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pride
of manchester -
exclusive interview with dave spikey |
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15th
Oct 2003 |
| Chorley
comedian Dave Spikey's rise to stardom has certainly been a long-time
coming, as the name of his 'Overnight Success' tour indicates with
an ironic wink.
Having
worked for over 25 years as Chief Biomedical Scientist in Haematology
at The Royal Bolton Hospital, Dave also tried his hand at comedy
writing. Still working in the lab during the day, he played the
Manchester comedy circuit as a stand-up in the evenings. This lead
to him being asked to support Cannon & Ball on their 1993 UK
tour. He also found time to contribute to Eamonn O'Neal and Jimmy
Wagg's radio show on GMR (BBC Manchester) at weekends. |
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In 1991 he won the
prestigious North West Comedian of the Year award (beating Dave
Gorman and Brendan Reilly in the process). It was when he compered
for the same award in 1996 that he became best friends with the
winner, a young Peter Kay.
Together they wrote the links for
the ill-fated 'Chain Letters' game show that Dave also presented.
Their writing partnership also produced 'The Services', 'That Peter
Kay Thing', and 'Phoenix Nights' - in which he played Jerry 'The
Saint' St.Clair - the compere without compare.
Amazingly it wasn't until the second
series of Phoenix Nights in 2000 that Dave actually gave up his
day-job at the hospital laboratory, allowing him more time to devote
to his comedy.
He spoke exclusively to Pride Of Manchester
during his 2003 sell-out 'Overnight Success' tour (which is currently
in its second run). A DVD and video of which is set for release
in November.
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Pride
Of Manchester: The 'Overnight Success' Tour you are currently
on (a.k.a. as 'My Son Needs a New Exhaust' Tour), is enjoying night
after night of sold out venues. How does it feel having sold out
such prestigous places as The Lowry? |
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| Dave
Spikey: "A dream come true . I never thought
that so many people would come to see a show of mine and that I’d
play to an audience of 1700 . I’m under no illusions though
, I know a lot of people are coming because of the phenomenal success
of Phoenix Nights but hopefully by the end of the show I’ll
have convinced them that I’m a half decent stand-up." |
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"I’ve not really thought of that and can’t say
that I’ve noticed it to be honest. Of the South Manchester
venues that I have played I’ve noticed little difference."
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| Do
you have to change your set when playing different towns (ie, Wigan
jokes tend to get a laugh more in Bolton and Warrington than they
would in, say, Bury or Oldham, whilst the rivalry between Blackburn
and Burnley, or Manchester and Liverpool is well known locally too). |
| "I don’t
change it hardly at all. Maybe I set up the routines differently ,
maybe give them a bit more background information if I think it will
help explain stuff more but generally funny’s funny and it is
“the way you tell them" |
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What's
the best gig you've played? |
| "Well “The
Lowry” on Sunday has to be top of the list right now. Not just
the biggest audience but really enthusiastic, loud and supportive.
Simply stunning! I have to say that the gigs are getting better and
better, maybe I’m working better as well as the confidence grows
and I experiment with new material but its my perception that audiences
are really up for it at the moment. Recently Stoke and Warrington
were superb also. Top three contenders." |
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| Your tour pops
down south this week. Being a northern lad born and bred, how do you
feel playing London? |
| "I’ve always
had great gigs in London. Theres a lot of ex-pats down there and also
the southern audiences really seem to like good northern comics. I
think maybe that we’re a refreshing change from the comedians
on the London circuit." |
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"Bolton hasn’t got a great venue for comedy and besides
Peter’s recorded his new DVD there. I didn’t honestly
think I’d fill The Lowry and actually I wish I'd have considered
it more. It would have been stunning . I chose Leeds because the
beautiful City Varieties Theatre is one of only two Victorian theatres
still operating and I loved the idea of doing contemporary comedy
in a place like that . So many massive names have performed there
over the years including all the comedy greats so it was a thrill
to film it on that stage." |
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| Being
one of the creators and writers of Phoenix Nights meant you 'gave'
many of your jokes to Peter Kay. How difficult was it writing the
material for your tour? Have you found that Peter has trademarked
many of your gags? |
| "Not difficult.
