July 26th 2024.
Matt Forde, the political comedian and Spitting Image impressionist, is making a triumphant return to the Edinburgh Fringe after a challenging year. In 2024, he was diagnosed with cancer, and as we chat about his upcoming show, The End of an Era, he reflects on the rollercoaster ride that the past year has been for him.
As I express my condolences for his difficult journey, Matt surprises me with his optimistic outlook. "You know, I see it as a brilliant year," he says. This optimism is not something you would expect from a political comedian, a type of artist known for their cynical and jaded perspective on the world.
Last year, while performing at the Fringe, Matt was suddenly struck with excruciating back pain. He initially thought it was a slipped disc, never imagining that it could be cancer. "When I was told it was cancer, I couldn't believe it. I didn't feel like I had cancer. I wasn't emaciated or unwell, apart from the pain," he recalls.
The 41-year-old underwent surgery to remove a spine tumor, which unfortunately left him unable to walk. However, Matt considers himself fortunate as he believes his life expectancy has not been significantly affected, and his quality of life has not diminished. "I have a stoma and have to self-catheterize to pee, and I still need walking sticks, but my walking is improving, and I don't think I'll need them forever," he shares.
For Matt, these challenges are small in comparison to what others go through, and he reflects on how his experience has put things into perspective for him. "To have missed the asteroid, as I like to put it, really makes you appreciate life," he says. "It was actually one of the greatest experiences of my life. It really enriched my perspective on life."
Aside from the physical challenges, Matt's cancer also reaffirmed his political beliefs about the incredible work done by the NHS. He recalls the nights when he was unable to change his own colostomy bag, and how the nurses who would take the time to help him made a huge difference. "Their personality alone was medicine," he says.
Another experience that has taught Matt a lot was his attempt to interview all 650 candidates before the recent general election. He found their ability to handle pressure, defeat, and rejection admirable. "I spoke to so many candidates who knew they were going to lose, but that wasn't the point. They believed that people should be given the option to vote with their hearts and heads for values they truly believe in," he shares.
This resilience and dedication to their values is something that Matt finds similar to stand-up comedy. "In a superficial way, they even take place in similar arenas - on stages, often with hostile audiences - so there are definitely parallels," he says.
As a political comedian, Matt has been spoiled with material in the past few years, with politicians like Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss providing endless moments of incompetence. But now, with Sir Keir Starmer as the new Labour leader, Matt is excited to perform under a Labour government for the first time in his career.
"It's a great creative challenge," he says. "I wanted Labour to win for national reasons, but I am relishing getting stuck into taking the mick out of Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, rather than constantly having to go back to the Tory well for new material."
While Matt is thrilled to have a new government to joke about, he also acknowledges the challenges that come with being more sympathetic to one side. "I've always taken the piss out of the Labour Party as much as I have the Tories, but it's interesting when you have a government that is going to do more of what you want," he reflects.
However, he believes that there will always be plenty of material to work with, and he is excited about the opportunity to master the voices of new political figures.
As Matt prepares for his show at the Edinburgh Fringe, he is also adjusting to life after surgery. While he no longer has back pain, he still needs walking sticks to get around. "I try to use just one walking stick instead of two so I can hold the microphone," he explains, adding that it can be challenging during work in progress shows when he needs to hold notes.
Despite the physical challenges, Matt is grateful to be back at work and doing what he loves. "It's been so magical getting back to work," he says. "There's a period in your life where you have to focus on your recovery, but you don't want to be defined by it. You want to get back to your interests and be back on stage. I've always loved it as a job, but I love it even more now."
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