Hugh Dennis On Spitting Image, Not Going Out And Starring In James Bond

Actor, writer and comedian Hugh Dennis talks to Rob about starting out in comedy: from doing voices at school to joining the Footlights at Cambridge and going on to do Spitting Image. Hugh also tells of his time juggling his comedy career with his job at Unilever… which he is still technically on sabbatical for! He also tells Rob about his role in the latest James Bond film No Time To Die and his latest series of The Great British Dig.
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Rob Brydon is best known for his work on The Trip, Gavin & Stacey and presenting the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?
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🎥 Edited by Greg Bernstein
This channel is a co-production with The Talent Bank thetalentbank.uk/
#RobBrydon #HughDennis #MockTheWeek

[@RobBrydon]

Listen to the full episode free and exclusively on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6CMcHI15ZtJryuEvPnlPij

[@kensvideos1]

Ooh spymaster, that sounds great.

[@sunnysjwinter]

What a lovely guy Hugh is. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how much of a mainstay he is in British comedy & sitcoms. I was so surprised when he appeared in Bond but great to see that he’s enjoying himself & his career! Long may it continue 👏🏻

[@timothygraham4304]

We wouldn't have had Mock The Week without him. Not just because he's on it, but, I think he is most probably a big part of it's inspiration. I could be wrong, but it just seems tailor made for him.

[@datgrrl_official]

Hugh is English, not British and yes there is a difference...

[@WooshaBaloo]

You mean Peter Dennis

[@martingill6996]

I could listen to Hugh tell stories all day,can’t work out why, think he just comes across so naturally honest and grounded .

[@TheTruthKiwi]

I dare say that is the most grounded and smartest career path a comedian has ever taken. Work your way up to upper executive level while doing gigs and when the showbiz work gets serious put the exec job on hold indefinitely to fall back on just in case. No wonder Hugh is so chill.

[@FineYungCannibal.]

Absolutely love listening to Hugh Dennis. His comedy can be so subtle and then he just has this look where he's waiting for you to realise what he said. It's such an interesting story about him being the marketing man for Lynx. Brilliant. 😂

[@chadtopia]

What I love the most about Hugh, is that after so many years around, and a lot of years on Mock for the Week, he is still there on the show and still consistently funny. That takes hard work and real talent imo :)

[@MrSimonmcc]

Even harder work now. Btw, it's Mock The Week.

[@chadtopia]

@@MrSimonmcc lol autocorrect

[@july8xx]

I have learned to proof read every comment I make, some autocorrect changes can be very embarrassing.

[@JCR12_]

I always thought I'd associate Hugh with Mock the Week and Outnumbered, but THAT scene in Fleabag where all he wants to do is take the dishes out the dishwasher for his wife will always stick with me. Along with "Lets all raise a glass TO THE FUHRRRREEEEERRRRRRR!!!"

[@charliekane135]

I like how calm and collected Mr Dennis always comes across on panel shows and interviews.

[@remixplastic7324]

I love how Rob always remembers when he met people

[@andyscott6315]

i've met chris barrie and steve nallon, they did spitting image at the same time as hugh, hugh is usually modest when he talks about spitting image, he did it for 3 years or there abouts, and did a few big characters, george h.w. bush, norman lamont, gerald kaufman and george carey.

[@Asaski09]

Thank you, Rob and Hugh. This was lovely.

[@C64_Mat]

Love Hugh Dennis. Everything he does is quietly understated - very funny, but also has great dramatic resonance too. Speaking of which, Rob, one of my favourite performances of yours was in Mirrormask. It's always nice to see traditionally comedic actors doing something different.

[@RobbC.]

At least Hugh knows that when it all eventually comes to an end, he still has his job at Unilever.

[@terranceparsons5185]

Mr. D, Comedy royalty!

[@HerbertAckermans]

Also... regarding Spitting Image, we got that in the Netherlands in those years and it was PHENOMENAL! It was such fun, together with Not the nine o'clock news, The Young Ones... 80's British comedy on Dutch TV was bliss!

[@darthmarticusLFC]

His bit about his name change in WILTY was brilliant.

[@Gethsemanes]

Damn Hugh you never cease to amaze.

[@billberndtson]

I'm an American and only really know Hugh through Mock the Week. He's an interesting man!

