On the couch with Katherine Lynch
Mohill’s most famous daughter,
Katherine Lynch, has many TV comedy creations under her rhinestone belt, from Working Girls to Wonderwomen and Single Ladies. She plays The Wicked Queen in the panto, Snow White, in Limerick
How much TV do you think you watch every week?
I love TV and anything on it, and I feel cosy watching Irish TV. I’m looking forward to seeing the new Podge and Rodge. I was on it years ago – I won’t make that mistake again! Those pair of brats are liable to say anything, which makes it fun and my kind of show.
What memories do you have of childhood Christmas TV?
I remember a lot of ghting over what we were watching. Four kids pulling the heads o each other to get the movie they wanted: two girls against two boys, The Wizard of Oz versus James Bond. Then my mother would take the fuse out of the TV and that shut us up. We always watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory though. That’s a nice memory, the magic and innocence of it all.
Is there too much good TV now to watch it all?
TV is better than ever and we’re spoiled now with Player, Net ix, etc. We don’t watch in real time as much any more, which is why shows like the Late Late are so big: live television is now rare. On the other side, there isn’t that much really good comedy, it’s way too tame and politically correct. We need to go back to the brave, funny shows where we weren’t afraid to say the wrong thing.
What are your unmissable shows right now?
RuPaul’s Drag Race – I’m always waiting for the new season. I love Orange is the New Black and any True Murder-type stu . I think I’d love to have been a detective.
How much of the “real” Katherine Lynch is in your fictional characters?
Absolutely none of me really. I’m more old-fashioned than my characters, not as brave. They’re larger than life and much more colourful than me. You lose yourself in their lives and characteristics – enjoyably so.
What show would you like a cameo in?
Orange is the New Black. I’d love to play a prisoner, a black widow who killed her husband for being abusive or something like that. There are so many strong actresses in OITNB. It’s an amazing show.
What classic Christmas tale would you like to see adapted for TV?
A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh. I thought I’d get away without mentioning he was my grand-uncle, but no, my hero always comes into my chats and thoughts. I love that poem: ‘My child poet picked out the letters on the grey stone, in silver the wonder of a Christmas townland, the winking glitter of a frosty dawn.’ The imagery is beautiful and would make a great little movie.
What huge watercooler show have you not seen?
Would you believe I haven’t seen Breaking Bad? Sometimes when something is popular, I avoid it.
Is comedy really “tragedy plus time”?
De nitely. I found that out recently when Mohill lost the county nal. I tried to cheer up my family by making a few jokey remarks. My brother said, “This is not funny, Kate, it’s a tragedy – give us time.” As they say, football isn’t a matter of life and death: it’s much more than that.
Snow White is at University Concert Hall in Limerick from December 17 until January 6. uch.ie