“There are lots of irritating things and I like them”

As a seasoned interviewer and avid fan of David Mitchell’s work, I must say that his life story is nothing short of intriguing. From his humble beginnings to his rise as a quiz show presenter and poker champion, it seems his journey has been filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Add Ludwig to your watchlist

Picture the unique thrill of being treated to a solo comedy act, tailored just for you as a privileged viewer. Unlike a tiresome, over-the-top, forced performance with excessive funny voices, or even a calculated act – it’s more like an effortless drift into a hilarious monologue at times, subtle witty comments here and there, and the casual sprinkling of clever remarks everywhere.

David Mitchell – actor, writer, comedian, and occasional columnist for The Observer – begins by admitting that, much like in his latest BBC series “Ludwig,” he’s often found himself in a fortunate situation where roles have been specifically tailored for him. As he puts it, “This hasn’t happened quite so directly before, but the significant characters I’ve portrayed in the past were all written with me in mind.

The play “Peep Show” was specifically penned for me and Rob [Webb], followed by Ben Elton creating “Upstart Crow“, where he suggested to the BBC that he was searching for a younger version of David Mitchell. We chuckle, with a hint of wistfulness… Time waits for no one, as they say. However, considering makeup and the fact that in the 16th century, by the age of 30, you might appear to be 50, it was deemed acceptable.

“Mitchell’s method of avoiding getting too close to self-interested waters is by using humor: ‘Being cast this way is ideal. I would recommend it to all actors. If they already have you in mind, then you’re one step ahead because no one can be as similar to you as yourself.’

Let’s shift our focus to Jesse Armstrong, a joint creator and writer with Sam Bain, who is renowned for “Peep Show.” His latest venture, the widely acclaimed series titled “Succession,” delves into the deplorable actions within an American media conglomerate family. Compared to “Peep Show,” these two shows have distinct storylines, don’t they?

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but notice it – the profound commentary on the absurdity and humor of human striving. What this visionary has managed to conjure up is a universe that reveals the powerful and influential are no different from the folks struggling with relationships in a humble flat in Croydon.

Individuals with power may often possess higher-than-average intelligence, yet they remain imperfect, weak, self-serving, and frequently disillusioning human beings. I admire how the creator of Peep Show transferred this complex, ambivalent perspective on humanity to the grand stage of affluent, privileged characters. This was a masterful move. Thus, there’s a common theme running through. And let’s not forget that the dialogue – which he crafted extensively – is consistently excellent across the work.

He might have entertained the idea of being in “Succession,” but he wouldn’t have outright refused. In a playful twist, let me put it this way: It would have been thrilling to be part of “Succession,” yet I can’t help but doubt if I could have pulled off any role as well as the talented cast already there. When you watch these actors, none of them seem like they’re falling short; instead, they all shine brilliantly. There’s not a single moment where you think, “They messed up there.” In that setting, I’m concerned I might come off as overly British and underwhelming.

John “Ludwig” Taylor, Mitchell’s latest character, is a solitary puzzle-maker who finds himself in a predicament when his twin brother James, a sociable family man and detective chief inspector in Cambridge’s Major Investigations Team, disappears without a trace. To help the situation, James’ wife Lucy (played by Anna Maxwell-Martin), a longtime friend of the twins since childhood, calls upon John to take on his brother’s identity and step into the police headquarters to unravel the mystery. The catch is that Ludwig (John’s chosen pseudonym inspired by his favorite composer) has an uncanny knack for solving murders in each episode using puzzles, which often derails him from focusing on the task at hand.

In his downtime, he’ll solve a crossword puzzle – “except not on Ludwig,” followed by a chuckle, “since that would feel like taking a break while still at work.

I’m embarrassed by how few books I’ve read

It seems to me that he and I have similar cautious tendencies. While I’m an introverted, shy individual in many aspects of my life, I also take on the extroverted role as a professional performer. Yet, there’s another part of me that resonates with John’s desire for solitude, which is characteristic of hermits. However, this aspect doesn’t bring me happiness, suggesting that perhaps I’m not truly an introvert at heart.

