Marcus Brigstocke Interview
BBC Four: How did The Late Edition come about?
Marcus Brigstocke: Bill Dare took me to lunch at Pizza Express and asked if I wanted to front my own radio show. He was thinking in terms of a companion show to The Now Show and The News Quiz. I was doing so much radio at the time that I was a little reluctant to do more. Then, by happy chance we discovered that people in TV were crying out for a satire show so we seized the chance. We went to see Jon Plowman with the bones of an idea and he gave us the money to do an audio pilot, which we recorded last year.
BBC Four: Why BBC Four?
MB: We decided on BBC Four before even knowing that they were looking for a show like this. We guessed that we'd be able to do a more intelligent show, without that enforced trendiness you get on some topical shows on the bigger channels.
BBC Four: Why a talk show?
MB: We wanted to do a mix of scripted and unscripted material. The Americans, for all their faults, have got this sort of show sewn up - The Late Show, The Tonight Show and of course The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which is utterly brilliant and I believe is now considered the fourth most reliable source of news in the US. The difference is that all our guests come with an attitude or an opinion so we try to get a polemic going between us. It's never, "So what are you up to these days, and I see you have a book coming out." In fact we are a little reluctant to book out-and-out celebrities because so many other shows are doing that. Also, we can't afford them! I like the idea of having people no one has heard of but are interesting and passionate about their views - especially if it's something I disagree with equally passionately.
BBC Four: What about the team?
MB: I wanted to get the best people possible for this sort of show, and without wishing to offend the many excellent people who are not on the team as yet, I think we pretty much have. I've worked with a fair few of them before and admired many of the others from afar. I'd love to say we are like one big happy family but we aren't. We are much more like a small group of devoted people trying to make the best show we can.
BBC Four: Are you attempting to be objective politically?
MB: Objective? Objectionable, possibly. I don't think I tow any particular party line. But I have opinions and I express them. That's part of the point of the show. It's not news or factual, so I am not under the same pressure to be neutral.
BBC Four: Some of the interviews get quite serious though?
MB: Yes, sorry about that. It would be quite easy to take the serious stuff out in the edit but I think it would miss the point. I want the show to be interesting as well as funny - there's few things worse than watching someone sitting opposite a genuinely fascinating or challenging guest searching endlessly for the gag and missing the opportunity to actually talk.
BBC Four: What do you hope will happen with The Late Edition?
MB: I want kids doing Late Edition catch phrases in the play ground, cut out and keep pictures of me in Smash Hits, Late Edition ring tones topping the download charts and a massive Late Edition McDonalds spin off promotion, you know paper Coke cups with the LE logo on the side and the McMarcus burger with bacon and cheese and a Late Edition toy to collect and keep. Either that, or a very good show that makes people laugh.
