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cover of episode David Baddiel on Family, Jewishness, and the Healing Power of Comedy, Part Two

David Baddiel on Family, Jewishness, and the Healing Power of Comedy, Part Two

2024/12/2
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David Baddiel
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Sanjeev Bhaskar
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David Baddiel: 我在书中讲述了父母的婚姻生活,以及母亲与一位高尔夫球销售员长达20年的婚外情。父亲对母亲的婚外情似乎毫不知情,或者即使知道也选择视而不见。这并非因为他软弱或害怕,而是因为他性格冷漠,对母亲的‘疯狂’行为漠不关心。父亲是一个喜欢食物、足球和抱怨的人,虽然粗鲁,但他以独特的方式深爱着他的孩子。母亲是一个囤积狂,她保留了与David White的所有电话录音磁带,这些录音展现了她作为高尔夫纪念品经销商的成功以及与David White之间的复杂关系。通过母亲留下的卡片和父亲的反应,我推断父亲可能并不知道母亲的婚外情,或者即使知道也选择不去理会。母亲的婚外情以及家庭中的其他一些怪异行为,构成了我童年的一部分,我接受了这些。父亲一生都在试图避免‘令人恼火’的事情,这解释了他对妻子婚外情的漠然态度。我发现母亲保留的一张卡片,暗示父亲可能另有婚外情,但这更可能是母亲一厢情愿的臆想。在《Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned》节目中,母亲的言行也反映了她渴望分享我的聚光灯,以及她对自身经历的独特解读。 Sanjeev Bhaskar: 我很好奇,在你的童年时期,你对家庭功能障碍的认知程度如何?家庭功能障碍对你的童年认知产生了怎样的影响?

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why didn't David Baddiel's father seem to know about his mother's 20-year affair with David White?

David Baddiel suggests that his father, who was a very male and aggravated individual, simply chose to ignore his mother's affairs and her various eccentricities. He was more focused on avoiding aggravation in his life and tuned out her behavior, even though it was quite public.

What role did golf play in David Baddiel's family dynamics?

Golf became a significant obsession for David's mother, who had a 20-year affair with a golfing salesman named David White. She even named her antique stall 'Golfiana' and collected golf memorabilia extensively. The sport became a central theme in their family's dysfunction, with David White often present in their lives.

How did David Baddiel's mother react to his fame?

David's mother enjoyed being associated with his fame but showed little interest in the actual work that made him famous. She often tried to insert herself into his public appearances, such as at the premiere of his film 'The Infidel,' where she posed for photos with photographers rather than focusing on him.

What was the significance of cats in David Baddiel's life?

Cats were a source of deep affection for David, especially as he felt his father's only real affection for him as a child was directed towards their family cat. David shared a cat named Chairman Meow with Frank Skinner, and he currently has four cats, one of whom, Zelda, has a particularly poignant history as she lived with his father during his dementia.

How did David Baddiel's mother's hoarding behavior reflect her past?

David's mother was a hoarder, which he believes stemmed from losing everything in her youth during the Holocaust. She held onto items as a way to feel secure, and her obsession with David White and golf memorabilia was a manifestation of this need to cling to aspects of her life that brought her comfort or identity.

What was the most awkward encounter David Baddiel had with a famous person?

David once had an awkward encounter with Andrew Lloyd Webber, who confused him with Ben Elton. When David corrected him, Andrew introduced him to his wife as Sarah, which was actually the name of his previous wife. David accidentally introduced her as Sarah to someone else, leading to a very embarrassing situation.

How did David Baddiel's mother's affair with David White affect the family?

The affair was a significant source of dysfunction in the family, with David's mother openly discussing it and even mentioning it on live television. Despite the affair being common knowledge, David's father seemed to either not notice or chose not to address it, leading to a strange dynamic within the family.

What was the significance of the Old Boys Book Club in David Baddiel's childhood?

The Old Boys Book Club was a group that discussed Billy Bunter books, which David's mother had collected. She enrolled him in the club when he was 11, even though he had no interest in the books. The experience was deeply boring for him, as he was the only child among much older members.

How did David Baddiel's father's dementia affect the family?

David's father's dementia led to a significant change in his behavior and personality, making him more difficult to handle. However, it also created a unique bond with one of David's cats, Zelda, who lived with his father during this time. The cat's return after his father's death was a poignant moment for David.

What was the most revealing moment about David Baddiel's mother's character?

One of the most revealing moments was when David's mother, during a live TV show, implied that not all of her children were from her husband, saying, 'How do you know they were all from your father?' She then topped it by saying, 'No, it means I had a good life,' suggesting that her affair was a way to reclaim the life she felt was stolen from her by the Holocaust.

Shownotes Transcript

David Baddiel has been on our screens for over 35 years. The creator of The Mary Whitehouse Experience and one half of Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned, he spent his early career in the world of television comedy. More recently, he has become a leading voice on Jewishness and antisemitism in the U.K after releasing his award-winning documentary and book Jews Don’t Count.

In October 2024 he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss how both comedy and Jewishness have shaped his career and life. Drawing from his hilarious new memoir My Family, he discussed his upbringing from reckoning with his family’s trauma from the Holocaust to his late mother’s affair with a golfing salesman and his father’s struggles with dementia. Baddiel revealed his family story to shed light on why he believes laughter has the capacity to transform our darkest experiences into something more bearable.

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