October 17, 2024 • 10 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Please welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
People ask me how can I become a great boss,
and the answer.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Is having a happy staff that love you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
As of today, we are all back in the office
full time.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What that's not good news the Office Australia.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
All right, everybody, My next guest is about to be
one of the biggest stars in the bloody world in
the country. She is so funny. You may have seen
her on Thank God You Hear this Week or many
times over the years. One of the funniest comedians actresses
in the country. I adore Felicity Ward and she's the
star of the brand new Office Australia. It is our
very own version. We've had the British version, We've had
(00:38):
the US version. There's been versions in Canada, Chile, Israel, India,
the Middle East, Poland. Now it's Australia's turn. And the
very first female lead to take on the role is you,
Felicity Ward. Welcome to the Night Show.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Hello, thanks for having me on the Night Show.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Hello, Hello all that can when it can laughter? You
know what I think if any guests could handle cand
laughter during the radio inter it's you. You can handle it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Oh mate.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Anything that affirms me as a person I can handle.
Like you know how, like somebody, if you want me
to be a better version of myself, give me a compliment.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I have the rive.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'm the same. I am the same. Are you bad
at breakups? Because because I feel like when you break
up with someone, you kind of you kind of compliment
you to death to make it easier. And that's so
hard for me because I'm like, they still are in
love with me deeply?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Oh mate, Like being having feelings for anyone is so
hard for me because what if I really like them
and they don't like me? But what if they really
like me, which is worse and I don't like them?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, it's hard. I get you. Shit, Then, how did
you go getting the call to say hi, A, we
want you to audition for the Office Australia or B
you've got the role? Like, take us back before we
talk about the show which Australia it's out tomorrow. I've
seen the pilot. Hilarious, it's so good. What was the
moment you got the call? Tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I got so the first was just a cattle call
email of their remaking The Office of Australia, and I
was like, wow, that's wild that's a big swing in
twenty two got I don't even know what.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Twenty twenty it was.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And then then I saw that it was a female lead,
and I'm like, oh, I suppose that's the reason to
remake it, like it's a very different point of view.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And then they wanted me to audition for it. I
was like, oh, all right.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And then I auditioned, and then I got a callback.
Callback is where you know, fewer people get asked to
do it again with some direction from the director, and
like they honestly, they must have taken audition tapes from
I'm sure there was babies that auditioned for this show,
Like everyone auditioned for this show. Which is what I'm
trying to say is I wasn't special in getting an
(02:36):
email asking me. It wasn't like they hadn't honed it
down to a top five that they'd been considering.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I was one of thousands.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And then I got a callback, and then there was
like some chemistry tests seeing how I acted with someone
else in the show, and then and then it was
a very long waiting process. So they wanted to get
it right, They wanted to get the scripts right. Their
dates shifted things like that. And then I was in
New Zealand filming something else and I was going to
get a COVID test And how they do COVID tests
(03:05):
in New Zealand is they spit in a tube. It's barbaric, barbaric, classic, kiwied.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
And then I was walking in I got a call
for my agent and he said, hey, are you busy?
Can you chat?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I was like yeah, and he goes, I would like
to offer you the lead role in the Office Australia.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
And then I cried, yea a massive wars.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No for Liz, I'd cry too, that is huge roll
And you know what. You briefly touched on it, But
was there any sort of nervousness about taking on the role.
You mentioned that because it was the first female playing
this role that we've had Ricky Gervais play, We've had
Steve Carell play, that was what that kind of made
you think, hmm, this can be different.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I reckon.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
It was about five minutes after the euphoria had worn
off that I got the role that I went, oh,
I'm going to get dragged by the entire internet, like
the whole world is going to come for me.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
So second round of tears after the.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You know what was yeah, the first one Australia.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
And can I just say that people are pricks man,
I and you are hilarious. The show isn't even out
and I have seen some of the comments on social media.
By the way, they're all children. These kids still have
their umbilical court attached, they still get nutrients from a placenta,
and they're shaming this show already.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, but of course they are. Like that's what the
internet is for.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
The Internet is for unadulterated opinions that have not been
thought out, that actually are about the fact that you
couldn't marry your mother. I understand that, and what I
have also understood, like I understood as soon as I
got this part, that that would probably happen, especially like
Ricky Gervase fans not known for being loving and accepting, no,
(04:47):
you know what I mean, especially in more recent times.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And then on top of that, you've got Office fans.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So if you've got the ven diagram of Office fans
who are also Ricky Jervase fans, then the theory that
they carry with them on a daily basis if it could.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Power the sun. Yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I knew that was happening, and I know that I
am very sensitive and very mentally ill, so I every
time we released something, we released a launch date at
the end of August. We released the trailer about a
month ago, and then all of the interviews are coming out,
and then the show comes out tomorrow. Since then, I
don't I haven't read a single article, I haven't read
a single comment.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I won't be reading reviews. It's none of my business.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I had the greatest time of my life doing this show,
and that is what I'm going to remember. And then
on Instagram, I'm going to use the function called people
you follow.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes, yes, oh, we have to follow each other because
I send a lot of post a lot of comments.
