Remember the infamous Coughing Major scandal that rocked hit TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?...
A stage play centred around the story - and titled Quiz - heads out on tour this month, visiting the region in late November. Impressionist Rory Bremner takes top billing in the production, starring as show host Chris Tarrant. What’s On chats to Rory about Quiz, his career and visiting Birmingham...
You’ve previously starred in only one other play - Noël Coward’s Relative Values. What made you say yes to Quiz? And what are you looking forward to most about touring this production?
I loved Relative Values - for someone used to stand-up, it’s great to be part of a team.
With Quiz, I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing a character over a whole play, not just a short sketch. Also, Chris Tarrant says he hates my impression of him, which makes it even more fun!
As an impressionist, what helps you the most in terms of getting into a character?
Always the voice. Once you get that, the rest often follows. It’s an instinctive thing with impressionists. But playing a character is going to involve some acting. Luckily, both the writer and the director are as good as they come. That’s really exciting and makes me want to raise my game.
How familiar were you with the scandal of ‘The Coughing Major’? Had you seen the play when it was on in the West End back in 2018, or seen the ITV adaptation which aired in 2020?
I knew about it and enjoyed the TV version with Michael Sheen, who’s cornered the market in playing well-known figures on film - I must meet his agent - and Matthew McFadyen, who’s terrific in everything he does, especially Succession. His character, Tom Wambsgans, reminds me of Peter Mandelson. I’d love to see him play that part. I’ve deliberately avoided watching Quiz again, though, as Daniel Evans [the director] told me not to. It’s the first note he gave me, and I’m doing what I’m told! I’m also not starting too soon, as it’s enough for my wife to live with Chris Tarrant for four months. Six would be too much!
If you could star in a play centred around the life of another of your impressions, who would you most like to bring to the stage?
Maybe Boris or Trump. I enjoy doing them, but I can’t stand either of them, so it might drive me mad. I helped Kenneth Branagh and Dominic West with Boris and Prince Charles respectively. We spent most of the time laughing.
Which individual do you find hardest to play?
Myself. That’s the hardest one of all, and I still haven’t nailed it.
Does The Alexandra hold any special significance for you?
Yes! I’ve played The Alexandra before a few times - I think we did I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue there, with Jack Dee and Tim Brooke-Taylor, in 2020. Just weeks later Covid struck and we lost Tim. Such a lovely, funny man. Birmingham’s a brilliant city, and the accent’s great for puns when making up new words for the Uxbridge English Dictionary! Eg ‘Indict’- Brummie food that’s still okay to eat. ‘Groin’- the one that comes after red and yellow at the traffic lights. You get the picture!
Remember the infamous Coughing Major scandal that rocked hit TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?...
A stage play centred around the story - and titled Quiz - heads out on tour this month, visiting the region in late November. Impressionist Rory Bremner takes top billing in the production, starring as show host Chris Tarrant. What’s On chats to Rory about Quiz, his career and visiting Birmingham...
You’ve previously starred in only one other play - Noël Coward’s Relative Values. What made you say yes to Quiz? And what are you looking forward to most about touring this production?
I loved Relative Values - for someone used to stand-up, it’s great to be part of a team.
With Quiz, I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing a character over a whole play, not just a short sketch. Also, Chris Tarrant says he hates my impression of him, which makes it even more fun!
As an impressionist, what helps you the most in terms of getting into a character?
Always the voice. Once you get that, the rest often follows. It’s an instinctive thing with impressionists. But playing a character is going to involve some acting. Luckily, both the writer and the director are as good as they come. That’s really exciting and makes me want to raise my game.
How familiar were you with the scandal of ‘The Coughing Major’? Had you seen the play when it was on in the West End back in 2018, or seen the ITV adaptation which aired in 2020?
I knew about it and enjoyed the TV version with Michael Sheen, who’s cornered the market in playing well-known figures on film - I must meet his agent - and Matthew McFadyen, who’s terrific in everything he does, especially Succession. His character, Tom Wambsgans, reminds me of Peter Mandelson. I’d love to see him play that part. I’ve deliberately avoided watching Quiz again, though, as Daniel Evans [the director] told me not to. It’s the first note he gave me, and I’m doing what I’m told! I’m also not starting too soon, as it’s enough for my wife to live with Chris Tarrant for four months. Six would be too much!
If you could star in a play centred around the life of another of your impressions, who would you most like to bring to the stage?
Maybe Boris or Trump. I enjoy doing them, but I can’t stand either of them, so it might drive me mad. I helped Kenneth Branagh and Dominic West with Boris and Prince Charles respectively. We spent most of the time laughing.
Which individual do you find hardest to play?
Myself. That’s the hardest one of all, and I still haven’t nailed it.
Does The Alexandra hold any special significance for you?
Yes! I’ve played The Alexandra before a few times - I think we did I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue there, with Jack Dee and Tim Brooke-Taylor, in 2020. Just weeks later Covid struck and we lost Tim. Such a lovely, funny man. Birmingham’s a brilliant city, and the accent’s great for puns when making up new words for the Uxbridge English Dictionary! Eg ‘Indict’- Brummie food that’s still okay to eat. ‘Groin’- the one that comes after red and yellow at the traffic lights. You get the picture!