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David Walliams loves having a laugh with friends on TV

Walliams and Jack Whitehall (King Bert / Ray Burmiston)
Walliams and Jack Whitehall (King Bert / Ray Burmiston)

DAVID WALLIAMS was left feeling “ancient” while filming his current show.

The comedian was filming his first sketch show since making his name with pal Matt Lucas in Little Britain, which originally aired in 2003.

And his first guest star for David Walliams And Friend, Jack Whitehall, wasted no time in reminding the 45-year-old how long ago that was.

“He made me feel really old when he told me: ‘I used to love watching Little Britain when I was at school,’” groans Walliams.

“I was like: ‘I’m sorry, how old are you?’

“He’s still in his 20s. It’s absurd!”

However, Walliams soon found the shoe was on the other foot when he filmed an episode with one of his own comedy heroes, Harry Enfield.

“I’ve always been in awe of him,” he admits. “He is one of my absolute favourites.

“I loved him when I was growing up. When he did Stavros and Loadsamoney on Saturday Live it was so fresh.

“It’s an incredible thing when someone who is your comedy hero treats you as an equal. I never lose that sense of wonder when I meet mine.”

Little Britain ended in 2007, so why has it taken nearly a decade for Walliams to make another comedy sketch show?

“The problem with being successful is that you get all these other opportunities,” he explains.

“You’re asked: ‘Do you want to present a programme about this?’ or ‘Do you want to do something for charity?’.

“Suddenly, you’re in danger of becoming a celebrity at large and you’ve lost sight of what it is you wanted to do.

“There’s nothing like getting back to what I wanted to do in the first place which is comedy.

“This show is just there to make you laugh. It’s rather old-fashioned in that way, like The Two Ronnies.”

Unlike your typical “and friends” show, Walliams really does have his guests’ numbers.

He’s known Meera Syal for ages and been round to dinner with her and husband Sanjeev Bhaskar, while he met Miranda Richardson at a French and Saunders show.

He admits: “I was watching it, not on it, and I tried to ask her out on a date!

“She wasn’t having it, but I really wanted to work with her, because she’s such a brilliant comedian.

“Although it’s now 30 years ago, her performance as Queenie in Blackadder is still emblazoned on our imagination.

“People in showbusiness are quite friendly to each other, though.

“When I’ve been to the Baftas with my mum she’ll go: ‘Oh, it’s Alan Titchmarsh. Can we meet him?’.

“I’ve never met him in my life, but I’ll go up and say: ‘Hi, Alan. I’m David. This is my mum. She’s a big fan,’ and he’ll be really nice to us.

“But, you know, we don’t go on holiday together!”


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