Kent comedian Hatty Ashdown on moustaches, gameshows and Su Pollard
Comedy columnist Zahra Barri talks to Hatty Ashdown
Photo credit: Karla Gowlett
Hatty Ashdown is a tour de force, or should I say tour de farce? Growing up in Swanley and Longfield, she says she was a “weird” and “camp” teenager.
“A Carry On character/middle-aged woman down the market”, she tells me with a wicked grin. Now fully formed, she’s not only a standup with TV accolades to her name but a full-time mum to two boys in her hometown of Bexleyheath.
“My comedy is like a woman gossiping over the garden fence,” she tells me endearingly. Her Instagram feed is rife with impersonations of Su Pollard - to whom, she jokes, she bears a striking resemblance - as well as hilarious videos of the realities and banalities of being a mum. She’s got the three Cs that all the greats have - she is cheeky, chatty and charming. And what’s cheekier and more charming than basing your entire comedy act on being a game-show host? In her show Chatty Ashdown she sports a 70s-style moustache, a nod to one of her game-show idols, Bruce Forsyth, and creates an interactive, hyperactive, comedically collaborative show that’s Alan Carr Chatty Man meets Noel’s House Party.
Or, as she says, “if Fleabag were a gameshow hosted by a working-class girl from Kent”. Hot on the heels from her success at the Fringe, I chat to Hatty about game shows, Funny Mummies and how her obsession with Su Pollard has led to her developing a TV biopic on the comedy legend…
Image by Shillings Snaps
You’ve just had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Chatty Ashdown. Tell us about the premise of the show.
Thank you! Chatty Ashdown is a fun, over-sharing, silly ride, all wrapped up in a game-show format. When I first conceptualised the show, I wasn’t entirely sure where it would go, but I knew I wanted it to be an escape. As it evolved, I realised I wanted to create an experience where the audience feel like they’re on this crazy adventure with me, rather than feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed. The only people shamed are my exes.
I was also inspired by the idea of shaking up the traditional game-show format. I noticed the absence of a strong female game-show host and decided to play with that concept.
Who is your favourite game-show host of all time and why?
I wouldn’t say I was a game-show fanatic before creating Chatty Ashdown, but I’ve come to realise how much game shows were a backdrop to my working-class upbringing. I loved watching all the greats like Les Dawson, Michael Barrymore, Lilly Savage and, of course, Bruce Forsyth. He is a legendary figure in the game-show world, and while he wasn’t one of my personal favourites, his influence and style certainly inspired some aspects of my show - like my decision to wear a moustache. It’s a playful nod to him and the iconic era of game shows he represents, and I just like wearing a moustache! I’d love to see Judi Love or Sara Cox present a game show!
You performed at the Tunbridge Wells Festival this summer. How did it feel to play on home turf?
It was such a lovely and supportive experience! While Tunbridge Wells isn’t exactly my hometown – it’s a bit posher - it was still wonderful to perform close to home. The audience were fantastic and really embraced the show. One of the highlights was a group of mums known as Mum Rebellion who got really into it. It was amazing to see them all singing along at the end.
You present the Funny Mummies podcast. Who’s been your favourite guest?
That’s like asking me to choose a favourite child! There have been so many wonderful guests, but one that always stands out is Holly Walsh. She’s a comedian and co-writer of Motherland. Holly was incredibly easy to talk to, hilariously funny and refreshingly honest - qualities we cherish on the podcast. She openly discussed the realities of motherhood, including the fact that she has a nanny. I feel strongly that it’s important to share these truths because people often wonder how those in TV manage their careers and parenting. The reality is that it takes a village and many of us don’t have family living nearby, so we rely on additional help.
Sara Pascoe wrote recently that being a mum made her a better comedian. Do you agree?
Sara Pascoe has always been brilliant, so it’s interesting to hear her say that. I don’t know how she can get any better, but I guess motherhood does give you new material and a fresh perspective. Being a mum definitely sharpens your no-nonsense approach. You don’t have the luxury of lounging around all day trying to write jokes - you might only have an hour on the train to get stuff done. They say if you want something done, give it to a mum, and that urgency and focus can certainly translate into being a more effective and direct comedian.
Who are you the comedy lovechild of?
Well, I’d say a combination of Alan Carr and Su Pollard.
Who are your inspirations?
One of my biggest inspirations is my sister - well, all three of my sisters. One in particular growing up, watching her and my aunties talk to a room and command attention was truly inspiring. As a kid, my best friend and I used to act out scenes from Vic and Bob’s Big Night Out. Reading Alan Carr’s book made me realise that comedy could be a professional path. Also Bridget Christie, Dawn French, Victoria Wood and Josie Long.
When did you realise you were funny?
It’s the classic story of being the class clown. Looking back, I now know I was dyslexic and probably had ADHD, which made it hard to focus. Making people laugh became a way to cope and connect. A school friend still talks about me doing impressions of Mr Bean and making everyone laugh. However, realising I could make people laugh on stage came later, after taking a course as a character act. Eventually, I realised I didn’t need a character - I am the character!
What are your comedy plans?
I’m taking Chatty Ashdown on a mini tour, so if anyone wants to book the show, get in touch. I’m also writing and directing a piece of theatre, thanks to Arts Council funding. I’m also in development to make a biopic of the life and career of Su Pollard. I’ll continue gigging and producing more episodes of the Funny Mummies podcast.
What’s funny about Kent?
The colourful characters, like the women who chat endlessly in the shops, the grumpy taxi drivers who complain about Uber but then won’t help you carry balloons to the car because they have a bad back - BALLOONS!!! The stern women on reception at the sports centre that tell you everything has to be done online when you’re stood in front of them. The local enthusiasm for things like a new Costa Coffee opening.
ABOUT ZAHRA BARRI
Saudi Arabian-raised Egyptian/Irish writer, stand-up comedian and PhD researcher has featured on Channel 4’s Only Jokes a Muslim Can Tell and BBC Radi. Her debut novel Daughters of the Nile won the Unbound Firsts Writers of Colour competition, is out now and has been described as “A bold multi-generational debut, exploring themes of queerness, revolution and Islamic sisterhood”. Her work is supported by The Society of Authors and the Arts Council.
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