sounds thingy but I’d recommend seeking it out.
Thanks for reading!
The ‘A Dose of David Mitchell Fan Interviews’ – Meet Valerie & Peter!
Twitter handles: @valderie and @waymu
What you do? Or what you love to do? Valerie does social media and fan engagement for musicians and is a fan studies researcher. Peter works in sales and loves recording and collecting concert bootlegs. We both spend most of our time playing with our dog, David Mitchell.
The moment that you realised you were a David Mitchell fan? Peter says it was around 2012 when he realized, after watching his Soap Box, appearances on Mock the Week, and seeing That Mitchell and Webb Look. Valerie says she’s not sure if she had some crystalizing moment, but he was in many things she enjoyed and realized over time David Mitchell was a common denominator!
Your favourite David Mitchell show? Valerie’s favorite scripted show is That Mitchell and Webb Look, because the sketches and characters featured are so funny. Peter and Valerie’s favorite unscripted show is Would I Lie To You?.
Favourite Mitchell & Webb sketch: From That Mitchell and Webb Look, my favorite sketches are “The Quiz Broadcasts” or the saga of “Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.”
Favourite Mitchell & Webb scene/moment? “The Gift Shop Sketch” from S04E02
Favourite Mitchell & Webb deep cut? That Mitchell and Webb Sound, “Downloading the Internet”
Favourite Peep Show episode? “Seasonal Beatings” because of NO TURKEY!!!
Favourite Peep Show character? Super Hans
Favourite Peep Show line? “You know how I feel about capitalism” “yes, confused”
Favourite Upstart Crow episode? “What Bloody Man is That?”
Favourite Upstart Crow character? Of course, William Shakespeare
Favourite: Upstart Crow line? Any of the rants about public transport!!
Favourite Wilty? moment? The whole interaction around “Where in the safari park was your the car?” “The baboon area” “thank you! as i suspected!”
Favourite Wilty? guest? Bob Mortimer or James Acaster
Favourite David Mitchell rant? David Mitchell’s Soap Box, “Dear America”
Favourite David Mitchell quote? “If the iPod thing is true then you’re not the man I thought you were and that’s the price you’ll pay for this petty victory.”
Your Numberwang number? twentinton
Are you more like Mark, Jez or Super Hans? We are not sure we’re like any of them! They’re all messes!
Your favourite character in the entire Mitchell & Webb extended universe? Valerie’s favorite is Ginger (from Sir Digby Chicken Cesar) and Peter’s favorite is the Unsafe Attraction Guy.
What are your Other favourite comedies and/or comedians? Comedians we love Mitch Hedberg, James Acaster, Bob Mortimer, Olivia Coleman, Greg Davies, Miranda Hart, John Mulaney, and Chris Gethard.
Your Favourite TV Shows: Taskmaster, Red Dwarf, Brooklyn 99
Your favourite movie: The Cornetto Trilogy
Your Favourite Book: The Lord of the Rings
Thanks again for contributing Valerie, Peter and David Mitchell the dog!
A Dose Of David Mitchell 