Sharon Horgan Interview

An in-depth 2007 interview with writer and star Sharon Horgan, from The Observer.

Pulling stars Sharon Horgan as Donna, a bride-to-be who gets cold feet, cancels her wedding and moves in with two single girlfriends, Karen and Louise.

Do not be put off by the set-up, which evokes dark memories of the Denise Van Outen monstrosity Babes In the Wood, nor by the feeble title and its similarity to the lame Friends rip-off Coupling. Pulling is the sharpest, freshest and boldest comedy of the year, immaculately written and beautifully performed by a uniformly excellent cast.

Like many of the best comedies, Pulling is actually a study in desperation and despair. However the writers - Horgan and Dennis Kelly - clearly have deep affection for the characters they heap misery and misfortune upon.

Jilted fiance Karl's nervous breakdown was simultaneously one of the funniest and the saddest scenes I've ever seen, almost matched by alcoholic primary school teacher Louise's tear drenched reading of Hug to an audience of five-year-olds. "They cry all the time" was Louise's response at being automatically suspended.

Pulling avoids the stock comic characters that usually populate the sitcom single scene and finds its comedy in surprising and unexpected places. Most importantly, its portrayal of relationships and the dynamics within them, is uncomfortably recognisable. It is amazing what a shot of truth can achieve in a comedy.

Chortle Interview

Chortle interviewed Sharon Horgan in the lead-up to the first series.