Dara Ó Briain on comedy, coolness, cruelty and finding his birth parents

Dara Ó Briain is still posing for photographs when I arrive at the studio in west London. The photographer has him sitting on the floor holding up a roll of paper that is being used as a background. It makes it look as though the ceiling is about to fall on him. He calls out to me, suggesting that we can adjust the interview to fit the pictures, starting with the idea of feeling trapped.

After the photoshoot, he takes off his jacket and we go for a walk to find a quiet spot in a pub. A new season of Mock the Week is about to begin. This is a comedy panel show that looks at current events. It was on BBC Two for 17 years until 2022 and has now moved to the free channel TLC. In the show, teams of comedians compete in a mock game show, supposedly to discuss the news from the past week, but mainly to be funny.

Ó Briain, who is 54, has been the host since it began. Early guests included well-known comedians, but new talent was also given a chance. Ó Briain explains, with some pride, that the show became a kind of introduction for comedians who had achieved success at the Edinburgh festival and were ready for television.

When Mock the Week was on the BBC, some people claimed that the jokes were mostly aimed at those on the political right. Ó Briain, who describes his own political views as centre-left, believes this was largely because the Conservative party was in power for most of the show's run. He admits, however, that there might have been some truth to these claims. He notes that no one on the show seriously argued in favour of Brexit, for example, focusing instead on the popular sentiment against it.

The show did include right-leaning comedians like Geoff Norcott and Simon Evans. Ó Briain is not entirely sure why the political right is less represented in British comedy. He suggests that perhaps audiences do not respond well to jokes that seem to attack less powerful groups. He observes that audiences often disagree with jokes, for instance, about nurses asking for money. However, he also points out that audiences do not like it when jokes are perceived as overly cheerful or uncritical.

Another criticism of Mock the Week was that it was seen as aggressive, unkind, and male-dominated. Comedians would apparently compete fiercely to make their point. Jo Brand, another comedian, apparently did not enjoy her experience on the show.

Ó Briain agrees that this criticism was often justified. He mentions that it was typically seven men around the table, all trying to make their mark. He adds that the show began over two decades ago when this kind of competitive atmosphere was common. He states that he would not have enjoyed being a contestant himself, preferring to develop his jokes more gradually rather than in a fast-paced environment. He notes that the show has become more conversational now.

While there is much to discuss each week, certain topics lend themselves better to comedy than others. For instance, Donald Trump, particularly in his later political phase, did not offer as much comedic material as one might expect. The situation had become so ridiculous that it almost seemed normal. Ó Briain feels that if the subject is already self-parodying, it is hard to add anything new or funny, comparing it to making jokes about The Simpsons.

When asked about Keir Starmer, the current leader of the Labour party, Ó Briain describes him as having done and said very little. He is referring to Starmer's lack of impact as a subject for comedy, although he also expresses a lack of impression regarding his performance as a politician. He is unsure about Andy Burnham, another politician, but finds the process by which Burnham gained power amusing, questioning if the small constituency of Makerfield now has the power to choose the prime minister.

Ó Briain identifies Peter Murrell and the SNP expenses scandal as a good source of material for Mock the Week. He explains that while donations were involved, making it not entirely a victimless crime, the details were perfect for comedy. He mentions the number of video game consoles purchased, an expensive salt shaker, and the way Nicola Sturgeon seemed to distance herself from her in-laws who acquired a large camper van. These details provided ample material for jokes in the last season.

Now, with fewer restrictions on impartiality and more female comedians involved, such as Sara Pascoe, Maisie Adam, Laura Lexx, and Angela Barnes, Mock the Week might be a more pleasant environment. However, it now attracts significantly fewer viewers than it did during its peak on the BBC.

Ó Briain did not originally plan to become a comedian. He studied mathematics and theoretical physics at university in the early 1990s. He recalls being a shy teenager but pushed himself to join the university's debating society. During one debate, he told a joke that received laughter and applause. He remembers feeling a rush of adrenaline and realising his calling.

He still experiences that excitement, although it might take a longer performance now to achieve it. He enjoys his work, which takes him to interesting places. His recent tours have focused more on storytelling and personal experiences rather than just jokes.

Born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ó Briain was adopted into what he describes as a stable home and had a happy childhood. A few years ago, he decided to search for his biological parents. His intention was not to create a show, but simply to explore this personal matter due to natural human curiosity. He felt there was a story waiting to be discovered, and the urgency came from the fact that people are not getting any younger.

He realized the story was not just about him after watching the film Philomena, which is about a woman searching for her son. He understood that he was a small part of a much larger journey for his birth mother. He felt it was important to make contact to provide closure for her and to let her know he had found a good family.

The search was challenging, both administratively and emotionally, but he found his birth mother and they met. The experience was awkward and unusual, and he gained several new siblings. He shared this story in his show, which won an award in 2023.

His next show, which he has been touring internationally, tells the story of his search for his biological father. Without giving away spoilers, the show contains less sadness and anger than the previous one. He describes it as a lively show with a surprising and delightful ending.

He wonders what he will do next, as he feels he cannot create a third show based on finding another family member. He acknowledges that he has been fortunate to have these stories emerge in a form that is easy to tell.

However, he jokingly considers the possibility of having a previously unknown child, which would allow for a continuation of his themed shows. He quickly adds that he has reviewed his past and is confident this scenario is not possible.

His television career began as a children's presenter in Ireland while he was performing his first stand-up comedy sets. He gained wider recognition hosting a topical panel show in Ireland and later had a significant breakthrough in the UK, leading to appearances on other popular shows.

Since starting as the host of Mock the Week in 2005, Ó Briain has presented a wide variety of television programs. Alongside comedy and panel shows, he has maintained his interest in science, presenting programs about space and continuing his hobby of astrophotography. He has also used his comedy to challenge pseudoscientific ideas.

He often uses scientific analogies in his conversations. He compares the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to a black hole due to its increasing density and eventual collapse under its own gravity. He suggests that the popularity of panel shows follows a pattern similar to extinction events, where a small number of resilient formats always survive because they are inexpensive and well-liked.

He describes his own career as a sine wave, indicating it has ups and downs but continues forward. He also considers the possibility of a damped oscillation, where without attention, it would fade away over time, leaving only a small trace.

Anyone who has seen him perform live or on television knows his delivery is very fast. This speed does not decrease even in a casual conversation. When he starts talking about a subject, he has a lot of momentum, and it is sometimes best to let him continue.

They discuss various topics, including solar eclipses, the World Cup, medical emergencies during shows, and Arsenal's transfer window. He also touches upon the perception of being Irish in London, stating that while it is currently considered cool, this trend might be temporary.

Regardless of whether he is considered cool, spending time with Dara Ó Briain is an insightful and enjoyable experience. He is still talking animatedly when he gets into the car to leave, discussing Melania Trump. It is only afterwards that the interviewer realizes they forgot to ask if he ever feels trapped in a box.

Mock the Week returns to TLC in the UK on 13 September at 9pm. Re:Creation is available on Amazon Prime.