Seven Questions With… John Robertson

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John Robertson

© Mark Dawson

Australian comedian and writer John Robertson also has an interesting background as the creator of live-action video game, The Dark Room, where audiences are in control of the show’s outcome. Most of his time, however, is spent performing his peculiar brand of energetic, bordering on sadistic, stand up comedy. Robertson has recently announced new dates for The Dark Room as well as new international stand up dates.
To learn more about this unusual performer, I asked John these seven questions…

1) What was the inspiration behind The Dark Room?

Well, when I was 10, some pals and I found a computer in the storage area behind our classroom. There was a broken old text adventure on it – a game so horribly made that, whatever you did, it just killed you. It was the first time I’d ever seen a machine be nakedly hostile – and it stayed with me!

Also, given how much that sounds like the start of a young adult horror novel, the machine was cursed and now all my friends are dead.

2) Who is your favourite artist of any kind?

I’ve got an incredible love for folk singer Loudon Wainwright III, whose finest songs are war reports from a scarred family life, except for the really good one that’s just about swimming.

3) Who means the most to you?

The following cluster of outstanding people: Mum, Jo, Jude, Wendy + Anthony, Mel, Tom, Nan Carol + David, all of whom will be pleased to be on this list and very surprised I didn’t just answer with, “Me”.

4) What are you currently looking forward to?

Lunch!

5) Do you find humour in inappropriate situations?

I find everything in inappropriate situations.

6) What is holding humanity back?

Lazy thinking, folks who are more interested in a fight than a solution, cocksuckers with bombs, anybody who uses religion to harm anyone else, state systems that reduce individuals to statistics, the Internet’s ability to allow angry shut-ins to gather and rub one another in their sticky opinons, a deliberate lack of education and the idea that millionaires know something because they’ve got a lot of money. They knew how to get that money, that doesn’t mean they know a damn thing about you.

And all sport.

7) What impression would you like your audience to have of you?

That I’m having a great time – and they can come along, too. Bring earplugs.

PURCHASE TICKETS TO SEE JOHN ROBERTSON AND FOR HIS LIVE-ACTION VIDEO GAME, THE DARK ROOM

Book Review: A Book For Her by Bridget Christie

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Did you know that within the past five years BIC have launched a pen specifically designed for women? Available in a series of pretty pastel shades and shaped in such a way that ladies should find such an implement easier to hold? If that makes you feel even the tiniest bit outraged, or even just confused, Bridget Christie is here to multiply that by a thousand and use it as a tool to discuss important feminist issues that affect far too many of us everyday.

Christie’s stand up translates very easily to prose. Anyone who has seen the force that is Bridget Christie live will undoubtedly hear that distinct Gloucestershire accent as she gleefully regales anecdotes about her past experiences as a comedian and human woman. In employing her trademark, and entirely necessary, comedic hyperbole Christie is able to communicate the feelings countless people have towards serious social issues such as FGM, arranged marriage and domestic abuse, whilst remaining silly, sarcastic and entertaining to read as well as watch perform. Although the author may be quick to undermine her own hard work in sarcastically explaining that her book is comedic, not a revolutionary piece of feminist literature, I am inclined to disagree to a certain extent. A Book For Her certainly raises points of argument that have not been articulated before, or not within the comedy genre at least.

© Idil Sukan

© Idil Sukan

Bridget points out that many of those criticising feminism have made a mistake in assuming that this is an issue for women to solve rather than men. The heart of the matter is that feminism is needed because of the way men, regardless of how many men we are talking about here, have behaved and do still behave. However, an important issue that needs to be recognised by women in particular is that sexist attitudes and behaviours do often come from women and are directed towards women. A Book For Her is concerned with feminism that is accessible; we don’t have time for a hierarchy. Christie recognises that solving the issue therefore needs to start closer to home, stating: “In the words of Wollstonecraft, “In order for equality to take place, society must change its thinking.” Half of that society is us.”

“Not all men are oppressors and not all women are saviours. Society is made up of individuals. Some of us are shit and think shit things, and some of us are all right.”

All manner of topics are covered in this book, with autobiographical elements including joyful recounts of the Gloucestershire cheese roll and memories of being the youngest child of nine, born to strictly Catholic parents. Christie also details previous stand up shows she has taken to the Edinburgh Festival, beginning with her entry into feminist comedy, the 2010 show A Ant, and later covering the shows that have brought her most critical acclaim, the 2013 show A Bic For Her and 2014’s An Ungrateful Woman. The rationale behind Christie’s creative decisions with previous shows is explained at great length, which makes A Book For Her all the more worth reading if you happen to be a cynic of her ability or comedic range.