So Summer hate, Summer hate Felicity. But you know it
just won't be for me, that's right, No, of course, no,
they all come out in the wash. I will say,
as someone who is a fan of the British version
of the Office, I love that series and it made
me fall in love with Ricky Gervais and then it
made me go and to want to study improv. That
(05:57):
show did a lot for me. I love it, and
then I was like, oh, an Aussie version, and I,
like everyone, I thought, I go, what's this going to
be like? And then like I said, I've seen the
first episode. You need to watch the first episode. When
we were saying off air, you said, it kind of
just it goes up.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Mate, the first episode of any series. Actually, I was
talking to Will Anderson about it today. I think that
maybe The British the first episode of The British Office
is probably one of the only first episodes of any
comedy series that is as good as the rest of
the series. Like most series, you've got minimum the first
(06:32):
episode because you've got to set up the character, the storyline,
the premise of the whole show. From the second episode
of our series, it just flies in like it just flies.
It's so funny. The second episode is I think that
it's I think that it's out there that I'm just
going to say what it is because it's funny. But basically, Hannah,
(06:54):
my character has to make cuts to impress the regional
manager and she tells someone that she's made redundancies and
he died. That's the premise of the episode, and the
whole episode just gets wronger and wronger and wronger, and
it's so enjoyable. It's so fringe and all episodes come
(07:14):
out at once, so you can have a cringe binge
if you feel like tearing your skin off but also
falling in love with someone.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I'm your guys, listen, What's got your Bag?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So? Season one of The Office Australia premieres on Prime
Video tomorrow. Hey, who did you? How does it work?
Is there like a you can't be a group chat?
Like you can't go to Ricky giveus and go give
me some tips or Steve Carell and go give me
some tips. Did you study the other series or is
that kind of where you go wrong? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I think no.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Like I so, I had watched the British one when
it came out, and I loved the British one.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
You know, it had such a huge cultural.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Impact, not just on like comedians or the comedy landscape.
But I guarantee you everyone knows a man in his
forties or fifties that still speen like David Brent that
like never shook it because at the time everyone was like,
h yeah, I'm just I'm an you know, like everyone
had these jubatisms and some people did not grow out
(08:11):
of them at all. Yet they stayed attached. So I like,
I was sort of impacted by that then and all
of us wheel spoke like that when when it came out,
and then with the American one, it came out and
exactly the same thing happened.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's happening to me, happened to the American show. They're like,
why would you remake something? It's perfect?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And I think the first episode is like a copy
and paste of the British version, and they were so
they were sort of like British versions of American characters.
And then in the second season they just had all
original storylines all like they embraced their own culture and
their own office culture, and the show is perfect, Like
(08:55):
the American show is so incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
The British show is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I don't even think they're comp so what I can't
even remember what the question is now.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
The question was now what time is it? And you've
really gone off. Yeah, you've really strayed from that, I think, felicity.
But it's okay. It's okay because we love you and
you're you're a superstar. We are out of time. But
I do want to say I have seen it. Go
give it a watch it is brilliant and support Aussi comedy,
support Aussy actors. It is a great time. I think
for Australian comedians there's something bubbling under.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, can I tell you this. I live in the UK,
and what they're like. Everyone's coming up to me.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
They're like, oh my god, Australian comedy is having such
a boom at the moment. Colin from Accounts is crushing
it in the UK, FISC is crushing it in the UK.
Deadlock when it came out was number two on Amazon
on Prime Video in the UK, and so with the
announcement of.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
The Office as well, people are.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Like, oh my god, Australian comedy and female led comedy
is like at the we're like cutting edge to the
rest of the world.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, you're like that dog they put in space in Russia.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I'm the dog that they put in space. What a
horrible thing to call me.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I'm so sorry that dog. I don't think I don't
think it ended well for that dog.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
So I mean he's definitely dead.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I retracted, you know, well, yes, purely based on time.
