Robin Morgan: ‘The school run on three hours sleep is a real humbler’
As featured on BBC Two’s Mock the Week and BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, comic Robin Morgan is back on the road with a new show, The Spark – his biggest tour to date.
So how do you keep the spark alive? Not just in a marriage, but in yourself?
Robin’s got a plan. He’s been working on himself: he’s joined a gym and is practising some self-care. He’s also got an air fryer – that’s the definition of self-care.
No longer as bothered by what people think of him (but please still laugh at his jokes – that’s important), Robin still has moments that wake him up with embarrassment, and there will be plenty of examples of those.
Robin’s shows have always been about others. Now it’s time to focus on himself. And his air fryer.
We put some questions to the man himself.
You’re a writer, actor, stand-up, presenter. If you had to pick one, what would it be?
I genuinely love live stand-up, and think it’s what I’m best at – those unique moments which happen in each show, never to happen again, there’s a real magic to it.
I want each audience to go away having had a night which they’ll remember for ages. That’s what I loved when I was a comedy fan.
What’s the show about?
My previous shows have been about: getting engaged, getting married, having kids, having a vasectomy so this one, logically, is about getting divorced.
Joking. It started as a show about keeping the spark alive in a relationship, but it soon became a bit bigger than that. I’ve done some soul searching this year, and it’s my most personal show yet. Funniest too.
You write for topical shows like Have I Got News for You, and host your own panel show What Just Happened? for BBC Radio. Shall we expect a lot of politics in the show?
Not a great deal! Much like a repressed British family at Christmas: not a lot of politics will be discussed. The odd line here and there, perhaps – but really, it’s a bit of an escapist show.
Not that I’m locked in a water tank or anything (although: a possible encore?), but this show is trying to just be an hour of joy. That’s the plan. No refunds.
This is your biggest tour to date – how does that make you feel? Excited? Daunted?
Well both now you’ve said that. I’m thrilled to be doing so many dates. I’ve not got a huge social media presence, so the people who come to the shows are doing so basically off word-of-mouth and having seen me at previous shows, or supporting someone else on tour. I’m very proud of that.
A lot of comics find the time away hard. I always go home after shows, so I’m with my family the next morning – that’s a good way to stay grounded during the tour. The school run on three hours sleep is a real humbler.
Have you got a favourite joke in the show?
I have. It’s about Parkrun. I’m saying no more.
You’ve supported the likes of Ellie Taylor, Rachel Parris, Iain Stirling, Sophie McCartney – what have you learnt from them now you’re doing your own tour?
They’re all such kind, brilliant people. I’m sorry if you want some showbiz gossip (though if you do want that, come to my tour and I’ll spill the tea on all the industry’s bad eggs).
They’re very giving and supportive, and there’s probably a lot of crossover when it comes to audiences.
Supporting Sophie last year, which was 96 per cent female audiences, was a delight, and I know some of the mums’ WhatsApp groups have been out in force and already got tickets for my shows – which I’m thrilled about.
What’s the secret to keeping The Spark alive, then?
I ask audiences that very thing during the show.
Answers I’ve had so far include: “listening to each other”, “ignoring each other” and “separate bedrooms”. So a real mixed bag.
Personally? I’d say writing an hour-long show about your partner is essentially one long love letter. Plus, it makes any gift I give her this year tax deductible. Win win.
Robin Morgan will be appearing at the Cambridge Junction (J3) on Saturday, 16 November. Tickets, priced £16.50, are available from junction.co.uk. For more on Robin, go to robinjmorgan.co.uk.
