Taskmaster’s Bulge Issue Became Apparent Too Late

Phil Wang, 34, was born in Stoke-on-Trent to an English mother and a Chinese-Malaysian father. He grew up in Malaysia before moving back to Bath during his teens. Studying engineering at Cambridge, he also led the Footlights and started his standup career by winning two student comedy awards at 20. His TV appearances include Taskmaster and Have I Got News for You. Recently, he had acting roles in Wonka and 3 Body Problem. Next month, his second Netflix standup special will be released.

Asked about his new moustache, Wang said it’s an experiment encouraged by his girlfriend. The moustache has even become part of his standup routine, making it a fixture for now.

Regarding his new standup special, Wang in There Baby!, he expressed excitement, especially since his previous special, Philly Philly Wang Wang, was impacted by the pandemic. “The last special was Covid Wang. This is Normal Actual Wang,” he joked. Filming at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe, he found it a beautifully intimate and candlelit venue, adding a unique atmosphere to his performance.

When asked about making jokes in such a prestigious venue, Wang commented that Shakespeare himself wrote plenty of similar jokes, so he is merely continuing a time-honored tradition.

Wang is aware that his success means a lot to Eurasian people. Many have reached out to him about his book, Sidesplitter: How to Be from Two Worlds At Once, saying he was the first East-Asian comedian they saw on TV. He finds it encouraging that there has been a significant increase in diversity within comedy over the past five years.

He attributed this shift to the broader tastes of audiences and the influence of other entertainment forms like K-pop, Squid Game, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Wang refers to this phenomenon as “cool bleed,” where exposure to East Asian culture in various forms boosts its acceptance in comedy as well. Food culture has also helped, making topics like bánh mì and kimchi more relatable to Western audiences.

Commenting on his days with Cambridge Footlights, Wang said that while it provided valuable experience, it no longer defines someone’s career in the democratic age of the internet and social media.

Currently, Wang is drawn to silly jokes, sensing a return to lighter comedy now that politics has become more serious. He has a theory that politics and comedy have a symbiotic relationship, balancing each other out.

Wang had an exciting and unexpected experience hosting Have I Got News for You at short notice due to Amol Rajan pulling out because of pre-election coverage restrictions. Reflecting on the Labour government, he appreciates the more mundane and stable political scenario compared to past “psychodramas.”

Wang humorously recounted his film debut in Wonka, where he broke his arm performing a tap dance on a table. He remembered being embarrassed by the mishap, especially with lead actor Timothée Chalamet present.

As for his appearance on Taskmaster in a tight yellow jumpsuit, Wang intended it as a tribute to Bruce Lee. Although initially oblivious to the outfit’s revealing nature, comments from fellow contestants brought it to his attention. Despite this, he has no regrets.

After Succession, Wang’s girlfriend introduced him to Sex and the City. While not a fan of the movies, he finds the TV show genuinely funny and well-performed. When asked which character he identifies with, Wang believes he’s most like Miranda.

One of Wang’s favorite ice-breakers involves ranking five types of carbohydrates. His top choices are rice and noodles, currently favoring rice due to his new induction rice cooker. He claimed these two questions reveal a lot about someone: which Sex and the City girl they are and their carb preferences.

Looking ahead, Wang is hosting a Radio 4 show called Unspeakable with Susie Dent and is developing new standup and script ideas. A major focus is on his moustache, which remains a key project.

Source: The Observer