Still breaking the rules, but now in a quiet way (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Still breaking the rules, but now in a quiet way

12:00pm Friday 29th May 2009

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Julian Clary talks to Susan Griffin about his darkly comic second novel, over tea and biscuits at his London home.

IN A street near London’s bustling Camden High Street, I’m waiting for Julian Clary to answer the door to his flat. The flamboyant comic might now be a member of the comedy establishment, but I’ve still got images of him in my head dressed in bondage gear accompanied by Fanny the Dog, circa 1980.

As a result, I’m slightly surprised when a man in casual grey trousers, a fashionable floral shirt and white trainers answers the door – an understated, urbane man who will tell me – in a few minutes’ time – that he “demystified all aspects of gay life”.

In place of the imagined leopard-print rugs are stripped wooden floorboards and white walls adorned with paintings.

The delicate scent of incense burning above the fireplace helps to conjure an air of serenity. As does the absence of Valerie, Clary’s four-legged friend, who recently appeared alongside him on TV’s The Underdog Show. It turns out that she’s been ushered off to Clary’s parents.

Valerie came into Clary’s life after his beloved Fanny died, and apparently the arrival of a puppy is imminent.

Having found fame with his camp comedy routines, Clary recently turned his hand to writing.

Following the success of his candid autobiography, A Young Man’s Passage, in 2006, and debut novel, Murder Most Fab, in 2007 comes his second work of fiction, Devil In Disguise.

“I don’t follow any of the advice you’re given when you’re writing a book,” he says in his softly-spoken voice as we settle down for a cup of tea. I seem to just like diving in and writing and trusting to the universe that it will all resolve itself in the end. It comes from my dislike of reading books where you can predict the ending.”

Devil In Disguise is a tale of showbusiness and sex and is the perfect summer read.

“I took quite a lot of sex scenes out actually, because they felt a bit repetitive, once you got the general drift,” he says, deadpan.

Clary admits there’s a part of him in all the characters he’s created, but undoubtedly the greatest similarities can be drawn with Simon, a young gay man who starts performing in a drag act.

“That’s definitely partly me,”

says Clary. “I think as a performer you have this fear of not being able to make people laugh, of not being very good. I like the idea that once he puts the make-up on and drinks enough vodka, the spirit possesses him. It’s not actually him, it’s someone he’s channelling.”

He adds that it was a tactic he used during his own risque routines.

“Yes, make-up was a mask and the costume and the dog was a comfort. It’s very scary performing in a rowdy nightclub and it never came naturally to me.”

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