Comedian Tim Key on Writing and Working with Steve Coogan | On Acting

Comedy actor and writer Tim Key talks about how he started in comedy, working with Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge and developing his comedy writing.
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#TimKey #SteveCoogan #BAFTAGuru #BAFTA

[@baftaguru]

Who's your favourite British comedian?

[@Josh9000series]

Stewart Lee. Or if that's too elite then Coogan. 😏 Love Tim Key's work.

[@evegasse6999]

Mine is actually Tim Key, in fact, as well as Alex Horne.

[@sratus]

Tim Key. Met him once also. A charming gentleman.

[@JackBealeGuitar]

Hmmm tough one, I'd have to say the best of the comedians

[@terencebad7009]

Acaster

[@AdAstra78]

His subtlety throughout Mid Morming Matters was absolutely sublime.

[@garbeal2397]

I couldn't think of anyone else doing that role as well as Tim did.

[@user-vg1tt3vg9y]

@@garbeal2397 that's because he did it. You may well have said the same if another great actor had done. I've never understood this sort of comment - it's paradoxical.

[@jimcabtv]

I couldn't agree more. An absolute joy to watch

[@StrangelyBrownNo1]

He’s such an incredible actor. I find myself watching him and his reactions more than Coogan’s.

[@jaycuthbert245]

I totally agree mate. Master stroke by coogan finding him. MMM is some of my favourite partridge content. I have to say though I feel tim is massively under utilized in the new show "This time with AP" and not given the strongest material. Even though I love this time I feel they could have given tim more to work with

[@jameshall2195]

The pause before poetry was brilliant. Coogan said he liked key because he didn't know why he was funny.

[@starmole5000]

Tim Key, you did Partridge full justice mate. Bravo.

[@midierror]

Tim was absolutely SUPERB in mid morning matters. He's the perfect accompniment to the Alan Partridge creation

[@pdjhh]

Tim is absolute class as coogan’s sidekick. I watch him all the time for his perfect little changes of expression. Such good timing too he’s brilliant in it.

[@habbinlad1]

Went to school with Tim, and he's one of the most humble and talented people you'd ever want to meet.

[@Algorithm347]

I went to school with tim aswell

[@robcord5982]

@@Algorithm347 me too

[@randomchipfat937]

I didn't

[@idriselba7994]

I'm a friend of Tim's and he says you are lying.

[@randomchipfat937]

@@idriselba7994 I went to school with Idris Elba and he said that Tim was home schooled

[@Seventeen_Seconds]

Massively underrated actor, his comic timing is absolutely perfect, probably the best I've seen. He was fantastic in the peep show as Gerry but he's at his best with Steve Coogan.

[@MonsoonMally]

You're a comedy genius mate that's what Coogan saw in you. Facial expression can say a thousand words in an instant, from those camera angles in the Norwich studio. Comedy gold mate. Don't doubt yourself.

[@nickyjlyons]

I'm sure Tim knows this deep down, but he has played THE major role in keeping Alan alive

[@sratus]

The Gibbon brothers might have something to say about that.

[@TomMannCenturia]

Everyone should now go and watch No More Jockeys here on KZbin. It's brilliant, and Tim Key at his Tim Key best.

[@starmole5000]

Thanks for the tip I just might do that!

[@campsjams]

Penelope Pitstop

[@mattiemclean9882]

I'm going to do that now.... it better be good!!

[@dddgtsd]

it's great but Key at his best is when he's in character doing his stand up in my opinion - he could do absolutely noting and have the crowd howling.

[@krisinsaigon]

If you’re going to play Hamlet on stage, for an actor, Rosencratz & Guildenstern Are Dead is one of the top two best plays to play him in

[@monkeytennis8861]

Stop getting Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead wrong!

[@JayJay-xd5lm]

V.Funny, mate. Deffo the second best play...with the word hamlet in.

[@ncf1]

Tim's Sidekick Simon acting was just pure genius - perfect casting and acting.

[@thehighams]

If you're watching in 1080p you can actually smell his hangover, love you Tim x

[@Burgmannn]

....Charles Kennedy....

[@Ledmask5436]

Its not his fault, Alan insists he turns up drunk for the radio show. I just remembered he's not actually Simon.

[@jimbo573]

Key's introverted performance is in perfect contrast to the blowhard Partridge. He has such a subtle touch.

[@Misteryowl]

He's absolutely brilliant on Mid-Morning Matters.

[@TheRollthedice]

@@Misteryowl yes!!

[@microfarming8583]

I liked star wars dwarf

[@endoflevelboss]

You're not writing for the Daily Telegraph here so you can turn the pompous dial back to zero.

