As a seasoned observer of life and its quirks, I must say that David Mitchell is a captivating figure who defies easy categorization. His journey from a pining admirer to a happily married man with a love for poker, humor, and intellectual pursuits is nothing short of intriguing.
Picture the delight of experiencing an intimate, one-on-one comedy show, tailored exclusively for you as the privileged audience member. This isn’t a tiring, over-the-top, forced performance filled with exaggerated voices or slapstick humor. Instead, it’s a smooth transition into a hilarious soliloquy, punctuated by subtle wit, insightful observations, and spontaneous sprinklings of clever remarks throughout.
As a cinephile, I’m delighted to share that, similar to my recent BBC series Ludwig, I’ve often found myself in the fortunate circumstance where roles have been tailored specifically for me – no auditions necessary. It’s not something that’s happened this directly before, but every significant character I’ve portrayed thus far has been penned with my name in mind.
Peep Show was specifically penned for me and Rob [Webb], while Ben Elton wrote Upstart Crow, envisioning a younger David Mitchell. He sent the script to the BBC, expressing his search for someone resembling me. We chuckled, tinged with a hint of wistfulness… time waits for no one, indeed. With some makeup and considering that in the 16th century, someone at 30 might appear 50, it worked out fine.
Mitchell’s automatic response when sensing he’s approaching waters that might benefit himself is humor: “It’s an excellent strategy for getting cast. I’d recommend it to every actor. If they already have you in mind, you’re one step ahead, because no one will be as similar to you as you are yourself.
Stepping into the shoes of a devoted fan, I’d like to shift my focus to Jesse Armstrong, the joint architect and scribe of Peep Show alongside Sam Bain. More recently, he has captured global attention with Succession, a series that delves deep into the questionable conduct at the core of an American media empire dynasty. Despite both shows boasting exceptional writing, they could hardly be more dissimilar, couldn’t they?
Mitchell remarks, “Without a doubt, it’s present – a world that underscores the absurdity and humor in human ambition.” What he has cleverly envisioned is a realm where you understand that those wielding immense power and influence are as flawed as people struggling with relationships in an ordinary flat in Croydon.
Individuals holding power are often more intellectually capable than average, yet they’re still imperfect, weak, self-serving, and frequently disillusioning human beings. I admire the approach taken by the writer in portraying this nuanced perspective on humanity, elevating it to the grand scale of the wealthy and entitled, which I find brilliant. There is a consistent theme running through his work. Needless to say, the dialogue – much of which he penned – is excellent across the board.
While I can’t claim to be an actor, if the opportunity for a role in Succession had come my way, I likely wouldn’t have turned it down. But let me assure you, I don’t think I could have outperformed the talented cast already on the show. You never watch those actors and think, “Ah, they missed their mark there,” or worry about looking misplaced in that British context.
In a new character introduction by Mitchell, we meet John “Ludwig” Taylor, a solitary puzzle-maker who’s been summoned by his brother’s wife, Lucy (played by Anna Maxwell-Martin), after James, a sociable family man and DCI in Cambridge’s Major Investigations Team, has mysteriously vanished. As James’s identical twin, John is tasked with taking on his brother’s identity and delving into the police headquarters to unravel the mystery. However, it proves difficult for Ludwig (John’s chosen pseudonym inspired by his favorite childhood composer) as he often becomes engrossed in solving murders through puzzles, which may hinder him from focusing on the task at hand.
While waiting, he’ll work on a crossword puzzle – “except for Ludwig,” a chuckle, “since it would feel like taking a break from work.
I find a striking similarity between myself and his character in our cautious nature regarding risks. On one hand, I’m an introverted individual who often prefers solitude. Yet, my profession as a performer demands an extroverted demeanor, which is quite the opposite. At the same time, I can relate to John’s longing for solitude, but I believe that such a lifestyle wouldn’t bring me joy. This leads me to question if I truly am an introvert or perhaps just someone who adapts to various situations.
Many artists often experience a constant swing between immense pride in their abilities and deep self-criticism. It’s crucial to focus on the self-doubt when discussing oneself, as the self-assurance might come off as overbearing. Consequently, there are moments when I feel disappointed for not meeting my own standards, striving for improvement, but also times when I am thrilled, thinking, “That was fantastic! Everyone applauded!
