Musical laughs are guaranteed when comedians Rory McGrath and Philip Pope come to town. Katherine MacAlister finds out how it all works

Songwriter, musician, comedian, singer, composer and Rory McGrath's sidekick, Philip Pope is rather enjoying himself at the moment as he prepares to embark on a mammoth and highly amusing tour with his great friend and fellow stand-up.

Rory hails from Cambridge, Philip from Oxford, (well, near Thame) so the rivalry is already established, both cities featuring first on the tour dates, Cambridge first, followed closely by Didcot’s Cornerstone tomorrow night.

“He’s always going on about how I went to the eighth best university in the world (New College, Oxford), while he was at the first (Emmanuel, Cambridge). But I don’t argue about things like that. I know the truth so it doesn’t even rankle,” Philip grins.

“Besides it was all so long ago, back in the last millennium, and I studied French and Latin of all things, rather than music,” he says scratching his head.

Not that it’s hindered his career. As a musician and composer, Philip’s credits read like a Who’s Who of British comedy and include The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Fry & Laurie, The Lenny Henry Show, Whose Line is it Anyway?, The Fast Show, Drop The Dead Donkey, Outnumbered and Jonathan Creek, as well as films such as Kevin & Perry Go Large.

When he’s not on stage with Rory, Philip can be found at home in Oxfordshire, composing some of the country’s most famous TV theme tunes, or appearing on the screen himself.

He was musical director and lead singer for Spitting Image (The No1 hit The Chicken Song was his handiwork) and like McGrath he also starred in TV’s Who Dares Wins, Chelmsford 123, as well Not The Nine O’Clock News and Blackadder.

In fact, Philip’s life sounds like one big showbiz laugh.

“It’s quite solitary writing on your own at home actually so it’s nice to get out on the road and perform something live, although it’s always a bit scary to start with and gets the old adrenaline going. But we don’t tend to attract people who give us a particularly hard time.”

Maybe because he’s got Rory on hand? “I think Rory’s got a reputation as a bruiser but actually he’s quite a sensitive soul, believe it or not, although he can certainly look after himself.

“I think because of the title, A Bridge Over Troubled Lager Volume 2, people think the show is going to be more blokey than it is. But there is no violence involved although the tour goes through until Christmas so who knows,” Philip laughs. “It’s a gentleman’s tour rather than anything resembling Spinal Tap, but we will do our best and try to include something to offend everyone.”

Featuring both of their first loves, music and comedy, the resulting songs, combine “sophistication, wryness and downright filth,” and are always rudely interrupted by the pair’s backchat and bickering on subjects including social media, pets, Scottish independence, Philip’s toe, love, marriage, Croatian pop in the 90’s and foul language.

And then there’s reality TV, conservation, Schubert, heavy metal, the French, hardline Christianity and the Polish word for a mayfly.

So what comes first – the music or the comedy? “Rory will come up with a lyric and maybe an idea and I write a song about it,” Philip shrugs, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.

“But we’ve worked together for many years now and even had a country and western comedy band for a while, so we’ve done stuff like this before.”

You can see why the pair get on so well on and off stage and how the dynamics work, but what about after the show, is it sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll?

“Well, we might manage a pint and a curry, but our mutual love of Arsenal means we always have plenty to talk about.

“So we aren’t like a married couple at all because we can always discuss football.”

SEE IT
Rory McGrath & Philip Pope, Bridge Over Troubled Lager Volume 2, is at Didcot, Cornerstone Arts tomorrow night. cornerstone-arts.org

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