Paul Williams on making New Zealand Spy whereas grieving his dad’s demise

Two days earlier than his dream got here to life, Williams misplaced certainly one of his greatest cheerleaders.

Williams has wished to play James Bond since he was 16 and posted about it on Tumblr, though he reckons The Crown’s Josh O’Connor appears to be like cool strolling round in a swimsuit, so he may take over the position in a pinch.

His love isn’t for Bond’s slick pick-up traces, lovely ladies or attractive heroics. Nah, Williams likes the day-to-day admin of being a spy.

“My favourite scenes aren’t always the action and fighting and chases. It’s the little bits, where he’s checking into a hotel,” he says. “And I love trains.”

It sounds just like the type of dry, throwaway one-liner Williams would possibly say throughout his stand-up exhibits or as Jeremy Wells’ offsider on Taskmaster NZ. And earlier than we discuss his new TV comedy, New Zealand Spy, there have been recommendations that Williams can typically preserve that persona in interviews. Not right this moment. Today, he’s painfully trustworthy.

Writing the present was tough. Post-production has been onerous, too. Last night time, he was engaged on the rating in the midst of the night time, with simply his child son to maintain him firm.

Williams, 33, says these had been the moments – originally and finish of creating his first TV comedy – that made him suppose, “well, [I’m] definitely never doing this again”.

“But then during the filming, it’s like, yes! Hope to do more of this.”

Filming concerned a few of the funniest folks within the Commonwealth decamping to New Zealand in late 2025 to be a part of a laugh-filled summer time camp, enjoying dress-ups in classic costumes and pretending to avoid wasting the world one joke at a time.

On display, Williams is joined by The Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas, his brother Guy Williams (for one good scene) and two of his finest pals – Rose Matafeo and Australian comedian Sam Campbell – for a complete lot extra. And that’s simply the tip of the comedian-casting iceberg.

Aussie Andy Lee (of Hamish and Andy fame) mentioned sure earlier than the present even had funding, and nationwide treasure Bret McKenzie replied to the job supply with a superbly understated, “yeah, keen”. That one blew Williams’ thoughts.

“Bret is one of the main reasons I probably do comedy. Flight of the Conchords was so big for me,” he says, earlier than explaining how he and his brother “semi-stalked” McKenzie as teenagers.

He instructed McKenzie this on the finish of their first day of filming and instantly regretted it. McKenzie, nevertheless, calls it “very flattering”.

“Paul is obviously a very talented writer, as well as a brilliant comedian, and comic actor.

“There’s no doubt he could work anywhere in the world, and we’re lucky to have him in Aotearoa,” McKenzie says. He discovered watching the youthful comedians “inspiring”.

All the whereas, Williams was mourning his dad.

“It was a weird thing where [I was working with Bret], my absolute hero. It’s a dream come true that he’s doing this show. But at the same time, you’re kind of like, the saddest you’ve ever been.”

Other folks on set misplaced family members across the similar time. Williams puzzled if the manufacturing was cursed.

Except being on set was the easiest place he could possibly be on the very worst time. He was enjoying make-believe together with his finest pals. And in between takes, he was in a position to be a person grieving the lack of his dad, surrounded by those self same finest pals. Making New Zealand Spy turned a welcome distraction.

“On set, I would be able to just focus on what we were doing. And then I’d go to the bathroom, and you’d be alone for a second and, yeah …” Williams says by way of contemporary tears.

“I’d drive to the set, basically crying. And then [filming] was so fun. And then I’d drive home crying again.”

Gary Williams’ demise made headlines. Paul, Guy and their sister Maria are all comedians and have used him because the inspiration – and punchline – for jokes through the years. Fans felt like they knew the person who raised them.

But the timing of his demise appears virtually unattainable while you watch New Zealand Spy. It’s a present so filled with silliness and pleasure; a present that delivers all of that, though it got here to life beneath the darkest of shadows.

When Williams talks concerning the comedy collection, he doesn’t point out that shadow, a minimum of not till he’s requested straight about Gary.