[@mikelheron20]

Listen to Revolting People. It's a radio comedy series about the American Revolution (War of Independence) starring Andy Hamilton and Hugh Dennis. It's on KZbin.

[@joansamuels3241]

Also recognized as a murder victim in Midsommer Murders.

[@RozzmanLists]

See if you can watch "outnumbered" in the US. It's among the finest British comedy.

[@owenfitzgerald8944]

MILKY MILKY!!! Hugh is great 😀

[@darinsingleton3553]

Thanks again for another lovely chat. Deep appreciation from here in the States, in the Land of LA.

[@Eckull]

Now I'm imagining a world where hugh became a famous comedian in Japan, I genuinely think he'd have gone over well there.

[@ShanghaiHiHai]

Love Desky.

[@paulrichardson9843]

Must have been very competitive working on Spitting Image at that time with Coogan and McGowan! I didn't realise that Newman and Baddiel weren't actually a double act until The Mary Whitehouse Experience - very interesting.

[@jaywalker1233]

Rob and Hugh. This is how success should be, remaining as you are - warm, attractive (despite how you look), engaging, happy to take the mick out of themselves, genuinely interested in other people and obviously understanding what truly matters in life. “Celebs” take note…

[@jenisinjapan]

Just watching this now and love when he taked about that point in is life when he needed to make a commitment to work in TV or stay at his job in Unilever. I love pre-life changing moments like that. Who knows what Hugh would have gone on to do if he didn't get into TV, but I for one, definitely am glad he decided to take that BBC show :)

[@hannahprose]

Enjoyed listening to this podcast very much. Must watch the Great British Dig. I was ecstatic when I saw Hugh in Bond, it was such a surprise & he was so good I didn't think he was going to die!

[@joycejohnson7164]

brilliant comedic mind -- love him on MTW

[@davekirby4561]

You both being with the same agent for voice over work, made me instantly think of you as Steven Toast and Hugh as Ray bloody Parlour 😁

[@davidsayed9283]

“Hello Steven? It’s Clem Fandango. Can you hear me Steven?”

[@sojiogungbesan5547]

One of my all time favourites, incredibly versatile

[@charliekane135]

It's great how so many of our great comedians and comedy actors were on 'Spitting Image'. I knew about Steve Coogan but not many of the others.

[@helenswan705]

What a gentle and interesting interview. I associate HD with actually being able to explain political stuff!

[@goldenpony822]

Damn I connected with Hugh even more than I thought I would!! What a really affable man.

[@Curycur54]

He is one comedian that really makes me laugh out loud. Just love him on MTW and NGO. 😁

[@jonbolton3376]

I've followed Hugh's career especially in comedy since i think i was in my early teens when i first saw him doing a sketch on Carrot's Commercial Breakdown.

[@Omega30t2RG]

Back in the 90's,I was walking down a quiet Tottenham court road. I recognised hugh Dennis walking towards me. As I normally do,I dont like to cause a fuss with celebrities,so looked straight ahead....until the last minute as we were about to pass each other,looked at him in the corner of my eye,to then see hugh looking back at me in the corner of his eye. All I can say is..a weird situation,but nice to meet him...very briefly.

[@followtheboat]

He was looking at you out the corner of his eye thinking "oh god, here comes one of those fans that won't say anything to me but will just look at me weirdly out the corner of his eye" 😉

[@hensonlaura]

Hilarious! Thanks for sharing

[@Omega30t2RG]

@@followtheboat that sounds about right 🤭

[@charliekane135]

This is a great series. I really hope this continues

[@grahamkey8496]

Now KZbin has chosen to start showing me ads for Lynx I blame you for this, Dennis

[@lisacaldwell-reiss5209]

Glad I finally got time to watch this! I love Hugh Dennis and I really enjoy your interview style.

[@janmitchell641]

Rob, you’re a most charming, genuine, and funny interviewer! I really enjoy this series.👍🏽🇨🇦

[@lorie76yt]

What a really nice interview that was

[@annala2956]

Dennis having his birthday incorrect in the family tree reminded me my grandad's birthday is wrong on his headstone.

[@LeeDon76]

A friend got her own son’s birthdate wrong and didn’t tell him till he was grown up. At that point in his life, he had to change his own birthdate😂

[@bluesoulsession]

He was also in "My Hero" with Ardyl O'Hanlon as well as being a great contestant on Taskmaster.

