INTERVIEW: Helen Lederer

<p>There’s a mumble of excitement around the office as I pick up the phone to interview Helen Lederer. Helen is one of the UK’s funniest women. She’s been in countless comedy programmes, including probably one that has made her immortal for the gay community. In fact one of the most quoted lines from Ab Fab in this very office is one of Helen’s… ‘Just lots of lovely packaging…’ As I dial her numbers, I ready my magazine voice – I am certain she’ll appreciate it…</p> <p>By Jake Simpson | 6th November </p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4601379231.jpg" width="460" height="452" alt="Helen Lederer | Why The Fuss? | Matt Crockett" title="Helen Lederer | Why The Fuss? | Matt Crockett"/></p> <p></p><p>TheGayUK: Hello how are you?</p><p></p><p>(Sounds of tapping on a computer…)</p><p></p><p>Helen Lederer: I’m just mental – You’ll probably think I’m mad, no you won’t… </p><p></p><p>(More tapping, Helen’s at her computer answering an email…) </p><p></p><p>You know when you’re doing that thing and you’ve got just one chance… </p><p></p><p>(More tapping) </p><p></p><p>So you’re… </p><p></p><p>(Yet more tapping) </p><p></p><p>You’ve got that…</p><p></p><p>(Loud tap, like she’s hit the Enter button) </p><p></p><p>I’m… </p><p></p><p>…Right I’m ready.</p><p></p><p></p><p>TGUK: Marvellous! Right so tell us all about your new show. What is WTF?</p><p></p><p>HL: So I was on the radio last night and he asked does it mean ‘what the frock?’ and I was like ‘No, it’s why the fuss!’</p><p></p><p>I thought it was an original idea that just basically means, like that song, ‘Is That All There Is?’… Who sung that? </p><p></p><p>(She starts to sing the tune…) </p><p></p><p>HL: Probably Kylie, just say Kylie… It probably was, if in doubt say Kylie. The thing is after doing the dive (Lederer was in Splash! with young Tom Daley, don’t cha know) I thought I’ve done the scariest thing that I could have thought I done so – What next? So it’s like me asking my guests ‘What is the point?’</p><p></p><p>I think I’m original, but I don’t think anyone is, because we’re subject to influences, whether we like it or not – as demonstrated so well by Derren Brown on Telly, so I thought I’d ask people I like. Like what does it for them…</p><p>‘What is the point?’ ‘What happens when we die?’ ‘What makes them happy’ and ‘Have they got regrets?’ Just basic things, that really interest me. </p><p></p><p>When you take yourself to the edge, like I did in Splash!, it just makes you more curious. </p><p></p><p>TGUK: So you’ve got some incredible guests?</p><p></p><p>HL: Oh gosh yes, (pause) What if they don’t get on – I’ve got a pop star Kimberley Walsh on with me, I can’t believe she said she’d do it, then in the second half I’ve got the feminists: Suzanne Moore and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and I’m in total awe of all three… They’re so different, Kimberley will come with people from the music industry no doubt, and the feminists will come with whoever and I’ll come on my own, with my bank manager. I should have asked him actually.</p><p></p><p>All three women have really proved themselves, we all know who they are for what they do, which I think is very interesting and it’s only just hitting me now, that is an amazing line up! </p><p></p><p>TGUK: So what can the audience expect to get from your show?</p><p></p><p>HL: What I want is a happy night, where we relax and trust each other and be as irreverent and playful as we can be – that’s what I want, I don’t know if that’s going to happen.</p><p></p><p>It’s been such an expensive hoohar, I’m doing this myself, I thought I can do this without a producer, no worries. I’ve seemed to have employed so many people at different points. It’s a circus of good people. My life is a circus – I’m between management, so I just get on and do it. </p><p></p><p>And because I’m so old I feel I know ‘people’ but it’s a complete mess. In a good way! </p><p></p><p>It’s cost me so much money doing it this way. Even if I sell out there’s no way I’ll remotely break-even. I just can’t tell my guests (whose friends’ tickets are comped that it’s my shopping basket that’s paying for it. My housewife’s purse is paying for your entertainment… So it better be a fucking good show!</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4601387808.jpg" width="460" height="307" alt="" title=""/></p> <p>TGUK: So you’ve been comped into bankruptcy? </p><p></p><p>HL: Oh yes! (laughs) I’ve even had to take a loan out, I was going to crowdfund, but it caused me a nervous breakdown because I didn’t know how to do it. So basically if there’s any producers out there - I need someone to step in and save me from myself. Seriously. I’m giving the guests little cheques in an envelope with a little note from Smiths that says ‘Thank you.’</p><p></p><p>I mean… the catalogue of bills! I’ve just spent £100 in a printers – in a quick print shop… for what? They just see me coming. ‘She’s been on Ab Fab 500 years ago, she’s bound to have money.’</p><p></p><p>TGUK: We’ll come and we’ll pay for our tickets!</p><p></p><p>HL: (Laughs) I should do this more often, guilt people into watching… make everyone feel guilt. And bring your own sandwiches..</p><p></p><p></p><p>TGUK: It’s very womanly and feminist! Are the men invited?</p><p></p><p>I Loooove the men! And we’re booked in again on the 28th November and I only want to do it if I can get Russell Brand and Quentin Letts, do you think that could be a good combo? And / or Ed Milliband – and that’s the only way I could do it. </p><p>So I’ve done the women for tomorrow and I could go to the men on the 28th. </p><p></p><p></p><p>TGUK: When were you last hideously drunk?</p><p>HL: At my last try out of this show.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Helen Lederer is at <a href="https://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/helen-lederer-wtf">St. James’s Theatre</a>, Victoria in London on the 7th November and on the 28th November. Real our full interview in our forthcoming Winter Edition, out Mid November</p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>