Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Sharon Horgan read letters on Dogs vs. Cats

In 2014, a series of letters were sent to, and reprinted in, the Guardian newspaper in response to one of the more pressing geopolitical issues of the day.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Jarvis Cocker, Olivia Colman, Sharon Horgan, Jeremy Corbyn and more read these letters at our event at the Union Chapel, London in March 2019.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I actually have had cats warn me of people approaching the house; trying to console me when I'm unwell; giving emotional support; and bringing me food. The fact that I don't intend to eat a very dead half-mouse is beside the point. They made the effort.

[@eleanor.shadow]

One of my cats actually woke my mother up one day to warn about the overflowing balcony (the drainage system had clogged). The same cat also told us his brother had been accidentally locked in the bathroom and wanted out. Would the aforementioned brother cat have done the same for the other? Nope 😅

[@gingivitis9148]

Some ppl will tell you the cats are evil and love only food and the pain of others. All the while their cat is love blinking at them.

[@vrbixby]

My cat was a marvelous guard cat. She twice alerted me of possible intruders, hissing at a window when I was preoccupied. One time I did notice a lurker.

[@Meagan-Renee]

Adding to this thread, my grandmother's little white cat Suzie woke the whole family when the house caught fire, going room to room to make sure everyone got up and out in time. Cats can be amazing.

[@patmaurer8541]

Indeed. I had a large male cat who was a very attentive mama to an abandoned kitten; he would come and get me when his baby was stuck somewhere he couldn't reach. My cats consistently ask me to follow and assist them. They're lovely personalities. :-)

[@palakchopra9381]

How did the podium not collapse with all this talent on it?

[@LettersLive]

That's why we love the Union Chapel. Very sturdy podiums.

[@palakchopra9381]

@@LettersLive woah okay

[@BeezerWashingbeard]

Balanced out by Corbyn's incompetence perhaps.

[@flangekiwi]

@@BeezerWashingbeard if you've got nothing nice to say ...

[@Rubes98]

I never thought I would see the day that Jarvis Cocker, Jeremy Corbyn and Olivia Coleman would be on one over-crowded podium. And it's about cats vs dogs.

[@moremerry57]

The only thing that could bring the day...

[@sarina76667]

Both our cats and our dog have decided to share custody of our tortoise. They bring her pillows and blankets and tuck her in at night. We think the tortoise is blackmailing the carnivores. As well, one of our cats has decided the hamster is his best friend. We gave the dog a fluffy toy. She destroyed the toy and got black fuzz everywhere. Our cat got visibly upset, jumped on the bed to get a better look at the hamster cage from a safe distance, and sat down with a sigh when he had visual confirmation that his little buddy was still alive. Meanwhile, our cockatiel flirts with the other cat. It’s very confusing for her to find “dinner” singing sweet nothings to her. She’s visibly torn and always ends up succumbing to his charms. I’ve seen her just accept the strange bird by loafing next to the cage to watch the wild birds out the window with him while he preens her fur. I’ve also seen her roll over exposing her belly as if she has conceded. “This bird is boyfriend, not dinner…for now.” We keep telling him it’s a trap, but he just keeps singing. That same cockatiel will bully my sister’s dog into performing tricks. He’ll chatter for a bit. The dog will sprint from the room only to reappear moments later with an item which she lays at the front of the cage. Then, she sits and waits for further instructions. All while the cockatiel looks down on her from his perch. I think they are all feuding dictators and con artists in their own right.

[@lambentlamprey]

😍

[@fatedtolive667]

I was trying to think of another nation on this planet, where a show like this, would work as well as this does. Still thinking.... 😂

[@alandunlap4106]

I found my glasses in the litterbox once. I started buying the good stuff for her...

[@ludoviclemaignen9432]

What defines Britain: Letters to the Editor. Brilliant

[@crossbearer6453]

I love the way he dramatized the letter reading. Much like I do when reading a story to my baby brother. Benedict Cumberbatch made it way more funnier 🤣🤣🤣🤣 impressive

[@justjane805]

I have only discovered this channel recently. I love it. Thank you to everyone involved in making these readings available to us around the world.

[@ezajchowdhary7720]

Oh my god Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman together on a stage is like a dream come true and Letters Live please just upload more of these videos Us international viewers would appreciate it alot Lots of love from India 😍😍

[@moremerry57]

....and the U.S. ☺️♥️

[@margaretduffy1360]

And New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@SweetCarolineBAMBAMBAM]

And Ireland/Poland

[@elkegreiser1799]

... and a German living in Guatemala!

