YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK IN CULTURE
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Caro Meets Comedy Interview
Matt Forde: Leading The Political Party
By TW Editorial | Published on Friday 8 March 2013
In the new year, comedian and former political advisor Matt Forde began making a monthly point of interviewing politics types for ‘The Political Party’, his, er, politically themed stand-up/chat show.
So far, he’s enjoyed the company of George Galloway and Nigel Farage, and next up it’s Charles Clarke. We sent over some questions ahead of the March edition, which takes place next week.
CM: How did you end up turning to stand-up?
MF: I’ve always done it as a hobby alongside other things, including working for the Labour Party. I would use my annual leave to prat about at Edinburgh every year. It was the highlight of my year and made me realise that even though I adored working for Labour, comedy gave me a lot of freedom. The shows I was doing weren’t political at all though.
For two years I hosted a show called ‘Fordy’s Lock-In’, which was a late-night show set in a pub after closing time and took place in a cave at midnight. Comedians would be drunk and all sorts of shenanigans were going on. It was a show by people who couldn’t accept that the 90s were over. Drinking lager through socks, playing danger darts and some people so drunk they were crying. It was brilliant. Looking back now, it’s obvious why I turned to comedy.
CM: Were you interested in politics and comedy growing up?
MF: Yes, the two have always been massive parts of my life. I started getting into politics at about the age of seven but became active at fourteen. One Christmas I got John Major’s autobiography and Eddie Izzard’s video ‘Dress to Kill’. That sums it up really.
CM: If you had to ‘give up’ one of the two – comedy or politics – which would it be?
MF: Haha, no chance.
CM: ‘The Political Party’ has something of a chat show format – what attracted you to doing this, rather than straight political stand up?
MF: I wanted to be able to showcase real politicians. So much so-called satire is just anti-politics and reinforces the completely ignorant view that all politicians are awful and self-serving. It takes no knowledge, passion or intellect to make that point. What’s far harder to say is that I genuinely love politics and I respect politicians. After the break I’ll be joined by one to prove it.
Politics itself is entertaining. Ideas are inspiring and individual politicians can bring them to life. Politicians are tough people. They have to go through a lot to get elected. They are there to be shot at. They’ve never been so openly disrespected by society as they have now. They have to take difficult decisions. That strength of character should be recognised.
CM: Do you find it hard to deal with people whose politics you find questionable?
MF: Sometimes, but I am always wary of people who say “I refuse to talk to you if you support this” or “if you don’t understand why the Tories are wrong, it’s not for me to tell you”. If you aren’t prepared to at least try to understand someone’s point of view then why are you interested in politics at all? People who are easily offended or aren’t prepared to discuss the issues with people they disagree will never change the world. You can’t defeat an idea if you’re not prepared to understand it.
CM: How did your first event featuring George Galloway go? Did you talk to him about his views on the Julian Assange case?
MF: George was phenomenal, as you’d imagine. Whatever you think of his politics or indeed his behaviour, no-one can deny that he is one of the most compelling personalities that British politics has ever produced. On top of that, his oratory alone makes him wonderful company. Julian Assange didn’t come up and neither did ‘Celebrity Big Brother’. Iraq was a major issue but with all of my guests I’m interested in what they have to say about the future.
CM: Your guest at this month’s event is going to be Charles Clarke. Why did you select him?
MF: Charles Clarke has seen it all. He was Neil Kinnock’s Chief of Staff, he was Home Secretary under Tony Blair, he was publicly critical of Gordon Brown and he lost his seat at the last election. There are four areas there already that I find fascinating. Plus I always liked him. He was tough but always very calm and considered.
CM: You’ve lately done quite a bit of TV and radio. Do you prefer that to live performance? Would you like to do more in the future?
MF: Nothing beats the thrill of live performance, but everything is enjoyable in its own way. I do ‘talkSPORT’ every Friday and that’s always great fun and something different to having to crack gags the whole time. I can gob off about my opinions there, especially about people like Luis Suarez. The best TV thing I did was be a box opener on ‘8 Out of 10 Cats does Deal or No Deal’, just because the game itself so was so enthralling.
CM: You performed a well-received show in Edinburgh this year. Have you any plans to revive that set, or to return to the Festival with another show at any point?
MF: I love doing Edinburgh, so I’ll definitely be back there this year. I’m already working on my new show which I’m very excited about.
CM: Will ‘The Political Party’ continue as the year goes on? If so, do you have any more interesting guests coming up?
MF: Yes it will, and I’m waiting to confirm some very exciting names. I hope people come down to be entertained and to hear from interesting people that they have heard of, and interesting people that perhaps they haven’t.
Matt Forde will be joined by Charles Clarke on 13 Mar at The Political Party, see the St James Theatre website for info and tickets.
LINKS: www.stjamestheatre.co.uk | www.mattforde.com | twitter.com/mattforde
