0:00:25 > 0:00:31Hello! And welcome to Who Do You Blame Game For The Last Ten Years?
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Yes, we're celebrating ten years of The Blame Game.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38It was back in 2006 that Jake, Neil, Colin and I
0:00:38 > 0:00:41started taking the hand out of our politicians.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43And a mere year later, what happened?
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Well, we had a power-sharing executive
0:00:45 > 0:00:48and the Chuckle Brothers were born!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Coincidence? I don't think so.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But we didn't tell all the jokes all by ourselves, no, no, no.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54We had help.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57In fact, some of the biggest comedy stars today
0:00:57 > 0:01:00had their first-ever TV break on The Blame Game.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06When I first came over to Belfast about 15 years ago, wearing a poppy.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08And I was doing a different job at the time.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10I went to the Royal Victoria Hospital
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and I came out at the back, on the Falls Road,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15trying to flag a taxi.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Wearing a poppy, 15 years ago, trying to...
0:01:19 > 0:01:21And none of the taxis would stop.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23And I thought, "This is a bit strange, isn't it?"
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Then I saw a black taxi that was empty
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and I got in the back of it and sat there.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And then, some woman got in with three kids and a pram
0:01:30 > 0:01:31and we still didn't move.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32And then, an old bloke got in.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34I thought, "Well, maybe this isn't my taxi."
0:01:34 > 0:01:37I got outside, and as I got outside, this old dear said to me...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- MOUTHING:- "The poppy.
0:01:39 > 0:01:40"Think you want to take that off."
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I thought... Cos this was when you were beginning the peace process
0:01:43 > 0:01:45and everyone was trying to not offend everyone.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47I thought, they're taking it a bit far
0:01:47 > 0:01:49if they don't want to offend the Germans.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51LAUGHTER
0:01:52 > 0:01:54And not just John Bishop.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57This next fella looks like he was about 12 years old
0:01:57 > 0:01:59when he made his first TV appearance.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01I've actually a story this week.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It was about a student that drove his car
0:02:04 > 0:02:08- through the wall of a police station.- It was a van, I think.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09A van, sorry.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10He drove with that much force
0:02:10 > 0:02:14that the van actually embedded itself in the police wall,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and as he was being dragged from the wreckage...
0:02:16 > 0:02:20What was he shouted? "I own the police. You're all sacked.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23"The code is 1-2-3 - let me in."
0:02:23 > 0:02:25LAUGHTER
0:02:27 > 0:02:29As you do, yeah.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31And as he was being sentenced for dangerous driving,
0:02:31 > 0:02:35what he said was, "It wasn't dangerous. Mental, maybe."
0:02:35 > 0:02:37LAUGHTER
0:02:41 > 0:02:43As well as showcasing the comedy stars of the future,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47The Blame Game also has some very famous fans.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Yes, I'm taking about a certain international sporting superstar.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55That's right, ex-Cliftonville forward Liam Boyce.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00What do you mean "it's not Liam Boyce"? Joe Gormley?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Well, who is it? Who? Ha!
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Him? That's not even a sport.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07I remember the one about Joel Dommett
0:03:07 > 0:03:09talking about Christmas time
0:03:09 > 0:03:11and his dad falling asleep in front of the TV.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15There's this thing he does at Christmas that really annoys me.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17He falls asleep in the middle of movies.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Now, obviously, like, families, we always watch...
0:03:19 > 0:03:20He always falls asleep.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22And you have to do this - this is what I do every year,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24it's an amazing thing to do.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Every time they fall asleep during a movie,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28don't wake them up - that is a rookie mistake.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32What you have to do is get up, then change the film...
0:03:34 > 0:03:37..to a film with the same lead actor in it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Then sit back down and wake him up
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and watch the confusion happen on his face.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44- LAUGHTER - It's the funnest game.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48We were watching, last year, Castaway with Tom Hanks in it.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Changed it to Philadelphia, right?
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Like, oh, my God, how unlucky is this guy?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00He finally gets off the island, now he's got AIDS.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04You get an array of local comedians on there,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07but you also have different comedians
0:04:07 > 0:04:10that come on from different parts of the UK.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15I guess, it's great to have so many different points of views
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and opinions. And I think that's what makes it so great.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19The thing about Marilyn...