[@DoloresJNurss]

Cats are Libertarians. They believe themselves to be completely independent of those on whom they depend.

[@elizabethwoolnough4358]

My dog is outraged and offended that her Uncle Jeremy would accuse her of being a Tory. He has met her and she was charming to him. Whereas she ripped up and spat out the UKIP leaflet.

[@vanessagoddess1]

answer: she's secretly a cat

[@cmtippens9209]

That was BRILLIANT!! ☺ Edit: Apparently, I watched this a year ago. I concur with my opinion from the previous viewing. This is, indeed, BRILLIANT!! 😃 And now I want more just like this. Please and Thank You. 😊

[@michaelbillington8737]

Absolutely brilliant! I love this series.

[@karenstark9235]

the KZbin algorithm brought me here...and as I see other Letters Live suggestions, I am overwhelmed with curiosity...what crazy genius thing is this?!?

[@howlingwind1937]

My cats and my mums cat always warns us when someone is coming. I've even had cats that have saved me from intruders, they can sure run fast when they've got a cat or 2 scratching the bejesus out of their head and face, oh and my recent cat detected a melanoma and I get fussed over when I'm ill. However, I have had very brave dogs also who have stopped intruders who got a decent amount of mauling obviously they couldn't read the sign that said beware of dogs, and my current dogs have detected cancer on me and also diabetes. So in fairness I think it's 50 50.

[@RobertJarecki]

My Jack Russell Terrier is a Diabetic Alert Service Dog. His alerts are handy at night.

[@howlingwind1937]

@@RobertJarecki isn't it wonderful how our fur kids enhance our existence in this world, I just wish that there was less animal cruelty. My dogs and my cats have found cancer on me and even my next door neighbour! And of course they're terrific hot water bottles in the winter.

[@missjoshemmett]

Andre heard me going by and screamed three times. I knocked on the door and Susan called for help. We got her to the doctor. Andre has never screamed a meow like that before or since. He does, however, mewl piteously when Susan goes out and actually meows, "herro?" so that I have to go in and play with for a few minutes.

[@giovannibilardi8130]

In Italy we haven't nothing as Letters Live and I am so sorry! I would like to see many other movies from it! Thank you vero much indeed to the staff for these

[@giovannibilardi8130]

Very

[@flangekiwi]

"Once in every lifetime, comes a love like this ... " I see you, Vivienne!!! Hugs from a Kiwi remembering those crazy Friday nights; racing home, with half the pub in tow ...when we were The Young Ones💗💗💗

[@jae2686]

No cat or dog would ever be politically minded, they’re smarter than us, particularly actors or politicians.

[@amberd7439]

Excellent readings!

[@dariancremer4519]

This video has no dislikes. This pleases me.

[@MadcapShambleton]

I'm from the future - or should I say the f***tastrophy of 2020. Four dislikes now...the absolute gall of some people! Meanwhile, I am chuffed to have recently discovered @LettersLive, and the special livestream on 20 December was brill.

[@alhambralions5985]

@@MadcapShambleton Dislikes now happily disappeared! Justice and good taste prevail.

[@RatSitnov]

This video has the greatest thumbnail of all time

[@glitch373]

No mention in the title, just Jarvis looming insidiously behind Benedict like a machiavellian overlord.

[@ledlight6630]

This was great, high quality, and brilliant ❤and I loved it❤ ,many thanks for sharing 🙋‍♀️🤗❤🙏

[@danielgnfr]

Why is no one mentioning the great Jarvis Cocker?

[@lasirena23]

I was about to write the same thing!

[@opal-r2h]

Just discovered this channel and my heart 😂

[@yayatheobroma929]

Why is it so short? I want more of this!

[@ka8mk]

My cats hear for me and warn me of visitors, they are awesome!

[@fairwitness7473]

How have I never heard of this?! Oh yeah, that's right; I'm an American. Never mind, I forgot we have no taste...

[@Lawsonomy1]

I have seen exactly one police cat, in news story about a police department in middle America that took on a cat as "morale officer". However this is more likely an exceptional cat (like the first author spoke of) then the sign of a trend. I have also seen a cat detect terminal illness in patents at a hospice. A hospice had a cat that would sit on the beds of patients that would die the next day, comferting them. However, this single a compassionate cat more goes to show that cats COULD go around detecting cancer, but choose not to.

