Paul: Hitchcock's my kindred spirit

26 February 2009 02:58pm

Comedian Paul Merton has said he strongly identifies with the ultimate scary director, Alfred Hitchcock.

The Have I Got News For You star has revealed that he became obsessed with the Psycho director when he was a child.

He told The Times: "Alfred Hitchcock first grabbed me by the lapels when I was eight - and he hasn't let go since. I have been entranced by the great director since the moment I first saw his film The 39 Steps one Saturday morning."

Paul Merton is so captivated by Hitchcock he has made a documentary about him - Paul Merton Looks At Alfred Hitchcock - on BBC Four on February 28. He said: "Why did I identify with Hitchcock from such a young age? I think we have a shared sensibility. When I was making the documentary, his official biographer said that he thought Hitch and I would have got on - both Londoners, both somewhat apart from the mainstream, both with a love of music hall and sharing a surreal sense of humour."

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