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- AS MARILYN MONROE: - Starts talking really quickly
0:04:21 > 0:04:24in all her lines of dialogue, would spurt out word after word
0:04:24 > 0:04:25and, all of a sudden,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29she'd clamp her hand to her head and stop right there in her tracks.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Cos she'd realised she hadn't put any facial expression
0:04:32 > 0:04:35in the previous two sentences.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38So now, she'd have to slow right down, in order to fit in
0:04:38 > 0:04:43as many contrasting facial muscular contortions as possible.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45LAUGHTER
0:04:45 > 0:04:47APPLAUSE
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I've never known a panel game that kind of feels more like a live gig
0:04:51 > 0:04:53than The Blame Game.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55I'm going to do the rest of the show like Van would do it,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57if he was on The Blame Game. Here we go. You crack on.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59LAUGHTER
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Physically, what you do on The Blame Game, which is very clever,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10is your audience is closer, physically closer.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15So, on Buzzcocks, there's a bit of a chasm with cameras in it,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and then you see them, but there's a lot of cameras.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Whereas, you...
0:05:19 > 0:05:21The Blame Game is just shot from different angles
0:05:21 > 0:05:23and gives you a much more...
0:05:23 > 0:05:26"You're in the room with them and they're watching you" kind of feel.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27So, it's got that live gig feel.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32And obviously, that energy pushes what you're going to say
0:05:32 > 0:05:35in a very different direction. It gives you more latitude.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38HE SHOUTS GIBBERISH
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Wah! Goldfish!
0:05:39 > 0:05:41"Goldfish"! LAUGHTER
0:05:43 > 0:05:45HE SHOUTS GIBBERISH
0:05:45 > 0:05:46You're fired!
0:05:50 > 0:05:52So, how does The Blame Game actually work?
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Well, basically, we sit around telling jokes for about 90 minutes,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58then we hand the recording to the BBC.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02And then, they take out all the swearing. And the rude bits.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Ooh, and the bits that make the lawyers go...
0:06:04 > 0:06:06HE GASPS "You can't say that!"
0:06:06 > 0:06:07That's what I love about it,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10is that it's dangerous and it's unexpected,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12and you're always thinking, there's that sense of anticipation,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14how far will they go?
0:06:14 > 0:06:15Just time now for our quickfire round.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17I will read you various newspaper headlines,
0:06:17 > 0:06:22and unlike an on-the-run Republican, I want you to finish your sentence.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25LAUGHTER AUDIENCE: Oh...
0:06:25 > 0:06:28MUTED APPLAUSE
0:06:28 > 0:06:30There was a smattering of applause there.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32A lot of Republicans over there.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34LAUGHTER
0:06:36 > 0:06:39"Three Reasons To Die."
0:06:39 > 0:06:40Larne, Lisburn, Strabane.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:06:45 > 0:06:47"Nod And A Wink."
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Man in toilet mishears George Michael.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53LAUGHTER
0:06:54 > 0:06:58It does surprise me sometimes that they're so open and so honest.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I think they have all of this built up inside them,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04especially if there's been a big political...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06An event or some sort of a controversy.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08And they're building this up and building this up
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and they just...whoosh, spew it all out.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14And sometimes, it surprises me what they say,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16that they're blatantly honest.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18But we're all sitting at home saying,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22"You're right, you're right. You can say it. I can't".
0:07:22 > 0:07:26I think audiences here are probably slightly darker
0:07:26 > 0:07:30and I think all comedians are slightly darker than average,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32so I think that's why comedians like playing here.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Obviously...they like the political stuff,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38obviously they like the talking about the local stuff.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40But I think, because there's a good mix between us,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42you know what I mean?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45If it was just to be all that, it would get tedious after a while.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49So, we've all got our wee roles, do you understand? We've all got...
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I'm, basically, the grumpy old man that they tear apart,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57when he makes mistakes about words or pronunciations or facts...
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Facts - they're very big on facts. They like things to be right
0:07:59 > 0:08:00and I don't know why that is.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03But that seems to be my role.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06He's whimsy and he's a cheeky southerner.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Prince Philip has carpal tunnel syndrome.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Which is better than Princess Diana's Mercedes tunnel syndrome.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13AUDIENCE: Oh...
