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Andy Zaltzman - Streatham's Political Animal
As comedy genres go, satire is probably the oldest, alongside slapstick. No doubt those cavemen would absolutely wet themselves every time Og did his goofy impression of their leader or tripped over a stray rock.
Of today's satirists, Andy Zaltzman is one of the finest, and he plays Streatham Waterfront next Wednesday alongside the mischevious Glenn Wool and gregarious Donald Mack. Which is a belting line-up, incidentally.
With Zaltzman, think more of the studied, Rory Bremner school of comedy than that of the chest-beating Mark Thomas - he is, in fact, a writer for the award-winning Bremner, Bird and Fortune show.
Streatham-based Zaltzman also appears on BBC Radio 4's the Now Show and the News Quiz and records a weekly Times podcast - The Bugle - with long-time collaborator and fellow iconoclast Mark Oliver (who writes for the Daily Show With Jon Stewart).
As a stand up, he has become hugely popular through festivals. His debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival last year saw him walk off with the Piece of Wood award for best show.
And his Political Animal show at Edinburgh has becoming an institution. Zaltzman and Oliver are the comperes, inviting top comedians to indulge in some fun-poking at the modern age and those in power. Guests have included Jeremy Hardy, Natalie Haynes, Richard Herring, Robert Newman, Russell Howard and Russell Brand.
And here he is, complete with the shock of hair and an encyclopaedic knowledge of cricket.
PF: Which comedians are you enjoying at the moment?
AZ: Daniel Kitson I like a lot, Stewart Lee, a less well-known guy is Stephen Carlin, a very dry Scot who is very good.
PF: Which dead comic would you resurrect?
AZ: Henry VIII was a very good stand-up in his his day. Bit bawdy.
PF: What is your favourite spot in Streatham?
AZ: It's hard to narrow it down from all the wonders of SW16! I think the swings on the common where I take my baby daughter.
PF: Are there any politicians who are above satire?
AZ: No. The closest is George W Bush, who is so extreme as to render satire redundant, he basically self satirises. There are people you might not want to, but it doesn't mean it isn't possible - you can take a contrary viewpoint.
PF: What is your favourite cricketing stat?
AZ: I love the career of WG Grace's younger brother, who played one test match, was out fora duck in both innings and died a fortnight later before he could make amends.
PF: What did you want to do when you grew up?
AZ: I wanted to be a cricket journalist and sit chatting in the press box to old players who wish they were 25 years younger.
PF: Whose sex face would you least like to see?
AZ: Queen Victoria, as I feel it would destroy ther regal image. Clearly she liked sex - she had 9 children.
Andy Zaltzman; Streatham Waterfront, 426-428 Streatham High Road, (5 minutes from Streatham Common and Streatham Station), Wednesday, February 6, £8, 020 8764 3985.
12:18pm Friday 25th January 2008
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