Ive been doing stand up for over ten years remember so I have stacks
of material. What surprised me was how little of my proposed set I've
ended up doing because I've developed other routines as the tours
progressed . I don’t know about Peter trademarking my gags,
he hasn’t done many when I've been seeing him " |
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Have you ever
thought of doing a gig from the top of Eiffel Tower to out do Peter? |
| "Now that mon ami
is a quality idea." |
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| Is there any jealousy
from yourself or Neil Fitzmaurice about the credit Peter seemed to
take on his own for Phoenix Nights? |
| "No jealousy on my
part. If it wasn’t for my involvement I’d still be working
at the hospital, looking down a microscope - some days I’d even
switch it on! Having said that, we were pissed off that he accepted
the British Comedy Award for Best Writer for Phoenix Nights when it
is, as you say, scripted by the three of us. We queried why we had
been excluded and were never given a satisfactory answer." |
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| Talking about
Phoenix Nights - how good has it been taking Jerry 'The Saint' St.Clair
live? |
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| "Fantastic. I’m
conscious of the fact that that’s why a lot of people have come
and so his small spot at the end always goes down a storm." |
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| Are
you involved with the new Max & Paddy series? |
| "Nope." |
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| So
when can we next expect to see you on TV again? |
| "Don’t
know really. I’ve been offered a couple of things recently that
weren’t really me so I passed on them. I’m writing a sit-com
and a comedy drama at the moment so I’ll probably try and wangle
one of the parts IF (and that’s a big IF) either get commissioned." |
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| So
there's no plans to bring back Chain Letters for Challenge TV then? |
| "You made me go all
queezy then." |
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| You once beat
the likes of Dave Gorman and Brendan Reilly to win the North West
comedian of the year award. Have you reminded them of this since? |
| "I’ve not seen
either of them for years but I wouldn’t any way. Its not done
either of them any harm though has it?" |
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You seem to be
influenced by a whole host of comedians, especially Billy Connolly
and our very own Les Dawson and Victoria Wood. Who is your favourite
comedian of all time? |
| "You hit the nail
on the head. Billy Connolly is the Daddy." |
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| Why do you think
Manchester produces so many good comedians? |
| "It’s a tough
question. I have this theory that its inherited and that we’re
surrounded by it. I think we live in a region that has always had
an optimistic outlook on life; where every cloud has a silver lining.
Where at the end of a miserable, stressful or sad day a good laugh
will make everything a bit brighter. I think this has always been
the case and over the years of hardship and war and poverty and deprivation
that the region has encountered its always been there and has ingrained
itself within the north west population. We also have the gift of
being able to laugh at ourselves which is another key element." |
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| Talking of Manc
comedians - you've been supported on tour by two of the funniest Manchester
comedians going - Justin Moorhouse and Steve Royle - does it make
it easier or harder to perform after such good acts? |
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| "Easier. Justin and
Steve are 'Special Guests' – I hate that 'support' tag. They’re
quality acts both. I know a lot of 'Name' comics won’t have
top quality support acts. They think that they may be eclipsed by
them. My view is that if you’re that concerned and insecure
you shouldn’t be headlining your own show. With class special
guests you should be good enough to 'surf' in on the wave of laughter
and good humour they’ve created and race away..." |
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Have you got any
plans to rest once your tour finishes, or is it a case of then plugging
the DVD? |
| "Yeah, the DVD is
released on November 17th a week after Peter’s. They were both
supposed to come out together but they’ve moved his forward
for some reason. I've got a couple of writing projects I’m working
on so Ive got everything crossed that one of them gets commissioned.
If they don’t I’ll be writing a new show and touring again
next year hopefully." |
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| You seem to be
very close to your fans, and even update your own website. Do you
have any groupies? |
| "Not really. I do
have some great fans who come to two,three or four shows but they’re
genuinely nice , enthusiastic people." |
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| QUICK
FIRE MANC ROUND: |
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| How do you like
your Vimto? |
| "Cordial with Ice."
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| United, City or
Bolton? |
| "I’m from Bolton
so I’m a big Trotters Fan and season ticket holder. I have trouble
understanding how people support any other team than that of their
home town.." |
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| Steak'n'Kidney
or Cheese'n'Onion? |
| "Cheese and Onion
(Im a veggie)." |
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| Boddies or Joey
Holts? |
| "Tough Call. I find
Boddies a bit more refreshing." |
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| The Hollies or
Oasis? |
| "Oasis." |
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| Mick Hucknall
or Mike Harding? |
| "Dead heat."
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| Stu Francis or
Stuart Hall? |
| "Stuart Hall a national
treasure." |
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| Cold Feet or Queer
As Folk? |
| "Queer as Folk. Russell
Davies is the best writer around." |
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| Gordon Burns or
Lucy Meacock? |
| "Lucy of course."
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| China town or
Rusholme? |
| "Rusholme. Went there
after the Lowry gig. Always superb." |
| [back
to top] |
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Thanks
Dave for taking the time out of your tour to talk to Pride Of Manchester. |
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| Pride
Of Manchester would especially like to thank Caroline at the Comedy
Store for helping us arrange the interview. |
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This interview is © 2003 Pride Of Manchester & Dave Spikey |
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