Interview: Isy Suttie on tea, Technotronic and Ice, Ice, Baby
Stand up comedian, actress, writer and musician
First record you ever bought
‘This Beat is Technotronic’ by Technotronic.
Last extravagant purchase you made
My Martin three-quarter-size guitar.
First film you saw that really moved you
Manhattan.
Last lie you told
I told the postman this morning that I was ill and that was why I was in my dressing gown at midday, but it’s because I’m always in bed at midday if at all possible.
First movie you ever went on a date to
Four Lions.
Last time you cried
Last night watching Gavin Osborn and Grace Petrie, respectively, at Robin Ince’s Christmas show we were doing.
First thing you do when you’ve got time off work
Watch the American Office or 30 Rock and drink tea.
Last great meal you cooked
A ‘pie’ where the pastry was slices of bread pressed into a bowl and the filling was baked beans and cheese. I even put a fork mark in the top slice of bread so it was like a pie from a nursery rhyme.
First crush
Joey from New Kids on the Block.
Last book you read
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch.
First great piece of advice you were given
My mum told me to stick to the area you’ve had success in – don’t try and spread yourself too thinly.
Last time you were star struck
Two nights ago when I met Alan Moore.
First thing you’d do if you ran the country
Get everyone to sing a song together. Then stop poverty, racism etc. Then get everyone to sing a song together about how we’ve stopped poverty, racism etc.
Last meal on earth – what would it be
Thai green chicken curry.
First song you’ll sing at karaoke
'Ice Ice Baby'. That is the only song I’ll sing at karaoke. Also, I hate karaoke.
Last time you exploited your position to get something
I have never in my life done this, but the other day Tim Key told me I should try and get a Nando’s card where you get free stuff, as a presenter he knows has got one. If it works, I’ll stop at Nando’s.
First time you realised you were famous
I was out in London in a quiet area when I was first in Peep Show and got chased by a group of about 30 teenagers screaming, ‘Dobby!’ and ‘Man cheddar!’ I was like, ‘Shouldn’t you be watching Skins?’
Last time someone criticised your work
Reviews in Edinburgh countless times!
First three words your friends would use to describe you
Impulsive, trusting, late.
Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it
I bought an LED belt from eBay which you could type any sentence into and it would display it. However all the instructions were in Japanese so I gave up. Alas, the world doesn’t know that ‘ISY RULEZ OK’.
First concert you ever attended
Take That at Matlock Bath Illuminations. Jason sang a song to me and I threw a pound at his head.
Last time you bought someone flowers
I bought my boyfriend a cactus the other day. Does that count?
First object you’d save from your burning home
My computer.
Last funny thing you saw online
The clip of all the fireworks going off at once [see below].
First job
I washed up for £1.25 an hour at a café in Matlock. I was banished to the kitchen because of my chipped black nail varnish and surly attitude.
Last person you fantasised about
I fantasised about doing a gig with Rufus Wainwright recently.
First word you spoke
Arco (I meant aeroplane).
Last crime you committed
I did a ouija board a few months ago. I used to do them loads when I was a kid, and they worked, but I can’t make them work anymore. I think they’re still illegal.
First song at your (potential) wedding
‘Ice Ice Baby’. The original and best.
Last song at your funeral
‘Sugar Spun Sister’ by The Stone Roses.
First person you’d thank in an award acceptance speech
Mr Kipling.
Last thing you recommended to someone
I recommended interdental brushes to my friend Hannah as the gaps between her teeth are too small for floss.
First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning
Tea.
Last thing you think of before you go to sleep
Only eight hours till I can have a cup of tea.
Isy Suttie: Pearl and Dave, Radio 4, Wed 11 Jan, 6.30–7pm.