Steve Coogan meets Armando Iannucci

Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci debate the art of comedy writing, celebrate Coogan's 50th birthday and discuss Coogan's book Easily Distracted, at a Guardian Live event in London.
Please note this event was originally broadcast live on 15 October 2015. The interactive elements of this recording will not work.
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#television #tv #comedy #writing

[@jrs4516]

what a talent alan partridge is to play this "steve coogan" character so convincingly

[@johndean1465]

Very funny

[@ezo2161]

Big step up from his role as Jim Hannigan

[@SpeccyHorace]

​@@ezo2161Remarkable!

[@dangrahamdrums]

It sometime slips and you see that basically he is just Steve Coogan in every single film he does but for the most part, ten on ten.

[@johngilmore697]

This is great banter. It really is.

[@moobengy]

Wonderful! Two comedy greats. I think Armando is one of those people who make life almost bearable.

[@callumbickle5419]

gosh jonathan i liked the first part of your comment but worried about you for the second part. hope your still enjoying life

[@saturn1returns]

I Armando thinks 'life' is almost bearable, too.

[@jimbob-robob]

Quiet! 🤫 The Tories will cancel, tax Coogan to misery, arrest him for pre-crime or send him to Rwanda if they see that life can be bearable...

[@MrJ2theC]

@@callumbickle5419Don't worry too much.

[@reginaldcrapo132]

Steve Coogan is a national treasure. Long may he (and Alan Partridge) live.

[@LordLionelBond]

I regularly revisit my DVD of The Armando Iannucci Programmes. There's so much joy to be found on that disc. "I'm over here".

[@philiprobinson6126]

waaaaay way-oh-waaaaay Deeerrby County

[@barthparsley3689]

I wish the new Top Gear was hosted by Steve Coogan as Alan, Tommy Saxondale and Pauline Calf. I would actually watch that.

[@D0W666]

+Barth Parsley That would be brilliant.

[@caedus1985]

Yes yes yes and yes haaaaaaaaa :)

[@philfyphil]

Yes, Steve Coogan and James Martin would be good and Rob Brydon could be Richard Hammond!

[@retcon1991]

I think, very sincerely, Coogan himself would be an excellent presenter of Top Gear. He would be a good, cynical foil for someone like Matt LeBlanc.

[@JimWalsh-rl5dj]

Steve Coogan is a pratt, a disgusting piece of effluvia. How bloody dare he make a comment about Brexit. These pathetic clowns are just that, they are nothing more than jesters, they are paid to entertain us and nothing more. If Coogan wants to make political comment, then stand you bloody coward. Brand has gone very quite since he was challenged on the same thing and was made a fool of.

[@SeanScottColony]

Love that we see the pitch of Scissored Isle around the hour mark!

[@SeanScottColony]

Also props for mentioning Saxondale at 1.12 - legendary character.

[@Etcher]

Flatly my dear I don't riverdance

[@lewisb9226]

(give a damn)

[@mikewozere]

I like that he hashed out 'Scissored Isle' on stage in front of an audience.

[@hughjass2745]

the 2 finest british comedic minds of the last 20 years on 1 stage

[@paulrouhan7288]

1878EFC2008 - Hugh Jass, had a funnier name than you ;)) And me.

[@slickwillywize]

Morris-over ruled them and set the tone

[@MatthewMcVeagh]

Are you trying to advertise a Chris Morris/Stewart Lee gig? What's the link?

[@73BigMC]

2 of the finest certainly.

[@pushthetempo2]

The writing duo on Peep Show are up there without a doubt.

[@Theinsidetrader]

You go careful there my love.

[@howdj]

You missed a "now"

[@laraholy]

thanks for this!!

[@Taquana26]

I really enjoyed this interview. Very entertaining!

[@alexpaltos5866]

Love the way Steve and Armando took that kid's script at the end with sincerity: great blokes. More of those insights and moments needed in the business.

[@bugsby4663]

Steve Coogan is a vastly underrated actor. His small part in Iannucci's "In the Loop" was incredible and actually quite filled with pathos with his part being quite non comical in a comedy. Talking of Armando Iannucci, I do adore the Thick of It and especially Veep.