Although Bridget Christie speaks fundamentally as a comedian, that is after all her job and she makes it abundantly clear that that is what she got paid to write a book for, the outer layers are eventually shed and readers get a remarkable insight into the workings of a great comedy mind within the realms of normal day activities. She may be unaware of it, but the way Christie writes so effortlessly encapsulates Caitlin Moran’s quote on the front cover: “Bridget is a cool glass of sane in a world of unbearable woo-hoo.” This book isn’t really just for women. It is primarily a book for fans of decent comedy. The laughs come more frequently than the punching social commentary, but there are enough of both to satisfy a wide range of readers.

“I’d like young women to feel empowered and liberated as a result of their own decisions, actions and achievements… If the woman’s power derives from something that doesn’t involve men in any way, then she has real power.”

PURCHASE YOUR COPY OF BRIDGET CHRISTIE’S ‘A BOOK FOR HER’ FROM HER WEBSITE

Seven Questions With… Stuart Goldsmith

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Stuart_Goldsmith_An_Hour_edfringe2015

© Andre Pattenden

Stand up comedian Stuart Goldsmith is also the brains behind every comedy nerd’s favourite podcast, The Comedian’s Comedian, a series of interviews where Stu gets to the heart of the creative processes and, invariably, the psychological issues of many a comic. The endlessly charismatic Goldsmith is rapidly cultivating a very interesting crowd of followers, with most audience members being as passionate about the craft of stand up as he is.
To find out more about Stu, I asked him these seven questions…

1) What is your best character trait?

My incredible world-class humility. But seriously folks…

I think I’m probably quite good with kids. That’s being tested recently with the birth of my new son; I was trying to be a fun uncle for the first week and ran myself into the ground over-delivering. I need to remember that he loves me anyway so I don’t need to throw a whirlwind of funny songs and kisses at him. Good advice for life generally…

2) How has your life changed in the past year?

Ha, I should have read through these first. Having a baby (and I know no-one without a baby cares about this) is the single most challenging thing I‘ve ever done. It’s impossible to explain to child-free people the extent to which it changes your life; it’s like suddenly becoming a religious fundamentalist overnight; you’ve got something incredible to live for but now you need to do all these insane rituals every 40mins and talk to something that isn’t listening.

3) What is the most challenging aspect of your podcasting work?

Ooh, nice question. It’s either: the fact that the job has an infinite brief, so I’m never finished; the fact that now watching comedy feels like “work I should have to do” rather than “a fun thing to relax with”; or it’s the amount of admin that has suddenly blossomed into my life. I want to answer every email and watch every video I’m sent, but I’ve also got to write a new show! But it’s enormously fulfilling and I arrogantly think it’s a legacy that will outlast however many DVDs I eventually sell. We’re changing lives here, people!

4) What makes you feel trapped?

Being buried alive in a coffin made of lolly sticks for a crime I didn’t commit.

5) Who would you be afraid to meet?

Gosh, everyone, I’m a terribly scared person. Lots of surface confidence and very little actual belief in myself. Probably an angry Scottish woman. For some reason they absolutely will not be charmed by me.

6) What was the last surprise you had?

My little bloke making a sort of pre-voice sound like “cah!” It was the absolute TITS.

7) What will make your first UK tour a success in your eyes?

If I walk away feeling like it’s the start of something. I had that feeling at Ed Fringe last year, and Brighton Festival later on. I’ve put a lot of work into my career and writing and performing and specifically this show, a lot of that part of the work was “working out what the work is”, coz comedy can be a rabbit hole made of sexy smoke. So the sensation that I’m starting to find and cultivate an audience is very satisfying. But – stay focused Goldsmith – my goal was to tour my own show, and actually getting to do the tour is a victory lap with which I’m rewarding myself for achieving that goal! So the shows themselves will be awesome whether there’s 100 people in the crowd or 2. DO YOU HEAR ME WOLVERHAMPTON?! I WILL NOT BE BEATEN!!

