How do you think The IT Crowd fits into the current crop of new comedy?
It's a weird thing isn't it, in terms of the whole comedy debate? The Office did change things
rightly or wrongly, it was a great coup but the people who copy it generally aren't that great
because what they do isn't quite right.
The IT Crowd is a family show and that's what Graham set out to write. I was talking to someone the
other day and they were saying it's somewhere in-between The Office and My Family, but I don't
think that's quite right. I think it's in-between The Office and a Comic Book - there is no reality
within the show, we're real characters but the things that happen are completely surreal. Somebody
would say, "I'm in a wheelchair and somebody has stolen my wheelchair, and that's what happened", or, "There's a magic bra!" It has an element of surreality that doesn't exist in modern comedy. You don't
question the fact Richmond is in the office - he's just there! Okay, there's a man who dresses up
like a skeleton, and that could happen. Of course Father Jack has hairy hands, that could totally
happen, maybe not in this world but it could happen! Ted did it brilliantly, and it has a similar tone to Ted
although I don't think we pull it off quite as well.
How deliberate a reaction is it?
It's really interesting there does seem to be this anti-thing against audience comedies, which is a
definitely something that is lacking. What's weird is whatever criticism we got from the first one,
people missed the point that we weren't trying to make Peep Show, it was supposed to be more family-orientated. I mean I love shows
like Peep Show but I also love the
fact there is this show for another audience, that's why it's not on at half-ten. I remember
watching shows with my parents, Del Boy and Fawlty Towers, but there isn't that kind of show at the
moment unless you want to watch My Family, and that's not that good. Actually I've never even
watched it, but from what I've heard of it, it's not that funny...
Given it stands out on it's own, how pleased were you to get nominated for a BAFTA?
It was great but what I remember most was Phillip Schofield giving out to me in the toilets for
smoking, so that's a life ambition achieved, and the dinosaurs, and who's that newsreader with the
deep voice, Moira Stewart? She pinched my bottom - it was a good night! That's success! Fuck your
BAFTAs, I don't even want a third series I just want another squeeze on the other cheek Moira!