He is sweetly delighted when I confess that my wife and I love “soft murder” – “That’s a great phrase,” he says, adding slightly dreamily, “soft murder is ‘fun’ murder, ‘puzzle’ murder, not traumatising ‘a child has disappeared’ murder.” Yes, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise… “Scandi murder, though, that’s hard.”
One captivating aspect of Mitchell lies in his relatable and genuine self-deprecation. He often jests about wanting to project an image other than his true self – the imagined Mitchell presents himself as a well-read intellectual, perpetually engrossed in a book (though he adores reading but finds it challenging; “I’m ashamed by how few books I’ve read”), and a passionate theater enthusiast with a refined palate for unconventional cinema.
When I recommend he should view the original Belgian Professor T detective series prior to the one starring Ben Miller, his hesitant reaction is: “But isn’t it a dubbed version?” Is that an issue? “Not exactly an advantage. It’s not something that would prevent watching, but it simply means you can’t watch it while eating since if your gaze drops…
“I know I ought to love subtitles and I would like to project myself as ‘That is where I am in the culture’ – somebody who loves nothing more than a wonderful piece of foreign language cinema. And what a terrible disadvantage it is for it to be in our horrible vernacular. So officially I am on Team Subtitle, but I just find it slightly impractical, not being able to understand what they’re f***ing saying.”
Ian and Kathy, his parents, are both alive, and Mitchell, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday this summer, looks back on his childhood with a warm chuckle. He also has a sibling named Daniel, just seven years younger, much like the age difference between his daughters – Barbara, born in 2015, and June Violet from last October – both sharing fame with Victoria Coren, known for her work on Only Connect.
The Mitchells’ seniors used to manage hotels for Trusthouse Forte, and it’s passed down in their family history that as an infant, David was often placed inside a spacious closet where cleaning supplies were stored. This was because, back then, there was also a telephone there, so they could use the reception desk for babysitting services. If the baby cried, the person at reception would notice since the phone would be off the hook.
“It’s not something we’d consider safe by today’s standards. Moreover, according to our family folklore, I was put inside a cleaning cabinet as an infant, and my first spoken word was ‘Vacuum’, referring to the Hoover.
Over time, as he grew older, his parents relocated to Headington, an Oxford suburb, to teach hotel management at what was known as Oxford Polytechnic. So, I spent my childhood in the house that my parents still reside in today. They often referred to it as, “We gave up managing hotels to be here for you.” However, my father found the new location quite taxing, and I believe my mother always yearned for her previous life there.
Ever since I was a kid, murder mysteries have always held me spellbound – from Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple and David Suchet’s Poirot, to both Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett as Holmes. Growing up in Oxford, Inspector Morse was one of the shows my family and I would eagerly tune into together. As a teen, it was one of the last programs we watched together before I ventured out on my own. To this day, these types of shows, like Only Murders in the Building, remain my go-to for cozy television viewing.
He often thinks back to the vacations spent with his family in Brittany. They would travel by ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and stay in a mobile home, eventually moving on to renting gites. One particular memory that stands out is the whole family in the car, him and his infant brother enjoying a cassette tape of Bernard Cribbins narrating an abridged version of Swallows and Amazons.
I recall the sweltering car ride, the lengthy trip, and that cassette we’d play repeatedly until Daniel could hum along to the lyrics. It would play ‘Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome,’ and he would mimic me perfectly, using the same pitch, ‘Swarrrann and Aranaaans by Artharrransaan.’ It was simply charming.
Currently, a common pastime for the typical Mitchell household is enjoying a game of Clue. It’s been quite entertaining, especially with the older one participating extensively. The younger one isn’t quite ready just yet, but we’re hoping to eventually convince her to join us in her designated play area.
He doesn’t like the way there have been efforts to modernise the game – “It was set in an idealised 1930s country house murder scenario – the golden age of crime. So, to bring it up to date is to miss the point.”
It seems like he finds it very frustrating when people try to modify a product without fully grasping its charm, which is quite common. Similarly, he’s not fond of mint-flavored KitKats.
Oooh, who doesn’t love a Mitchell irritability jag.
