Matt King embraces his dual identity as Super Hans
Matt King, known for his portrayal of the eccentric Super Hans in Channel 4’s cult sitcom Peep Show, continues to grapple with the impact of his iconic role more than a decade after the show’s conclusion. Fans often conflate King with his on-screen character, profoundly influencing both his career and personal identity, reports BritPanorama.
“Everyone knows David [Mitchell] is David and Robert [Webb] is Robert but I am Super Hans,” he reflects. This phenomenon has persisted since the series aired its final episode in 2015, with many recognizing him in public solely as Super Hans, a reality that both amuses and perplexes him. “It’s really weird. And it continues to this day,” King shares.
King has harnessed this association creatively, performing live shows and DJ sets in character, and recently releasing a novel titled Moreish. While it may appear comedic on the surface, he describes it as a profound exploration of Super Hans’s life choices, including his descent into drug use. “I wanted readers to hear Super Hans’ inner monologue for the first time. I wanted to give him a life,” he explains, having secured permission from Peep Show creators Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain to use the character in his writing.
The narrative follows Super Hans a year after the series finale, focusing on his troubled past and chaotic present as he navigates a failed moped-rental business in Macedonia and embarks on a surreal road trip through Europe. The book’s opening was influenced by a life-altering experience King faced while writing: he suffered a rare spinal cord stroke that left him paralysed for 36 hours. “When you’re in hospital for two weeks, you do a lot of thinking about life and death,” he recalls, emphasizing how this experience shaped the text.
Despite his struggles with short-term memory following the stroke, King maintains a keen sense of humour and intellectual lucidity. “I had to write the rest of the book with a misfiring brain, typing incredibly slowly,” he notes, suggesting that these constraints led to a more authentic and bizarre depiction of Super Hans.
Drawing upon his background, King reflects on the complexities of his childhood. Growing up in Hertfordshire with adoptive parents, he describes a “very confusing childhood.” His experiences are echoed in his creative works, including his family sitcom Starlings, co-written with Steve Edge, which explores familial love in the absence of ideal relationships.
King’s artistic journey began with a yearning to be in a band, though his lack of musical talent redirected his ambitions. After training as a chef in Australia, he switched to stand-up comedy and was eventually cast in Peep Show after impressing during auditions. He recalls the serendipity of his casting: “I decided to just say the words in a flat tone… During the 90s I’d been quite a raver, and all that that entails, so I knew what that felt like.”
Following the series, King has pursued various roles in film and television, including notable performances in Paddington and Skins. He acknowledges how his experiences shaped him as an actor, particularly recalling a formative encounter with a young Tom Hardy during the production of Bronson.
As King shifts his focus towards writing, he expresses a desire to continue exploring his creative voice. “I’d be happy if I wrote until I was 90 and never acted again,” he remarks, revealing plans for a memoir that diverges from the Super Hans narrative. He reflects on the duality of life’s experiences, acknowledging both the joyous and painful moments that define his journey.
“It’s a series of brilliant things and a series of f**king horrible things. That’s life,” King concludes, embodying a realist perspective that resonates with his approach to both his character and his own life. ‘Moreish’ is out now. The audiobook is released on 29 October.