[@danair28]

Let's not forget Tim's great yet soul-destroying performance as the archaeological site foreman in "Detectorists" (Series 2) and his Radio 4 Late Night Poetry Show...

[@patchso]

Like TK's humility, but I think his 'Sidekick Simon' character was brilliant and really added something new to AP.

[@flyboy970]

He is such a wonderful, gentle and hilarious man.

[@stevetobin7495]

His timing is incredible

[@gibgun]

A memorable, hilarious and essential ingredient to Mid Morning Matters. Can’t stress enough how important Tim’s work was to the success of that show!

[@Tetlee]

Sidekick Simon! This man couldn't have been more perfect in Mid Morning Matters, brilliant.

[@metromikey1985]

I knew from the first time seeing this guy work that I would like everything he does. Thought he added so much to mid morning matters and this time. Will watch anything this man is in as I do with Coogan.

[@RikiNewtonMusicianSongwriter]

Tim is just perfect in everything Alan Partridge. I love his performances in This Time - subtle and very funny ! Cheers 🥂

[@71ibanez]

This guy’s a genius,not over used which is the magic formula 😊

[@tomsawer671]

Tim was outstanding in Midmorning Matters, he got it absolutely spot on, the subtle confusion, eye rolling etc was perfection. Cringeworthy comedy at its finest

[@butterflymoon6368]

He is a fantastic actor. Just fantastic.

[@chadedgecombe838]

Love Tim’s work so subtle and his comedy timing is brilliant

[@buggyboogle9]

And a great friend of Alex Horne. Has been a consultant on Taskmaster since series 2.

[@becausegang7266]

Great to hear from Tim. He is fantastic on Mid Morning Matters. Also hilarious in Lifes To Short interviewing Warrck Davies ... “ Star Dwarf “

[@ygariakas]

What a gem of a human! Plough on son!

[@leona6455]

What a lovely comment. Hear, hear.

[@raymondsmith4991]

His charity worker role in Saxondale is amazing, He bounces off of Coogan's brilliance.

[@geoffsaunderson5766]

Totally underrated, the guys borderline genius

[@EdGiles]

First time I've ever watched him and been sure of his sincerity :D

[@jimcabtv]

His performance in Mid Morning Matters is one of the next comedy performances I have ever soon in my life. The subtlety and little nuances are just spellbinding. Lifelong partridge fan and MMM is by far my favorite, not least of all because of Sidekick Simon's character. Sublime

[@comanchio1976]

Are you the copper from 'Allo Allo'?

[@garethwynn01]

Funnily enough I think I know exactly what you mean.

[@kamemotorsports8741]

Sidekick Simon...Sidekick Simon...Sidekick Simon...Sidekick Simon...Sidekick Simon...

[@JackAcid]

One of the best comedy discoveries since Alan Partridge. Tim is absolutely brilliant as the hapless sidekick.

[@moobengy]

So modest! Maybe that’s part of his power.

[@harrypemberton4627]

Alan and Simon in Mid Morning Matters is peak Partridge

[@MrTraingle]

My favourite taskmaster contestant! And "Wonderdate" is just perfect

[@johnhare7580]

Can't get enough of Tim Key, the mother in law joke sequence on This Time is genius

[@tomb2289]

"an almost overwhelming problem" 🤣 this guy was so damn good in mid morning matters. Seen his stand-up as well, absolutely brilliant

[@billio85]

Such a fan of Tim Key's work. I was in agony watching his standup. Absolutely hilarious. Highly recommended!! Comes across so well in this - such a genuine guy.

[@dddgtsd]

He is, and it's almost annoying because I quite enjoyed seeing him do stand up, playing this weirdo character. When I saw him after a show behaving normally and interacting with fans it ruined the illusion a little for me. Did you see the show where he walks out and opens Kronenbourg and it explodes all over him? Such a daft slap stick almost gag, but it was just his reaction to it, had everyone howling and all he had done was open a can.

[@tomb2289]

And bit by bit falling out with his sound man 😂

[@leona6455]

This guys is a total one-off, there's really nobody like him. I'd encourage everyone to see him live. His current show, Mulberry, is just fantastic. Saw it in Edinburgh last August. Would happily see it again. He has a really powerful presence on stage, quite mesmerising. And loved him as Sidekick Simon obvs. More please!

[@peege8574]

I was wheezing from laughter during Alpha Papa at the little head tilt Simon does to make it easier for Pat to holster the shotgun into the duct taped holder.

[@ENigma-um8zw]

His rhythms are so great, he and Coogan rock

[@WAAAAAAAAAAAY]

First became aware of Tim Key on Charlie Brooker's old Newswipe show & saw him in Edinburgh in 2012 and he was so good! He's wonderful in Mid Morning Matters - perfectly cast

[@raidernayshun111]

“The taliban would be bloody banned! If I ran iran... or Afghanistan”

[@kap79]

Shame that my American ass only knows this fella from Taskmaster, but I loved him so much I bought one of his books to get more of him.