0:08:13 > 0:08:16APPLAUSE
0:08:18 > 0:08:20That was interesting. An "ooh", and then a clap.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22LAUGHTER
0:08:22 > 0:08:26The Blame Game is something I grew up with. I used to love watching it.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Again, like, talking about the humour,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31it's very close to the line
0:08:31 > 0:08:33and, sometimes, nearly oversteps the line,
0:08:33 > 0:08:39but for an Irish comedy show, I think it's been so popular
0:08:39 > 0:08:41and it's something I used to love watching.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Steven Gerrard was asked what his favourite cheese was,
0:08:43 > 0:08:44and he went "Melted."
0:08:44 > 0:08:49LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:08:51 > 0:08:53It's not just celebrities.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I think fans, kind of, do stupid stuff, as well.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Like, I used to steward at a football club.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I won't say which one, cos it always divides people,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04but I'll give you a clue - it rhymes with "middle cl-arsenal".
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Yeah, they are a bit prissy over at Highbury.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11But, yeah, so I had a permanent position,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13and behind me there was this one guy who just couldn't get
0:09:13 > 0:09:15his head round the inflection of this particular chant.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Everyone else was going, "Who are ya?"
0:09:17 > 0:09:18But he just couldn't get it.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21He was going, "Who are you?! Who are you?!"
0:09:21 > 0:09:23LAUGHTER
0:09:23 > 0:09:25We'll have an idea of what's in the news,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27so you'll have an idea what they're going to ask.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31You've read the papers, you've kept up with what's going on,
0:09:31 > 0:09:33but the vast majority of the time, I think,
0:09:33 > 0:09:37when it takes off is when we go off.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40It isn't scripted - you can't script this show.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42There's no way we can script this show.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46We'd have to be the best actors in the world to be able to, like...
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Cos that's the thing, you've got...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52You're supposed to... "Keep your powder dry".
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- That's the phrase, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57So you know, we'll chat and talk about things, and...
0:09:57 > 0:10:00The way anybody does about the news. And then you have an idea.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02And then you go, "Oh," and then you start writing things.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Then you know when somebody's got an idea whenever
0:10:04 > 0:10:08- they stop talking and start writing. - Like that.- And then, "What is it?"
0:10:08 > 0:10:10"No, nothing." And then, so...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13But you have to try and get that in.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18But the fun of it is whenever one of us jumps in and goes,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20"I'm going to take it over here,"
0:10:20 > 0:10:23because the chances of bringing it back to where you want to go are...
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Or if you ever see...
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Sometimes we have the same idea, so if you see Colin...
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Say Jake is talking about something and Colin writes something down
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and I write something down and then Colin does it,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and you see me just going...
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Just crossing it out.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39It's interesting if, like me, you've followed The Blame Game
0:10:39 > 0:10:42all the way through, and at first they were in...
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I'm not saying they were dowdy, but it was a bit grungy.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49You know, you had the sweatshirts or the jumpers or the shirts.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Now it's, you know, Mr Armani McGarry,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55and Neil is exactly the same.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58They have the shirt... Even waistcoats. Did I see Jake...?
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Yeah, Jake, I think, loves the waistcoats.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Dog gives away owner's hiding place to cops.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- GRUFF VOICE:- She's in here!
0:11:14 > 0:11:16She's under the bed!
0:11:24 > 0:11:26HE HUMS
0:11:29 > 0:11:32The great thing about The Blame Game is that we're basically
0:11:32 > 0:11:36one big family, which means we hate each other's guts,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39slag each other off and turn like a pack of wolves
0:11:39 > 0:11:41on anyone who shows weakness.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Belfast Castle, you find them wandering up around the Cave Hill,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46"Can I see the castle?" It's not really a castle.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49But what are the letters? KFL?
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Cave Hill.- Cave Hill.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Oh, Cave Hill.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54I'm sorry.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58I will speak slower for you.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01I know it is difficult to understand.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Cave...Hill.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- Not Cavehill.- Well, let me tell you,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08if I was saying run, you would run.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11East Belfast, you can't...
0:12:11 > 0:12:16They're having to redirect planes landing at George Best Airport.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Tango 24, Tango 24, pull up, pull up!
0:12:20 > 0:12:23That's Donegall Road! That's Donegall Road!