STUART GOLDSMITH IS CURRENTLY TOURING HIS LATEST SHOW ‘AN HOUR’ ACROSS THE UK

February: Comedian Of The Month #25, Joseph Morpurgo

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Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

It can often be found that the success of a stand up comic originates from an ability to manipulate language in order to convey incredibly specific meaning. This skill is particularly evident in the sketches of this month’s Comedian of the Month, Joseph Morpurgo. Morpurgo is articulate and expressive in his storytelling in such a way that characters are given a great sense of depth. Pair that with a knack for physical dramatism and extravagance and you get what could be deemed a multi-layered, new style of slapstick comedy.

While researching this intriguing performer, it was a delight to discover an improvisational comedy group named Austentatious, of which Morpurgo is a co-creator and member. This discovery led me to become more excited about a comedy group than I ever have before; if you search for their trailer online you will see why. In fact, a lot of Joseph Morpurgo’s professional credits come with an element of improvisation, with him working with other comedy groups as well as teaching improv all over the country.

Joseph Morpurgo

Joseph Morpurgo

Is it any surprise that Joseph Morpurgo leads this year’s group of Chortle nominees? Probably not. With nominations for Breakthrough Act, Best Show (for his 2015 Edinburgh show Soothing Sounds For Baby) and the Award For Innovation (also for Soothing Sounds For Baby), this name will soon be a very recognisable one. If my point needed proving at all, simply note the fact Morpurgo is nominated for an award for innovation in comedy. I think that speaks volumes, as it implies a great respect and genuine passion for the craft to an extent that new and exciting things are being created, and that is what keeps comedy alive.

Voting has now closed for this year’s Chortle awards with the award ceremony taking place on March 22nd and Austentatious are currently touring their Improvised Jane Austen Novel around the UK.

Click here for more information about Joseph Morpurgo and follow him on Twitter.

JANUARY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Ask The Expert: Bruce Dessau (Arts Critic)

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Bruce Dessau, the founder of the comedy website Beyond The Joke, is a very popular writer and arts critic. His career has seen him interview most, if not all, of the biggest names in comedy. His novel Beyond A Joke: Inside the Dark World of Stand-up Comedy, explores the hidden side of entertainment that is not necessarily widely known, and considers what it is about a comedian’s mentality that makes them want to take to the stage in seek of audience approval. Dessau has also written various biographies as well as writing a regular column for the Evening Standard
To learn more about Bruce’s work as a writer, I asked him a few questions…

1) Which aspects of your work make you the most proud?

I’m not sure if I would use the word “proud” about what I do, but I guess I’m reasonably proud of the fact that I’ve been going to the Edinburgh Fringe every year for two decades and I’m still relatively sane. It’s three weeks of madness but I’d recommend it to anyone. Comedy really does still excite me, it’s not something I think I’m ever going to grow out of. It amazes me when I meet people who say they have never been to a comedy gig. Yes, there are some. The fools.

I’m a little bit proud of beyondthejoke.co.uk. I was quite intimidated by the idea of setting up a website after years as a print journalist, but actually it has been pretty straightforward. Hard work at times, but not anyway near as scary or stressful as I expected.

2) Is there anyone that you regret never getting to interview?

I’ve been lucky enough to interview a few greats and heroes. Rik Mayall, Billy Connolly, Joan Rivers, Daniel Kitson. I’m not sure if I like interviewing comedians that much because they are rarely as entertaining one-to-one as they are onstage. Maybe they go onstage to avoid talking one-to-one. And they are often unable or unprepared to talk about the mechanics of their work.

I interviewed Bill Hicks when he was at his peak. My big regret is that I recorded over the tape* shortly afterwards.

beyondthejoke

Beyond The Joke

3) What advice would you give to people who run their own websites?

Don’t pay anyone to advise you on search engine optimisation. Use spellcheck. Make sure you post new original content every day, even weekends… hang on, I’m not giving my rivals any tips.

Save all your correspondence. I’ve thrown away personal hand-written pre-fame letters from Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand among others. And don’t record over/wipe interviews.

4) What is the greatest thing to come out of your work so far?

That’s an almost impossible question to answer. I’m a journalist. I’m not saving lives, striving for world peace or even attempting to make people laugh. I’m just lucky enough to have the opportunity to write about something that I really enjoy. I think John Robins might have tweaked a line in his show after he read my review a few years ago.

5) Are you currently working on any writing projects?

