A Jeeves & Wooster era interview with Hugh and Stephen. I think I've seen it before, but I didn't remember all of it. ETA: There's something a bit poignant about both of them saying that they don't get depressed like the stereotypical comics do.

ETA: There's something a bit poignant about both of them saying that they don't get depressed like the stereotypical comics do. It's odd how they each responded to that question about depression. I don't think they were being completely candid with their answers, or perhaps just not honest with themselves. Stephen at first says he doesn't get depressed but then a moment later admits that every six months or so he gets into a 'black mood' which 'you can't shake off, and which is irrational'. Hugh tosses off an answer about only getting 'depressed enough to make me sound interesting'. Then they both agree that their lives, or at least their careers, are going so well that 'where would we get off being depressed?'. Yeah, I think maybe poignant is the right word.

Yeah, I think they both felt (and likely feel to some extent) that they were so successful, at least in terms of their own expectations, that they had no right to be complaining about being depressed. I think they sometimes, as we all do, say they are ok when they are not to prevent further questioning. And also, I think they don't want to be complainers, wankers, or such, so they insist, maybe to themselves as well, that all is well, so maybe at this point they were both still in some stage of denial. Though maybe they were a bit aware of those feelings in each other...

I think that interview being so early in the morning doesn't help. I think Stephen talks 90% of the time (shock) :D .

Wikipedia tells us: "he first concluded he had a problem while driving in a charity demolition derby in 1996"

Tlhat interview led me to this one which I'd also never seen before. He was promoting The Gun Seller. Cute story about Rebecca's obsession with Cruella DeVille. (The video quality's not the best): Hugh chat

With regard to the TVAM interview, I don't necessarily think that they were in denial, per se. Stephen talks about in his Secret Life of the Manic Depressive documentary that what his problem is, is that he assumes that what he feels is normal, that everyone has occasional thoughts of suicide, and everyone gets these "black periods," as it were. It may still be denial about being depressed, but it's not in the vein of "Oh, I'm not depressed," but instead, "Oh, I thought everyone was depressed." Now, in the This Morning interview, Hugh's "Thank you" at the very beginning was absolutely adorable. It's also sweet that he talks about Rebecca, normally the interviews are all about the boys (save for the Craig Ferguson interview a couple months back).

I always thought Hugh's demeanor in that TV-AM interview was down to the early hour. He looks sleepy to me.

I think that interview being so early in the morning doesn't help. I think Stephen talks 90% of the time (shock) Stephen always talked 90% of the time. In interviews with both of them Hugh always sat there quiet and relaxed and perhaps contributed an anecdote or two and SF would carry most of the conversation. I remember one interview in which Stephen jokingly complained about that, saying that once they were off the air Hugh would be the one 'gassing away' while he would become the quiet one.