[@solertree8653]

The best part of this video is seeing the person behind them just peering over the current narrator's shoulder

[@kimsherlock8969]

The last from Wiltshire In defence of the Dog Excellent Dogs devote themselves to pleasing the human. Cats will show love in a different manner Cats have shown their love in receiving mine

[@kimsherlock8969]

Simon Hargraves Darborshire , You have a good humour

[@evagibson2871]

I just love it. It is fabulous please bring more.

[@ruthsami842]

The cat started going besserk, racing around, so all the outside lights were turned on. In the morning it was found the neighbours house had been burgled. They had left in a hurry because of all the lights, and didn't complete the ransack

[@nigelsheppard625]

The British are a very strange people 😊🤔

[@mikewoods4584]

Our cat does security, medical check ups on his owner, is a second alarm and knows when I need a zzzzzz

[@giteducalme]

Wow, what a great line up 👍

[@helenbell1072]

I had a watch cat. Very effective. Would even gently attack those guests she didn’t like. One poor fellow was seated on a lounge chair and she sat on the cushion behind him and kept hitting his head with her paw.

[@kajcenkars]

Benedict 💯

[@kimsherlock8969]

Bredon Martin I agree

[@thomeiser8933]

why does benedict cumberbatch being goofy sound vaguely like robert webb as jezza in peep show

[@stephjovi]

Agreed Brand Martin. Obviously many dogs not all dogs 😻

[@calamdumr]

This is the best!! Love it 😅😅

[@MedievalFolkDance]

I can't help but be of the mind that on the way up to the podium, Benedict said something that made Jarvis want to stab his heart out. The only other explanation for the laser-burn stare to the back of the head would be that Jarvis Cocker just has "resting sociopath" face.

[@kindnessfirst9670]

I could watch Sharon Horgan read the phone book- preferably out loud but even if not.

[@michelleikoma2953]

Great giggle

[@politereminder6284]

This reads like a KZbin comment section.

[@r3cy]

The url for this video should replace the dictionary definition for 'Britishness'.

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

Is that *Jeremoi Crobnyn?!* 😮

[@johnwaldren851]

I am the occasional dog minder for my family. It is a joy. Terrible when I have to give the dog back though.

[@lyndanixon4824]

Brilliant,delightful and deliriously delicious...thank you

[@annetracey5838]

Totally brilliant. 😂🤣

[@zoecunningham3019]

What joy!!😊 Brilliantly humorous 😂 Now, go ponder which species (or letter writer) is correct 👍 😂

[@ericthompson3982]

I... wait... what?

[@ronetteskiestante4064]

Awesome🤗

[@adcan1371]

“Police Cat”, haha.

[@Dax893]

No credit for Julian, but Jarvis did deliver a, however partial, Sunday Sermon.

[@Vejur9000]

What a brilliant tool idea to do this.

[@heathergittens3223]

Oh, the politics of dogs and cats.

[@willmorton8006]

Did anyone else think that Jeremy Corbyn's letter was going to turn out to be sent by him?

[@ethicalphytophage]

When a cat gives you a snooty look, they're just being themselves. When a dog gives you a snooty look, it's time to take a hard look at your life.

[@connieverbeck1110]

Love it!!

[@gonasreadingranch]

Love love love Benedict! Amazing talent

[@raphaelyervantian9330]

back in the day...newspapers were like reddit and youtube comment sections... nothing changes!

[@igoretski]

Letter 20th June 2023, from Pseudonym Igor Etski to the organisers of this event: I must admit, I like "Letters Live" very much, maybe even enjoy it. It's not only entertaining at times, but also a school for how to read letters. And give scores to the differnt readers, about how well they handle tempo, timbre, imitation, pauses and facial expressions. Except if it's about the last words of some soldier before final battle, or a love letter that was not equally responded. I loved the "grumpy cat". I mean, not the cat itself. I actually hate it. But how the owner writes about this terrible creature possessed by a demon with some humor. And I can't forget the letter from Jane Austen to the new newspaper of her brothers. How there already shined through a very creative mind, knowing how to make stories work, with love and drama. But this letters here about the political intentions of dogs and cats is really right up with my favorites, too. I have just one simple question: Did you want to test how many people at once can climb the pulpit until it breaks? My best wishes, Igor. PS: I'm Swiss and once thought to have a russian sounding pseodunym was cool.