I’ve written a number of books about comedy, on Reeves & Mortimer, Billy Connolly, Rowan Atkinson and Red Dwarf and a few others, but I’m never completely satisfied with them. When I look over them I see some things I’m glad I wrote but mostly I wish I could start all over again. Books are a very long haul – so different to the rapidfire reviews I write for beyondthejoke.co.uk or the Evening Standard. They are a different discipline and I’m not sure if I’ll do one again. I’ve written unofficial biogs, semi-official biogs and official biogs and none have worked out as expected.

So at the moment I’m really concentrating on writing for the Evening Standard and running beyondthejoke.co.uk.

*What journalists who couldn’t do shorthand used in the olden days.

READ BRUCE DESSAU’S EVENING STANDARD COLUMN AND VISIT ‘BEYOND THE JOKE’

ASK THE EXPERT…

Review: Bramall Comedy Night, Bethany Black, Bobby Mair & Zoe Lyons

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Comedy nights at the Bramall on the University of Birmingham campus seem to be getting busier each month, and this is in part surely a result of the increasingly diverse nature of its lineups. The compère for last week’s event was Manchester comic Bethany Black; a performer with a subtle, untroubled confidence on stage that speaks for itself, without any need for an exaggeration of character to make up for underlying insecurities often present in the stand up business. I’m unsure as to whether she would be surprised to hear that she gives this impression, but Bethany has an incredibly cool and calm manner. She successfully balances sinister elements of narrative with a down-to-earth tone and her style of audience interaction is reassuringly laid back.

Bobby Mair

Bobby Mair, a previous Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy, followed. Mair’s performance was surprisingly subdued, playing up to the persona of perhaps a vulnerable, oddly menacing child. Silences were more often utilised than shouting in this set, which is not an element of his performance I expected but gave his whole character a whole lot more substance and grit. With a host of near-one-liners, this comedian displayed a knack for making written material sound impulsive, whilst keeping an intriguing distance between his true self and the audience at all times throughout.

The final act of the evening was Zoe Lyons, a recognisable face from programmes including Mock The Week and Live At The Apollo. Her arrival at the Bramall was clearly well appreciated by those in attendance, with her accessible observations regarding the differences between cultures getting the biggest laughs. Lyons is very physically and vocally expressive in performance, indicating a lot about each person’s character and background through her depiction of their voice, and her impressions of various elements of British wildlife added an absurdist twist to her material.

BRAMALL COMEDY NIGHTS

Farewell BBC3

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The day that some of us never believed would come has finally arrived; it has sneaked up on us, leaving those who opposed the change, like myself, feeling powerless.

If you weren’t aware that BBC3 was set to move online, let me fill you in. It’s a little over two years ago now that the Director-General of the BBC announced that there were to be £100 million’s worth of cuts. This was followed a month later with the declaration that BBC3 was to leave our television screens to be replaced by an online-only service. The money saved from this format shift would be used to introduce a BBC1+1 service and extend the hours CBBC broadcasts for each evening. And now it has happened. Tuesday 16th February 2016 was the final day of television broadcasting for BBC3.

The Mighty Boosh © BBC

The Mighty Boosh © BBC

Although the move of BBC3 to an online platform is said to be a way of catering to an increasingly young audience, I continue having difficulty believing that. I am a young person and, believe it or not, I know quite a few other young people, and many of us share the same view. It will be harder to access the comedy we love and the comedy we are yet to discover if we have to access it online, regardless of what the media seem to be telling us. Tuesday night’s episode of The One Show may have told you in no uncertain terms that people simply prefer to watch television on their phones, tablets or computers these days, but is this really the case? The ignorant and blatant one-sidedness of this segment made me laugh (perhaps The One Show can replace the comedy I’ll be missing out on from this week onwards).

Is online content really easier to access than television? I have my doubts but I’m also beginning to think that maybe I am secretly afraid of a not-so-distant almost-Orwellian society where our lives are dictated by the internet. Yes, I’m burying my head in the sand. The fact is, it’s already happening. What I am wholly justified in objecting to, however, has got to be fact that the biggest source of comedy was first to go. What a disrespect to this aspect of the entertainment industry, to the countless creatives who dedicate their lives to producing innovative content.

But, complain all we like, the truth is at its most painfully clear today; BBC3’s fate is sealed. It seems that the only thing left to do is ensure that we do not let the channel die, through doing what we can to use the new online service provided by the BBC and spreading the word about new comedy projects as and when they come. I’d like to commend the work of Jono Read and all those who worked on the Save BBC3 campaign. It was a valiant effort to change a decision that was clearly set in stone a long time ago. I am interested to see the coverage of comedy on a new platform as the time has come to embrace the decision and continue to support Britain’s finest creative minds.