Many artists often grapple with a significant fluctuation between immense pride and deep self-doubt. It’s crucial to highlight the self-doubt when discussing oneself, as the self-assuredness can come off as overbearing. At times, I feel like I’ve fallen short of my expectations and strive for improvement, but there are also moments when I think, ‘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 appealing aspect of Mitchell lies in his relatable and genuine self-deprecation. He humorously suggests that he aims to project an image distinct from himself – the imagined Mitchell presents as a thoughtful intellectual, constantly engrossed in a book (though reading is something he enjoys but finds slow; “I’m ashamed of how few books I’ve read”), and a devoted theater-lover with a passion for intense, foreign cinema.

When I recommend he watches the original “Professor T” detective series before the one with Ben Miller, his hesitation is: “But isn’t that with subtitles?” Is that an issue? “It’s… not a benefit. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it simply means you can’t watch it while having dinner because if your attention wanders…

“I should appreciate subtitles and strive to present myself as someone who cherishes foreign language films above all. However, it’s a real drawback when they’re in our native language. I’m pro-subtitle, but I find it slightly inconvenient not being able to follow along with the dialogue.

Ian and Kathy, his parents, are still living. Mitchell, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday this summer, looks back on his childhood with a mix of amusement and fondness. He has a sibling named Daniel, who is seven years younger, much like the age difference between his two daughters – Barbara, born in 2015, and June Violet, born in October of last year. The latter shares her name with Victoria Coren from the popular show Only Connect.

The Mitchells’ senior members were managers at Trusthouse Forte hotels, and it’s become part of their family legend that as an infant, David was often kept in a spacious closet filled with cleaning supplies. In those days, they could arrange for babysitting services through reception by simply leaving the phone off the hook, allowing the receptionist to hear if the baby needed attention.

“It wouldn’t pass as safe by today’s standards, and it’s a story passed down in our family lore that I was kept in a cleaning closet as an infant, and my first spoken word was ‘Vacuum’, or ‘Hoover’.

Over time, as he got older, his parents relocated to Headington, an Oxford suburb, to teach hotel management at what was once known as Oxford Polytechnic. So, I was raised in the same house where they still reside today. They often referred to it as, “We gave up hotel management to be with you.” However, my father found the move quite taxing, and I believe my mother always yearned for those days.

Since his early years, he’s always been captivated by murder mysteries – from Joan Hickson’s ‘Miss Marple’, David Suchet’s ‘Poirot’, to both Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett’s portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. Watching Inspector Morse, which was a favorite among us Oxford residents, was one of the last shows I enjoyed with my parents during my teenage years. Shows like ‘Only Murders in the Building’ create a cozy sanctuary for me when it comes to television viewing.

He often reflects on family vacations spent in Brittany. They’d travel by ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, where they would stay in either a static caravan or later, rented houses (gites). A cherished memory is of the whole family in the car, him and his little 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 tape we played repeatedly until Daniel knew every note. It would play, “Swallows and Amazons” by Arthur Ransome, and he’d mimic it, with a similar rhythm, saying “Swarrrann and Aranaaans by Artharrransaan.” It was endearing.

Currently, a common pastime for the Coren Mitchell family is engaging in games of Clue. “It’s fantastic! We’ve been playing it frequently with our oldest child. Our youngest isn’t quite ready yet, but we hope to convince her to join us in a designated play area.

He’s not fond of attempts to update the game’s style – “Instead of maintaining its 1930s country manor murder mystery vibe, which represents the golden era of crime, modernizing it seems to overlook the essence.

Does he get very annoyed when something bothers him a lot? Yes, it seems he has a hard time appreciating changes to products when he feels they’re not necessary. For instance, he doesn’t like the idea of mint-flavored KitKats.

Oooh, who doesn’t love a Mitchell irritability jag.

He admits, “I have a soft spot for annoying things.” He explains, “As someone who strives to find humor in situations, I’ve often discovered that much of my wit arises from things that bother me.

You ask ‘Can he give me more?’ Well, that’s like preparing a segment for my own version of Room 101. The joke goldmine you’re offering is simply priceless! If I could deliver it so swiftly, I’d be headlining one-man shows!

