comedy feature

Goodbye Mr Chips? Hello Mr Walker

ThreeWeeks talks to stand-up comedian and presenter Roy Walker about bringing Catchphrase to the Fringe.

Say what you see! I see Roy Walker sitting in front of me, fresh from a BBC appearance and still in makeup, a man pushing 70 enjoying a second wind of fame and admiration. Many would describe his popularity amongst the student population to be something of a cult following, with the majority having “grown up watching the show”. After he left TV quiz show ‘Catchphrase,’ Roy toured, making guest appearances at various functions. “My first university appearance was in Norwich, and the reaction I got was unbelievable. Over the Bon Jovi song that was playing came one of the ‘Catchphrase’ sound effects and the crowd just went wild.”

And now he comes to the Edinburgh Fringe with ‘Goodbye Mr Chips?’ “The Edinburgh show came out of all the interest from the student unions. I didn’t want to just be walking on with ‘I’m famous look at me’, so I played ‘Catchphrase’ with the crowd. In addition to this was the spot on Chris Moyles’ show on Radio 1, ‘Carpark Catchphrase’ where listeners called in and I would describe a catchphrase. I got such an amazing response with both, it was unbelievable. The show just grew from there.” At this point Roy gives me an example, “Mr Chips is walking through a forest, it’s raining, some furry animals fall from the sky…” I am desperate to shout “it’s raining cats and dogs” but this is just an example, and as I have no buzzer or car horn, my inner competitive geek will just have to wait for his show.

I ask if it is going to be a rude version of ‘Catchphrase’, as much of the Fringe comedy is adults only, my head imagining all sorts of scenarios involving Mr Chips hitting monkeys or bishops, but Roy assures me firmly that “no, it is for all the family. ‘Catchphrase’ was a family show”. That is not to say though that my ideas are entirely wrong as they are born out of the hilarious ‘Snake Charmer’ clip, a YouTube phenomenon with over 100,000 hits in total, and a favourite of blooper shows. I am assured that the clip “will most definitely be making an appearance”.

But it isn’t only about ‘Catchphrase’. “It’s one third ‘Catchphrase’, one third meet and greet with the audience, and one third a walk through of my life.” Many don’t know that Roy first got into performing as a soprano, aged 14, in the Francis Longford Choir. Will there be any singing in the show? Roy blushes slightly, “Er, no. Maybe some footage in the walk-through part, but no”. He adds, “there isn’t time!”

So what of Mr Chips? “Well note the question mark in the show’s title. Is it goodbye? I’ve said goodbye before but he keeps coming back! At some of the university shows there have been dozens of people dressed as Mr Chips in cardboard suits painted yellow with red noses and neckties.” They certainly aren’t parting ways anytime soon. Concerned not to sound too cheesy he says, “I feel like Greg Norman, living the dream. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity of the success from the Chris Moyles show. It’s all very unexpected and exciting, and very flattering”.

“It’s good, but it’s not right”, possibly one of Roy’s most well-known catchphrases. Well, right now it seems that things are going too good for Roy for them not to be right and the show should be an instant hit with his many fans.

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Roy Walker's 'Goodbye, Mr Chips?' was on at the Assembly @ George Street.

published: Oct-2008

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