Little Britain icon: ‘shock and offence is important to comedy’

British comedian David Walliams has pushed boundaries for more than two decades. In Australia for a national run of shows, the icon of his field talks cancel culture, Botox and Little Britain.

Many would beg to differ, yet David Walliams doesn’t believe he’s reached comedic icon status just yet.

The British superstar behind such controversial greats as Little Britain and Come Fly With Me reserves such acclaim for those he looks up to in the field like John Cleese and others from the Monty Python sketch show.

“I am not an icon, that is ridiculous,” Walliams told The Daily Telegraph.

David Williams is touring with his brand new show, An Audience With David Walliams. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“I am just a foot soldier.”

Reminded of the scale of Little Britain, alongside friend and long-time collaborate Matt Lucas, including global merchandise of character dolls of his likeness, Walliams conceded: “you’d find them in a bargain bin now. Maybe the characters are iconic to some people but I am not sure we are.”

Walliams, 53, is a multi-generational star, known more recently for his work as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and here on Australia’s Got Talent.

He has sold more than 50 million copies of his hugely popular children’s books that have been translated into 53 languages.

Walliams is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and has raised millions of dollars for charity.

Comedically, he is known for pushing boundaries and will cover the many facets of his several decade career when he takes to the stage for his An Audience with David Walliams that kicks off at Sydney’s Darling Harbour Theatre on Friday with shows Saturday also.

He also has a number of daytime children’s shows under the banner, The David Walliams Book Show.

Actors and comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams in 'Little Britain'.

“I’ve been doing some research trying to get all of the phrases and some references,” he said.

“I might refer to myself as a hunk of spunk and there is something froth, what do you way if someone is attractive? I am frothing? It sounds a bit rude. I’ve also heard the phrase, ‘povo’. Bogan is not an insult is it? It is just someone from the country.”

In the wide-ranging interview at his Sydney hotel, Walliams spoke freely about everything from plastic surgery to cancel culture.

“I get why some people do because people feel the weight of expectations,” he said of stars having Botox and the like.

David Walliams in the TV program Little Britain.

David Walliams believes “shock and offence” is important to comedy.

“If you are a glamorous Hollywood actress or something like that, I sort of understand that you may be drawn to it but I feel lucky that no one cares what I look like and also I think for men at least that ageing gracefully looks good,” he said, adding of political correctness: “I think there is more tolerance here for jokes that are in bad taste. I mean, I went to see Jim Jefferies live and it takes a lot to shock me but I was in a very enjoyable way, as in I found it hilarious.”

Walliams’ favourite comedians include Jimmy Carr, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock.

“I personally think that shock and offence is important to comedy, it is actually a safe place we can do that,” he explained. “I think comedy is quite an easy target in a way.”

Looking ahead, Walliams has been working with Lucas on a secret project.

It marks the first time they’ve joined forces in a work sense since 2011 with the project in the same vein as Come Fly With Me and a whole new slew of characters.

“We don’t want to rush it because those things take months and months to write and the other thing is, we don’t want to be in a constant battle with what you can say and what you can’t say and all of that,” he said.

Actors David Walliams (L) and Matt Lucas as bodybuilders in a scene from the TV show 'Little Britain USA'.

David Walliams in character in scene from TV show Little Britain.

“Because it suddenly becomes toothless and it gets chipped away at … if it is like, this is a bit mean and this is a bit edgy and this is a bit, someone might find this offensive and someone might not like this, you drive yourself mad with that stuff. We want to make something bold, I think people are drawn to that stuff.”

Originally published as Little Britain icon: ‘shock and offence is important to comedy’