And what a nice note to end on Felicity Ward
the Russian Dog. Great to have you on the show.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Thank you, thank
Please welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
People ask me how can I become a great boss,
and the answer.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Is having a happy staff that love you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
As of today, we are all back in the office
full time.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
What that's not good news the Office Australia.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
All right, everybody, My next guest is about to be
one of the biggest stars in the bloody world in
the country. She is so funny. You may have seen
her on Thank God You Hear this Week or many
times over the years. One of the funniest comedians actresses
in the country. I adore Felicity Ward and she's the
star of the brand new Office Australia. It is our
very own version. We've had the British version, We've had
(00:38):
the US version. There's been versions in Canada, Chile, Israel, India,
the Middle East, Poland. Now it's Australia's turn. And the
very first female lead to take on the role is you,
Felicity Ward. Welcome to the Night Show.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Hello, thanks for having me on the Night Show.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Hello, Hello all that can when it can laughter? You
know what I think if any guests could handle cand
laughter during the radio inter it's you. You can handle it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Oh mate.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Anything that affirms me as a person I can handle.
Like you know how, like somebody, if you want me
to be a better version of myself, give me a compliment.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I have the rive.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'm the same. I am the same. Are you bad
at breakups? Because because I feel like when you break
up with someone, you kind of you kind of compliment
you to death to make it easier. And that's so
hard for me because I'm like, they still are in
love with me deeply?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Oh mate, Like being having feelings for anyone is so
hard for me because what if I really like them
and they don't like me? But what if they really
like me, which is worse and I don't like them?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, it's hard. I get you. Shit, Then, how did
you go getting the call to say hi, A, we
want you to audition for the Office Australia or B
you've got the role? Like, take us back before we
talk about the show which Australia it's out tomorrow. I've
seen the pilot. Hilarious, it's so good. What was the
moment you got the call? Tell me about that.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I got so the first was just a cattle call
email of their remaking The Office of Australia, and I
was like, wow, that's wild that's a big swing in
twenty two got I don't even know what.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Twenty twenty it was.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And then then I saw that it was a female lead,
and I'm like, oh, I suppose that's the reason to
remake it, like it's a very different point of view.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And then they wanted me to audition for it. I
was like, oh, all right.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And then I auditioned, and then I got a callback.
Callback is where you know, fewer people get asked to
do it again with some direction from the director, and
like they honestly, they must have taken audition tapes from
I'm sure there was babies that auditioned for this show,
Like everyone auditioned for this show. Which is what I'm
trying to say is I wasn't special in getting an
(02:36):
email asking me. It wasn't like they hadn't honed it
down to a top five that they'd been considering.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
I was one of thousands.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And then I got a callback, and then there was
like some chemistry tests seeing how I acted with someone
else in the show, and then and then it was
a very long waiting process. So they wanted to get
it right, They wanted to get the scripts right. Their
dates shifted things like that. And then I was in
New Zealand filming something else and I was going to
get a COVID test And how they do COVID tests
(03:05):
in New Zealand is they spit in a tube. It's barbaric, barbaric, classic, kiwied.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
And then I was walking in I got a call
for my agent and he said, hey, are you busy?
Can you chat?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I was like yeah, and he goes, I would like
to offer you the lead role in the Office Australia.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
And then I cried, yea a massive wars.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
No for Liz, I'd cry too, that is huge roll
And you know what. You briefly touched on it, But
was there any sort of nervousness about taking on the role.
You mentioned that because it was the first female playing
this role that we've had Ricky Gervais play, We've had
Steve Carell play, that was what that kind of made
you think, hmm, this can be different.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
I reckon.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
It was about five minutes after the euphoria had worn
off that I got the role that I went, oh,
I'm going to get dragged by the entire internet, like
the whole world is going to come for me.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
So second round of tears after the.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You know what was yeah, the first one Australia.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
And can I just say that people are pricks man,
I and you are hilarious. The show isn't even out
and I have seen some of the comments on social media.
By the way, they're all children. These kids still have
their umbilical court attached, they still get nutrients from a placenta,
and they're shaming this show already.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, but of course they are. Like that's what the
internet is for.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
The Internet is for unadulterated opinions that have not been
thought out, that actually are about the fact that you
couldn't marry your mother. I understand that, and what I
have also understood, like I understood as soon as I
got this part, that that would probably happen, especially like
Ricky Gervase fans not known for being loving and accepting, no,
(04:47):
you know what I mean, especially in more recent times.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And then on top of that, you've got Office fans.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So if you've got the ven diagram of Office fans
who are also Ricky Jervase fans, then the theory that
they carry with them on a daily basis if it could.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Power the sun. Yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I knew that was happening, and I know that I
am very sensitive and very mentally ill, so I every
time we released something, we released a launch date at
the end of August. We released the trailer about a
month ago, and then all of the interviews are coming out,
and then the show comes out tomorrow. Since then, I
don't I haven't read a single article, I haven't read
a single comment.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I won't be reading reviews. It's none of my business.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I had the greatest time of my life doing this show,
and that is what I'm going to remember. And then
on Instagram, I'm going to use the function called people
you follow.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes, yes, oh, we have to follow each other because
I send a lot of post a lot of comments.
