Reginald D Hunter on Britain’s ‘class gaydar’ and the aftermath of the Queen’s death: ‘I saw my friends get weird with each other’-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

The comedian is delving into all things class for a new documentary series (Picture: Getty/Sky History)

American comedian Reginald D Hunter has lived in the UK for 25 years but considers himself ‘Mid Atlantic’.

Born in Georgia, Hunter asserts that British people ‘love being analysed by outsiders and foreigners’, which fits in well with his latest project, the Sky History documentary series Britain’s Greatest Obsessions.

Alongside Harry Hill, Lorraine Kelly, Suggs, Chris Packham and Liza Tarbuck, each presenter hosts an episode on one of the country’s most evergreen fascinations, from weather to pets to pubs and humour.

Hunter is tackling the thorny issue of class but was relaxed in the face of the challenge.

‘It didn’t look like nothing that could beat me. So, I was like, yeah, okay. And British people love being analysed by outsiders and foreigners,’ he said, speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk.

Analysing his own position when it comes to how he considers his nationality, he’s less concrete.

Resident in the UK for well over two decades, the American comic says only Brits ask him what he considers himself to be more, nationality-wise (Picture: Sky History)

Hunter is stepping away from stand-up to explore different areas linked to class, including etiquette, accents and football (Picture: Getty)

‘I only consider that question when I’m asked that question. And I’m only asked that question by British people! I consider myself… Mid Atlantic.’

Although class is presented as a British obsession in the series, Hunter by no means rules out its existence in the States.

‘It’s kind of hard to answer that because I’m from the Deep South. My accent to people from the North would indicate that I’m country, slow and a bit dumb. So, maybe so – but there’s not the presumption of financial class. Just taste and sophistication, I would say.’

However, the comic clearly remembers when he first experienced an awkward class interaction in the UK.

‘I hadn’t been in the country very long. And I met this one dude, a white English guy. And we got on great from the start,’ he recalled.

‘And then the next weekend, I met this other white English guy, and we got on great from the start! So I thought if I introduce these two guy friends that I made, all three of us could be friends and that would be great.

‘But I introduced them and the hair start standing up on their necks and they started getting all spiky and poky with each other – and it was a class thing. One was working class and the other was upper-middle or middle class or something. They could sense that, it was like class gaydar! And I was just sitting there in the pub, looking goofy as they both left. “How would you be with someone like that?” I got berated!’

Throughout the shooting of his episode, Hunter also met with a few people who surprised him, revealing that he was unaware of the extent of stand-up colleague Alexei Sayle’s socialism, who he interviews for the programme.

‘I really did not know that Alexei Sayle was an ardent socialist. I knew he was a socialist, but not ardently. And the gentleman I spoke to who is an expert on British etiquette. I went in with a sort of a snooty attitude and he turned out to be remarkable fun! I came in and I was expecting him to be a bit shishi poopoo, and if he had any shishi poopooness his was a bit muscular and fun.’

Although he thoroughly enjoyed the lesson, the host admits he hasn’t really pulled out any new etiquette since then.

During his episode, Hunter speaks with Alexei Sayle about the construct and constrictions of class (Picture: Getty)

Suggs is a fellow presenter on the series, alongside Lorraine Kelly, Harry Hill and others (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m not a big-time tea drinker and certainly not in the afternoon. And I haven’t really been with the type of person that would appreciate that the way he did it. I might need to get some better friends!’

Madness lead singer Suggs, who is exploring pubs for his episode, also surprised him.

‘I was just blown away by his professionalism. I mean, from the moment he walked into the room, he was just on. And it’s like, “Yeah, remember to stay on,”’ Hunter admitted.

Talk turns to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with the Royal Family dominating the news agenda in the period of national mourning that included her state funeral.

What was that like to experience as someone who wasn’t born with a monarch and came over to the UK as an adult?

Hunter reflected on observing how we reacted to the Qeen’s death as a nation (Picture: Getty)

King Charles III (L) proclaimed 18 days of national mourning following his mother, Queen Eizabeth II’S (R) death (Picture: Jane Barlow/POOL/AFP)

Intense, apparently.

‘I quickly realised that I should just be quiet and observe, because I’ve seen my friends get weird – I’ve seen them get weird with each other, depending on how they felt about the monarchy. It’s been really intense at times.

‘The day after the Queen’s death was announced I was on Twitter, and I tweeted something like, “Well, I guess British journalism will have the next 10 days off.” And this guy comes back and he’s like, “You need to be respectful, you’re a guest in this country.” And I said, “Hey buddy, if what I said hurt you, you need to stay the f**k away from Irish Twitter!”’

He’s seen disagreements first-hand between friends due to class and the monarchy (Picture: Sky History)

Discussing the sensitivity of some around the Queen’s death, he added: ‘I think those people… I have a friend who reacted like that, and she’s normally cool. I think it’s people’s reaction to change, because she’s the end of an era. They grew up with her always in the background, and so with that being gone, some people really grieve change, even if it doesn’t impact them directly.’

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His episode touches on the royals as it covers the history of class, but Hunter doesn’t see them as related necessarily and responded carefully.

‘I think the best thing to say about it is the impact of the Queen’s death, whether you are for the monarchy or against it, seems to transcend class.’

Britain’s Greatest Obsessions continues on Monday October 10 at 10pm on Sky HISTORY.

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