Tony Cowell chats to three BGT finalists
Lancashireborn Steve Royle,
51, had all four judges in fits of laughter during his comedy juggling performance in the semi-finals of this year’s Britain’sGot Talent. Now, he has his sights firmly set on winning the final. Steve has spent 30 years entertaining audiences all over the country, and has worked with comic legend Peter Kay on hit shows PhoenixNights and CarShare. Here, the funnyman – who has been married to Janet Maher for 20 years – tells best that if he were to win BGT, the first thing he’d do would be to buy a puppy for his three daughters, Daisy, 17, Rosie, 15 and Lucy, 12…
After your first audition, Simon said, ‘You are naturally funny – like end-of-pier Britain.’ Is that a compliment?!
I think it is! Because what he meant is that I am an oldschool comedian. The real truth here is that BGT is the only TV show left that still encourages variety acts like me to perform. That is a sad but true fact.
What was it like, performing in front of the judges without a live audience?
The funny thing was, I didn’t notice any real difference; I think all four judges really upped their game by being loud and laughing and engaging. I felt a real warmth from them all. They were so enthusiastic with each act – backstage there was a real feeling of togetherness.
In your semi-final performance you made some funny Coronavirus jokes. Is that how you tend to deal with heavy topics?
I tried not to make light of the pandemic, but I did a joke about Zoom calls and hand sanitiser because I watched my own mum and dad using Zoom for the very first time in their lives, and it made me laugh out loud. Being a comedian, I felt I couldn’t ignore the real situation we’re now living with. You’ve got to be up-to-date with your comedy, and you can’t get more ‘current’ than Coronavirus!
You were quite emotional on stage when you admitted that your work has suffered due to lockdown – bringing Alesha to tears...
I know, I don’t normally like to dwell on emotional feelings but because of what has happened over the past six months I have suffered from dark moments. I thought I would never be able to entertain again. Never be able to provide for my family. What really threw me was when David Walliams spoke to me, saying he loved my act and then Alesha asked me a question about my life and I just became quite tearful.
You’ve worked in showbiz for 30 years now. What would getting to the BGT final mean to you?
It means recognition for all the work I’ve done. My job is so strange, to want to stand in front of a load of strangers
and make them laugh is such a ridiculous thing to want to do for a living. But BGT is a wellrespected show and to get your brother, Simon, smiling was such a huge ambition of mine. And I did it. I made him laugh. So, that means the world to me.
Bookies have you at 5-1 to win the show. How would that change your life if it happened?
For starters, the £250,000 prize would mean I could pay off all the debts I have accumulated over the past six months. I have a wife and three daughters and I know my girls want a puppy, so I think that would be the first thing we would buy. But, for me, just to get to the final would be enough. I think it’s hard for a comedian to win this show – but let’s hope and pray I can do my absolute best to do it.
You’ve worked with Peter Kay on numerous hit shows including Phoenix Nights and Car Share – how did you two meet?
On my very first stand-up appearance in Manchester, I met the guy who co-wrote Phoenix Nights. He asked me whether I would consider supporting Peter on his tour. So that was that. He has always been a great supporter of me and my act.
I heard you are Peter’s favourite comedian..
(Laughs) I heard that rumour too – so it must be true!
What made you want to do comedy – was anyone in your family in entertainment?
No. My mum was a domestic science teacher and my dad was a college lecturer! I actually started off going to the University of Kent to study social history, so I think my parents thought I would follow them into teaching. That didn’t quite work out, did it?!
What was your daughters’ response to you getting to the finals?
They were so excited, and they were part of that wall of people you can see on the back of the BGT stage. So, I could just about see them when I was performing. I have also included them in the VT they play before we appear on the final show – so they were over the moon about that.
What can viewers expect from your final performance, then?
Obviously I can’t give the game away – but, even if I do say so myself, I think I have come up with something really different and funny. I think you are all going to love it!
BGT The Final is this Saturday at 8pm on ITV.
‘To get Simon smiling was such a huge ambition of mine. And I did it’