He mentions that there are many things that can be annoying, yet he finds them intriguing,” he notes. “Being someone who strives to find humor in situations, he has often discovered that this stems from aspects that tend to irritate him.
Are you asking if he can provide me with more? That’s similar to setting up an episode of Room 101. It seems like you’re requesting ample humor for your collection. Gosh, if I could do it that swiftly, I’d be on a comedy tour!
I still remember Tracey Emin’s two bugbears: clowns and cocaine. “Well, I’ve never had cocaine so I don’t think it would be fair of me to speak ill of it,” – which may be just the funniest line in more than four decades of interviewing – “for all I know, it’s great!”
Before making his move, he chose the “Mystery Board Game,” followed by an impassioned outburst as he landed on a space and started an impressive tirade.
It’s worth mentioning that my age might make this sound surprising, but it’s consistently annoying to me when many social events, where the main objective is conversation, get overpowered by loud music.
Indeed, I’ve come across such events where the primary focus seems to shift from dancing to socializing, often accompanied by loud music that doesn’t encourage movement. Yet, the absence of a dancefloor and the general reluctance to dance leaves me perplexed. It feels as though an essential element is missing, turning what could be a lively gathering into a mere exchange of words, making it challenging to carry on a conversation. Am I not mistaken in assuming this scenario is familiar to you?
These gatherings often resemble BBC social events. The organizers tend to believe that continuous music is what people desire, unaware that their preferences differ significantly from those of middle-aged attendees who primarily come for conversation. While it might not be suitable for a one-man comedy show due to lack of humor, it’s undeniably exasperating.
It’s not appropriate or beneficial, especially during an interview, to criticize an entire generation like millennials. While they may not be the primary buyers of DVDs, there seems to be a discernible gap between generations nowadays.
In 2012, the story behind David and Victoria’s marriage is quite famous. They first met at a party, where David immediately fell for her, but unfortunately, she had already chosen another partner, causing David, who enjoys entertaining, to endure three years of longing. However, eventually, Victoria was ready for him, and so far, their story has had a happy ending.
As a movie-goer who’s seen one too many romantic tales, I can certainly understand the notion of love at first sight. However, there’s always a twist in these stories, and for me, it seems like I might have crossed paths with her fleetingly, quite a few years back.
Indeed? “Victoria disagrees, and then she becomes annoyed with me because I didn’t fall in love with her the first time we met – when I clarify, I mean our first encounter,” he amends his statement.
Beyond her role as a quiz show host, Coren Mitchell is also a renowned poker champion. David was fortunate enough to join her at various poker tournaments, including one in Nottingham and another surprisingly in Las Vegas, where he found himself unexpectedly captivated.
He’s incredibly proud that his wife was the first woman to win the European Poker Tournament and is currently the only individual, male or female, who has won it twice. Over time, Mitchell has been known for being very devoted to his wife. Does he think there’s a lover and a loved one in every relationship? If so, does he see himself as the former?
Well, I’m not convinced. What captivates me about her is that I believe she genuinely cares for me. For any relationship to thrive and last, it needs to be built on mutual affection.
She’s undeniably my most cherished individual worldwide, brilliant indeed, yet if pressed to elaborate on what truly captivates me, it’s her intellectual self-assurance, which is subtly demonstrated without constantly broadcasting it.
The key to our strong marriage lies in this – she values humor as the primary use of intelligence, which I wholeheartedly endorse.
In an interview about Victoria, would she express the same deep admiration for him as I do? Even though I might not bring her up in conversation, she’s frequently on my mind. However, I wouldn’t say this out of disrespect. I’m deeply in love with her and think highly of her, but I don’t feel that my personal life is of general interest to others. My marriage is happy and with a wonderful partner, yet not something I consider to be widely relevant.
In this situation, I’d rather not dodge the question and directly state, “I prefer not to discuss my personal life, let’s instead delve into scene 15, which is an intriguing enigma.” However, addressing the underlying meaning might lead one to assume, “He won’t stop talking about his wife – understandable. You appreciate her. Move on.
David Mitchell – the one-man show on tour? He should definitely do it.
Ludwig is coming to BBC One and iPlayer on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Wednesday 25th September.
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2024-09-23 17:39