So Summer hate, Summer hate Felicity. But you know it
just won't be for me, that's right, No, of course, no,
they all come out in the wash. I will say,
as someone who is a fan of the British version
of the Office, I love that series and it made
me fall in love with Ricky Gervais and then it
made me go and to want to study improv. That
(05:57):
show did a lot for me. I love it, and
then I was like, oh, an Aussie version, and I,
like everyone, I thought, I go, what's this going to
be like? And then like I said, I've seen the
first episode. You need to watch the first episode. When
we were saying off air, you said, it kind of
just it goes up.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Mate, the first episode of any series. Actually, I was
talking to Will Anderson about it today. I think that
maybe The British the first episode of The British Office
is probably one of the only first episodes of any
comedy series that is as good as the rest of
the series. Like most series, you've got minimum the first
(06:32):
episode because you've got to set up the character, the storyline,
the premise of the whole show. From the second episode
of our series, it just flies in like it just flies.
It's so funny. The second episode is I think that
it's I think that it's out there that I'm just
going to say what it is because it's funny. But basically, Hannah,
(06:54):
my character has to make cuts to impress the regional
manager and she tells someone that she's made redundancies and
he died. That's the premise of the episode, and the
whole episode just gets wronger and wronger and wronger, and
it's so enjoyable. It's so fringe and all episodes come
(07:14):
out at once, so you can have a cringe binge
if you feel like tearing your skin off but also
falling in love with someone.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I'm your guys, listen, What's got your Bag?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So? Season one of The Office Australia premieres on Prime
Video tomorrow. Hey, who did you? How does it work?
Is there like a you can't be a group chat?
Like you can't go to Ricky giveus and go give
me some tips or Steve Carell and go give me
some tips. Did you study the other series or is
that kind of where you go wrong? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
I think no.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Like I so, I had watched the British one when
it came out, and I loved the British one.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
You know, it had such a huge cultural.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Impact, not just on like comedians or the comedy landscape.
But I guarantee you everyone knows a man in his
forties or fifties that still speen like David Brent that
like never shook it because at the time everyone was like,
h yeah, I'm just I'm an you know, like everyone
had these jubatisms and some people did not grow out
(08:11):
of them at all. Yet they stayed attached. So I like,
I was sort of impacted by that then and all
of us wheel spoke like that when when it came out,
and then with the American one, it came out and
exactly the same thing happened.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's happening to me, happened to the American show. They're like,
why would you remake something? It's perfect?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
And I think the first episode is like a copy
and paste of the British version, and they were so
they were sort of like British versions of American characters.
And then in the second season they just had all
original storylines all like they embraced their own culture and
their own office culture, and the show is perfect, Like
(08:55):
the American show is so incredible.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
The British show is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I don't even think they're comp so what I can't
even remember what the question is now.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
The question was now what time is it? And you've
really gone off. Yeah, you've really strayed from that, I think, felicity.
But it's okay. It's okay because we love you and
you're you're a superstar. We are out of time. But
I do want to say I have seen it. Go
give it a watch it is brilliant and support Aussi comedy,
support Aussy actors. It is a great time. I think
for Australian comedians there's something bubbling under.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, can I tell you this. I live in the UK,
and what they're like. Everyone's coming up to me.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
They're like, oh my god, Australian comedy is having such
a boom at the moment. Colin from Accounts is crushing
it in the UK, FISC is crushing it in the UK.
Deadlock when it came out was number two on Amazon
on Prime Video in the UK, and so with the
announcement of.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
The Office as well, people are.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Like, oh my god, Australian comedy and female led comedy
is like at the we're like cutting edge to the
rest of the world.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, you're like that dog they put in space in Russia.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I'm the dog that they put in space. What a
horrible thing to call me.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I'm so sorry that dog. I don't think I don't
think it ended well for that dog.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
So I mean he's definitely dead.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I retracted, you know, well, yes, purely based on time.
And what a nice note to end on Felicity Ward
the Russian Dog. Great to have you on the show.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Thank you, thank
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