Why and how did you get into comedy?
I was always funny with friends and colleagues cause it’s how I got attention and love. Also zero education and zero prospects of decent employment.
What comedy most inspires you?
Oddball, unique, surreal, absurd. I already make truth observations all day long with my family. So if it’s on a show I find it bland. I already live life. It’s funny. So I like to be surprised, impressed, treated like I’m smart AND stupid. The world's mad as well. So absurd comedy is a sense making tool.
Which comedian most inspires you?
Still old Monty Python from when I was a kid. Nowadays the live circuit is full of inspiring nonsense and weirdos. Steve Martin in the 70’s. Anchorman. Phil Nichol offstage is funnier than most onstage.
Which comedian scares the shit out of you because you know you'll never be that good?
Me. I scare myself that I’ll never have the courage to be the best I could be for fear of failure. Ha ha. Arrogant. But I fear the best me. Lols. Tough to follow A lot of people depending on circumstances. If they favour you then same thing for them. Lots of variables.
Why and how did you get into comedy?
I was always funny with friends and colleagues cause it’s how I got attention and love. Also zero education and zero prospects of decent employment.
What drives you to do what you do?
I can genuinely say that it gives me my purpose for living if I can make people laugh in a way I believe to be as unique to me as it’s possible to be. If I can make you laugh just by “being” funny with a sound or a facial expression then that’s nirvana. But then I like being alone the rest of the time. Lols.
Describe your perfect Tuesday.
Picking up the kids after school, going to British museum. Needing out and joking our way around it. Then home for boneless chicken roti with extra pepper sauce. Then a local comedy gig in a hip room full of nerds. Love laughers.
Describe your worst experience on a coach.
First 10 years of comedy for me was an endless worst experience on coaches. Always one eye open. Always felt stabby and you can’t read.
Best sofa you've ever slept on?
Darryl Martin's. AND my current one when the cats and dogs sleep on me.
Best piece of advice a comedian ever gave you?
Do what you think is funny. Don’t follow bullshit comedy rules. Do solo shows. Don’t listen to advice.
Worst piece of advice a critic ever gave you?
Never read negative critiques from anyone younger than me (Increasingly that’s more than not) or people who are not themselves funny. How could they know a thing about comedy if they can’t make a teenager with cancer laugh Comedy is my entire being. Who I am. No one gets to decide about my soul. So their advice is pointless and ALWAYS specific to themselves. Like me deciding who is the best novelist. I can say what I like. But that’s it. Having said all that a good review really really gets it. Lols.
Tell us a joke.
Don’t know any, you know that. 668, Neighbour of the beast. Books are only good if the acting in your head isn’t shit. Told you.
What's the furthest you've travelled for the least amount of money/open spot?
Plymouth from London. Twice 2001
Who were you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh/Mach this year?
Not at all. I still like surprises. Usually whoever has buzz going into Edinburgh is a red herring. I like when an unlikely comedian surprises me. Comedy for me is being an outsider questioning the orthodox via different types of comedy So Edinburgh can be very samey if you follow the so called buzz. Now. A 75 year old woman Who used to work at the daily mail but now is a surrealist clown. That show.
On a scale of 1-10, how hungry are you right now?
4. I eat all the way down to 2. It’s like I’ve given up.
How has lockdown been for you?
Terrible financially. But wonderful too. It suits my anti social grumpy disposition. I’ve hardly had to plaster on the Tony Law character at all. I miss gigs of course. But I love my twitch stream so so much. But like everyone I’m doing any job I can get and I’m not qualified to do anything. It’s sucked overall.
Have you been more or less productive?
Less. When you are scrambling around trying to not let your family become homeless, that tends to muddy the creativity Pond. Your motivation is compromised. BUT you get your day to day funny back though because you fricking need it when things go shithouse.
Anything else you'd like to say?
PLEASE come to my socially distanced shows. Watch my twitter Facebook insta for dates or check my website. Their isn’t many of them but the ones that happen are going to be amazing. For me. For you too. Chester and Leeds in October. And Lancaster in November to name but 3
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