People in their 20s say, ‘you are my childhood’. It makes us feel incredibly old
For BAFTA-winning TV duo Sam & Mark, summer means sketches, jokes and games. MARION McMULLEN finds out about family fun in the sun
You’re spending the summer touring the country with your new show Sam & Mark Live. What can audiences expect? MARK RHODES: It’s a family entertainment game show. We do a lot of games based very loosely on different TV shows and anyone who comes along could end up being the star of the show.
We have six pairs up on stage – a child and a parent – and it’s a lot of fun. (Laughs) The parents can get more into it than the kids... and it’s not as if they are playing for a car or anything.
The children are just like, ‘Oh, this is so embarrassing’. SAM NIXON: It’s likely to be a hot summer, but we hope people will turn up. We want to do something the whole family can enjoy – mum and dad should enjoy it just as much as the kids.
We did a bit of a test in May and my daughter, who is five, came along with her friend and they really enjoyed it.
How did you meet? MARK: It was in 2003 and we were both on the final 100 stage of Pop Idol – the show that was around before the X Factor.
I told a rubbish joke and Sam laughed and I thought ‘ You could be a friend’.
We get on so well. It’s unbelievable. He’s more like my brother now than a friend. We have that kind of relationship. It’s just been amazing and we’ve not stopped working since we met. We’re very lucky.
It’s so satisfying to work in the industry that we do and we never take it for granted. SAM: From the start, we shared the same sense of humour and watched the same TV. We both liked Bo Selecta and loved Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson in Bottom.
Mark can pull some of the same faces as Rik Mayall as well.
Are your children aware of your TV work on shows like CBBC’s Big Friday Wing Up and Copycats? SAM: My daughter Meridon apparently had a conversation with my wife last year and asked ‘Is that the real Daddy on telly?
She and Mark’s daughter Scarlett were born nine days apart and we both have boys now as well.
It’s been nice being dads together. We both understand what it’s like. MARK: My daughter has seen me on CBBC, but my three-year-old son is just obsessed with Andy Day’s Dinosaur Adventure.
I did a CBBC bedtime story once and I was sitting reading it to him while it was on. That was quite bizarre for both of us.
You’ve worked with a lot of people over the years. Do you ever get starstruck? SAM: (Laughs) I do around Jamie Oliver. I’ve met him a few times and he’s a lovely man.
I wanted to be a chef and he was the whole reason I started cooking. I get in a bit of a mess around him and I just think ‘play it a little more cool’.
I absolutely loved taking part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2015. I was first asked when I was 19, but I’m glad I waited. I love to cook different things and I find it relaxing. I like to do a good roast and I miss having a roast during the summer. MARK: We get starstruck all the time. In our line of work we get to meet so many big stars, like David Beckham and Sir Elton John.
All these people and you think ‘why do they want to speak to us’. We’ve been very lucky over the years to meet so many amazing people.
The best advice I was ever given was ‘be nice to people.’
That’s the mantra I want to pass onto my children – make someone smile not frown.
When do you start working on the return of children’s favourite Crackerjack? SAM: We start filming in October and November. I was born in 1986 and the original series ended in 1985 so I never got the chance to see it, but I know it means so much to so many people. I think it’s a good thing that we are coming to it fresh. The times have changed and you can’t do the same show they did in the 70s and 80s. It wouldn’t work. We are going to bring some of the games right up to date. (Laughs) It’s funny because we get young people in their 20s coming up to us now saying ‘you are my childhood’. It makes us feel incredibly old. It makes you realise how quickly time goes by. MARK: It’s going to be amazing. Crackerjack is an iconic children’s show. We’re very, very lucky to be presenting it. When I was born it was coming to the end of its run, but I have been watching it on YouTube and thinking ‘I love this’. We are going to have crazy games and will be getting people out of the audience. ■ Go tosocomedy.co.uk/ artist/sam-mark for tour dates and ticket details. The tour runs until September 7.