[@doovbaloevera1430]

"I work for the national trust..."

[@jackwilson4235]

Filled with Pathos but also manages to provide some of the funniest moments

[@robinhalliday115]

SHES GOT A WATERING CAN!

[@badlydrawnsmiffy]

I felt he just reigned it in, 5 mega pixel made me howl, i had to replay it.

[@paulmorphy6187]

That was superb with a few cans of guinness thoroughly enjoyed as a fan of their comedy for 20 years

[@SmugSuspenders]

They're here to tell you about the evils of drink!! 🍺☠️

[@upendasana7857]

I absolutely love Steve Coogan,he has the ability to make me laugh until I wet my knickers.He is one of the funniest men in British comedy,a true comic genius.

[@dukeofpreston3228]

Me too. And my names steve

[@peartreeproductions77]

You dirty git 😅

[@grahamnoble4887]

Nice image.

[@MoreRubberyThanTurgid]

In my humble opinion two of the greatest names in British comedy.

[@stevencgr]

very good of Steve to take that guys script, he could have easily told him to fuck off, get a laugh and move on, but nope he took it, make sure it had the writers details on it and said Baby Cow would look at it. That's just brilliant.

[@doovbaloevera1430]

it won't be steve coogan reading it.

[@Bazravish69]

I think this was a bit of cynical face-saving gesture after losing his cool about the ‘canned laughter’ question.

[@Exisles]

Watching this for the first time, one year on from Brexit & highlighting the discussion at 39mins in.

[@paulpritchard1998]

Steve you've never made me work while watching. Lovely stuff.

[@suncity22001]

looking good at 50.

[@Mac-jc8hd]

blummin marvellous, every minute of it

[@welshhibby]

Love Steve

[@WhiteSleevedStu]

Will be very disappointed if "Assume the Alan Position" is not the title of the second Partridge biography.

[@SmugSuspenders]

Great banter, it really is

[@sheilashindorf5696]

I'm fretfully enamored with Steve, unfortunately for me perhaps, eternally. Forever thankful to pass through this lifetime in enough time & at the right time to enjoy him, while tragically askew in our earthly trajectories. *sigh* Steve, you make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream...

[@lindseymcarthur6493]

Aaaaw Sheila.....that made me smile

[@Isleofskye]

Are you still living the dream,6 years later, Sheila? :)

[@robsmithracing]

Lovely stuff, not my words

[@prnfl]

people forget that traders need access to DIXONS they do say it'll help people in wheeeeeeelchairs

[@euanscotland]

Not A Horse back of the net.

[@cross5269]

I'd LOVE to do some comedy...

[@weavehole]

I'd just like to point out that all the commenters here that I disagree with are wrong.

[@wmperry2790]

i liked that. maybe have a batch of generic dimissals: 'So many of these comments are wrong' 'i'm suprised how (naive, redundant, polyrythmic, amphibiious,etc) all these commenters are" " if shame is wealth, education will make these commentors rich" forget that last, it came outta nowhere. but really snobby sounding, eh? should wind'em up good (well)

[@BrokenNoseMedia]

This is glorious, hope they work together again soon

[@BL1TZEN]

Really interesting. A wonderful look into the insight of these 2 brilliant comedic chaps! I'd love to know what Steve actually thought of the guys script. Fair play to him for taking it home with him!

[@TheLiquidCat]

I wish Graham Linehan and Armando Iannucci would write something together. I feel like that those two minds would create the greatest television show that ever existed.

[@ricklopez2314]

Graham Linehan worked on the Day Today so they actually have.

[@TheLiquidCat]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that show. I still wish they would reunite though. They are the two greatest minds in British television in my opinion.

[@andrewtucker94]

I dunno I think their styles are quite different.

[@Etcher]

@@TheLiquidCat Greatest Irish Mind in British Television

[@joil6649]

I think Armando Iannucci works better without drag.

[@winston-mathew-bollockchops]

Audio feedback echo is too much for my lug holes.