[@mondoprime]

Met him once and he was absolutely lovely!

[@johnbattalgazi2108]

Love Tim Key. What a gem.

[@johnablett6633]

He's so great on This Time (with Alan Partridge). Great stuff. I love Tim Key.

[@tormid100]

You are a natural comic. Love your stuff.

[@MsPuma1970]

love him in mid morning matters!

[@Etcher]

Love Tim Key. First encountered him in Mid Morning Matters and been a fan ever since. Check out his excellent Late Night Poetry Programme on Audible, it's just as subtle and understated as you'd expect and it's great.

[@TheComplete]

Even though he was the only Footlights member who wasn't actually a Cambridge student and says he "hoodwinked" his way into Footlights, I would argue his nuanced comedy is arguably more funny and surreal than any of the illustrious ones who went through the mill over the last decade or two....

[@beatnikwolf]

What about the strongbow advert!? He did the first "ahhhhhhhhh" and it was hilarious! Such a subtle performance, with no words. The fact that no one else could pull it off in the subsequent ads showed his talent. I knew he would make it, and sure enough he did.

[@chrishawkes8688]

This is great banter, it really is.

[@TheRollthedice]

`this time` is a pure classic

[@Alanoffer]

He was so funny as a sidekick to Steve on the radio show

[@ManCave1972]

All of the laugh out loud moments on This Time were from Tim Key, had me pissing myself. Masterful.

[@leona6455]

'This 'ere digiwall' comes into my head at least once per day since. And it's 2 years on...

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

My first sight of Tim was as Jerry in Peep Show. Loved him.

[@01sevensix]

One of the most naturally funny people I have ever seen. Wish he had been in The Office.

[@stephaniewaters1777]

So much more than poetry. But always a poet to me. Do you even wonder how much your first encounter of a person's work shapes your appreciation and understanding thereafter?

[@jeffstone2136]

Sidekick Simon is a superb character. Rock on, Tim.

[@Pahis1]

0:35 sums up my university time. "I was definitely hanging around"

[@freqeist]

he has natural timing, Everything else just falls into place.

[@ChrisFarrellChannel]

lovely stuff

[@goalltheway-pm8xs]

Actually worked quite well, being nervous on the first mid morning matters, then getting more confidence gradually; you couldn't write that ascent that's why Tim playing Alan's side kick, is/was perfect...seems like a nice bloke: good luck to him!

[@romeaffair]

Adorable and very funny.

[@aleksandrapatarova2516]

Tim Keys sketch tv show Cowards is side achingly good, and criminally underviewed. The only three episodes that were ever released are all on youtube.

[@dddgtsd]

criminally underrated show! That's where I first saw him and then perhaps Screenwipe - saw a few of his stand ups after that, amazing performer.

[@keithparker1346]

Thanks for the heads up. Never heard of that so I will give it a chance

[@WilliamAlexandersProfile]

Tim is great

[@berlinocelot]

He's effin' brilliant in 'This Time' too. Fair play, KeyDawg.

[@pdj8484]

When I first saw Mid Morning Matters I thought "oh no who's this bloke coming to ruin Partridge for me?". How wrong I was. Long live Sidekick Simon!

[@kenny832]

He ruined it for me, Tim Key is deeply unfunny in anything I've seen him in.

[@dddgtsd]

@@kenny832 he is quite a subtle side character, did you not enjoy any of Mid Morning Matters?

[@kenny832]

@@dddgtsd I liked it better than the current series but sidekick Simon didn't make me laugh at all & the best eps. where when they ditched him after the first ones. Didn't like him in "Alpha Pappa" the film which was a big mistake in my opinion & kind of ruined the Partridge character by trying to make him younger & cooler. Pathetically Coogan wrote in that Alan was a proficient bass player (when & why?) playing a quick solo with a long slide note at the end. I think this was just because in "I'm Alan Partridge 2" he plays air bass to Gary Numan's "Music for Chameleons" but he's playing it wrong way round (low notes at wrong end of fret-board) I think this clumsy character writing was just to cover Coogan's embarrassment. I'm not averse to subtle performances or unlikable characters but Key's character is unlikable in a boring, predictable, snidey way. I like all the Partridge series's to some extent but preferred the less serious character, sketchy stuff in "On The Hour" & "The Day Today"

[@dddgtsd]

@@kenny832 yeah the film was naff, I don't Key was to blame for that though, I think the whole thing was a mediocre and I've pretty much forgot about it. It wasn't as bad as the Brent movie but still a bit of a blot on the Partridge franchise (if you will). Haha must admit, I never thought about the bass playing aspect, Partridge definitely doesn't strike me as someone who would be proficient with an instrument. I definitely prefer Key's poetry and stand up to his acting but I find the bits on This Time when AP is getting pissed off at him with the stupid computer board very funny. This Time and Mid Morning Matters (i.e the new era Partridge will never be the same as the classic stuff but I think they've managed to keep things fresh by bringing in new writers and some good supporting actors. The stuff that Iannucci was involved in will always be the gold for me.

