Frank Skinner

[Andy147]

Star of "Game For a Laugh" with Jeremy Beadle and others, host of "Stars in Their Eyes" and "You Bet!".

There's a slightly more audible version of the clip here.

[Chriddof]

And he was famously parodied by Bob Mortimer in one of Reeves & Mortimer's best sketches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xcXuZvvfRE

[The Lurker]

"Difficult" is the euphemism generally used in show business. Lots of entertainers are "difficult'; Victoria Wood was the same by all reports.

She was more shy and reserved from what I gather. A journo I know was delighted to be interviewing her, only for Wood to barely say anything and give the impression she really didn't want to be there. I've seen reports of other celebs describing her as very shy and almost reclusive.

[derek stitt]

I hate that Skinner cunt now because of that fucking song, was at best ambivalent about him before this World Cup.

[Nice Relaxing Poo]

I hate that Skinner cunt now because of that fucking song, was at best ambivalent about him before this World Cup.

I remember singing it gleefully whilst drunk during Euro 96. Now I hate it more than Melania hates Donald and want to apply a cattle prod to any cunt who's bellowing it like I did 22 years ago.

[Chriddof]

I've taken to calling that song "The Curse".

[Phoenix Lazarus]

I like his joke about Cliff slipping into the Shadows.

[derek stitt]

I remember singing it gleefully whilst drunk during Euro 96. Now I hate it more than Melania hates Donald and want to apply a cattle prod to any cunt who's bellowing it like I did 22 years ago.

This.

[Artemis]

Matthew Kelly was the beard bloke, just mentioned in another thread. Except he didn't have a beard at the time. Who is he I wonder? Can't be bothered to find out. Odd manner about him. This is the interview anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD85YLJ2TTo

Can't be bothered to explain to you who he is, but if you've watched the video, you'd know why his manner was 'odd'. He actually had some balls to turn up and confront Skinner, there. I'm of the school that anything is up or grabs in comedy, but going for the edgy stuff that doesn't mean it's going to be good, and you should be prepared to defend yourself if you're come after by the punchline.

[Clive Langham]

She was more shy and reserved from what I gather. A journo I know was delighted to be interviewing her, only for Wood to barely say anything and give the impression she really didn't want to be there. I've seen reports of other celebs describing her as very shy and almost reclusive.

I'd always heard she was a tough cookie, and hard to work with, which is why I was surprised when she died and all the reminiscences were about what a gentle, shy, and sensitive soul she was. There's this story from Popbitch that talks about the other side to her.

For all her woman-of-the-people,
   salt-of-the-earth appeal,
   Victoria Wood was not without
   her diva-ish side.

   She was once booked to perform
   for a big event run by the
   Evening Standard at a hotel in
   Harrogate, but she walked into
   the ballroom, took one look at
   the grand piano and said "No, I'm
   not playing that" before turning
   on her heel and walking out.

   One helper, armed with the
   Yellow Pages, managed to find
   a replacement piano which
   matched Vic's specifications –
   and it was owned by a couple
   who lived out in the Moors.

   After much hairpulling and
   pleading, they managed to
   convince this couple to loan
   the hotel their piano for the
   evening, had it loaded into
   a van and brought into the
   venue for Ms Wood's approval.

   She re-entered the ballroom,
   took one look at the new piano,
   said "Now the stool doesn't
   match!" and walked out again.

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Matthew Kelly was the beard bloke, just mentioned in another thread. Except he didn't have a beard at the time. Who is he I wonder? Can't be bothered to find out. Odd manner about him. This is the interview anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD85YLJ2TTo

I wanted to see that again, having done so at the time.  Can't be doing with the appalling sound, though.

[gmoney]

I'd always heard she was a tough cookie, and hard to work with, which is why I was surprised when she died and all the reminiscences were about what a gentle, shy, and sensitive soul she was. There's this story from Popbitch that talks about the other side to her.

For all her woman-of-the-people,
   salt-of-the-earth appeal,
   Victoria Wood was not without
   her diva-ish side.

   She was once booked to perform
   for a big event run by the
   Evening Standard at a hotel in
   Harrogate, but she walked into
   the ballroom, took one look at
   the grand piano and said "No, I'm
   not playing that" before turning
   on her heel and walking out.

   One helper, armed with the
   Yellow Pages, managed to find
   a replacement piano which
   matched Vic's specifications –
   and it was owned by a couple
   who lived out in the Moors.

   After much hairpulling and
   pleading, they managed to
   convince this couple to loan
   the hotel their piano for the
   evening, had it loaded into
   a van and brought into the
   venue for Ms Wood's approval.

