Freeview Focus on... Tom Davis

29 September 2011

Actor, comedian and mimic, Tom Davis, returns to our screens in October to play The Warm Up Guy. We caught up with Tom for a quick chat about his TV habits and to go through his comedy CV. 

1. Tell us about The Warm Up Guy on E4.

The Warm Up  Guy is a Comedy Lab show about Iain Bodkin, a struggling studio warm-up comedian and self deluded ‘wally’ who thinks he is a superstar in the making. He’s sort of loveable loser who is on the peripherals of the TV world, but in his child-like mind he thinks he is the biggest talent out there. As he tries to break into the shallow world of celebrity, his enthusiasm and stupidity lead him from one disaster to another.

2. What else are you up to at the minute?

Dating, playing the field, doing the wild guy thing. On the work front, I‘m developing an idea with the producer of The Warm Up Guy, which is inspired by my two favourite shows: ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ and ‘Modern Family’. I’d also love to do something with The Banker character I played in The Morgana Show. That aside, I’m mainly working on new characters for VIP, a new impression show for Channel 4 starting next year, starring Morgana Robinson and Terry Mynott who, for the record, are both amazing mimics. People say I look like George Clooney all the time, so I’ll mimic him.

3. You’ve starred in The Morgana Show, acted alongside Bob Hoskins in Weighed In – The Story of the Mumper and performed heavily on the comedy circuit to many a fan of funny – what is the standout moment of your comedy career?

I’m lucky to have worked with some really talented people in my career so far. Working with Neil Maskell in The Warm Up Guy was an education, when you watch him back you realise how hard doing the little things are and how effortless he makes them seem. My main highlight however would be acting with Leigh Francis when I played John Landis in Chamone Mo Fo Selecta. To play about on screen with a hero was a real Jim’ll Fix It moment.

4. What’s your favourite TV moment of all time?

I’ve racked my brain for an obscure answer, a groundbreaking moment of TV history that shook the world but I always come back to Del Boy falling through the bar in Only Fools and Horses, such a small, simple thing yet it makes me smile every time I see it.

5. Which television series do you think of as ‘Unmissable TV’?

The Sopranos on Channel 4 was unmissable and I was hooked from the first episode. I would literally plan my relationships and holidays around it. It really was TV at its finest; each character was so finely sculpted, and as rough as they were, you felt empathy to them all. That really set the bar for TV at the time.

6. Tell us what shows you are watching and recording at the moment?

I’m hooked on the HBO series Eastbound and Down. I’m in awe of the show’s creators Danny McBride and Jody Hill. The central character, Kenny Powers, is genius. Although he is massively flawed and in many ways repellent, they have managed to maintain a charm that makes the audience root for him.

7. Which actor/comedian would you most like to work with and why?

Mickey Flanagan, I think the guy is genius. He was one of the main reasons I started stand up. I’d love to do remake of Steptoe and Son with Mickey. If he his unavailable, then it would be Robert De Niro – that would be pretty cool!

8. Tell us your guilty TV pleasure.

Geordie Shore - it’s vile and the people in it represent everything that’s wrong with today’s television and after watching an episode I always feel like I need a bath. What can I tell you…I’m addicted!

9. Who was your childhood TV hero and why?

Nick Berry in his guise of Simon Wicks, that guy was the epitome of cool. I still dream that one day I’ll have a best friend like Wicksy.

10. When was the last time TV made you cry?

I’m a sucker for The X Factor on ITV. Give me someone with a dream, a voice, and a sob story all cut together with a Westlife track and I’m in pieces!

11. Tell is a something we would never know about you.

I was a drag queen for eight months and I loved it. I was inspired by the story of Tracey Turnblad and Billy Elliott. Being onstage lip synching to Dolly Parton or throwing some shapes to Under The Sea dressed as Ariel from Little Mermaid was heaven.

12. Now Freeview HD is available across the UK, which part of your body would you least likely to see in high definition?

If I’m honest, there isn’t one part of me I’d like to see naked on television, but my writing partner and producer of The Warm Up Guy is obsessed with me being undressed as he thinks it’s funny. I just think he has a secret crush.

You can catch Tom in The Warm Up Guy, as part of the Comedy Lab season, on E4 in late October.