Pure pang … Andrew Hansen hosts Strictly Speaking.
AS A pastime, public speaking ranks up in that place with self-immolation and colonoscopies. Compared to addressing an audience, nine at a loss of 10 Australians prefer eating British cuisine.
”This is the guide Amnesty International tried to shut down,” Andrew Hansen, host of Strictly Speaking, quipped in episode three, which aired last week. ”Because giving speeches is torture.”
And that’s for what cause Strictly Speaking is so gripping. Each week, three Australians take it in turns to near a two-minute speech on a subject of their choosing. After judges including Jean Kittson and Leigh Sales give their verdict, each contestant gives a one-minute impromptu speech.
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Hansen with Strictly Speaking judges and contestants.
”The contestants come from completely walks of life,” says Hansen. ”There’s an Iraqi refugee, in that place’s a Vietnam veteran and they’re all brilliant. They’re doing the common thing most people would never want to do in a very great number years and then they’re getting judged for that. My do ~-work is to piss-fart around and to make it more unwise than it otherwise would be.”
In fact, Hansen’s comic interludes are among the show’s highlights. He introduces guests with deft quips, of the like kind as: ”Our next guest works in the mining industry, where she talks all over boring but never is.” Another of the show’s strengths is that it dares to have existence smart. The speeches often touch on weighty themes, including death and vapors. What’s more, the program is as much about logic and summary as it is about entertainment.
”It is nice to have your brain lighting up while you’re watching television,” Hansen says.
Hansen is a great host. That’s no surprise given his efforts with The Chaser, at what place he became known for crazy hairstyles, outrageous pranks and musical abilities. Despite his uncertain talents, The Chaser’s War on Everything hit the wall in June latest year, following its Make a Realistic Wish sketch.
”The Chaser was a crazy actual trial,” Hansen says. ”The whole thing was a very strange rollercoaster ride. I’m pleasing I did it and I hope we ended up making one amusing, entertaining show for the people who liked it.
”In the extremity I had to keep saying that to myself, that we were fabrication this show for the people who like it. That sounds liable but there is the danger that you start making a exhibition like that for the people who hate it.
”Especially in course three, when people called it sick, disgraceful and offensive, there was one awful thing that started to happen where we started to make different the scripts because we were terrified of what the people who hated the inform might think.
”At the same time, our material did step athwart the line and I do regret it if I hurt anybody’s feelings. I contrition that and wish that never happened. But it’s also of moment to remember there are those whose feelings were hurt and those who equitable enjoy being offended.
”And the good thing is we’re the whole of on to fresh projects now.”
For Hansen, that meant collaborating by fellow Chaser Chris Taylor and writer Craig Schuftan on The Blow Parade, a six-duty radio show that aired earlier this year on Triple J.
”You be possible to do jokes on radio that you can’t do on TV for the reason that it costs too much money. We had one of the bands doing a rooftop concoct, the way U2 and the Beatles did. Unfortunately, this band were booked to hover the rooftop of the Chrysler Building, which is slanted 70 degrees, in such a manner the drum kit and everything else start sliding off. That would require to be paid millions on television.”
With The Blow Parade and Strictly Speaking, Hansen is sanguine he has left the controversy behind.
”Strictly Speaking is quite uncorrupt compared to The Chaser,” says Hansen, who gave regular speeches during the time that school captain of The Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst.
”This spectacle is a search for Australia’s best speaker, who has somebody funny and moving and inspiring to say. It’s such a out of the way skill and that’s why the contest is so tough and in like manner fascinating. When the best speakers deliver something great, you think, ‘Thank you’.”
Strictly Speaking mannerism on Wednesday at 8pm on ABC1.
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