[@bujin1977]

Ah yes. Dr. Piers Crispin. Brilliant character in an underrated comedy!

[@TequilaToothpick]

That's where I first saw him.

[@anitahargreaves9526]

Taffe36 showing entire series on KZbin,

[@missellaneous5142]

Yes, I loved watching My Hero, feels like I'm the only person who's heard of it sometimes.

[@RhondaofTheVale]

We saw it in Australia ​@@missellaneous5142

[@onlyme219]

That was fascinating, my only criticism about this show is it's too short

[@gilliankirby]

You know it's a podcast on spotify?

[@onlyme219]

@@gilliankirby Yes

[@HerbertAckermans]

There is, these days, a group of British/UK/whatever definition of that territory you wish to use as it also includes Ireland.... a group of comedians, male and female, that is so, so utterly well tuned into each other, that, no matter which program they are on, it will be great, it will be great. Mock the Week, QI, Would I lie to you, 8 out 10 cats does countdown, the big fat quiz... no matter which pool of these comedians is put together, they act together, bouncing off of each other, it is such a joy to watch, just sit there and watch and feel the warmth. It is such a huge shame we lost Sean Lock who was such a character in this group. I love it, I love it all, those comedians, making life so much more fun and better for 30 minutes, or 45 or 50. Thank you all so, so very much!

[@Gavownian]

It includes just Northern Ireland.

[@HerbertAckermans]

@@Gavownian You miss the point... I'm talking about the group of comedians that also includes Irish people...

[@ethancoffey3491]

Fantastic episode!

[@sonicfactory-uk]

I love this guy (Hugh), such a great comedian.

[@koolerking440]

Im still getting my head around how people would react to Huge in then office on the Monday after a Saturday show.

[@prakharjain9801]

Two of my favorites ♥️🇮🇳

[@Adam-vl9kc]

Last week I thought I’d like to see Milton Jones on here, then it happened. Last night I thought I’d like to see Hugh Dennis, it happened… I wonder if I watch lots of Gary Delaney this week, he will feature next week..

[@darthmarticusLFC]

Love Delaney!

[@edwardsp1916]

I enjoy listening to Revolting People and Hugh is brilliant in it.

[@redelfshotthefood8213]

Two adorable comedians. What’s not to like?

[@GB_Rusty]

Hugh will always be the 'Milky Milky' man to me :) . I can still do the creepy intro whenever I buy some milk

[@oldfatbastad6053]

Mr Strange, lovely 😁

[@alanthomson1227]

Haha , thought I was the only one left who remembered this .

[@layalabi1667]

Thank you... again!!!! ☺☺☺

[@coffeeguy6673]

Rob, you have to do one of these inteviews as Uncle Bryn, that would be even more amazing !!

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

Punt And Dennis were great on Canned Carrot, but my fondest memories of Punt And Dennis were from The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Lovely. Milky-milky!

[@HonoraryGreek]

If ever anyone held the credentials to be termed a National Treasure, it's HD! Can't think of anything I've ever seen (or heard) him in that wasn't good, plus what an erudite and well mannered guy too. It's so refreshing that he seems to truly appreciate his life too.

[@angeladawn805]

OK. It's past midnight, it's now Mātāriki, I should go to sleep, but it's Hugh, so I know this is going to be good TIA 😘❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

[@joycejohnson7164]

i loved the scene at the spa in Fleabag w/Phoebe

[@jasonhare8540]

I get like that myself . I refuse to get excited or accept anything until the moment it actually happens . I'm 40 now and that's too old to be jumping the gun and getting excited early 🤣 * I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who stands around sometimes enjoying the morning or afternoon or what have you and just let your imagination wander through what the past might have looked like here .

[@duncanparsons]

That's a REALLY nice poloneck

[@coffeeguy6673]

I drove buses in London in the early 90s and I was driving the 176 up through theatre land towards Oxford Street and had to brake as this chap ran out in front of my bus, it was a very young Hugh Dennis !! Like him in Not Going Out.

[@Isleofskye]

Used to jump on the 176 Bus at The East Street/East Lane Market Traffic Lights in The Walworth Road on the old Routemasters from The 1960s onwards..

[@tenpole41]

Very good!