Tracey Emin has two things she can’t stand – clowns and cocaine. However, since she’s never tried cocaine, she doesn’t feel it would be right for her to criticize it. In fact, she humorously adds that perhaps it’s wonderful! This is one of the funniest lines from over four decades of interviews.

He settles on the “Cluedo thing”, before – boom – he lands on one and takes off on a magnificent rant…

It’s worth mentioning that my age might reveal itself in what I’m about to say, yet it’s something that has consistently bothered me: at social events where the main objective is conversation, the background music often overpowers the very chatter that should be the focus.

It seems there are social events where the main focus is dancing, and I’m comfortable with that – as long as the music is played loudly. However, I often find myself at parties without a dance floor, where people are just talking and it’s impossible to carry on a conversation. This, in my opinion, feels unnecessary and puzzling. Do you also encounter such situations?

These events often feel more like a BBC mixer, as they’re usually overrun with music that some attendees find overwhelming. This is because the organizers tend to come from a different social circle than the middle-aged crowd who are there for conversation. While it might not be hilarious enough for a stand-up comedy act, it certainly is irritating in an exquisite way.

One thing I love about Victoria is – I think she really loves me…

In my professional opinion, as a movie critic, I strive not to generalize an entire generation during interviews or any other context. Selling DVDs isn’t about writing off generations, even though it seems millennials aren’t big on DVDs these days. However, it does feel unusual, after some time, that there appears to be a noticeable gap between generations.

In 2012, the tale of David and Victoria’s union is one that many are familiar with. I crossed paths with him at a gathering, and let me tell you, he was smitten from the get-go. However, my heart belonged elsewhere, leading to three years of longing on his part – a man who thrives on laughter and joy. But alas, patience paid off, as when the time was right, I opened my heart to him, leading us to a chapter that’s been filled with happiness so far.

It seems like he might have experienced love at first sight given our previous encounter, albeit it was many years ago.

He clarifies by saying, “Victoria disagrees with this, and then she becomes annoyed with me because I didn’t fall in love with her during our first encounter – when I actually mean, we met.

Beyond her role as a quiz show host, Coren Mitchell is also a renowned poker champion, with David frequently joining her at both local and international poker tournaments. Their first joint event was in Nottingham, followed by an unexpected journey to Las Vegas, where he found himself unexpectedly captivated.

He’s incredibly proud because his wife became the first woman to win the European Poker Tournament and is currently the only individual – male or female – with two victories. Over time, Mitchell has been known for his deep affection towards his wife. Does he think there are lovers and loved ones in relationships? If so, does he see himself as the one who loves?

As a discerning film enthusiast, I must say, my dear reader, I find myself somewhat skeptical. The appeal of this narrative lies in the depth of its characters, and one such character is her – a captivating soul who, in my humble opinion, harbors a genuine affection for me. However, to sustain and flourish any romantic endeavor, it’s essential that both parties share this sentiment equally.

As a discerning movie critic, I must confess that she stands out as my most captivating character in this cinematic universe. Her brilliance is undeniable, yet it’s more than just that which draws me in. What truly enthralls me is her intellectual self-assurance, a quality she subtly wields without overtly showcasing it. She doesn’t rely on constant displays of confidence; instead, her quiet assuredness speaks volumes.

The key to our strong marriage lies in this: she believes humor is the primary use of intelligence, an idea I wholeheartedly support.

In an interview, if asked about Victoria, would she express her feelings about him as warmly and articulately as she usually does? Or, Put differently, when discussing Victoria in an interview, would she convey her deep affection for him with the same eloquence she typically uses? However, it’s important to note that I wouldn’t necessarily bring up Victoria during the conversation. This doesn’t mean I disrespect her, but rather that she is often on my mind. Furthermore, I have a fulfilling marriage to an outstanding individual who I adore, but I don’t believe this aspect of my life is of broader interest to others.

In this case, I’d rather not evade the topic and bluntly state, ‘I prefer to avoid discussing my personal life; let’s focus on scene 15 instead, as it presents a fascinating enigma.’ However, addressing the underlying question might give the impression that ‘He talks incessantly about his wife – yes, he seems fond of her. Let’s move on.’

David Mitchell – the one-man show on tour? He should definitely do it.

2024-09-24 17:36

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