Fern Brady: Comedians and politics should not mix

More and more often these pathologically self-interested narcissists inexplicably pop up looking sincere on Question Time, even though every comedian I know’s number one concern – regardless of what they might tell you – is global fame and power.

The number of misogynistic comedians suddenly into feminism since it became Zeitgeisty and therefore hugely profitable is staggeringly high. The number of supposedly leftie comedians with quietly right-wing views who avoid paying tax year after year is higher still.

Further, most comedians’ political knowledge is about as reliable and informative as a Facebook meme.

Look how everything I’ve just said was a declarative statement. No shades of grey, no nuance. I didn’t research anything. That’s exactly why I shouldn’t be allowed on any news programme, but it’s the same reason I keep getting asked on them.

I went on Channel 4 News a couple of years ago because my agent at the time badgered me into it, saying I’d be allowed on 8 out of 10 Cats again, a reasoning I still don’t get, but then he also once suggested I do a dodgy chat show where a barber cut my hair and interviewed me at the same time.

I went on the news and said any old rubbish, neglecting to tell them I frequently forget to vote in elections and have the most childlike understanding of politics of anyone I know.

I think it’s obvious from the clip how disinterested I look so I was bemused when pro-union people went daft at me and pro-independence folk thought I was some sort of indyref hero. Even though I’m vaguely pro-independence, I can’t argue the long-term business and economic implications of it cause my job is shouting jokes at drunk people.

It’s scary then that I’ve repeatedly been asked on and turned down multiple serious news appearances including but not limited to a TV debate on Scottish independence with Owen Jones. The other week I was on the radio talking about Brexit. Never even voted, pal. I’d wager the only reason I’ve even been asked to write this is because The National think I’m well into independence.

Graham Linehan recently complained that Radio 4’s Today programme represented a widespread dumbing down of public debate, one where every discussion is binary and needlessly gladiatorial. Comedians are ideal fodder for this. They did the same with me when I was on the show.

I can’t even remember now what the topic was but they obviously wanted me to get angry about women being under-represented in comedy and I refused to do it, going off on some tangent while the old lad that hosts it chuckled like a benevolent Werther’s Original grandfather.

I used to love seeing Johnny Vegas, Phil Kay and even early Russell Brand go off piste on TV as the presenter panicked; it was what made me go into comedy. This has all but disappeared from telly now as anxious post-Sachsgate producers attempt to recreate the spontaneity of live comedy only to strangle the life out of it by micromanaging everything comedians do.

I wish more comics would mock the farce of the news itself rather than placidly burp out soundbites like obedient babies. The media and every middle-class TV and radio producer in the land deserves to be ridiculed, deserves to have that ashen look on their face when they realise too late you were a bad booking for live radio.

So why do I see more comics trying to be taken seriously in political media? Meanwhile Nick Clegg spends £8k on recreating a Carly Rae Jepsen video and Corbyn looked like a fool on The Last Leg in a fur coat. Politicians are serious people behaving like clowns to gain popularity and comics are flippant shallow people desperate to be taken seriously. Am I the only one that finds this odd?

What I’m trying to say is: my Fringe show this year doesn’t have much topical material in it. It’s funny though. There’s always that.

Fern Brady: Male Comedienne is at The Stand Comedy Club, Stand 2 from August 4-28. Tickets from edfringe.com or at outstandingtickets.com.