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Last night a PJ saved my life
23 Jan 2015 : Paul Byrne
One of Ireland’s most successful funnymen, thanks to the likes of TV hits ‘Naked Camera’ and ‘Next Week’s News’, PJ Gallagher talks to IFTN’s Paul Byrne about his crippling stage fright, the subject of his Reality Bites documentary.

All the world’s a stage, and, yep, each man must play many parts. For PJ Gallagher though, one of those parts scares the crap out of him.

Having made his name through RTE’s hidden-camera show ‘Naked Camera’, which ran from 2005 to 2007, Gallagher has been a regular face on our TV screens ever since. And on comedy club stages up and down the country. Only trouble is, PJ would much rather face a bow tie that’s really a camera than the cold, hard stare of a drunk Limerick arts student.

Yep, PJ Gallagher suffers from stage fright. Despite the fact that he’s probably onstage somewhere on the planet right now, delivering Concussion, his latest well-oiled stand-up show.

As Gallagher addresses his fear of the blank stage on RTE Reality Bites documentary series next Wednesday night, the Dublin-born comedian took some time out to talk with IFTN about stand-up, the fickle mistress that is TV, and how it’s all fellow funnyman Jason Byrne’s fault.

Paul Byrne: Woody Allen abandoned stand-up because of stage fright - how close have you come to just not going on?

PJ Gallagher:‘The first time I did a show in Vicar St was the hardest time. I remember the support act, John Lynn, standing at the door, in case I made a run for it. It was the first big gig I ever did with my name on the door, so it really got to me how many people were out there. The show was brilliant in the end; they normally are, that's the thing. It's such an irrational, stupid fear, but once you let the demons in, it's hard to chase the little gits out.’

As the bishop said to the mountaineer, why do you do it if it’s so difficult?

‘I suppose the pay-off when it does work is huge; that's what keeps you coming back time and time again. Because when it works, there's not a lot better you could be doing. Also, what else would I be doing? I tell jokes and talk for a living. I’m not an electrician, or a doctor, or a forklift driver; I can't do any of those things. The only tools I know how to use are my lips and words.’

Those early days, what pushed you onto that stage? Drink? Ego? Overdraft?

‘Jason Byrne! He always wanted to be a stand-up and he didn't want to go to the shows on his own, so he kept booking me as well to keep him company. At the start it was all just a laugh, a bit of craic, and neither of us really thought it would end up working out. Thankfully though, it did, and no matter how nervous you get, in fairness, it's a great way to earn a few quid.’

The first step in battling a problem is admitting that you have one - has making Tongue Tied helped in any way?

‘Yeah, it definitely was a huge help. I'd probably never have done anything about it if I wasn't asked to do this documentary. I'd have just put the head down and battled on as always. Now after just a couple of months of throwing myself at it, it's been a huge change. I love going to gigs now, and even though I'm still nervous, I can enjoy the whole experience and not just the end bit when it's all over.’

Would you hope it might help others suffering from stage fright?

‘Honestly, I've no idea if it will or not; it would be nice if it did. I hope people look at it and realise, like I did, that being afraid of just being yourself in front of people isn't worth it. When you really think about it, there's nothing to be afraid of. I mean, worst case scenario, if public speaking goes wrong for anyone, the worst thing that can happen is you just gained a funny story to tell people later on.’

How did Tongue Tied come about? Your pitch, or a producers’?

‘I was approached by the production company when they heard I was going on tour again. It's never been a secret how afraid I got going on stage, so they asked could they follow me and capture the process on camera. At first I just thought that was a bad idea, as I was already going to be too scared as it was, but luckily it ended up being the very thing I needed to sort myself out a bit.’

Was it a hard sell to RTE? They love you there, right...?

‘Well, I have no idea if they love me or not, but they've always been very fair to me, and given me an ear when I think I might be on to something, so I'll always appreciate that. We went for one meeting to pitch the idea, and when they saw that we were pretty into giving this thing a go, they told us to go for it.’

What about Commission Fright? Do you get nervous when it comes to keeping your beautiful face on the telly?

‘Ah, not really. It's up to me to come up with good ideas; sometimes they are good enough, a lot of the time they aren't. That's just the process, and it's the same for everyone. If you work hard enough you'll always get something to stick.’

TV can be a cruel mistress though - a show might work, but, if the ratings, or the love from above (the network bigwigs), isn’t there, you’re off. Happened most recently with Next Week’s News - part of the cut’n’thrust, or do you cry all night?

‘Yeah, that's just the way it works. You learn to blame yourself and move on. If you can't take a kick, then entertainment isn't for you. It's no big deal, like I said, just part of the process.’

Where did the comedy come from? Family? School? A desperate need to be liked?

‘Everything it takes to be a good comedian is everything that is considered bad in school, so there's no way I'd give those eejits any credit. Definitely for me it came from the family. They loved comedy and laughing, and like any normal Irish family, they were all stone mad. That's probably why everyone in Ireland is a comedian deep down.’

What were your very first steps into comedy? And did you know then that it would be your career?

‘Jason Byrne booked me for a show without even asking my permission. I saw my name on a poster one day getting a bus through town. I met him the next day and asked him what he was thinking, and he just told me I had two weeks to get ready, and not to worry about it. I honestly thought it was gonna be a night out and not a career.’

Are you tempted by drama, as so many comedians are? You popped up as the gravedigger in Stephen Cavanagh’s 2005 adaptation of Hamlet...

‘Yes, I just got a part in Singlehood a while ago, and I really want to do more stuff like that. I'd love to do TV drama and I'll audition for anyone that wants me to. I did two years in Drama school before I ever did a solo gig, so, maybe one day.’

How has America been treating you? You took Jake Stevens over there, for Makin’ Jake, interviewing such faded TV icons as Erik Estrada and Lou Ferrigno...

‘Jaysus, that was nearly ten years ago now, so it's been ages since I did anything over there. Mostly I've been gigging in Canada, and I think I like it better there anyway. Canadians are so chilled out and up for anything.’

That Conan O’Brien rave, claiming Meet Your Neighbours had him cracking up so much, he forgot to meet his wife for lunch - a nod from a comedy giant can go a long way. Did it?

‘Honestly, I have no idea where that came from and I'm pretty sure it's not true, I think someone just wrote it on my Wikipedia page, ‘cause I can't find any other evidence that ever happened.’

PJ and Damian In The Morning, with Damian Farrelly, on Classic Hits 4FM - keeping yourself busy, or another step in your world domination plans?

‘Radio is my number one thing right now. I love the show, the hours, and the team I'm with in 4fm. There's not a lot of chances you get to be new in entertainment and after 20 years of stand-up and 10 years of TV, getting into radio is a real breath of fresh air, and the best thing that's happened for me since I started doing anything. I just want to keep getting better at it and stay at it for as long as possible.’

You’ve written on three of your TV series - Naked Camera (2005), Meet Your Neighbours (2011) and Trojan Donkey (2013); making the steady move towards directing?

‘No chance! I wouldn't have the patience for that at all, and I'm a terrible spectator. I'd just be looking at the actors in front of the camera having all the craic, and want to be at the other end immediately.’

Any feature film plans? Could Jake follow Alan Partridge, Borat, Bean and co. onto the big screen?

‘Nah, Jake is dead and gone. I still love Jake but it's time to hang up his shiny suit before I fall out with him. I owe Jake a lot and without him I'd never have done anything so we're gonna part ways after 10 good years together.’

Finally, anything else you want to share with the group?

‘Stay lucky while you can.’

Tongue Tied, part of the Reality Bites series, is on RTE2 Weds 28th Jan 9pm.





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