David Baddiel explains why he’s pushing back on cat stereotypes in new show with Ricky Gervais and Jonathan Ross

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What’s the view from your sofa?

Our living room centers around a large sofa positioned in front of the TV and fireplace. It’s usually covered with cats and family members! I prefer to choose what we watch around 8 PM. If we wait until 8:30, my wife and I will likely fall asleep, while the kids will be busy video-chatting with their friends.

Do you agree on what to watch together?

Morwenna, who directed the Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road, loves having everyone watch it with her – though she probably wouldn’t appreciate me saying that! It can be tricky because she gets easily absorbed and asks us to be quiet during the good parts. My son Ezra and I enjoy watching football together, and I recently watched Severance with my daughter Dolly and our neighbor, Frank Skinner. Morwenna and I prefer watching documentaries.

You’ve also written a new TV drama?

I’m passionate about storytelling, and I especially loved writing my upcoming thriller, ‘Hunting Alice Bell.’ It’s about four women wrongly believed to be connected to a famous serial killer, and how they fight back against the public’s reaction. The story is meant to reflect the current climate of misinformation and chaos, but it was also a relatively low-budget production, so seeing a helicopter explosion in one scene was a surprisingly emotional moment.

Do your cats watch telly?

Tiger is a big fan of watching TV, but Ron and Zelda aren’t as interested. Tiger especially enjoys sports and music, particularly the Bee Gees. All three cats share the same mother, but we rehomed Zelda to my parents when she was a kitten. After my dad developed dementia and my mum passed away, Zelda spent most of her time outdoors. When she came back to live with us, it wasn’t a heartwarming reunion – she was quite hostile! Zelda needs a lot of attention, Tiger is always affectionate, and Ron is a bit odd, though he’s been more sociable since his mother died.

What is David Baddiel: Cat Man about?

This documentary challenges the common idea that cats are aloof, uncaring, and less empathetic than dogs. It showcases cats doing amazing things – from paddleboarding and going on walks to volunteering in hospitals – and features heartfelt stories from celebrities like Jonathan Ross, Ricky Gervais, and Dawn O’Porter about their love for cats.

Have you always been a cat person?

My dad, a typical working-class Welshman, wasn’t known for being warm and fuzzy – he was easily annoyed. I joked at his funeral that his passions were football, food, and yelling, “Who the heck is this?” whenever the phone rang. He mostly showed affection to our cat, which really shaped my brothers and me – we’ve all become cat lovers. I think the bond you can have with a cat is actually more complicated than with a dog, and in a lot of ways, cats are more similar to people.

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People have described you as the voice of many things – football, quirky comedy, a certain British male culture, and even British Jewish identity. Would you trade all those labels to become known as the voice of cats?

I’ve always loved cats – I’m much happier when one is around! I also prefer not to be labeled or defined by a single role. That’s why I often decline requests to speak about antisemitism, even though it’s still a crucial topic. I’ve simply decided I don’t want to be seen as an activist anymore.

Knowing your song ‘Three Lions,’ released in 1996, will be played at the World Cup this year, does that make you feel proud?

The Football Association has been actively trying to replace ‘Three Lions’ with ‘Sweet Caroline,’ which is strange considering it’s an American song with no connection to football. During Gareth Southgate’s time as manager, there was a feeling that a change was needed, partly because the original ‘Three Lions’ included audio of him missing a penalty – so I get why that was tough for him! However, I’m really proud of ‘Three Lions’; it has fantastic music and lyrics that really resonate with football supporters.

Authors

Gabriel Tate

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2026-01-05 21:21