Watch out Graham Norton, Tom Allen's electric new chat show comes to London next week. Emma McAlpine speaks to the sharp-witted host about weird guest revelations, stripping 76-year-olds and the shows that inspire him.
After successful stints at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe and the London ScipMylo Festival, Tom Allen's comedy chat show starts a residency in the Comedy Cafe next week. Called Tom Allen's Society, each month's show has a different theme and features stand-up from the eponymous host, special guests, incisive chat and anarchic parlour games (Welly Wanging anyone?). I grilled the dapper comedian ahead of the first show and it turns out he's just as good at answering questions as he is as at asking them (apart from the last one which made me feel moderately queasy).
What made you decide to start hosting chat shows this year?
I wanted a challenge and apparently I’m pretty chatty (people seem to move away if I sit next to them on trains and airplanes…). I did the chat show up in Edinburgh over August and for a couple of nights in London and I wanted to continue it. We had some amazing guests like Matt Smith and Margaret Cho and Sarah Millican and it gave me a real thirst for doing more. I like it because it’s got stand up and when the guests are on it’s kind of like improv as well - but with gossip. It feels pretty free.
One Fringe review described you as "a less grating Graham Norton" – was this the demeanour you were striving for?!
Not at all! Graham Norton is a massive inspiration for me – I remember being a teenager and staying up late to watch his chat show and loving how naughty it felt, like you really felt like you were at this crazy party where everything was funny and everyone was welcome. I loved also how he’d have guests who weren’t just selling something but who were just interesting – like Sophia Lauren or Michael Fish. That was when it felt like they were having the most fun. I also really respect how he’s been pushing the form – by having three guests on at once and adding that whole story chair thing.
What is your interview technique? How do you get the most out of your guests?
I always think it’s important to know a lot about them and then to have quite an informal chat. There’s no point in going in with "Tell me everything about your sex life" because it’ll just make them terrified and not want to say anything. And actually I think you want to have a balance between finding stuff out about people and then just having a nice time chatting or bantering with them about nothing in particular. The fact of the matter is you can find out loads of facts about people online – anyone can – but you want to show a different side about them. That’s what interests me.
Who has been your favourite interviewee so far and why?
I really loved having a woman called Lynn Ruth Miller on – she’s a comedian from San Francisco and she was the oldest performer at this year’s Fringe. At 72 she decided that she wanted to start comedy but during my show, and at the age of 76, she also thought she’d have a go at being a stripper. It was very tongue in cheek and very funny. She’s full of stories and she’s got plenty of sassy one liners…
Have there been any unexpected revelations so far?
Apart from a 76-year-old in draws? Well there was the time the lead guy from the performance group Briefs decided he’d close the show with an interpretive dance which I think was quite a revelation for, well, everyone. Including me. Especially as the dance lasted ten minutes!
How are the Comedy Cafe shows going to be structured?
There’ll be stand-up from me, interviews with the guests and also parlour games which I am currently obsessed with. The whole thing is themed around 'The Art of Conversation' so we’ll be talking to DJs and story-tellers as well as comedians. We might even talk to the audience – we’ll see! Also, if you’re unable to join us for the fun, you can download the whole thing as a podcast – just see my website www.tomindeed.com.
Are there any well known chat show formats you would want to avoid?
No not really – though there’s plenty I’ve been inspired by. I think Ellen’s is awesome – especially the features she does with ‘bad paid for photos’. David Letterman is an incredible interviewer because he makes his guests so relaxed and he can flit from the serious to the comical without the audience realising. I also really love US shows like This American Life where they just find out people’s stories.
Who would be your dream guest to have on the show?
People just like you!
Tom Allen's Society is at the Comedy Cafe on Tuesday 29th Novemer, at 8pm.
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