WATCH BBC3 ONLINE FROM TODAY

Martin Pilgrim: Why I Quit Comedy

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Martin Pilgrim worked as a stand up comedian for six years before deciding to quit the profession in the summer of 2015. Although Pilgrim retired from his job as a stand up, this does not mean that he didn’t enjoy his fair share of success, with the comic performing his debut solo stand up hour Diary Farmer at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014.
So what is it that made him decide that the role of stand up comedian no longer suited him? To gain insight into the thought processes behind Pilgrim’s career change, I asked him a few questions…

1) What drew you to comedy in the first place?

I was in a lot of bands at school and I started to enjoy being on stage. I was never a very good musician but I always liked writing lyrics. I joined a ska band (the curiously named Damn Good Fondling), which allowed more scope for funny lyrics than the punk bands I’d been in before, where all the songs had to be about how much you hated George Bush even though you lived in rural Dorset. Strangely the drummer in the ska band was Jake Baker who is now a brilliant stand-up comedian in London.

I tried to carry on with music in my first year at university but I found myself suddenly surrounded by loads of amazingly talented musicians and I couldn’t keep up.  During the summer after my first year I started to think about other ways that I could get on stage with the minimum amount of hard work. I’d seen a great student comedian towards the end of that year and I was struck by how everyone wanted to talk to him and buy him drinks after his performance. He didn’t have to be funny off-stage because he’d already proved himself.

Martin Pilgrim

Martin Pilgrim

This seemed like a great system to me. I decided to try and emulate him so I wrote some truly terrible one-liners and I read them straight off my phone at an open mic night. All my friends came and it went surprisingly well, mostly because of the home crowd rather than the quality of the material. After that I started performing regularly around Exeter, where I was at university at the time. The city didn’t really have a comedy scene so I was a bit of a novelty at most of the places I performed. This gave me a false impression of how good I was which wore off pretty quickly when I started to perform outside of the city.

2) What was the catalyst for your decision to quit comedy?

I just stopped enjoying it really. I’ve got a fairly tiring day job and I was less and less willing to travel in the evenings. I realised that I’d begun to feel relieved when a gig got cancelled, which is not a good sign. I also realised that I didn’t have anything particularly new or interesting to say. As much as I enjoy listening to bearded young men moaning about being single, I didn’t feel like I had a fresh enough take on it to warrant my place on a bill, particularly at the expense of someone who might be trying to do something brave or different.

3) Were there any comedians that you felt you couldn’t compete with?

Most of them really. I’m a decent enough writer but I’m not a natural performer. I’ve got friends who are born comedians and I started to realise that I wasn’t talented in the same way as them. I could trick an audience into thinking I was comfortable on stage but I never really was.

4) Which element of your comedy career do you look back on most fondly?

The friends I’ve made along the way. I’ve met interesting artistic people in every corner of the country, and the great thing is I don’t need to be performing to maintain those friendships. I live with three people that I met through comedy and I actually go to more live comedy since I’ve quit. It’s great to enjoy stand-up from a civillian perspective without having to see the performer as a rival. I’m also proud that I managed to do an hour at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show wasn’t a massive success but just sticking it out for the whole month felt like quite an achievement.

5) Do you feel like you got what you wanted from comedy?

Pretty much, yeah. Obviously it would have been nice to progress a bit further than I did, but I got to do something I enjoyed for 6 years and then I was able to walk away when I stopped enjoying it. I’d like to move into comedy writing in the future and hopefully my time as a stand-up has equipped me for that. The idea that I can write something from the comfort of my room and then not have to go through the stress of performing it seems a bit too good to be true!

6) Do you see yourself returning to stand up in the future?

Probably not. A few things have happened to me since I quit which, in the past, I would have automatically turned into stand-up material, but now I’ve got a column in a local magazine and so I’m able to tell these stories that way instead. I’d only get back on stage if something absolutely life-changing happened to me and stand-up was the only way to talk about it. However, since I work in a Post Office and spend most of my free time watching Netflix, I think that’s unlikely at the moment.