0:12:23 > 0:12:26What kind of pilot is guided in by a...?
0:12:26 > 0:12:27They have one of those.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Like, they have one of those,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31they don't have one of those in the plane.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33They do have one of those!
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- Hello?- Operator, operator!
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Put me through to the flying machine contraption.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Angels 15, Angels 15.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44HE HUMS RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES
0:12:51 > 0:12:53It's the idea of bringing them from here and then
0:12:53 > 0:12:57some German guy turns up and goes, "Hello! How are you?" "Erm..."
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I'm here to tell you that you have been dumped.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03I don't know why I am suddenly speaking in this weird...
0:13:05 > 0:13:08The Vatican has criticised a German bishop
0:13:08 > 0:13:10for spending £26 million on his residence.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Yes, it's the new frugal Vatican.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14Can't wait till they have to...
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Can't wait until they have to redo the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- Two tonnes of... - The Lord has struck you down!
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Struck you down!
0:13:22 > 0:13:24APPLAUSE
0:13:32 > 0:13:37The power of Christ compels me! The power of Christ compels me!
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Did you see the Catholic brain melting?
0:13:43 > 0:13:4550 Shades Of Pray.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49I'm going to try and read this again.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51This joke isn't even worth it.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57My touchstone in life is coming back home to Northern Ireland
0:13:57 > 0:14:00and realising that people do find things funny.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Because having spent 30 years of my career working in
0:14:04 > 0:14:08quite a liberal environment in England,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12particularly in London, the banter thing doesn't happen.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Increasingly the banter thing is taboo, it's not supposed to happen.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20It's as if everything to do with banter is like bullying,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22it's racist, it's...
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Oh, you know, you're xenophobic, you're, you know, whatever.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27And suddenly you get back,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31and the thing that we have here is that we can do the banter
0:14:31 > 0:14:35and it's not necessarily sneering, it's ridiculous.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37You know, other programmes, other satirical programmes,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40it's all very sneering, it can be quite evil,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43it can be quite looking down on people.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I actually think we just look at each other.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49We say, look, really, we do do this, and why do we laugh at it?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Because we realise we do do it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54And that's the thing about The Blame Game -
0:14:54 > 0:14:55it's observational humour
0:14:55 > 0:14:59and they're observations that we can't deny.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Bin collecting here, it's the campest thing.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Since the wheelie bin introduction, right?
0:15:03 > 0:15:06You know, being a bin man was a manly job, it was a heavy, hard...
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- Big wobbly thing over the shoulder. - Big thing, oh, grr!
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Walking like John O'Dowd to the bin lorry. Arrrgh!
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And that was hard, unbelievably physical work.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18And now it's wheelie bins and it's just sort of "wha-poom".
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Machine - "whee-boomf".
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I'm knackered.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26You know, and I had to chase the bin lorry about... Oh, months ago.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27I missed...
0:15:27 > 0:15:30You know you hear the lorry going down the road and you go, "Bins!"
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I'm running out and it'd gone down the road and they won't come back,
0:15:33 > 0:15:34so you have to chase them down the road.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37It is the campest thing I have ever done.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Running with two bins, you look like the beginning of
0:15:39 > 0:15:42The Sound Of Music, running down the road.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Would you empty these, please?
0:15:45 > 0:15:50And when you got there and then they go, "It's brown bin, mate, sorry."
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I think one of the funniest moments was during
0:15:52 > 0:15:55the Sports Personality of the Year award,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59whenever Colin Murphy tried to get stuck into Tyson Fury.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03And it just showed, he really doesn't have a clue about sports.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08I didn't know who this man was until that fight thing that happened
0:16:08 > 0:16:11a couple of weeks ago. I'd no idea, I'm not into sport. And...
0:16:11 > 0:16:13- You'd never guess.- No, really(?) No!
0:16:13 > 0:16:16And the Tyson Fury thing I thought was, you know, a state of mind.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19I didn't realise it was his name. I thought it was going to be,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22"Tyson Fury, Tyson Happy, Tyson Hungry."
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I didn't realise that was his actual name.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28And...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31You could have thought he was one of the Fureys, like Finbar Furey.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36Erm, yeah, and it turns out he's not and he's a boxer man. And he's...
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Boxer man!
0:16:38 > 0:16:39I say!
