“I’m seen as ‘exotic’… the comedy version of that white tiger in Vegas”

Geoff Norcott, one of the comedy circuit’s few right-wing, Brexit-supporting comics, brings his new show Traditionalism to town this month. And, as it happens, he always enjoys left-leaning, Remain-centric Bristol…

The world is changing at a dizzying rate, and Geoff is trying to hold modern views, but worries that tradition is becoming a dirty word.

“Repeatedly and satirically incisive” – The Scotsman

Here’s Geoff.

So, Geoff, tell us what Traditionalism is all about.
Politics and social attitudes are changing at a dizzying rate. I’m like a lot of people in the middle: I want to hold modern views, but the labels we use are changing so fast that it’s almost impossible to keep up. If you go out of the country for a month you come back and something else is now deemed offensive.

Are you a traditional sort of bloke yourself, then?
I guess my relationship operates on a very gender-typical basis. I think a lot of people’s relationships still do, yet the chattering classes are engaged in fervent debate about gender neutrality. I think male and female characteristics are slightly more innate than that.
Having a baby brings issues like this into focus. Right from the start my son was visibly more at ease with my wife around. And why not? She could feed him with her body, I couldn’t even do it with a spoon.

What’s the most radical thing you’ve done?
Being a Conservative and Leave voter in the world of stand-up is reasonably out there.
Those views are pretty common in wider society, but somehow in stand-up I’m seen as ‘exotic’. I’m the comedy version of that white tiger in Vegas.

Yes, interesting. Why *are* there so few comics on the Right?
Historically, the alternative scene was a reaction to the stand-up of the day. Even though that was ages ago, some lefties cling onto this view that any right-wing comedian must be unpleasant (so unlike the Left, to get their big ideas from the Seventies!). If anything, me not turning out to be a totally evil git seems to annoy them more.

How does your stand-up go down in Bristol?
Last year’s tour show in Bristol was a lot of fun. The crowd were very left-wing and Remain (surprise, surprise – it’s Bristol). But they were bang up for a laugh and seemed to find it amusing to put a Tory through his paces. When I remarked that Corbyn looks like a pensioner at a service station who thinks he’s lost his coach party, one lady got up and said ‘STOP BEING MEAN ABOUT JEREMY!’ Which was fine, but the previous comic to me had been making jokes about Theresa May’s appearance and she’d laughed throughout. I made that point and she stormed out, ironically no-platforming herself.

Brexit. How’s that working out for you now?
Well, I voted Leave and I’d like to say that yes, I did realise it would be this complicated, and I absolutely thought through all the ramifications of a hard border in Northern Ireland and…look, I don’t regret my vote, but it’s tricky. I might not be able to make jokes in support of Brexit, but I can certainly crack a few at the expense of certain Remainers. You know, the ones who developed this lifelong love of the EU the moment the vote went the other way. And they go on the marches, but only if it’s on a Saturday and they can factor in brunch at Browns.

Geoff Norcott: Traditionalism Nov 23, The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio. For more info, visit www.thecomedybox.co.uk

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