Regardless of who gets the keys to 10 Downing Street this Thursday, the 2010 election has cemented how important performance is when it comes to capturing audiences’ imagination. It’s also highlighted the fickle nature of our world too, as important as rhetoric is, we’re easily led by style over substance, and as easily won over by quintessential heart throb looks, normally attributed to Colin Firth.
A few months ago, people were still tittering at ‘Nick Who?’ jokes but the scoffs were subsequently silenced by the mass hysterics of Clegg-Mania when Nick became an overnight sensation after his first appearance in the election debate. Like a comic who has made the leap from back-room pub obscurity to the Apollo spotlight, he basked in his ‘Best Newcomer’ success well-deserved from the years of hard slogging behind the scenes, building up his confidence and material. Perhaps, as some might argue, too much confidence, spilling over into – as Alan Johnson ranted today – arrogance. You’re only as good as your next gig Clegg.
Gordon Brown learnt the painful way how not to deal with a heckler when his emotions prevented him from maintaining a professional manner. I’m sure there has been many a time when a stressed-out comedian’s left the stage choking back expletives under their breath, but it’s always best to leave any resentful murmurings to the guaranteed privacy of your own bedroom (you just never know what the mic could pick up) or a supportive Sarah Brown figure – no promoters or fellow comics want to witness a bad sport. But in all honesty, Gordon could have said a lot worse. I probably would have. He’s no doubt thanking his lucky stars he didn’t allow “old bag” to just roll off his tongue.
And David Cameron. He probably thought his crowd-pleasing, if rather cliched slogans (one of them even goes back to Maggie Thatcher times) were a cheery contrast to Gordon’s rather blunt verbatim and characteristic gruffness, however self-aware and ‘down to earth’ it might be. I doubt he was even paying attention to Clegg, until the sexy young thing sidled up unawares beside him and stole all his university groupies, right from under his nose.
Whatever the outcome, the three will soon be saying goodbye, with a mixture of regret and fondness to the tireless campaigning and on-the-road lifestyle they’ve put their heart and soul into, par for the course for so many professional comedians.
For Funny Women, the campaign trail is only just beginning. This Sunday we will be launching our Funny Women Awards, before we travel the country for the next few months in search of 2010’s funniest woman. Please spread the word to all the female comics you know across Britain and come along to our showcases to give them your support. As the election has shown, stars can be created overnight but it’s the behind-the-scenes nurturing and developing that also counts in creating a comedy sensation. Apologies for the bad pun election slogan but… please join us, as things can only get funnier.
