An interview with the prolific comedian, regarded as one of the best young comics in the UK
BY BEN WEST
Nathan Caton has enjoyed considerable success dissecting all things from the personal to the political in his standup shows, such as Straight Outta Middlesex and The Pursuit Of Happiness.
Multi-award-winning Caton has appeared on BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, BBC2’s Mock The Week, The Apprentice: You’re Fired and The Premier League Show, Channel 4’s Comedy Gala, The Superhuman Show and It Was Alright in The 70’s, BBC3’s Russell Howard’s Good News, BBC Radio 4’s Now Show, News Quiz, BT Sport’s The Football’s On and his hit BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Can’t Tell Nathan Caton Nothing.
Caton started young, having been active on the UK comedy circuit since the tender age of 19. Growing up, he’d watch comedians on the tv that his family watched, triggering inspiration to follow in their footsteps.
“I used to watch a lot of comedy with my family, such as Lenny Henry, and sneaking in to watch Eddie Murphy, even though I was too young to watch him. I related to black comedians, and as I got older, in my late teens, I began to get into other stuff like Robin Williams, Chris Rock and George Carlin.
“I also particularly admire comedians like Dave Chapelle, Rob Deering, Carl Donnelly, Reginald D. Hunter and Louis CK. And Richard Prior is the godfather of stand up. I admire funny and thoughtful comedians.
When he started in comedy he was studying architecture at university. Being the first in his family to go to university but chosing to pursue comedy full-time caused tensions with his parents.
“They were apprehensive,” he says. “They thought I was going to be an architect, and they saw comedy as a hobby for me to do in my spare time. My mum’s first response was ‘how will you pay your rent now?’. They get it now, seeing me always gigging or appearing on tv.”
Things progressed quickly: within his first year of gigging he was beginning to get known, having performed at the Edinburgh Festival and finishing as a runner-up in the Amused Moose Comedy Search as well as winning the award for Chortle Student Comic of the Year.
In 2006 he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards, and made his first TV appearances on Richard Hammond’s 5 O’clock show, quickly followed by ITV2’s Comedy Cuts.
The momentum didn’t waiver as October 2007 saw his debut comedy pilot The Nathan Caton Show broadcast on Paramount Television (now Comedy Central), garnering him a Broadcast Magazine Hotshot award for his writing.
His 2009 Edinburgh show, Can’t Tell Nathan Caton Nothing, made a big splash and received rave reviews from critics including The Guardian. It told the story in stand-up of his relationships with his loveable but maddening family, which led to BBC Radio Comedy feeling this seemed like the seed of a great radio series and even greater recognition. But it wasn’t always plain sailing.
“I remember doing a corporate gig, I died on my…” he says. “It was so bad. As I was leaving, I heard the guy say that the last comedian was shite, on the mike. I just thought to get the hell out of there. You certainly have have to have a thick skin in this game, you get a lot of people voicing their opinions on social media.”
I ask him whether he ever thinks there’s too much focus on him being a black comedian rather than a funny one?
“Yes! I still get that now. Sometimes if I have a meeting with a producer or comedy developer, they may say ‘we’re looking for a black angle’ or something. I feel I’ve got a lot more to say about the world than that, and don’t want to be defined by being black. I’m not a one trick pony.”
What’s best: playing large or small venues?
“It doesn’t matter, as long as the venue is intimate. The Apollo, for example, is large but manages to be intimate. Things like there being low ceilings and the way the stage and seating are all set can all help make it seem like a small intimate club.”
Further information: nathancaton.com