Russell Howard never set out to be a political satirist. He’s still not sure if he really is one, despite having carved a niche on stage and screen of going behind the headlines in a way that is funny, relatable and often edgier than he is given credit for. When we meet, he is busy writing jokes for the new series of his hugely popular satirical show, The Russell Howard Hour, which returns to our screens this week. While he admits that Boris Johnson was in some ways comedy gold, Howard is enthused by the prospect of a new prime minister to poke fun at.
“Boris is a digestible satirical meal. You know the ingredients. You know what’s going to happen when he goes to the UN. His shirt is going to be untucked. His hair’s going to be everywhere. He’s going to say something ridiculous. It’s exciting when you get fresh blood. It helps you write different jokes and gives you a new impetus.” He’s currently wrestling with a sketch about Liz Truss, who once called for the abolition of the monarchy, coming face-to-face with the Queen. “I haven’t got my Liz impression down yet,” he confesses “but I think I could do a good one of the Queen meeting Liz. I’ve written some stuff for the first show. It’s a lot of fun.”