0:16:41 > 0:16:42He won some boxing game.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I believe that's an accurate description of it there.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Comedian Mark Steel was a regular on the programme.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Last time he joined us in Derry-Londonderry
0:16:54 > 0:16:56during the UK City of Culture,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59and Mark had a few things to say about Northern Ireland's
0:16:59 > 0:17:02peculiar love of murals and street art.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Well, I say art...
0:17:08 > 0:17:09The murals as well,
0:17:09 > 0:17:11oh, it's spectacular, very poignant and so on.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12But it reminded me of...
0:17:12 > 0:17:16I did a joke when I came here a long time ago and the joke is ruined now.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18But I never realised,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I never anticipated why the joke would be ruined.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24The joke was, I said, the graffiti over here is just extraordinary.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25It's not like London at all.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- In London you get graffiti and someone will put- BLEEP
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- with- BLEEP- spelt wrong and stuff like that.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33But over here you've got all this spectacular...
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It's like you've got a whole city of Rolf Harrises running round.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- AUSTRALIAN ACCENT: - Do you know what it is?
0:17:38 > 0:17:41A little guy from the UVF with a little Armalite rifle.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42And I thought, well,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45maybe one day that joke will be ruined for historical reasons.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47I never realised it would be ruined
0:17:47 > 0:17:49because Rolf Harris would be taken in...
0:17:52 > 0:17:54You were right about the political stuff,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56but it's serving the audience here, you know?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Like, there's nobody else doing that and that's why I think it appeals.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Like, you know, Have I Got News For You isn't going to talk about
0:18:02 > 0:18:05what's happening to Royal Avenue or what's happening in Derry
0:18:05 > 0:18:06or in Armagh or whatever, so that's why...
0:18:06 > 0:18:09People want to hear about what's going on down the street,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11that's why it's so successful, I would have thought.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16I suppose serious news and current affairs and comedy, satire are...
0:18:16 > 0:18:18In a way they're complementary.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19You know, it works like that in America,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22it works like that across the rest of Europe and the UK
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and it works very well on the island of Ireland too.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29And I think in a good, civilised society, decent democracy,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31those two should go hand in hand.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Politicians don't always like the big political interviews on
0:18:34 > 0:18:37the serious programmes and I imagine they don't particularly like
0:18:37 > 0:18:42the mickey-taking that goes on on a programme like The Blame Game.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44But that's what's meant to happen,
0:18:44 > 0:18:45that's the way it's meant to be,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47and if you weren't asking difficult questions
0:18:47 > 0:18:50in a politics programme and if you weren't making fun
0:18:50 > 0:18:53and lampooning the politicians on a programme like The Blame Game,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57then you might as well, you know, pack up your camera and go home.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Protests are like catnip for politicians in Northern Ireland.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03You have a march or a protest,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06they will pop up and they're running about.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Nigel Dodds, Nigel Dodds up in Ardoyne, running about,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14trying to get his picture taken like a lunatic, know what I mean?
0:19:20 > 0:19:23The whole day Nigel was doing it large.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28The whole time going, "My people, my people are behind me!"
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Brick. Oh!
0:19:31 > 0:19:33APPLAUSE
0:19:35 > 0:19:39A show like The Blame Game is a release valve.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43I doubt that anywhere in the United Kingdom, anywhere in Europe,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47maybe anywhere else in the world there is such a fascination
0:19:47 > 0:19:51and a concentration on news and news events and politics.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54We are so politically aware in Northern Ireland
0:19:54 > 0:19:56compared to most places.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00But let's face it - it's ridiculous, a lot of it's ridiculous.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05I have spent years of my life since 1982 presenting news programmes.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08How often do I want to turn to the camera and say,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11"Just bear with me, you may think I'm joking about this.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14"But, honestly, this really did happen."
0:20:14 > 0:20:18And a show like The Blame Game is that release.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Of course news is ridiculous but, in a news environment,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24you can't say that. You should be able to say that.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27News should be interesting, it should be very controversial,
0:20:27 > 0:20:28but it's also very funny.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31You just can't be funny on a news programme,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33but you can on a satire programme.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Gerry Kelly! Gerry Kelly!
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Invented a whole new sport!
