How Alison Hammond’s hilarious Dame Edna Everage This Morning gaffe left everyone in stitches – including her
WEARING his purple wig and extravagant glasses, Barry Humphries breathed real life into comedy alter ego Dame Edna Everage.
His performance was so on the money, in fact, that TV host Alison Hammond has hilariously revealed she thought Dame Edna was a real woman — and that Barry was her husband.
Alison made the gaffe ahead of an interview with Dame Edna on This Morning in 2019.
Speaking alongside her co-host Dermot O’Leary in an upcoming ITV special celebrating the legendary Aussie comic, she says: “I know it sounds really stupid, I didn’t realise that Dame Edna wasn’t Dame Edna.
“I thought Dame Edna was Dame Edna, full stop. I didn’t realise . . .”
As she breaks into laughter, an incredulous Dermot interrupts and asks: “Hang on, what?”
Now in hysterics, Alison says: “Does that sound really naive? I’m so sorry!
“So when someone went, ‘Alison, this is Barry Humphries’, I was like, ‘Oh, nice to meet you. Are you, like, Dame Edna’s partner?’.”
Alison is just one of a host of stars to feature in the one-off special, which airs on Christmas Day, reflecting on the life of Barry, who died earlier this year, aged 89.
The documentary charts his career from his early years in Melbourne, where he invented Edna — a parody of a small-minded suburban housewife.
He brought his act to Sydney in the 1950s but it did not always go down well. After moving to London in 1959, however, he became a big hit with live audiences.
But playing in clubs and theatres led to a problem with drinking, as TV host Jonathan Ross reveals.
The presenter, who interviewed Dame Edna on The Jonathan Ross Show several times, says in the film: “When he first came over, when he was trying to make a go of it, ‘another drink’ became a bigger and bigger problem for him.
“People would offer him drinks and he’d say to them, ‘I’ll have one with you if in six hours’ time or so you don’t complain when I’ve torn down all those curtains and done a s**t in that vase’.”
In 1970, aged 36, Barry suffered a near-death experience with alcohol when he was found unconscious in a gutter.
While in hospital, he found help through Alcoholics Anonymous and never drank again.
Speaking on Michael Parkinson’s BBC chat show in 1982, Barry told how “life is very, very funny sober”, adding that “it’s not all doom, gloom and ginger ale”.
Musician Nick Cave, a fellow Aussie, reveals in the film how Barry helped to get him clean too, after he spent much of the Eighties and Nineties addicted to heroin.
Dubbing him a “huge influence”, Nick explains: “I remember the first time that I was in rehab — I’ve been to a lot of rehabs in my day — and they put on a video of Barry Humphries talking about sobriety.
“That really had a big impact on me. It’s actually . . . I don’t know why, but it’s quite emotional for me to say that.”
Nicks adds with a laugh: “He did his most offensive, dangerous work sober.”
Sharon Osbourne, who also features in the new film, agrees. The former X Factor judge, whose husband Ozzy suffered with alcohol and drug abuse for four decades, says: “I know how hard it is to stay sober. And he remained funny.
“And a lot of other people have not managed to be funny when they stopped drinking.”
Barry went on to achieve international stardom as Dame Edna, but the film also relives classic moments from his other signature characters, including sleazy politician-turned-diplomat Sir Les Patterson.
Humphries said of the drunk, sexist character: “Les Patterson can say things that are completely incorrect, and it’s a relief to express views which we privately hold but dare not publicly ventilate – otherwise we’d be history . . . our careers would be over.”
In the late 1980s, Barry got his own ITV chat show, The Dame Edna Experience, where a host of stars queued up to put themselves on the receiving end of Edna’s acid tongue.
Cliff Richard was ordered out mid-interview “as a warning to future guests”, while Tom Jones was forced to do his interview trapped in a lift.
Recalling his appearance on the show, former Neighbours pin-up Jason Donovan says: “I mean, I’m getting shivers thinking about it.
“When they made it in the Eighties, it was unique. It was a great booking as an artist because it was prime-time. Edna was a big star.
“Artists that were on his chat show all respected Barry. They respected where he came from. They respected his craft. His comic timing.”
Jason adds with a laugh: “When I look back at my appearance on that show, I was sweating. You never knew what direction the bullets were going to fly.”
Such was Dame Edna’s pulling power that even politicians were willing to run the gauntlet. In 2007, future PM Boris Johnson went on follow-up show The Dame Edna Treatment.
The host dubbed him “a Tory MP you actually recognise”, before slapping a “BJ” name badge on him and telling him he looks “healthy, except for a little dandruff”.
‘No one was safe’
Scandal-prone politician Jeffrey Archer was also a regular guest and the pair became lifelong friends.
Lord Archer says in the film: “We met in Brisbane 40 years ago and the friendship started there.
“There was virtually no subject in which Barry didn’t know more than I did. So I was learning the whole time. He was very clever. Most comedians are sensible enough to attack the successful and those in power. And that, in his opinion, was up for grabs.
“You never felt humiliated because you knew the affection was there. I’ve never met anyone who was on his show who didn’t like him and want to be with him. And that’s how he got away with it.”
After Lord Archer, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, was jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001, Barry visited him in prison.
Lord Archer says: “I remember saying of him years after I’d come out of prison, ‘You find out who your friends are’.”
Among Edna’s many fans were the Royal Family, including the Queen and Princess Diana. Sharon Osbourne says: “King Charles adored him and, when Barry was in hospital, King Charles called him. I mean, how brilliant is that?”
The comedian’s death in a Sydney hospital following complications from hip surgery sparked a huge outpouring of grief in April.
And on Friday last week, hundreds of people gathered at a State Memorial at Sydney Opera House to celebrate his life.
King Charles was among those who sent a tribute, recalling his apprehension when Edna played a prank on him during a Royal Variety Performance in 2013.
Edna sat down next to Charles and Camilla in the theatre’s Royal Box, before looking at her ticket and telling them, “I’m so sorry, they found me a better seat”.
She then got up and left, leaving the pair in hysterics. The King wrote in the tribute: “I suspect that all those who appeared on stage or on TV with Barry’s Dame Edna, or who found her appearing at the back of the Royal Box, will have shared that unique sensation where fear and fun combine.
“Those who tried to stand on their dignity soon lost their footing. Those who wondered whether Australia’s housewife superstar might this time just go too far were always proved right. No one was safe.”
Even towards the end of his life, Barry continued to wreak havoc, much to the delight of fans.
This Morning co-hosts Alison and Dermot were left in stitches when Barry appeared on the show in 2021 to promote his upcoming tour.
It came shortly after long-time host Phillip Schofield came out as gay, with a deadpan Barry telling Dermot: “I want to congratulate you on your courage.”
As the former X Factor host looked confused, Barry turned to Alison and explained: “When he came out and told us about his sexuality.”
Alison burst into laughter, while cool-headed Dermot replied: “I’ll pass that on to the gentleman that’s here from Monday to Thursday.”
Recalling the now famous interview, Dermot says in the documentary: “When people say on television anything can happen, they don’t really mean it. But with him, you had that kind of . . . ”
Alison interjects: “Anything could happen.”
Just how Barry liked it.
- Barry Humphries: The Last Laugh is on ITV and ITVX, Christmas Day, 10pm.