"THE JONATHAN AGNEW INTERVIEW - BACKSTAGE AT THE BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________The backstage of the 'Brighton Theatre Royal' typifies the magnificence of eccentric Victorian architecture. There are narrow warren-like passages aplenty where the famous scene from the film
Spinal Tap as the musicians stumble around, desperately attempting to seek a route on to the stage, almost came true as I sought out the dressing-room where ‘Aggers & Tuffers’ were preparing themselves for their impending performance.
Admittedly, we had first spoken at the ‘Meet & Greet’ event twenty minutes earlier in the Royal Circle Bar, where the two had met their fans, greased palms, and generally carried out a thoroughly professional PR exercise; but not all was well. Aggers kept snifflling, grumbling he had picked up Geoffrey Boycott’s cold while commentating in India. “It’s similar to Boycs,” he groans. “Not spectacular but clings to you like a stubborn batsman at the crease.” Then there was Tuffers who was languishing with such a heavy head cold, that most would be in bed, rather than bracing themselves to go on stage in front of 700 people. This was not so much ‘man-flu’ but a ‘Spanish Pandemic’.
“What happens if my voice goes on stage,” croaks a worried Tufnell. “What then?” The ever-present promoter, Simon Fielder, fussed like a caring father. “I’ve got some throat lozenges. Here, suck on these,” as he produced a packet of cough sweets from his pocket.
I had interviewed Phil Tufnell two years earlier at a Brighton art exhibition. He was displaying his own latest artistic whimsies - modern interpretations of cats. My overriding impression was of a highly intelligent man who has ruthlessly exploited the cheeky chappy market. He'd stated he only gained one O’level (art) because he was too bored to turn up to the other exams.
unofficialsussexccc.freeforums.net/post/5994/threadAggers learning to Ride Before his Trip to Rio 
Fortunately, while Tufnell brooded in his dressing-room, I focussed on chatting to Agnew. Congratulating him on his MBE was a good start. He immediately perked up and we were off. Unlike Tufnell, Aggers is exactly what it says on the tin. Affable, warm, sensitive and overall a jolly nice chap.
“He needs lots of reassurance,” smiles Agnew, as Tufnell croaks again from the adjoining room, “I don’t know if I'm well enough to go on.” Aggers continues, “Once on stage, he lights up like a Christmas tree and is a joy to work with. He is sharp, quick and comes up with some brilliant one-liners. Tuffers is a breeze. Whereas Geoffrey requires more work and needs to be steered and manoeuvred.”
I had been warned by Fielder earlier that the question, ‘Who do you prefer working with?’ would be met with a diplomatic response.
Agnew smiles, “Let’s put it this way, Tuffers gets more laughs.” And yet, Boycott can attract larger crowds. What is so impressive are the audience numbers attending their country-wide tour. Brighton was the first of the New Year but with 15 further dates lined-up, certain venues had already sold out, some with a capacity size as high as 1,500 seats.
But back to that MBE given not just for 26 years of cricket commentating but also for his recent Olympic elucidations. “It’s a lovely thing to have,” smiles a proud Aggers. “I won’t place MBE after my name but I certainly won’t ignore it either. It is sad that some people decline such an honour.”
And enthused by his recent Rio equestrianism expounding, 2020 is about defending his medals. “I am sticking to horses from now on. Archery is well and truly behind me.” Certainly, a sensible move given his second wife, Emma, is a keen horse-rider. Even better, Agnew received his own personal gold medal equivalent from Rio because an English "equestrianist" - the oldest in British Olympic history - had won the honour.
But to bring him shuddering back to terra firma, he now finds himself embroiled in ‘Toiletgate’. Last week he tweeted to his followers that for the last 10 years, before every Test match, he receives in the post a soiled piece of loo paper. “The letter is postmarked Bath,” he explains. He even received this little gem when appearing recently at the ‘Bath Theatre’.
After tweeting this, Gary Lineker responded by stating he too is sent a similar letter from the same place. “I just hope the person now addresses it correctly to Jonathan Agnew MBE!” Aggers smiles.
The bog standard question comes next. Who have been your favourite TMS interviews? Aggers lights up. “It has to be Elton John. I love his music.” Adding, “I was surprised by his depth of cricketing knowledge.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXjng71g1uk Next, it must be Lily Allen more for the publicity our edgy interview gained.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDWNDw-3XnE And third…” Aggers pauses reflecting a typical thoughtfulness. “Just for its bizarre nature, Alice Cooper. Geoffrey who was in the studio at the time and knows little about the celebrities that appear, swivelled around in his chair, took one look at Cooper and said, “Alice, nice to meet you, luv.”
Then there was Davina McCall. “Someone had dropped out. She was called in at the last minute. I had done no research, knew little about her, with 40 minutes to fill. I was told she’d carried out a recent TV sporting challenge and during our chat to nudge it along I said, 'Come on Davina, you are hiding your sporting prowess under a bushel' to which she responded, ‘you mean under my bush!’ It was an absolute killer moment.”
Not surprisingly, Aggers is reluctant to mention his worst interview. “He was an actor…”
Under a Bushel!
Then on to social media, in particular Twitter, an area that’s thrust Aggers into some terrible scrapes. “Social media creates knee-jerk reactions, especially with sport,“ he says. “My job is to sail a sane course through this emotional turmoil. But I do hold one strong view. You don’t assault people about subjects you know little about. For example, I wouldn’t criticise an airline captain for his flying. Therefore, I believe the public should accept that those who have been involved in professional cricket for many years, know what they are talking about.”
Even so, I had to ask the uncomfortable question about his Twitter spat with Jessica Pietersen a few years back. “That was a horrible time," he reflects. "The lesson you learn is… if you tweet opinions, you may get your fingers burnt.” Adding, “The fortunate thing is such spats usually blow over very quickly.”
The 10 minute warning for the 7.30pm start suddenly resonates over the dressing-room intercom. It was time to leave.
As for the show itself. Brilliant… a must see. Phil Tufnell’s next incarnation, surely, is as a comedian. Even when submerged under a profuseness of mucous, he is as funny as any of the comics who appear on TVs
Mock The Week. And as for Aggers? A joy as always.
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Forthcoming DatesJanuary 17th: New Theatre, Oxford
18th: Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
19th:Burgess Hall, St Ives
February 1st: Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
7th: Victoria Theatre, Halifax
9th: Southport Theatre & Floral Hall Complex, Southport
10th: Grand Opera House, York
13th: New Wimbledon Theatre, London
April14th: Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (with Boycott)
24th: Theatre Royal & Royal Concert, Nottingham (Tufnell)
25th: Derngate Theatre ( Boycott)
27th: Guildhall, Preston (Boycott)
May1st: The Lowry, Salford (with Boycott)
14th: Richmond Theatre, Richmond (Boycott)
20th: Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton (Boycott)
www.atgtickets.com/search?search=aggers+%26+Tuffers
