Glaswegian standup Larry Dean has joined the cast of Saturday Night Live UK, bringing his unique brand of humour to the iconic sketch show. In an interview, he opens up about the chaos behind the scenes, the harsh reality of sketch cuts, and a heckle so brutal it left his heart pounding.
Behind the scenes of SNL UK
Dean describes the show as a combination of mayhem and meticulous organisation. 'Making a show from scratch from Monday to Saturday is going to be chaotic, but they’ve got the best of the best in the crew,' he says. 'There have been moments I’ve thought: are we going to pull this off? But every single time, we manage brilliantly.'
The cutting process for sketches
The comedian explains the intense selection process. 'We have a table read where everyone brings in their ideas. On Wednesday afternoon, we sit around a table with the writers, producers, and the rest of the team. After that, they decide which sketches make it through to the dress rehearsal on Saturday evening.' He adds that three or four sketches typically don't make it to air. 'When Lorne Michaels met us, he said you have to learn to let things go for the good of the show. It can’t be about people’s egos.'
Getting into comedy
Dean started comedy at Southampton Solent University after a friend began doing standup. 'From my second year at uni, I was travelling up to London to do the open mic circuit, and I just kept going from there. I had to give up alcohol to afford the travel to gigs because you don’t get paid for open mics.'
Comedy influences
He cites Billy Connolly as a major influence, along with Richard Pryor's Live in Concert, and the films and standup of Jim Carrey and Robin Williams.
A heckle to remember
Dean recalls a particularly harsh heckle in Dundee: 'Someone heckled me by saying their dad was dying, that they’d come to my gig to cheer themselves up and that it wasn’t working. I remember getting off stage and my heart was pounding because of how harsh that heckle was. I went back to that venue a year later and the audience all remembered it.'
New show: Hellbent
His new show, Hellbent, is 'much more sketch-based, character-driven, and it’ll end up being madder than the stuff I usually do.'
Pre-show rituals
Dean says he always walks before a show and warms up his face. 'I remember reading that if you smile in a mirror, your brain just sees someone smiling back and it puts you in a better mood.'
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations
Despite three nominations, Dean doesn't let the pressure affect him. 'Being nominated was so great but at the same time, if you try to write a show based on panellists’ opinions you’ll never get an award. You may as well just try to not think of it as best you can.'
Post-show rituals
When asked about post-show rituals, he jokes: 'Does alcohol and partying count as a ritual?'
Transition from standup to sketch
Dean notes the challenge of moving from standup to sketch. 'In standup, I can just go on stage, try a joke, and immediately know whether it works. With sketch, you’re performing someone else’s writing as well as your own. You have to trust your instincts a lot more.'
What's next
Dean and his partner moved to Manchester in December, but he hasn't slept a single night in his new house due to SNL. 'That’s one thing I’m looking forward to … sleeping in my new house!'
Larry Dean: Hellbent is at Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 5-30 August, and then on tour across the UK and Ireland until 3 December.
