If I see another banana bread!’
Funnyman Alan Carr on his new telly role, deleting Twitter and why he can’t stand celebrity baking pics!
It’s fair to say, what we all need right now is a big dose of fun and Alan Carr is definitely the man for the job.The comedian has been bringing us a brand new Saturday night obsession, where he fronts a whole bunch of classic game shows but with an epic twist – that the prizes are huge!
The show has been a massive hit and Alan,
43 – who found fame in early
2006 when he hosted The Friday Night Project with his old pal Justin Lee Collins – is chuffed to bits.
Taking on the roles of some iconic game-show hosts, including Bruce Forsyth, he admits he found it daunting, but the funnyman has nailed it.
Here, we catch up with Alan – who’s married to his long-term partner Paul Drayton – to talk about career aspirations, why he still loves touring and the darker side of Twitter…
Hey Alan! How are you doing during these strange times?
Everyone seems to be so motivated – I am struggling to brush my teeth and put a comb through my hair. And if I see another celebrity making banana bread I’m going to scream!
Epic Gameshow is going so well.Were you nervous about taking the job?
A little bit nervous because they’re iconic shows. I decided to do all of them in a fortnight and thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew. I’d finish Bullseye then have a day off and film Strike It Lucky.
Do you get really into it when you’re hosting?
I want people to win so much, the prizes are great. On The Price Is Right – you get a car, holiday, kitchen, home improvements – I wanted to do it! And there were definitely tears. I do get too emotionally involved, especially when they gamble big prizes or money. I need tranquillisers.
What game show would you be good at?
I think I could have a good go at Play Your Cards Right. I love it, that show is in my DNA. I found myself going, ‘Good game, good game,’ like Brucie.
You were also a judge on the UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race…
It was brilliant, so different from the American version with Baga Chipz and Vinegar Strokes. The contestants were a bit downtrodden and pottymouthed, you couldn’t help but fall in love with them. It was really good fun to make. We just spent the whole time laughing and taking the piss.
You still tour a lot too don’t you, when there isn’t a pandemic?
I’ve done stand-up for 20 years. We have a lot of fun on tour. I’m quite professional but when you finish a show you’ve got a real buzz and going back to the hotel can be so depressing. You can see why certain comedians start having Skype sex sessions!
What else is on your career bucket list?
I’d like to do a play, something based in the 60s, a bit of a farce.
You recently came off Twitter…
Yes, with 5 million followers, I was sick of getting abuse. I just deleted the app from my phone. Now I’m in a swimsuit on Instagram trying to get my followers up.
Did you find the abuse hard to deal with?
The scary thing about Twitter isn’t that I came off it because people are so horrible, it’s become banal. A while ago I’d be shocked by someone saying, ‘I hope you die of AIDS.’ Now I scroll through and see,‘I’m gonna stab you in the face you f **** t.’ It’s a mental health time bomb, so I’ve come off it.
How’s married life?
Wonderful. 12 years together, two years married. We’re one of those gay couples who don’t have an open relationship.You don’t get many gays like that.
What have you been watching on TV during lockdown?
Flesh And Blood, I really enjoyed that. Russell Tovey is very easy on the eye. I’ve also watched You and The Stranger on Netflix.
Do you have a TV guilty pleasure?
Botched. It’s about plastic surgery and I love that!