OVER the last decade, the comedian Andy Parsons has built up a huge following as one of the regulars on BBC2’s award-winning topical news quiz, Mock the Week.
He has quite rightly been praised for his brilliant contributions to the highly popular TV show.
This spring, however, Andy is returning to his first love – stand-up comedy – and is embarking on a massive nationwide tour of his new show, Live and Unleashed – But Naturally Cautious.
He couldn’t be more excited about coming back to live comedy.
A naturally gifted stand-up, Andy enjoys an effortless bond with his wide and devoted fan base.
On stage, he demonstrates the rare knack of being simultaneously both razor sharp and extremely likeable.
Not for nothing is he hailed as one of the country’s very best stand-ups.
The critics agree. The Mail on Sunday reckons that ‘Britain’s got precious few perceptive, informed satirists, and Parsons is one of the best,’ and The Express says that ‘Parsons is acerbic, sharp-witted and edgy, taking well-aimed pot-shots at politicians, celebrities and anyone who dares to talk rubbish.’
With four sell-out national tours, three best-selling DVD releases (Britain’s Got Idiots, Gruntled and Slacktivist) and a special for Comedy Central already under his belt, Andy is hitting the road again this spring and his shows are already selling out.
Andy, who has made numerous TV appearances including Live at the Apollo, QI, The World’s Most Dangerous Roads, The Politics Show, Newsnight, Saturday Live and Channel 4’s Comedy Gala at the 02, is as funny off stage as on it.
He is like a Catherine wheel of comedy, sending off fizzing sparks in all directions.
He simply can’t wait to start touring. ‘I love the buzz of live comedy,’ said the comic, who will be recording a new DVD during this tour for release later this year.
‘You don’t have a TV producer or editor.
‘Any given night will never be repeated and the audience will get something unrepeatable.
‘What happens in that theatre stays in that theatre.’
Andy, who was lead writer on ITV’s satirical comedy series Spitting Image, goes on to give an example. ‘A couple of years ago a bloke wanted to propose to his girlfriend on stage.
‘Now that moment is an extra on one of my DVDs.
‘That’s an extreme example, but there are always times like that when ceilings collapse or the technology fails or there’s a fire alarm in the middle of the show.
‘People like the sense that on that night they are seeing something which will never happen again.’
The comedian, who with his former double-act partner Henry Naylor wrote and presented nine series of Parsons and Naylor’s Pull-Out Sections for BBC Radio 2, is also notable for the wonderful connection he has with his audience.
‘I love that rapport,’ said Andy.
‘I used to do a double act and it was lovely to have that support on stage.
‘But if you create a rapport with the audience when you’re an individual stand-up, you can enjoy a double act with them instead.
‘You thrive off that.’
He added: ‘Physically getting to places on the tour can be difficult.
‘You can have enough of scotch eggs and buffet bars and motorway service stations.
‘But when you finally get there, it’s great.
‘It’s fantastic that people have come out specifically to see you.
‘You feed off their energy, and they feed off yours.
‘There’s a symbiosis there.
‘When you leave the stage after two hours, it’s great to have that real crowd feeling, as opposed to the disparate groups that you had at the start of the evening.’
Andy gave an idea of what subjects he will be covering in Live and Unleashed – But Naturally Cautious.
‘The show starts off with me deconstructing myself.
‘Over the course of the first half, I look at all the things I could possibly be good at and systematically rule them all out.
‘The last thing I think I’m good at is driving, but I read recently that 90 percent of us think we’re in the top 10 cent of drivers, so I’m probably rubbish at that as well!’ he said.
‘The second half is about trying to build myself back up through communal spirit, so that we end on a high.
‘We may be disappointing individually – but if we all band together and pool our sewage, we can at least power a bus!’
Andy, an astute observer of current affairs, will also be addressing the present political situation in his new show.
‘I’ll be asking if there is any point in voting.
‘Why should young people bother to vote?
‘The answer is that OAPs only get free prescriptions, bus passes and pensions because they bother to vote.
‘Imagine what the young could get if they bothered to vote – perhaps free X Boxes and loom bands!’
Reflecting on the fact that at least one comedian is standing for Parliament in the general election in May, Andy joked: ‘How low an ebb have politicians now reached that comedians are deciding they need to get involved in politics!
‘Politicians are the least trusted of all professions including estate agents.
‘It’s a sad day when even estate agents are thinking “Politics isn’t for me – I couldn’t take the lies and insincerity.” ‘
Andy is also wary of the idea that comedy can change people’s minds. ‘The last thing you want as a comedian is to say to yourself “Did I get a lot of laughs during that show? No, but there was a lot of scratching of beards.”
‘That’s not the best sound if you’re looking for a response to a joke,’ he said.
‘If you want to change anything, you have to campaign.
‘It’s not fashionable, but badgering an MP can have an effect.
‘Do you remember when the government tried to tax pasties and caravans and grannies?
‘Well, a public backlash got rid of those proposed taxes.
‘Woe betide any politician who tries to stop people enjoying Ginsters pasties on ropey family holidays with elderly relatives.’
Andy closes by considering the immense popularity of Mock the Week.
‘It’s popular because it has the advantage of being topical – there is always another week to be mocked.
‘And the best panel shows are sitcoms.
‘People get to know the characters and are as interested in you mocking each other as the news.’
The other bonus is that Mock the Week has had a terrifically positive impact on Andy’s stand-up profile. ‘I can now do a 100-date national tour and on three consecutive nights play Newport Pagnell, Uttoxeter and Wigan,’ he said with a laugh.
‘Who could ask for any more?’
Andy Parsons is appearing at the Jersey Opera House at 8 pm on Saturday 12 December.
