Dara Ó Briain has revealed why many comedians are hesitant to appear on Mock The Week, despite the show being a staple of BBC Two for over a decade. The host explained that the programme's intense and competitive nature, particularly in its early years, has deterred some performers.
Ó Briain noted that the show has evolved significantly since its launch in 2005, when panellists like Frankie Boyle and Russell Howard created a highly competitive atmosphere. 'It used to be boom, boom, cut across each other, elbows,' he said. 'Now it's far looser, more fluid conversation.'
Comedians such as Jo Brand and Rory Bremner have publicly stated they would not return to the show. Bremner described a 'highly competitive and quite aggressive tendency', while Brand wrote about the prospect of 'having to bite someone's foot off before they let us say something'.
Ó Briain attributed the earlier intensity to Boyle's style as a one-liner comedian, which made the show 'very staccato'. He explained that Boyle would often close off topics with brilliant but brutal lines, leaving little room for conversation. The show has since become more genial, with microphone time more evenly spread.
The host also discussed his decision to avoid performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, arguing that well-known TV comedians should not take ticket sales away from emerging acts. 'There's a limited number of ticket buyers in that city at that time. They already know me. They need to find the next Dara Ó Briain,' he said.
