I’m a comedian, get me out there... the really wild show is back on the box
As a new bunch of comics return to the great outdoors, David Mitchell tells GEMMA DUNN why this series of Outsiders will be the best yet
It’s the show which sees three pairs of comics vying to prove they can live in a forest for a week and, in turn, establish a new society in the wild.
Meanwhile it’s urbanite David Mitchell’s job to oversee the ensuing chaos before summoning teams to his HQ to dish out badges for successful challenges.
Survival-based panel show Outsiders launched last autumn on Dave. Now back for a second series, David is looking forward to it. “I can’t wait to really get stuck into the routine of going home to a bed every evening, while leaving a bunch of comedians to fend for themselves in the mud and scratch some sort of civilisation out of the dust...” teases the 48-year-old.
And the Upstart Crow star clearly has no concerns that this six-episode run won’t live up to its hit predecessor.
“With TV, you learn so much during the first series, so a second series is much easier.
“I was really proud of our first series; it did very well. But we have a much more streamlined process (now). So I feel much more relaxed about it and that really helps when you’re improvising comedy.”
Hosting a tent-full of top-tier comedy talent helps too, and the latest line-up does not disappoint, with Joe Wilkinson, Jessica Hynes, Darren Harriott, Maisie Adam, Phil Wang and Fatiha El-ghorri on the roster. Each day brings with it three challenges including everything
from bug racing to inventing holistic woodland treatments; battling with a wind machine to erect a tent, to creating musical masterpieces; and evading sniffer dogs.
As for survival instinct: “Jessica Hynes was the only one who had a bit, not an incredible amount, but a bit,” David muses. “She knew how to put up a tent, she looked good at tying knots and I think she ‘stayed alive’ more effectively than the others. That’s my hunch.”
But they all came with more confidence than the last batch, according to David.
“I felt they had a lovely, relaxed, supportive, dynamic this time,” he compares.
“They’re definitely on the same side and that’s as it should be because the competition is just for fun. Games don’t work if you don’t try and win, but at the same time it’s no fun if you really care about winning.”
Who would be David’s dream guests? “There’s loads...” he ponders. “I’m sure we’ve asked several of them and they’ve said no – either they don’t like the idea of it or they weren’t available. But we have so many funny, interesting people in Britain. Alan Davies would be great. Sarah Millican would be brilliant. Bob Mortimer would be amazing.”
And who may struggle? “Rob Brydon!” David sniggers. “Actually, he’d be all right some of the time. I mean, he likes being in the garden, but he likes his creature comforts as well. He would express his discomfort in a very amusing way. I think Lee Mack would be great, but I think he’d be quite up for it. He’d end up killing and eating us all – except he’s a vegetarian now so maybe not.”
Regardless of who is banished to the forest, the concept behind the show works – having previously hit the spot as millions suffered from being cooped up in the pandemic.
“Essentially, humanity has always thought, what if civilisation ended? How would we cope without the trappings of luxury, on which we’ve come to depend?” muses David. “And my theory is that, for anything to be properly funny, it’s got to be about something a bit serious. This is a knockabout show where people make fools of themselves in the woods, but it’s fundamentally about the human condition.”
■ Outsiders is on Dave, Wednesdays at 10pm