MARTIN PILGRIM NOW WRITES A REGULAR COLUMN FOR BRISTOL 24/7

January: Comedian Of The Month #24, Gráinne Maguire

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grainne_new

Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

It is both refreshing and comforting to have a comedian who is politically active and outspoken but does not tell their audiences what to think or do. Irish stand up comedian and writer Gráinne Maguire is not an unfamiliar face on programmes like BBC Question Time, in fact, she appeared on the programme in January, discussing the need to lift the ban on same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

Maguire may be a comedian with a passion for political debate but she certainly doesn’t fit the mould of your stereotypical ‘political comedian’. Although there is an array of skilful comics producing bleak satirical programmes shows such as Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Gráinne approaches from a different perspective; a pleasingly constructive one. She is yet another coherent voice in the media attempting to make political issues accessible to a wider audience, who doesn’t feel the need to make ridiculous requests such as that her followers abstain from voting in general elections.

Gráinne has even ventured into the land of forbidden material for female comics; she has spoken publicly about her menstrual cycle. Heaven forbid! Back in November 2015, Maguire made headlines when she decided to tweet the details of her period to Ireland’s prime minister, Enda Kenny, as a means of criticising the criminalisation of abortion in Ireland. She reasoned that if the Government could dictate what a woman does with her own body, she was perfectly justified in providing a little more information as to what being a woman entails.

Gráinne Maguire is brave, bold and tongue-in-cheek. She maturely tackles large social and political issues with humour, proving that comedy is an extremely valuable art form in today’s politically turbulent world.

For more information, visit Gráinne Maguire’s website and follow her on Twitter.

DECEMBER COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Seven Questions With… Lloyd Langford

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lloyd langford

© Andy Hollingworth

Lloyd Langford is a Welsh stand up comedian and writer who has worked with some of the of the biggest names in the business, as well as being a fantastic talent in his own right. Langford is a regular presenter on The Rhod Gilbert Show on BBC Radio Wales and frequently appears as a panellist on shows including QI and the late Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Lloyd will be performing his latest show  at Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival in February.
To find out more about Lloyd, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Are you a fickle person? 

I don’t know. I do get passionate about things for an intense period, and then move on to a new obsession, but I still enjoy the original thing. I guess it’s a combination of curiosity and also something which seems like a very male trait, and that is collecting. So I’ll buy a bunch of golden age hip-hop albums, rinse them, and then a month later I’m scouring eBay for Hwang Jang Lee Kung Fu DVDs. I need more shelves. (If you don’t know Hwang Jang Lee, he’s known as the “king of the leg fighters”. He’s basically the best at kicking the shit out of people.)

2) What was the last exciting thing you did?

I went cycling in Bruges. I’d never been to Bruges before, I hadn’t been on a bike in years, and those Belgian beers are pretty strong. Triple excitement. I was giddy from the new environment, the ever-present possibility of death and a particularly fruity Lambic.

3) Where do you most enjoy performing?

I enjoy performing to intelligent audiences. I feel like I can take more risks and that ultimately ends up being more fun. I did some gigs in The Classic, in Auckland this year, they were a lot of fun. It was a new club for me, I was a new comic for them, and so I think we were both testing each other’s boundaries a bit. That sounds really wanky. Sorry.

4) How did you choose your degree?

I had very little idea about what I wanted to do. I choose Film with Television Studies at Warwick because film interested me, I wanted to live somewhere new, and I didn’t want to lock myself into something vocational like veterinary school and then realise two years into the course that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life shoving my finger into dogs. Not my professional life, anyway.

5) Who is your favourite comedian to support at gigs?

I’ve been lucky to support some good un’s. Tommy Tiernan, Greg Davies, Alan Carr. I just did a couple of dates in Amsterdam and Brussels with Jon Richardson and that was fun. I think Rhod Gilbert is the big one though. I’ve spent more time with him on the road than anyone else.

6) Are you scared of any animals?

I once went to Marlborough Sounds with a girlfriend in New Zealand, which is incredibly beautiful. We essentially had a bay to ourselves. But one time, just before I dived off the jetty, I noticed a massive stingray, directly beneath where I would have landed. It kind of ruined the rest of my swimming. The placed was riddled with stingrays. I’m not a fan of the stingray. It’s essentially a camouflaged underwater doormat with a poison dart for an arse.

7) Are you afraid of growing old?

No. Young people are dickheads. I know, I was one. Depending on your age, I still am one.

PURCHASE TICKETS FOR LLOYD LANGFORD AT DAVE’S LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL HERE