"Testing new jokes is like trying a new move in the bedroom. You’ve got to do it with someone else. You can’t just have a wank and think ‘Everyone will enjoy that’.”
Loaded sits down for a cup of tea and a chat with comedian Tiff Stevenson
If you don’t know the name Tiff Stevenson, you’ll almost certainly recognise her from her many TV roles in shows including The Office, People Just Do Nothing, Game Face, and White Gold. Her TV credits also include Mock The Week, The Apprentice- You’re Fired, Drunk History, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and The Blame Game.
With some live dates coming up, we chatted to Tiff to find out a bit more about the woman behind the laughs.
You’re no stranger to TV work, but you’ve been rubbing shoulders with celebrities from an early age. Tell us a bit about that.
“My dad was the box office manager at Wembley Stadium when I was just a kid. During my childhood, I’d go and visit him and find myself running around backstage. Whether it was Horse of the Year Show, Holiday on Ice, or Live Aid, there was always lots going on. I ended up inadvertently meeting lots of people including Annie Lennox. She probably wondered who this pest was sitting on her lap while she was doing her makeup, but she was lovely.
"I also met Jon Moss, Jerry Hall, and Tony Hadley. I met some very cool people, without perhaps appreciating how cool it was at the time.”
Did you set out to be a stand-up comic or was acting the original goal?
“My original dream was to be a dancer when I was a kid. I danced for a few years then stopped when I was about 13. Then I thought I wanted to write and do journalism. Then, the day before I was about to start my A levels I decided to get a job instead. I left home, rented a place, took on various jobs, and decided at some point that I wanted to do acting.
“My decision was that if I hadn’t made it as an actor by the time I was 21, I’d give up as it clearly wasn’t going to happen. I kind of wrote myself off a bit. I was utterly bonkers.
“I just picked up the Yellow Pages and called agents as I didn’t really know how it worked. A lot of people didn’t answer the phone, but when I did get through it was to a young acting agency and that’s where it all began.
“I think my first job was a Crimewatch reconstruction with Michelle from Liberty X. I was always going up for funny parts as that was sort of the limit of what was being written for young women. It was slaggy, annoying, bimbo, airhead girlfriend or nothing. These days you wouldn’t dream of doing it.
“So I just started writing my own material. I was always able to make people laugh so I started doing stand-up. I did a character at first because I was working with a theatre company and a few of the girls there were doing stand-up. I had a WAG character called Savannah Dior who was trying to hawk her autobiography ‘Come Inside Myself’, which was about all the famous people she’s slept with.
“I ended up ditching the character and finding my own voice.”
Do you have an on-stage persona or is what we see 100% Tiff Stevenson?
“I tend to follow the Garry Shandling model and try to be the most ‘me’ version of myself as I can. You have to forget about the material, just be yourself and find that true connection with the audience. That doesn’t mean it’s not an exaggerated version of myself. Comedy is exaggeration and shock, after all. It’s just that I’m trying to connect with them rather than perform at them.
“You still need to walk into a room and read the temperature, know how the audience is feeling and what the vibe is. Connection includes knowing who you need to win over and bring on board. Even at The Apollo, you can still hear laughs from specific places and you still need to read the room.”
You’ve never been afraid to tackle difficult subjects in your comedy. Do you think humour is one of the best ways to get the point across?
"I think comedy can shine a light in a dark corner and make it okay for people to discuss it. I remember about a decade ago there was a petition for “No rape jokes”, and I didn’t agree with it. I didn’t think anyone should take away my right to make a joke about a rapist. When you make a joke, it’s all about the intent and the angle and I think you should be able to joke about anything. And that goes double for issues that people don’t want to tackle."
“I don’t like tubthumping where comedians try to tell you how to think as if they’re the comedy police. I think comedy should be able to show a different side to an issue and then let people go away and think for themselves. I want to make them laugh and I want to make them think, but the primary thing is to find my funny first.
“Whether it’s the stigmas attached to being a step-mum, or reproductive rights, it’s nice to show a different viewpoint and get people thinking.”
When I was performing stand-up (poorly), there seemed to be an unfair ratio heavily in favour of male performers. Have you noticed any change in recent years?
“I think it has got a lot better and I think strides have been made. In the old days, there was about one woman every six months on bills at major clubs.
“It helped that they were looking for a female comic on Mock The Week with the rule change in 2014. Although I’d argue that I should have been booked on it with my male contemporaries a couple of years before. I think it's important for diversity to get different viewpoints and ideas, which means you're not getting the same gags.
“When you get gains in certain areas, you sometimes get losses after, but when I started out there were as many women as men in the open spots. They just didn’t tend to get paid gigs thereafter. There’s also the safety issue of getting home afterward. I had one promoter telling me that it was okay as I could go back to his after the gig. No chance.
“I think class is the biggest issue. The Oxford/Cambridge bias still seems to be there and getting comedians on TV who are in their 20s. There should be good diversity at open spot gigs and if a female comic does as well as the man, they should also get a paid gig.
“My position now is that I don’t need to convince those who don’t find me funny. I’ll just concentrate on the ones who do. Women have always been adaptable in comedy. They’ll run their own gigs, start their own podcast, or create a TV show. They’ll find a way in themselves.”
Tell us a bit about your show Husband Material.
“It’s a show about my husband, but also why I think I’d be a good husband, the price of energy bills, Selling Sunset, and house prices. It’s very personal as well as topical. It’s also about why we’ll never move to Mars.”
We’re running a new comedy talent competition at the Fringe later this year. What advice would you give to new comedians?
“Get up as much as you can. Even if it’s just in front of your friends. I always say that testing new jokes is like trying a move in the bedroom. You’ve got to do it with someone else. You can’t just have a wank and think ‘Everyone will enjoy that.’”
Book your tickets now for Tiff Stevenson, “Husband Material”
5th March – Hot Water, Liverpool
16th March – The Forge, Brighton
20th March- St Lukes, Glasgow Comedy Festival
1st and 2nd April – Soho Theatre, London
31st May – The Norbury Theatre Droitwich Spa
6th June – The Wardrobe, Leeds
For the latest news and gigs visit Tiffstevenson.co.uk