[@electrojones]

I hope Coogan followed up with the writer at the end of the interview. If so, and if he sees this, could he please offer a followup here?

[@812DirtyJ]

8:24 Steve speaks some perfect truth for creatives

[@skleppardit]

Adore

[@whalebonefields]

could the guardian really not get any direct sound from their personal microphones mixed in a bit higher, sounds like spring reverb at 100% wet

[@rubberchix]

Ooh look at Mr music producer

[@earthacademy]

fascinating when being interviewed Coogan's right brain is shooting off (very hyper visual and rushing to say everything at once causing a bottleneck and stuttering of language) but when acting its his left brain smoothly in action (linear sequential thought)

[@nightcandle62]

thats a deep comment on the observation of the mind... can you ellaborate im not sure exactly what you are saying im interested? surely that is his nerves and the scrutiny?

[@therealrussellsmyth]

Niiice

[@MikeGledhill]

As a Brit, I love Armando's quote: "I feel like UKIP is for ex-pats... who haven't moved abroad, as it's full of foreigners."

[@waltermontiel4405]

Mike Gledhill Replace UKIP with Donald Trump and it's still hilarious.

[@markshirley01]

The world we live in 😁 sometimes you need to laugh about it or it would drive you mad.

[@stellaboulton9531]

I should think it's almost certain that armando knows all about the better class of 'foreigner'.

[@cccCCCccc123ccc]

Well, He can joke all he wants but Nigel Farage and Trump have become two of the most important politicians in the last 50 years.

[@jupitorious7925]

His views have drastically changed !!

[@ursie1986]

Every time I see 'Iannucci' typed down I end up obsessively trying my best to condense the pronunciation of it into three syllables rather than four. Like a middle class Brit abroad, the sound of IAN-ucchi really grates on me but so, in a way, does YAN-ucchi. The irony is I have never bothered to look at how Italians might actually say it. They'd have definitely just walked off by now to buy some pizza and little statues of the Parthenon. I'm not married.

[@The6milphil]

+cx1735 The trick I use for this is to remember his name as Amando Neo-nazi, although often I'll just use that. Hilarity ensues.

[@wmperry2790]

And you're in Greece. which may be why your italian isnt working on the locals. But i'm baffled. why not 4 syllables? Ian has 2 in the uk. Gaelic? really i dont understand. that 'yan' is just some backwoods patois (pah-tow-iss)

[@simononeill1157]

Painful analysis

[@PurushaDesa]

I love that Paul Calf coughs for "A-ha!" (The smoking no doubt.)

[@Brascofarian]

I think it's very funny that Steve Coogan is turning into Alan Partridge.

[@adamhawkes84]

@Aidan Gale Brascofarian is allowed a toilet break if he wants

[@KarlHamilton]

On the contrary, Alan Partridge is turning into Steve Coogan.

[@charliepotter100]

I wonder if they did this to annoy Richard Herring.

[@fizzyfox]

13:43 and I thought a mouse was running across my desk!!!

[@seasets]

Who agrees that at the last question Steve asked the guy to hand him the book a) so if he hadn’t read it all he would then buy another (cheeky) or b) that he may see if the guy had scribbled notes, ear marked pages etc to show him that he takes it seriously? Either way genius.

[@adamweishaupt2846]

Cook Pass Babtridge

[@sbhatti534]

Once in a while, I randomly remember that phrase and scene and it cracks me up. I don't know why that particular one as there was a lot of funny stuff from the A.P. and other series.

[@kmmining1359]

UTB & Partridge

[@ZER0--]

The best and worst question was the guy asking about canned laughter. He was totally wrong and it pissed off Coogan but it was a thing that I wondered about. I wondered how they could have an audience in an actual hotel. Steve answered the question but I'm still not sure if the audience are watching via monitors or the hotel was remade in a studio. He said the bedroom had four walls and the audience were at a distance so I'm assuming the audience is watching it live via monitors. And you can see the boom and camera in shot in a few scenes.

