Win, lose or guffaw
Daytime television watchers of a certain age will require no introduction to this month’s Guinness Laughter Lounge comedian. Bob Mills became a household name hosting hit ITV game show Win, Lose or Draw in the Nineties. He went on to present the cult late-night show In Bed with MeDinner and then moved off-screen to try his hand at writing, most notably with the screenplay for the 2006 film Pierrepoint, about the life of Britain’s last hangman. A lifelong fan of League One football team Leyton Orient, he regularly appears on Radio Five Live as a sports pundit. Ahead of his spot at the comedy gig this month, Mills took the time to answer some questions from Metropolitan.
What is your favourite memory of your time at Win, Lose or Draw? Working with so many different people: Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas, The Krankies!!
Which game show would you like to be a contestant on? Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, but not the ‘celebrity’ version for charity!
Would you rather that Leyton Orient won the FA Cup, were promoted to the Premier League for one season only or that you were given a million pounds cash? I’d take the money, invest it wisely, then use the profits to get Orient into the Championship. That would do us fine.
You’ve done presenting, writing and radio punditry, which of those do you prefer? Stand-up. Always has been. Writing, presenting, radio, backgammon, they are just things I do. Stand-up comedy, that’s what I am.
Which of the current comedians do you rate? I respect all comedians, I wander into little clubs and see unknown open spots and just love what they do. The best comic currently working is Stewart Lee.
If you could never watch football again, which sport would you replace it with? That’s not going to happen. Even if they outlawed it, somewhere in the barrios and ghettos, we would still have matches!
Do you have any writing projects on the go at the moment? Yes, I’m writing a biopic of a Seventies’ politician who faked his own death à la Reggie Perrin.
Do you do many gigs abroad and if so, do you notice a difference in the audiences? Yes, the audiences are very different, nicer, more appreciative. Some British crowds, especially London, can be a bit blasé.
Bob Mills: April 24th, 9pm, €12 (note: tickets only available on the door)
La Riereta Teatre, C. Reina Amalia 3; www.gloungebcn.com