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Land Cruiser surfing.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:20:47 > 0:20:50A perfect... perfect example of hubris, right?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Gerry was caught up in the protest,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55and he wanted to talk to one of the policemen in the police Jeep,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and Gerry... "Police Jeep! Pull over!
0:20:57 > 0:20:59"Pull your police Jeep over!"
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Policeman drove on.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Second police Jeep. "Gerry Kelly! Do you know who I am?!
0:21:04 > 0:21:08"Policing Board! Pull your Jeep over!"
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Police jeep drove on. Third police Jeep.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Gerry stepped out in front of it.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14"Pull your... ARGH! ARGH!
0:21:16 > 0:21:19"Stop! Stop! Stop, will you?! Stop! Stop, please! Stop!"
0:21:19 > 0:21:21APPLAUSE
0:21:21 > 0:21:25But you just don't have to be an MLA or a city councillor
0:21:25 > 0:21:27to get a slagging. No, no, no.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30On The Blame Game, everybody and everything
0:21:30 > 0:21:33is a legitimate comedy target.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It was about blood donations and all the rest,
0:21:35 > 0:21:39and some guy from Carrickfergus texted in and went,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42"I am 78 and I wouldn't take a gay man's blood
0:21:42 > 0:21:44"if I was on my deathbed."
0:21:44 > 0:21:45And you think...
0:21:45 > 0:21:46"Good."
0:21:49 > 0:21:51It's very contemporaneous.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Whatever's happened during the week,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55whatever's happened the day before the show,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59you can be guaranteed that the guys are going to include it
0:21:59 > 0:22:04in some form, twist it around, make comedy out of it.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07And I think that's ingenious, actually.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I think it's very, very clever.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11It shows how good they are as comedians,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13that they can react so quickly,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and be alert to whatever's going on in society.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Because we are all part and parcel of it, especially newspeople -
0:22:20 > 0:22:23we're dying to hear how they're going to treat it.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I really genuinely hope that that man needs blood at some point
0:22:26 > 0:22:28because, you see, if there's a shortage of blood here,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30you will accept blood from Northern Ire...er...
0:22:30 > 0:22:32from England and Wales and Scotland,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34where they do allow gay men to give blood.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36So that guy doesn't know.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37So he'll be lying on the bed and you're going,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41"We're going to play homosexual roulette!
0:22:41 > 0:22:43"Now, look at this. What do you think of this?
0:22:43 > 0:22:45"Look at this red blood. Bit pink.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47"Ooh, you'll never know, will you? Let's check.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49"Oh, it has platelets? Yes, it does.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51"Red blood cells? yes, it does.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53"Glitter?! Wait a minute!"
0:22:55 > 0:22:56This is like a slot machine.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59You're going to pull down the handle and take your chances,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01but YOU don't want three fruits to appear.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:23:05 > 0:23:08When the guys can tap into something that we all experience,
0:23:08 > 0:23:10that we all observe, that we all have opinions about,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15and maybe can't articulate, that is when you hit gold.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19I loved the flags. I thought that was just such a clever...
0:23:20 > 0:23:22..piece of comic genius, to be honest.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27It absolutely nailed everything that we all hold so dear.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I mean, it was brilliant.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32He came in with the notion that we're going to do the flags thing,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34and he wanted all these wee flags made.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36And he got the flags made and he was all chuffed,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38- he knew it was going to go well. - Yeah.- Knew it.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39- I didn't know it!- You did know.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42You knew, "This is bulletproof. This is bulletproof.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44"This is going to wreck the place."
0:23:44 > 0:23:46And he had his wee props and everything.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49He was all proud of his wee props, and he was sitting there going,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52"This is going to be brilliant, I've got props and jokes and everything."
0:23:52 > 0:23:54And then... Have you got one of them with you?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56And then he produced his little props, right?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58And he had his little props and he's there going,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00"Oh, these are brilliant. Got these things here."
0:24:00 > 0:24:02And then I said to him, at the last minute,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05whenever he was sitting, ready to go.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- With no glasses, probably. - And he had them all like this.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09And I said, "You do realise...
0:24:09 > 0:24:12"they're only printed on one side?"
0:24:12 > 0:24:15And then you could see his face going...
0:24:15 > 0:24:18"What?! What?!" Just as the camera's about to roll.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Cos I thought he's going to... I shouldn't have said anything.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- I should have just let him go. - That would've been hilarious!