   She re-entered the ballroom,
   took one look at the new piano,
   said "Now the stool doesn't
   match!" and walked out again.

The reeks of promises by the organiser/venue not fulfilled, and the performer's frustration.

[Rolf Lundgren]

I'm a fan and have been ever since Fantasy Football League. It gets lumped in with the laddish culture of the 90's but it was really well made television and consistently funny. There was sincerity behind Frank and David's interest and passion for football which producers have tried to recapture with the likes of Tim Lovejoy and James Corden. You could criticise them for spawning these copycats I suppose but I prefer to think that they set a standard which people often fail to surpass.

He doesn't come off that well in his autobiography but he is searingly honest which makes it a terrific book. One of the few autobiographies where the pre-fame stories are as entertaining as the post-fame ones. I don't think I'd like to meet him though. Not just because of the stories that others have posted here but he seems to have that really competitive streak of needing to be the funniest bloke in the room.

His chat show was really good and at least Frank stuck to his guns with the Matthew Kelly interview. Kelly's being but if I'd been wrongly accused and had my mainstream career stuffed as a result of them, I'd be tetchy too. Some of the best interviews he did were with the oddball guests they use to have on like the Japanese bloke who invented a love potion. I think Graham Norton used to have quirky quests too, you don't really get those anymore but that's something for another day.

[the science eel]

Kelly's being but if I'd been wrongly accused and had my mainstream career stuffed as a result of them, I'd be tetchy too.

Skinner's comments were responsible for ruining Kelly's career?

[Rolf Lundgren]

Skinner's comments were responsible for ruining Kelly's career?

No, I'm saying the accusations in the press had ruined Kelly's career. Kelly was venting at Skinner because he had to vent at someone.

[Tony Yeboah]

No, I'm saying the accusations in the press had ruined Kelly's career. Kelly was venting at Skinner because he had to vent at someone.

This was great TV. You can see both guys' point of view and they have a calm, reasoned discussion which seems to reach a productive conclusion where there is mutual respect between the two and they can be satisfied they have both put across their side of the story. But there is a real edge to it, given the seriousness of the allegations Kelly had to deal with and the fact Skinner clearly was not expecting Kelly to spring this on him.

From what I recall, Kelly was not bothered about the exchange being broadcast but Skinner wanted it go out.

As for Skinner generally, he discussed on yesterday's radio show that he was filming for Zoe Ball's show this week and made a big deal to the staff there that he had to leave at 6pm to watch the football. He does freely acknowledge that he can be a bit of a diva- I do hope he does not cross the line into being a complete arsehole.

[Mark Steels Stockbroker]

Didn't we have a thread about Taskmaster which said he didn't get on with the one out of We Are Klang?

[Small Man Big Horse]

Didn't we have a thread about Taskmaster which said he didn't get on with the one out of We Are Klang?

Yeah, someone suggests that here: https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,49263.msg2603999.html#msg2603999 - can't say I noticed it myself though.

[St_Eddie]

Didn't we have a thread about Taskmaster which said he didn't get on with the one out of We Are Klang?

"No, we saw a Turtles episode, where they didn't get along with Krang."

*slide whistle*

[Clownbaby]

I'd always heard she was a tough cookie, and hard to work with, which is why I was surprised when she died and all the reminiscences were about what a gentle, shy, and sensitive soul she was. There's this story from Popbitch that talks about the other side to her.

For all her woman-of-the-people,
   salt-of-the-earth appeal,
   Victoria Wood was not without
   her diva-ish side.

   She was once booked to perform
   for a big event run by the
   Evening Standard at a hotel in
   Harrogate, but she walked into
   the ballroom, took one look at
   the grand piano and said "No, I'm
   not playing that" before turning
   on her heel and walking out.

   One helper, armed with the
   Yellow Pages, managed to find
   a replacement piano which
   matched Vic's specifications –
   and it was owned by a couple
   who lived out in the Moors.

   After much hairpulling and
   pleading, they managed to
   convince this couple to loan
   the hotel their piano for the
   evening, had it loaded into
   a van and brought into the
   venue for Ms Wood's approval.

   She re-entered the ballroom,
   took one look at the new piano,
   said "Now the stool doesn't
   match!" and walked out again.

People are usually proper rosey about people after they die to be fair. Seeing that Victoria Wood's material often centred around a piano, I don't really blame her for being very particular about the type of piano she has. That being said I bet it was annoying for the owners of the piano having it awkwardly lugged from their house

[jobotic]

If any of it is true.

[ASFTSN]

Frank Skinner looks like Dennis Reynolds if he'd been staring into the sun for a year.