[@belbrighton6479]

Brilliant!

[@glotickmasha4635]

Не пропадай, Бенедикт. :)

[@JavertRA]

What an unusual ensemble?

[@kimsherlock8969]

Ken Forman Manchester Yes x

[@ahoax]

Benedict ❤❤

[@kida4313]

How is noone talking about Jarvis?

[@cindyj5522]

My cat knows more tricks than a Las Vegas magician. For example, she can make any small toy I give her disappear with one swift pat with her paw.

[@bitterbeauty6144]

Who's the guy lurking behind Cumberbatch?

[@jeanhawken4482]

Brilliant actors

[@kathymhunt]

What is this?

[@handuong7429]

OMG, so good dogs and cats!

[@SG-fn1be]

3:38 who is that? Looks very familiar but I can't remember the name.

[@dominiquefo]

John bishop

[@denizdurdag]

@@dominiquefo Thank you. Was looking for this.

[@loraineriddell7157]

🤣🤣

[@aema5124]

My Tabby Cat is guiding me to write a short book of poems about HER! The Title of the Book of Poetry is: THE LITTLE GREY CAT WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT EVERYTHING ! THE END .

[@ciararuane1438]

God I miss Corbyn.

[@wheelyjon]

Ahhhh pre covid huddles Plus cobin?

[@johnthefinn]

I don't see why they couldn't form a coalition government. After, cats and dogs proverbially reign at the same time.

[@kimsherlock8969]

Cats have 5 claws not 4

[@kellydalstok8900]

4 legs with claws?

[@ericthompson3982]

My cat will commit absolute murder against any uninvited person, whether they mean me harm or not.

[@shillout7270]

Cats associate as Gold Diggers, Dogs associate as bone digger-uppers

[@gigidodson]

Gosh i love this. My dog is a cat. Self certered egomaniacal independent unless HE wants something. Nevermind he's just a man.

[@douglasparkinson4123]

i must say, j corbyn was not who i expected here

[@sheilad7898]

Benedict 😍

[@nardo218]

lol Ben sounds like Martin trying to be cleverer than Douglas. Douglas IS a cat, so naturally this innocent pro-dog screed is having him on.

[@mediatapwater]

Why was dude behind him standing so uncomfortably close?

[@mari1tausend]

because even more dudes were standing behind close-standing dude!

[@glitch373]

That's Jarvis Cocker, he will stand as close as he likes and you WILL be grateful.

[@MrTargenor]

penguin!

[@egondro9157]

I really dislike people who would dare to drag pets into politics. Dogs and Cats are what they are, that is pets and companions to anyone who shows them the same compassion and bonding. It is regardless of beliefs. It is regardless of class, wealth, sex or race. They will always be the one true companion for the shortest they will be around. They are not humans and thank god they don’t take the time to castigate or judge others for political foils of the western world. Misaligned points were one group is so evil because you disagree with certain points when the stupidity is that we have more common points then disagreements. So why not keep looking at each other as humans and still care and give respect. Civil discourse and consideration. Most of all do not shame or malign a pets to the same standards of humans. Respect and love them as they are. If you don’t care for cats. Then so be it, if you don’t care for dogs so be it. That is fine for the billions who would love the animal that you don’t care for.

[@AuroraMeansDawn27]

Jeremy Corbyn, my hero.

[@neilmcintosh5150]

Naturally, cats win the day.

[@emmadanielle5680]

This sounds like a tumblr shitpost

[@blatherskite3009]

Cats vs. dogs is an important issue, though... Which of the two a person gravitates toward says at least as much about their personality as their music and film collections, and more succinctly. I freely admit my own bias, considering dog-people to be in the same bracket as BMW drivers - main difference being what you have to navigate around when they've left it in the middle of the pavement.

[@dc5592]

I was just casually watching this then went- Where tf did Corbyn come from?

[@KesselRunner606]

Have you ever seen a police cat?! NO! And that's why they are most dangerous!

[@Avidcomp]

A podium full of socialists that believe Stalin "fell to the right". Excuse me, but Socialism and Fascism are not opposites. They are two sides of the same coin. Both are collectivists and the opposite is Individualists. Cats for the record are individualists.