[@eggymayo3271]

I don't know why the took offence at that. It was a weird decision to include it in the show

[@Bazravish69]

He wasn’t ‘totally wrong’. There are many scenes in that show that are shot outdoors, in cars, etc so his innocent misnomer of ‘canned laughter’ would be dismissed as such by anyone but an insecure egomaniac. What frustrates me about Coogan is that he despises both unsophisticated praise, and critical intelligence that mirrors his own but doesn’t abjectly fawn on him.

[@jimlutz6691]

Sad to here the "The Trip" film series has ended. We need more of that these days, next one should be about heading into your 60's and older life - a lot there to work with - I just gave away a great pitch -

[@GibsonLesPaul2273]

Its true about the radio dramas they do spend all their time sighing a lot or have a tap running in the background, just so you dont get bored.

[@andrewtucker94]

I love Coogan's work but not sure I'd get on with him. Seems like his own biggest fan, potentially.

[@michaelhall5429]

Probably his own biggest critic as well. Either way he needs to watch more things he isn't in. Bloody funny chap though.

[@nickmoranis2865]

I absolutely love Alan Partridge and Coogan. I hope he makes a drama! Yeah.

[@ne-ht4zx]

I would love to hear what happened with the script at the end!

[@SmugSuspenders]

It got pulped

[@a1176789]

@@SmugSuspenders the guy who wrote the script now exclusively buys imported toilet paper

[@Deadwuvly]

17:00 'brevity is the soul of wit'

[@paulpritchard1998]

Acerbic wit. Lovely stuff.

[@KP-yq8id]

My ambition in life is to make Steve Coogan genuinely laugh. Failing that, I’d be happy with Armando…then Stewart Lee, then Stephen Fry, then Eddie Izzard…then all the way down the pecking order to Frankie Boyle. Wish me luck.

[@KP-yq8id]

But I jest… truly I respect and admire both these men so much. They have both had such a great influence on me and my sense of humour. Thank you 😊

[@gabrielabarros2036]

Why is he so charming and beautiful? I try not to be so obsessed with him, but i cant

[@chrismellor5759]

Wonder what happened to the aspiring writer at the end

[@ruari76]

Chris Mellor just been thinking that..... Coogan probably binned it, I hope not though

[@ZER0--]

Same here.

[@sinbad8982]

He got a power pack... hahaha.....hahaha........ NEWS...

[@leonie563]

Now I get the character in Trip to.... series/movies.

[@martinsmith500]

ffs I think i prefer the mystique

[@NickSheridanVids]

Interesting title, but I feel like they've met before....

[@charliebadger]

You can meet someone more than once. Thousands of times in fact. :)

[@NickSheridanVids]

Indeed, I was all set to get a bit sarcastic at Not A Horse when I thought about that. I've "met" people for lunch, doesn't mean I've never seen them before. Whoops!

[@rubberchix]

NickSheridanVids you took the L. Fair play

[@supamaxx01]

Shame the videos have no captions.

[@trenttrevorrow5648]

With a mere 90 horsepower the Megane leisurely pace can only be described as power sappingly slow making overtaking national express coaches a long drawn out affair.

[@Etcher]

Not my words Carol

[@joil6649]

My mother was an IBM computer engineer too.

[@mdtys]

yes

[@prouserprouser9646]

love steve coogan, and yes i agree he should host TOP GEAR 2017, ah ahhhhh.

[@philfyphil]

Comedy Genius. Everything he does is hilarious.

[@Mengibiza]

I really wished they would have addressed the guys question on extreme greed......i personally think he wasn't highlighting Coogans wealth (which I feel is deserved) but more the clear economic inequality of our times...Saxondale would have waded in!

[@LysanderLH]

You never see Steve Coogan and Holly Johnson in the same place, at the same time.

[@stevesandford1437]

Kudos to Steve Coogan for accepting that young writer's script... (I wonder what if anything came to pass???) xx SF

[@steveking6322]

Interesting chat. Awful sound. Are the glasses on the table resonating?

