Matt Forde on the SNP being a ‘gift’ to comedy, the state of Britain’s politicians, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is his favourite time of the year
Matt Forde has labelled the ongoing scandals with the SNP a “gift” to comedy as he brings his show to the Edinburgh Fringe.
The popular satirist and impressionist performs sections around the ongoing scandals in Humza Yousaf’s party, and revealed criticising the SNP sometimes leads audience members to walk out.
Performing his new stand-up show ‘Inside No.10’ at the Pleasance Beyond through 27th August, Mr Forde also revealed his love of Edinburgh, and why he thought the Tories were dead in the water.
Speaking to Scotland on Sunday, Mr Forde explained jokes about the SNP got a bigger reaction in Scotland, but insisted people were happy to laugh at themselves.He said: “I think people are just so happy that someone is taking the mick out of the SNP, and I don't think that's necessarily an ideological point, I think people who support the SNP almost feel like ‘why aren't more people doing material about them?’.“They are in government, they’ve been in government a while now, how do you not do material about Nicola Sturgeon getting arrested, it’s an open goal really.
“I think on the whole people can really laugh at themselves, it gets a huge reaction up here but some people struggle with it. I would say most nights a couple of people walk out midday through the SNP section.“Around 2014, it would happen a lot, and when Corbyn became leader of the Labour party, it was Corbynistas who would, but I have to say the vast majority can take it.”Fresh off interviewing the First Minister for Edinburgh Fringe Political Party specials at the Gilded Balloon, the former Labour advisor praised Mr Yousaf, but said the issues around his party had been “a gift”.
He said: “In terms of the interview he’s great because he’s got a sense of humour, he was funny, and very easy to talk to. From a chat show perspective it was great, he opened up a lot about his mental health and the reality of having to take over after his predecessor was arrested, which was obviously not easy for him.
“I get on with a lot of people in political parties who I would never vote for, so I’m always grateful for personality types where they are open and approachable and easy to deal with.“The SNP in terms of the standup show, they’ve just been an incredible gift. I’ve always had an SNP segment in my Edinburgh show, but the last year especially, really the last few months, there has been nothing like it.“I always thought reality would bite them, as it does anyone, when they’ve been in government this long without delivering on those promises, as some point people will figure you out.”Despite interviewing figures from across the political spectrum, Mr Forde insisted he never worries about upsetting potential guests with his standup.He explained: “I think politicians who come on the show know what the deal is, I’m going to take the p**s out of them, but also I am genuinely interested in them, and the standup show is one thing, where you are mining politics for comedy, so I never think I can’t take the mickey out of them.“I would never not say anything because I’ve met them or get along with them, I’ve got a job to do and I think they all appreciate that.
“You can still say rude things about people you like, that’s what friends do in the pub, I shouldn’t hold back on stage. That never creates any conflict of interest”.The passionate Nottingham Forest fan said away from the SNP, it had been a “fantastic” time for political comedy, but that he’d found it “deeply distressing as a citizen”.
He said: “The last few years, with the independence debate, Brexit, Trump, all that stuff, Boris Johnson, Truss, it’s just been so in people’s faces that people have been forced to have to care about it, people are just on top of who the individuals are a bit more.
“I think that's slightly receding again now, I think in a way politics is returning a little bit to normal now”.
He gave the example of Liz Truss, who while good for comedy, in his view had done deep damage to the country.Mr Forde said: “I really do care about politics, I worked in it, and it drives me mad that people who are not good enough end up running countries. It’s not just people that I disagree with, I just think she should never have been Prime Minister on any level. She was just completely ill suited to leadership and running a country.”
A regular at the Fringe, Mr Forde also shared his love of Edinburgh, explaining he held part of his stag in the city.
He said: “It’s the highlight of my year, so much of my year revolves around this city and this place.
“In my mind, the calendar goes, June, July, Edinburgh, September.
“I think the reason the festival is so successful, why it's the biggest and the best is because it's here.
“It’s one of the most incredible cities on the planet. Certainly there's no city in Britain that looks like this.”
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