Stephenson rockets ahead

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 11

Stephenson rockets ahead

(from

KEN COATES

in London)

New Zealand-born Pamela Stephenson, admired by millions for her zany and talented appearances on BBC. televisions "Not the Nine O'Clock News.” would like to put on her own onewoman show.

She says it would provide her with’ ample opportunity for both her mimicry and her experimental ideas.’ She has already appeared in a few clubs, blit says that unfortunately there are few suitable places. Although she has got together an act. there are problems that face a woman stand-up comic. "Yes. the men just tend to ogle and shout out things like •Show us vour tits.'

“But I did find that women, rather more than men. actually, like jokes

about sex. And they always laugh if you make cracks about male inadequacies." Pamela's link with New Zealand is tenuous. She comes from a medical family and was born in Takapuna. Auckland, leaving for Australia with her parents when she was four. Today, there is still more than a hint of her Australian accent.

She is being called television’s Miss Outrageous for her generally eccentric sense of humour in a new series of "Not the Nine O'Clock News."

Her bright blonde hair has been drawn out from her head in spectacular spikes giving her a permanent air of electric surprise. Pamela’s caricatures of televisions formidable women news readers have

made her compulsory viewing. Not all victims were flattered by the ultimate compliment of having fun poked at them by an outstanding mimic.

That arch and very superior person. Angela Rippon. definitely was not. "I don’t think Angela liked it very much." says Pamela. “I suppose you can’t please everyone, can you?

"Anyway. I don't really care. I don’t think she likes me."

But news reader Jan Leeming sent her a pair of huge earrings she wore when she appeared on “The Generation Game." and lent her some eye shadow. “Doing" Moira Stewart, the 8.8.C.’s first black newsreader, posed some problems.

Colouring the skin was easy but getting Moira’s nose right meant “I had to spread my nostrils a bit. if you follow." . The make-up people stuffed huge bits of sponge up her nose, she wore dark contact lenses to get her eyes the right shade, and when recording began she was in agony. ' “I couldn’t see the teleprompter and had to have it moved closer, and with all that sponge up my nose. I couldn’t breathe either." Pamela Stephenson is run-

ning out of characters and wants to include more Americans. “I would just love to do Nancy Reagan.” she says. She treats her work very seriously and hates being called ' “an alternative comic.” She has also had enough of the kind of publicity that blazed over her relationship with the punch-prone Scots comic. Billy Connolly. She says she and Billy are living together now and are very, very happy with each other.