{"id":54462,"date":"2024-07-07T13:46:03","date_gmt":"2024-07-07T11:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2067808"},"modified":"2024-07-07T20:53:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T18:53:42","slug":"spents-michelle-de-swarte-comedy-is-a-great-vehicle-to-touch-on-serious-issues","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/spents-michelle-de-swarte-comedy-is-a-great-vehicle-to-touch-on-serious-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Spent\u2019s Michelle de Swarte: \u2018Comedy is a great vehicle to touch on serious issues\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of the release of her new BBC Two series, the comedian discusses the transformative power of comedy. <\/p>

By Abby Robinson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 07 July 2024 at 11:46 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Comedian Michelle de Swarte, best known for Netflix\u2019s The Duchess<\/a> and Sky Atlantic comedy horror The Baby<\/a>, returns to our screens for Spent, a BBC Two series which is partly inspired by her own experience of being a catwalk model.<\/span><\/p>\n

She plays Mia, who leaves New York for London without a penny to her name following the death of her modelling career. But the city she once called home has changed, leaving Mia unsure of herself \u2013 or whether there\u2019s even a place for her anymore.<\/p>\n

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a>, Swarte said that while \u201cbeing a model and living in New York\u201d might not be familiar to some viewers, \u201cthe experience of living beyond our means, and sometimes doing it in a way that can be detrimental to the rest of your month or your year or the rest of your life\u201d, is something that a lot of people can relate to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another of the show\u2019s key themes, the UK\u2019s rapidly evolving cities, will also strike a chord with many tuning in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChances are if you live in a city, it\u2019s changed,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are a lot of people being displaced and I think Mia\u2019s story is a nice way to tackle it because she herself has kind of been gentrified as an individual. So she comes back and on the face of things, she kind of would be the problem, but she doesn\u2019t have the money to enjoy all the low-hanging fruit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Noel Fielding\u2019s Dick Turpin comedy renewed for season 2 on Apple TV+<\/a><\/li>\n
Fleabag execs \u2018demanded Andrew Scott was recast\u2019 days before filming<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The negative impact of gentrification is no laughing matter but for Swarte, that makes it the perfect fodder for comedy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how I approach standup as well, as a way to speak about things that are serious, but do it in a way that is light-hearted and doesn\u2019t leave you feeling burdened,\u201d she explained. \u201cI think comedy is a great vehicle to be able to touch on some serious issues.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s something that I love about the art of humour and standup. <\/span>Sometimes if you laugh about something and it doesn\u2019t feel too heavy, then that can be a great springboard to turn around to your mate and say, \u2018Has that ever happened to you?\u2019 or \u2018Do you ever feel like that?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cIt can start a conversation without it feeling too weighty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Amanda$ \n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>