[@andyc6542]

@@kenny832 the Sidekick Simon character isn’t snidey whatsoever...

[@ksportz66]

I loved how natural it was.. He had to flow with Coogan improvising as well… example.. AGP.. “sounds like a motor oil”.. “very manly”.. had to deliver the line twice as Coogan was still going. Could have done a retake but was all the better for it. Also “Here is Enya with henorinokoflow” .. he plays perfectly knowing it was a great take

[@dannymurphy1779]

Insightful.

[@adam_p99]

Saw him in Art at The Old Vic. He was excellent. And he’s from the best city in the world, Cambridge.

[@adamthedev]

He’s a genius!

[@Nophotofound]

So many subtle jokes in here😂

[@matthewhendy5785]

He is brilliant.

[@blazetrip4599]

Have you got any scissors!!!! Have you got any sissors!!! Favorite actor

[@jbob34345]

The new sidekick is a very hard role, he smashed it. Top banana.

[@jarzhinio]

Side-kick Simon, Side-kick Simon .....

[@maynan3]

I always thought it was psychic Simon and couldn’t work it out

[@kn5715]

I laughed out loud watching him on After Life S3E4. His facial expressions made his performance wonderful to watch. He played an awful and rude date for Kath.

[@danthemanwhocancan]

My favourite ever Taskmaster contestant (and there has been some great ones) Always suspected that being a mate of Greg Davis and contributor to the series he managed to get some good lines and set pieces in. OK with that though. Lovely Stuff 👌

[@JustinRichards]

Great character.

[@gonnahavemesomefun]

Tim is funny by default, that's how he fell into comedy. Even when he's serious he's funny :-D

[@lenny7488]

His late night poetry show is genius

[@Antmonkey]

Yeah, I just fell into comedy... by joining the Cambridge Footlights, the most famous comedy society on the face of the earth responsible for an enormous amount of the UK's comedy output since the 1960s.

[@tb7667]

MMM was the absolute best of Partridge, especially season 2. In part due to Tim Key’s performance.

[@andyc6542]

I preferred series one to two, but agreed - MMM is Partridge at its best. Far better than This Time...

[@tb7667]

@@andyc6542 I thought This Time was awful. Just forced and cringe. The complete opposite of MMM. I haven't bothered with season 2, so no idea if that is an improvement.

[@andyc6542]

@@tb7667 hasn’t been great to be fair, but the last episode was possibly the best I’ve seen so far due to minimal Alan/Jenny on the couch moments - the Sidekick Simon gags were funny and not centred on him being useless with technology as it was in the last series, and they brought back two MMM characters in the wine tasting guest as well as the bloke who did the SAS/Cheddar Gorge bit. Quite a decent episode to be fair, and worth a catch up on the iPlayer if you have a half hour free, but the overall show has been more miss than hit

[@lungin]

Love him as the creepy hotel manager in The End of the F**King World

[@OnlyElshafto]

Brilliant in saxondale tim

[@MagicFromThe0161]

Sidekick simon , Legend.

[@matthewkingsmill7372]

Little birdie, and ma little birdie, another little birdie.

[@butterflymoon6368]

He looks like he should be an English King

[@matthewvarney6214]

I'm waiting for a "Gerry" spin off show from Peep Show

[@tactical1981]

I’d love to see Key in a remake of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead!

[@butterflymoon6368]

He reminds me a lot of David Hare with his facial movements and speech

[@CelticSaint]

Thought he was very good in 'Time Trumpet' as well.

[@151mattwilson]

Would love to know how he first met Steve Coogan though as he had that little part in Saxondale back in 2006

[@hannahs9138]

I think they must've met in person on the Saxondale set. But I know a few years before that the Baby Cow people saw Tim in Alex Horne's stage act in Edinburgh & planned to put him in something. Then Coogan saw an audition tape Tim did for Saxondale & was so impressed that he had Sidekick Simon written for Tim.

[@Spooky_32]

Man the barricades, it's sidekick simon!

[@PhantomPlayin]

I love Simon

[@onthewattle]

wouldn't mind watching some William Morris doccos with this bloke

[@Chilliconcarnage]

There's more than one Cromwell, Alan!

[@curiousmind616]

Wasnt he my new best friend , was hilarious