0:24:23 > 0:24:26LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- This is not a flag.- Right.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30This is...
0:24:30 > 0:24:31"..a fleg!"
0:24:32 > 0:24:33"A fleg!"
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- With you. - The people who have this fleg...
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Suddenly, the people who like this fleg...
0:24:42 > 0:24:45..took this fleg down off the City Hall.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Nobody noticed it was there until they took it down.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:24:54 > 0:24:55Then...
0:24:56 > 0:24:59..six weeks of mayhem! Six weeks of mayhem
0:24:59 > 0:25:01because the people who love this flag are going,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03"They have taken my fleg!
0:25:03 > 0:25:07"My flag! They have taken my identity!
0:25:07 > 0:25:09"I don't know who I am any more."
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Flags are more complicated, cos you may be in a part of Belfast,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15you will see that flag, but we don't just go for two flags - oh, no.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Not in Belfast, no, no, no. We like lots of flags.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20We love lots of flags.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24You'll get that flag. You get that flag, and you'll also...
0:25:24 > 0:25:26On this side, you'll also get that flag.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28CHEERING
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Even though both those flags are already in that flag!
0:25:30 > 0:25:34They don't know their flags are already in that flag.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Not to be outdone, the lunatics with this fleg...
0:25:38 > 0:25:40they decided to adopt this fleg.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44APPLAUSE
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Oh, yes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50"Because they are brothers in the revolution.
0:25:50 > 0:25:51"They are similar to us,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54"only with a suntan. They are with us, you know?"
0:25:54 > 0:25:56So, because these ones took that fleg,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58these ones then took that fleg.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Because my enemy's enemy is my friend.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Can you imagine being a tourist wandering through Belfast,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06try to work out what's going on?
0:26:06 > 0:26:08What really works about it is it looks effortless,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11but also it taps into something that I think's very clever,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14which is the way North Ireland people, I think,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17are bit obsessed about themselves being the centre of the universe,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19and they try to draw everybody else and every other conflict
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and every other political situation into the Northern Ireland situation.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25And, in fact, if you look at a world map,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27you struggle to find Northern Ireland.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29This is a very small place. Um...
0:26:30 > 0:26:32But we seem to connect
0:26:32 > 0:26:35with all of these other huge areas of conflict
0:26:35 > 0:26:38and huge political stories.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40And I think people in Northern Ireland quite like doing that.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43I think Jake tapped into that very cleverly,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45in that particular sequence.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47But it gets better!
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Then this flag gets involved.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51The Italian flag.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Do you know why the Italian flag got involved in all this?
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- I think you do.- Tell me.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Willie Frazer can't tell the difference between those two flags!
0:26:59 > 0:27:03LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:27:04 > 0:27:05Willie Frazer!
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Now, God love Willie.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15A haircut from the 1960s and a brain from the 1690s - I love Willie.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Willie saw this flag, the Italian flag,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19in a primary school and mistook it for this flag.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21What was Willie...? What was Willie doing in a primary school?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I don't really want to know
0:27:23 > 0:27:25what Willie was doing at a primary school.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Better than going home for lunch.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30So Willie said it was a Proddie training camp for youth.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Because, like Batman, like Batman and Robin,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36you have to have... You have Willie and Jimmy Bryson.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Now Jimmy does not call it a flag or a fleg.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Jimmy calls it a fwag.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:27:45 > 0:27:47"They have taken my fwag.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50"They have taken my fwag away. Where is my fwag?
0:27:50 > 0:27:52"I tawt I taw a puddy tat.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54"Did the puddy tat take my fwag?"
0:27:54 > 0:27:57LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:27:59 > 0:28:00So...
0:28:02 > 0:28:06..Richard Haass has arrived, and he wants to know from the public
0:28:06 > 0:28:10what we could possibly do to help the situation.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:28:18 > 0:28:22I think that that kind of open-ended nature of The Blame Game,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24the culpability, the fact that we've not found out,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26after ten years, who is to blame...
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- Perfect show. - HE LAUGHS
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Well, that's it. Ten years of The Blame Game.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35And, as you can see,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39I'm the only one to have kept my youthful good looks.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40What?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Until next time, don't blame yourselves, blame each other.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44Goodbye.