I quite enjoy David Mitchell on WILTY, That Mitchell and Webb Look, and Peep Show. His character is very funny and relatable in a unique way to me, but when I google him in the US I get a lot of unrelated content, mostly crime, because I suppose David Mitchell is a common name. Is he a "household name" in Britain and how do British people take to him?
Posted Sep 13, 2023, 5:47 AM UTC
In the U.K. we know "our" David Mitchell very well because the shows that you listed are very popular (especially WILTY)
There is also an author called David Mitchell and I suspect that when people outside of the U.K. search for the name it is this author who is at the top of their results.
A bloody brilliant author, have to say.
Plus “our” David Mitchell has an amazing book “honesty is the second best policy”. It really describes (ridicules) the state of things in the UK too.
And he jokes about not being that David Mitchell on his books. Think I saw it on Cloud Atlas
I thought I would hate that show and I absolutely love it. My favorite parts are watching Mitchell lose his mind over Bob Mortimer’s insane tales.
John Cooper Clarke witty comments are a close second
In addition to Bob Mortimer, my two absolute favourites are:
I think most would have an idea of who he is. One of those comedians you probably have heard of, but not necessarily know his work.
Maybe generational to an extent: most people would know his face from his just being around on panel shows, younger than 50 and older than 20 would be able to actually name him.
younger than 50 and older than 20 would be able to actually name him.
Am I reading this correctly? Are you saying that only people between 20 and 50 would know both his face and his name?
Why would you think people over 50 wouldn't know him?
I probably agree with the lower limit. BBC funding is going to have to change as so many of the younger generations no longer watch terrestrial TV at all, and often only have a TV to game on.
Upper limit is daft. Panel shows are a stalwart of the British TV offerings (honestly I am a bit surprised when I travel and find they are not as common elsewhere), so most people who still have their marbles will have watched WILTY at some point.
My grandma is 80 and knows who he is.
I'm 64.
David Mitchell is nearly 50, so why anyone would think only people younger than him would know him is beyond me.
Yeah, I'm 53 so obviously I wouldn't know who he is, I don't think I have heard him on the radiogram or seen a daguerreotype of him, maybe he's a star of that new-fangled cinematograph thing.
Wow, you are old - we have cathode ray tubes now and as soon as I get some new valves I'll be listening to him on the wireless.
I'm 49 so I'm about to forget who he is
I am sorry I simply don’t believe you. How could a 53 year old possibly be commenting on a Reddit post. Sus.
I have a steam powered difference engine.
I’m 52. I’ve loved him since Peep Show days. But obviously when the dementia kicks in I’ll forget all about him.
You have named three of his television series. He has also been in others and on radio shows. How likely is it that someone would be a regular in at least 3 TV shows - one of which bears his name - and not be a household name?
Yes, most people would know who he is.
I like his work. Some of my friends like him, others don't. That's probably true of most TV people.
Approaching minor national treasure status. Will be upgraded once Brian Blessed is dead
Brian Blessed WILL NEVER DIE. He will just transcend into the immortal realm of the Great Entertainer's
I would anticipate pretty much every adult in the UK to know who he is.
More or less a household name, yes. How popular? Probably a divide between those who appreciate him and those who find him insufferably smug. With some thinking both things at once
PC Panda from Peppa Pig? Legendary!!
He's that rare thing - a rather smart/clever comedian. His ep of Who Do You Think You Are was good too!
Check him out in Upstart Crow written by Blackadder creator Ben Elton. Iy helps if you're a fan of William Shakespeare.
I’m 59 and I have had no idea who he is for the last 9 years. His autobiography is really good. Probably… 9 years… etc…
His wife Victoria Coren Mitchell is also somewhat known. She hosted (hosts) an early evening quiz show and played(s) in a professional Poker championships where I think she won $1m. She has a similar stoic demeanour and dry humour and David and I think they might have starred on the odd comedy panel show together or on opposite teams. Her brother is also known (Giles Coren) as a tv presenter.
From what I’ve knows many younger people really resonate with peep show, it definitely has a cult following here (a 20yr old) most people I know of have watched or at least heard of peep show. Even many old school mates and acquaintances I’ve lost touch with re post stuff from dobby club and other accounts on their stories. I say the reason why you tend not to see much on Google is because we don’t really leave reviews or anything online to permanently of the sorts.
From what I’ve knows many younger people really resonate with peep show, it definitely has a cult following here (a 20yr old) most people I know of have watched or at least heard of peep show. Even many old school mates and acquaintances I’ve lost touch with re post stuff from dobby club and other accounts on their stories. I say the reason why you tend not to see much on Google is because we don’t really leave reviews or anything online to permanently of the sorts.
David Mitchell is AMAZING! I think his humour is very British and witty, so he might not be that popular elsewhere.
Yeah most people will know who he is. Fairly popular comedian that has been around for a long time now