He doesn’t really feel the unhappiness linger when he watches what they made throughout that point. He remembers filming as “everyone just kind of making my dreams come true”.

But when he does discuss Gary, the loss hovers just under the floor. And typically properly above it.

Williams has written on social media about his dad’s demise, however extra importantly, about his life. That being with him was the place he felt secure. How seeing Gary’s photograph in a cricket almanac one time made him seem to be Michael Jordan in his eyes. He wrote concerning the issues he is aware of he’s inherited from his dad (“His love of sports, his love of never throwing anything away and his love of saying ‘okay, okay’ when someone tries saying something sincere”), and the numerous extra he wished to study from him.

Losing a dad or mum hits you in a selected manner, and in one other manner once more while you welcome your individual kids with out them right here.

“My baby actually reminds me of him. A lot. Because my dad looked like a baby, is what I’m saying. They had similar amounts of hair,” Williams says of his son, August, who was born earlier this 12 months.

“[Gary] was excited to be a granddad.”

Williams reckons his dad would have been excited for New Zealand Spy, too. He was excited for every little thing his youngsters did.

Like watching Guy and Maria’s TV documentary about their joint ADHD analysis time and again. (Williams hasn’t seen it, however he thinks his brother requested him to be a part of it. “Maybe it’s a sign that I am severely ADHD – I don’t know if I responded. The fact I’m the only one who hasn’t been tested probably speaks volumes.”)

Or when Williams was in highschool, making songs and sharing them on YouTube.

“Obviously I was shameless enough to put them online, but I was always maybe semi-embarrassed. I hate the sound of my own voice so I hate hearing them back.”

Tough luck I assume, as a result of virtually each night time he would hear Gary enjoying them of their Nelson house – quantity up, no headphones, only a look of delight plastered throughout his face.

“I think he would have really liked [New Zealand Spy], to an annoying level … I’m sure he would have probably watched this to death, which would have been good for ratings.”

The collection is a masterclass in enjoyable. In it, Williams, Matafeo and Thomas are the one three candidates to a newspaper advert on the lookout for new spies. Their boss, McKenzie, sends them on a mission that uncovers a plot by some naughty Aussies who wish to destroy New Zealand in essentially the most dastardly manner doable – through our farms.

Set someplace between the Sixties and 70s, it’s teaming with dry (very Flight of the Conchords-esque) jokes, sight-gags, bodily comedy and characters which are each endearing and simply actually, actually dangerous at their jobs. It seems like a present created in one other time but additionally like nothing else on telly proper now. Familiar however contemporary. Austin Powers however humorous.

The thought got here throughout lockdown, when Williams, Campbell and a bunch of different creatives would write a bit of labor on a dictated theme each week. New Zealand Spy and Williams’ character Michael Riviera (actually, what a reputation) got here from a immediate to put in writing a few heatwave. In the present, there’s a number of snow.

His spouse, actor and author Simone Nathan, knew it was one thing extra the second she learn it. Williams says they share comedian sensibilities.

He wrote the script whereas he and Nathan had been dwelling in London, biking to the British Library day by day, solely taking breaks to purchase samosas close by. He made closing script tweaks whereas performing on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival final 12 months, tapping away late into the night time after coming off stage. He filmed it whereas mourning his dad. And he’s ending the final of the music at nighttime whereas on child responsibility.

Unfortunately, the youngest member of the family hasn’t fairly found out what a great punchline is but. He’s not the right viewers member. But give him time – likelihood is, it’s in his genes.

“Occasionally he’ll do something that’s … well, it’s hard to know if it’s a laugh or he’s in pain from gas or something,” Williams says. “But I’ll take all the laughs I can.”

New Zealand Spy begins on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ on April 29. Paul Williams will carry out his present Don’t Look At Me on the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in May. Visit comedyfestival.co.nz for particulars

Bridget Jones joined the New Zealand Herald in 2025. She has been a life-style and leisure journalist and editor for greater than 15 years.