[@jasonross8434]

The sheer volume of nobodies (of which I am of course), feeling that youtube comments is the forum to FINALLY show the world how much more insightful they are than either of these two successful professional comedians is laughable. Pun intended.

[@jackforster5254]

Exactly. Name one successful project that either of these two nobodies have worked on. Oh wait..

[@simonmoore2380]

Jason Ross - what, like your one you mean? Yea, I can see that.....

[@emmaxoxo6208]

why did they put steve’s mic closer to his nose then his mouth

[@SmugSuspenders]

They feed him through the cable

[@closepiper7657]

genii.

[@francesriddiough8818]

the bit about writing script is funnier than doing it is.....yep.....some great memories for me on a miniscule way in comparison. 67 now though...sigh.....my best was Penile Colony.....such a hoot writing that.

[@jackbuff_I]

The only one I couldn't get was Saxondale. Hated that character.

[@jamesfield1674]

Sounds a lot like my dad.

[@sophiehill3297]

That microphone makes him look a bit doctor who

[@Toffduff4]

What happened to the guys script?

[@nickmoranis2865]

It’s weird he hasn’t mentioned Philomena.

[@shaunpearson7905]

the echo is freaking me out

[@MarcZERO1980]

Richard Herring and Stewart Lee where the real inventors of Alan Partridge.

[@FletchBlog]

not Chris Morris? I thought he was the driving creative force of TDT, then Iannucci, then Bayliss, Coogan etc…

[@sarahholland2600]

I googled Stewart Lee wondering what he was doing now. His stand up is painfully unfunny. It's the repetition. 3 times , yes most comedians repeat, to extend the laugh. But he'll take it to 6 or 7 with the pause between getting longer each time: and the audience & atmosphere get really uneasy. It was awful.

[@johnstory2996]

​@@sarahholland2600What's your IQ? Just curious.

[@oliveraeternus3285]

Reminds me of an alan partridge S Lee

[@emobloom]

Saxondale series 3!!!

[@jamess6787]

Love these guys, comic geniuses. Armando is the much funnier of the two, absolute genius. Coogan is pretty funny, but his range of comedy is a bit limited to the same gags and impressions ...

[@backslang]

Who does the audio for these shows? Ffs

[@conhand.3578]

A deaf person.

[@honestmcgyver]

Shame about the sound set up

[@SnabbKassa]

There's an elephant in the room and that elephant is a Partridge The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding in this case... is a football

[@rienpost3145]

Note to sound engineer: Coogan doesn't talk through his nose. Lower the mic.

[@michaelhoughton800]

He's a manc mate. We talk through our nose from these parts

[@rienpost3145]

@@michaelhoughton800 Fair enough, but not THAT badly. :-)

[@Comewithmeifuwant2live]

"Just get me out of fucking prison. Stop talking about cards"

[@b00i00d]

Surely it was Tony Blair who popularised that finger curling!... Love those two!

[@houndofzoltan]

Back when the Guardian was worth reading.

[@horse69outside]

It's all gone Pete Tong.

[@paulpritchard1998]

Community Guidelines. Lovely stuff.

[@MegaDonGallo]

"Steve Coogan meets Armando Iannucci"? I'm pretty sure Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci met long before this...

[@nightcandle62]

i just wish steeve had shown a little more kindness to some of his questioners,still love the guy but hes an enigma

[@doovbaloevera1430]

the canned laughter guy was a pretentious arsehole.

[@Harriet-Jesamine]

STEAK HOUSE! STEAK HOUSE! They're turnin it into a Steak House.... Oooohhh Let's all go to the Steak House and eat Steak with STeAk for starters, and then A main course of STEAK, and Steak for pudding, with a side order of steak... with steak on it!

[@jackforster5254]

I must have watched a different interview to the negative responders

[@flaggerify]

That mike is distracting. SC couldn’t have worn it on the left?

[@SmugSuspenders]

The Methodist sound engineers really fell through in this one

[@howdj]

His name is Armando.

[@ric112]

is this cool? is this cool? what about me? cool am I? find out tonight on bbc 2

[@LeeOCGaming]

He goes on a bit said alan