[Famous Mortimer]

This was great TV. You can see both guys' point of view and they have a calm, reasoned discussion which seems to reach a productive conclusion where there is mutual respect between the two and they can be satisfied they have both put across their side of the story. But there is a real edge to it, given the seriousness of the allegations Kelly had to deal with and the fact Skinner clearly was not expecting Kelly to spring this on him.

It's not like it started from a normal disagreement, though - it's because Skinner made a bunch of shitty, low-hanging-fruit jokes about a vaguely naff celebrity being a paedophile. It's certainly interesting in that this sort of confrontation almost never happens on TV but given how very close to being destroyed Kelly's life was by false allegations, I'm amazed he was that calm with Skinner.

But, honestly, I've never been the world's biggest fan. I liked "Packet of Three" and the initial pilot of "Blue Heaven", but I never cared for his standup or his team with Baddiel. So my opinion on the above may be tempered with that knowledge.

[Thosworth]

So having listened to Frank Skinner's podcast of his Absolute show for years, here's a collection of thoughts:

He really is one of the sharpest comic minds and you can see that the gears never stop turning. Just one example was when someone asked where Sir Clive Sinclair has been since the 80s he instantly came back with "He's been keeping a low profile .... driving his C5".

Undoubtedly his main problem is that he is an example of when oversensitivity goes too far and meets arsehole round the back, turning into total rudeness.

Basically he is completely unable to take any personal criticism, but this extends to praise, which he will always pick apart to turn it into a criticism "That was one of the best shows ever" "One of...?". This makes him so susceptible to perceived slights from practically everyone that he has no qualms in frequently being incredibly unpleasant (although this is through recounted stories and never actually live on air.)

For example, he has the whole 'posse' background laughter from the staff, but it has been openly mentioned on the show that previous producers have been fired for not constantly laughing at his jokes.

Finally as an aside, although he's only 61, in the last six months he's increasingly been noticeably pausing and struggling for words, once or twice a show, which is quite sad and must be incredibly frustrating/depressing if he realises he's losing his edge.

[checkoutgirl]

I liked "Packet of Three"

Shit, with Henry Normal and Jenny Eclair. I remember that. I concur with anyone saying Skinner is quick with a comeback, I think him, Lee Mack and David Mitchell are three of the quickest comedians in the game. Most TV is scripted and rehearsed to death but these guys still sound like they are comong up with this stuff on the spot.

I'm not a massive fan of Skinner but I saw him live about 3 years ago and he was hilarious for at least 90 minutes, seemed to be really enjoying himself too. Fantasy Football I never go into at the time but if it was on now I'd watch it, same goes for Unplanned. I've enjoyed the Baddiel and Skinner world cup podcasts but they haven't done one since 2010 as far as I know. Ironic really as this world cup would have suited them being there perfectly.

As for him being a prick, it's hard to enjoy entertainment if everyone has to be a good person by everyone's estimation. Skinner is far from perfect but if he can stay the right side of Operation Oar then that's enough for me. I've read his autobiography and while I enjoyed it the only bit I can remember is him signing off  by saying he shags as many fit birds as he can because of some karma or an impoverished childhood or some such nonsense. I remember thinking it was weird that he needed this justification, most people just say they enjoy it and so fucking what.

He probably is a prick but at least he's funny, Piers Morgan is a prick and he hasn't even got that.

[metaltax]

I call bullshit on that Victoria Wood story. There's no way that you'd get a replacement grand piano (from some random person's HOUSE?!), moved by a specialist piano-moving company and get it to where it needs to be and tuned in time before the audience were walking through the door. All that stuff would be specified in a rider well in advance of the show day.

[up_the_hampipe]

I think someone on here showed me this scuzzy routine he did about having a fling with a 16 year old girl https://youtu.be/4U2UaEGWq2E?t=57m35s

[Chriddof]

I call bullshit on that Victoria Wood story. There's no way that you'd get a replacement grand piano (from some random person's HOUSE?!), moved by a specialist piano-moving company and get it to where it needs to be and tuned in time before the audience were walking through the door. All that stuff would be specified in a rider well in advance of the show day.

Yeah, that story did seem a bit odd to me as well. Maybe something like it happened, but it got massively exaggerated over time before it reached Popbitch. Actually, thinking about it, all of a sudden I've got this feeling that story is an actual old gag about diva-ish performers in general that's been re-purposed. I swear I've read / seen versions of it in books, TV shows, etc over the years.

[Dr Rock]

It would be specified on the rider but even with massive acts, some venues try to skimp on the rider or think 'that'll do.' Often it's fine. The story can only have come from the venue or Wood or Wood's people, or is outright made up. I can't see it coming from Wood or her people so that makes me suspicious of it or the details.

[gib]

Would a grand piano fit in a van?