Harrow College Alumni
Matt Lucas
Vicky Pollard, Andy Pipkin, Daffyd Thomas and Marjorie Dawes... do these names ring a bell? Yeah but no but!!
All these characters are played by Matt Lucas in Little Britain, a comedy sketch that paints a satirical picture of present day Britain. Matt needs no introduction and his fame has now spread to the U.S and Australia with the sketch show gaining popularity even there. This intelligent and talented figure studied at Harrow College’s Weald Campus.
- When did you study at Harrow College? Which campus were you in?
I studied at Weald College – as it was then known – on Brookshill, between 1990 & 1992.
- What did you study here?
I did three A-levels – English Literature, Theatre Studies & Media Studies. I also re-took my Maths GCSE in my first term!
- Why did you choose Harrow College?
Even though I gained much from it, I was desperate to leave the confines of the private school I went to and go somewhere more real. Also, the subjects I wanted to study were not available at my school. And I was ready to make new friends, and was excited that the college was only a five minute walk away from my dad’s house, which meant I would get to see a lot more of him.
- Could you please tell us what you went on to do after you completed your course here?
I took a year off, to have a go at doing stand-up comedy, though I got a job working for Chelsea Football Club (in their shop) during the day. Then I went off to Bristol University to study Theatre, Film & Television, though I left after two years to pursue comedy full-time.
- Your most memorable time at the College...
I remember when Margaret Thatcher resigned. Someone ran into the class to announce it and there was much excitement. She was an immensely unpopular figure amongst the young. I also remember going on a protest march to Harrow Council with Keith Toms and a young Tony McNulty (local Labour figures) to protest at the withdrawal of college funds. I guess I felt like I had a bit of a political awakening when I went to college. For the first time I was confronted with different types of people, instead of the privileged group that I went to private school with.
- What are you doing at the moment? Could you please tell us about your responsibilities in the job?
I’m a full-time comedian, I guess. As for responsibilities, as I’m mainly employed by the BBC, it’s important to be mindful of the budgets we get to produce our shows, as they are paid for by the license fee.
- How do you think Harrow College helped you in achieving what you have done so far?
Absolutely. It was a world away from the private boys’ school I had come from, and I learnt to mix with a broader group of people – including girls! There was little elitism, and much more free expression. It opened my eyes a lot, because we were afforded more respect, given more responsibility. It was nice to be treated like adults. I appreciated it. I was ready for it, and I know that I responded better academically because of it.
- Who do you think made the best impact on you while you were here? (Teachers, friends?)
My two closest friends, pretty much, were people I was a Weald College with. One I had met a few times before we went but became proper friends with while we there, and the other I met at Weald. And there are four or five others that I am still in regular contact with. I am also in touch with Janet Harrison, my Theatre Studies teacher, who challenged and inspired me greatly.
- Did Harrow College inspire you for the characters of Little Britain?
There was one lecturer, a hugely intelligent, really eccentric but immensely likeable young guy called Liam Buckley, whose name was used in our radio show!
- Could you please tell us about your experience with Little Britain, now that’s it gone international with its growing audience in Australia and the U.S as well? How did your study help you with the ideas and process for the Sketch?
I guess I continued to learn that real work breeds results, and that is something that I have had to keep hold of, in order to achieve and continue achieving success in what I try and do. There is no substitute, I’m afraid, but if you put the hours in and apply yourself, the rewards are there. For instance, I have earned enough now never to have to worry where the next bag of Revels is going to come from.
- Your future plans...
I thought I might nip to the shops later, as we’re out of milk.
- What would you like to tell our current or prospective students?
I’d like to tell them my bank account details, and say that if anyone wants to deposit large amounts of money into it, I would be extremely grateful.
