Arthur Smith: Comedian
Jon Watt, Monday 30 January 2012
Comedian, writer and broadcaster Arthur Smith’s career has spanned some 30 years and included sell-out stand-up tours and numerous TV appearances, but it was his appearance on the BBC series Grumpy Old Men that finally made this self-styled ‘Mayor of Balham’ a household name. He’s currently appearing around the country on his Exposed comedy tour.
T&L: When do you think you became a grumpy old man?
AS: You’ve actually caught me on a good day for being grumpy. For some reason I’m particularly grouchy today. It must be my time of the month - not that we men can hide behind that excuse, unfortunately. I do tend to play up to the grumpy thing these days and to be honest it’s quite a good trait to have for comedy. You don’t want to be going on stage and saying how lovely everything is – there are no laughs in that. But if you go on and complain about everything, then people feel comforted.
T&L: You’ve become a recognisable TV personality, but is live performance still your passion?
AS: Well, I think live performance is the most honest form of comedy. There’s real interaction with the audience. If you’re on radio or TV, you can’t hear the laughter, groans or boos. Live performance is the backbone to what I do; always has been. I mean, if everything else fell away I’d be back doing 20-minute sets down the Bedford Arms in Balham. You can think you’re funny on radio but you won’t really know until you’ve made a room of people laugh for 20 minutes. And it’s only by doing stand-up that you really find your own voice. I think we all start out slightly mimicking and impersonating comedians we admire until we find out own voice and material that works for us – in my case, I probably mimicked John Dowie and Alexei Sayle.
T&L: Do you remember your first gig?
AS: Yeah, it was at the Comedy Store in 1979/80 and I was nervous, drunk and died on my feet. I didn’t try it again for six months, but when you get it right, there’s no feeling like having a roomful of people hanging on your every word and laughing at what you’re saying. I’m hoping they still do… otherwise I’m in for some long evenings.
T&L: Why Exposed?
AS: Well, I have this history of public nudity. I’ve officially retired now, but you never know, if demand is there, perhaps I could be dragged out of retirement!
T&L: Not according to your friend and fellow comedian, Tony Hawks! When we interviewed him last year he said he’d begged you to appear in his film dancing naked in the streets of Balham, but you would not be moved!?
AS: He’s a miserable, mean bastard, that’s why [cue signature chuckle!] It was a freezing cold Sunday morning in a car park in front of a load of people for Equity minimum pay! He made a fortune out of that book (Playing the Moldovans at Tennis) and I never got a penny for starting and finishing it!
T&L: Balham seems to have played a significant part in your career…
AS: As you’d expect for someone calling himself the Mayor of Balham! Actually Balham’s always been a bit of a comic place. People my age will always remember ‘Bal Ham, Gateway to the South’ which was a comedy sketch by Peter Sellers. South London has always been the heartland of comedy in London. In the 18th century this is where they used to come for drugs, sex and bear baiting. It’s where the fun used to happen. I’ve always loved the area. I think I did the opening night of the Banana Cabaret at the Bedford Arms; then, a few years back, I did my Balham Bash radio show out of your own house. It was a weird experience. I’d have Squeeze playing in my kitchen or Stephen K Amos in my bathroom. Great fun, but I think my missus was quite relieved when it wasn’t re-commissioned. She’s a writer, so it was a wee bit distracting having these bands striking up in the living room.
T&L: Is this a golden age for British comedy?
AS: Well, it certainly is if you look at the bookshops! All the top sellers now are comedians, which makes it all the more amazing when you consider that my book didn’t sell very well and it was much better than all of theirs! [Another deep, throaty chuckle crackles like a log fire.] Peter Kay’s got one which, as far as I can see, is the same as the one he wrote last year. James Corden got one which he must have written in about 20 minutes. I took a lot of care and effort over mine and it’s a classic of the genre which will sell after I’m dead! So mine will live forever and that’s my consolation…