[@eredison8584]

We met Hugh a few years ago when he was making a personal appearance at Portsmouth Cathedral. It was a fete I believe. My kids had cameras with them and they got some photos with him.What a charming guy he is.We didn't know he was there,it was just coincidence.

[@garydalziel9676]

On the back of his Bond role, does the black polo neck, mean he is now going for the Milk Tray ads

[@adrianrutterford762]

I saw Hugh with Steve Punt at The Theatre Royal in Norwich supporting Jasper Carrot longer ago than I remember. Wonderful stuff

[@Tcoldsteel]

Whatever happened to Punt?

[@nbell63]

cracking. 🥰

[@MatthewLenton]

I remember him from My Hero. It wasn't the greatest show and went further downhill when Ardal O'Hanlon left

[@thebigmacmoomin]

Dr Piers Crispin ..... I like that show too

[@Saka_Mulia]

TIL Hugh Dennis is responsible for THOSE Lynx ads?!!

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

At 12:45 u give Huge the finger as well. You do know that while playing guitar u can give the audience the finger with ur left hand, constantly?

[@keithdenton8386]

This series should be called look at me I am Rob. I am interviewing someone but I am the one you need to be focused on.

[@mattford9044]

The wig looking good these days Rob..

[@charliekane135]

What a stupid barbed comment. Get a life

[@TAMSTERMAN]

Ok brydon seeing as we’re going for quality can we have Andy Hamilton and at a push . I dare you Mark Thomas x

[@margaretmorris2944]

😎

[@thenumbdave]

bit of a freudian slip around 13:30

[@frankshailes3205]

In what way?

[@RealBesty]

From Lynx to links…

[@DougieJR]

Hugh Dennis "starred in" James Bond like that horse "starred in" The Godfather.

[@troyhelms386]

if you say the horse scene in the godfather, people know exactly what you mean though

[@pretzelhunt]

the horse never thought he'd 'get it' either...

[@david-reason]

Hugh Dennis - British Institution

[@BobbyLCollins]

Time Team: AM I A JOKE TO YOU???

[@steveambrose5580]

Revolting people, what a star!!

[@I_Don_t_want_a_handle]

So he's responsible for 'The Lynx Effect' ??? and the scent of teenage boy? Oh dear.

[@stevemorganexperience7833]

2010 I was off to see kiss at Wembley, it was something I wanted so much and I took my nephew to see them on the train up there, I see none other than Hugh, I pointed to my nephew and said that’s Hugh Dennis, my nephew was only 15 and decided the best thing to do was to keep saying Hugh’s name out loud, only to make things worse he got the name wrong and kept saying Pugh. So embarrassing

[@alanthomson1227]

He and his onscreen wife stole every scene they were in on Not Going Out .

[@danmetcalfwriter]

Milky milky...

[@thecuttingsark5094]

Milky Milky

[@jerryburrows6206]

Hugh Dennis ranks only one below Rowan Attkison for me.

[@ziploc2000]

Rowan Atkinson?

[@jerryburrows6206]

@@ziploc2000 A better comedic actor?

[@markmowbray1769]

People say Hugh and I look alike, worrying for Hugh, act in a similar way. Sorry……

[@oldfatbastad6053]

Lovely, milky milky.

[@diogenesagogo]

I always loved Hugh Dennis since I saw him live at Bury St. Edmunds theatre (Morwenna Banks was also on the bill. Gorgeous!) . He was superb in Outnumbered. However I was very disappointed by his rather priggish tv biography of Ronnie Barker. Probably better left to somebody else.

[@richjones4956]

Referendum on Immigration.

[@nineteen8486]

Lol nano bots in a lab… template taken straight from a Ukraine lab and used to lock down the world..😂

[@alexwood3251]

I don’t like Hugh Dennis anymore; he’s certainly not a good egg. I got fed up with him pretending to be a good guy on the left but at the same time getting paid to slag off Corbyn, who had done nothing to him or anyone else.

[@DeathlyTired]

Excuse me, your halo is blinding me.

[@C64_Mat]

Oh dear. Poor you!

[@gymnasiast90]

“Getting paid”?! Jesus Christ, this is a fine example of horseshoe politics. It’s exactly the kind of stupid conspiracy theory that the Trumpists are so fond of.

[@highdownmartin]

Paid by who? When and what was this?

[@alexwood3251]

@@DeathlyTired my halo?