Comedy

Seven Questions With… Fern Brady

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Fern BradyHaving appeared on 8 out of 10 Cats and The Alternative Comedy Experience, and getting to the final of So You Think You’re Funny in 2011, Fern Brady has proven herself to be not only an able performer, but an exciting and versatile one too. Her material is homely, honest and personal, with occasional distasteful elements that delight the devil in all of us, and she will be bringing her latest stand up show People Are Idiots to the Edinburgh festival in August.
To learn more about Fern, I asked her these seven questions…

1) What is the oldest trick in the book?

Telling guys “Of course I’ve had a recent AIDS test!” then looking indignant and adding quietly “Besides… it’s not like I normally do this.” Works every time. Did you mean a comedy trick?

2) Are you particularly interested in politics?

I thought I was really into it but my boyfriend works in politics and listening to him read out all the different electoral seats in Scotland last night in a robotic monotone made me realise we all have different interpretations of the phrase ‘interested in politics’.

3) What quality do you most look for in others?

In friends: to have none of my unappealing traits. In lovers: openness to new experiences (e.g. threeways). In audiences: servile devotion.

4) Is there a noticeable difference between gigging in Scotland and England?

Nope, except when I die at gigs in England I try to persuade myself it’s cause they’re having trouble understanding my accent, which is a pretty big lie to sell given the hundreds of gigs I’ve done all over England where everyone totally knew what I was saying. I’d say the biggest difference is gigs in the north and south of England, I find I end up doing different types of material depending on where I am. 

5) Are you good at maths?

Not at all, I got kicked out of Standard Grade maths at school a lot, I was really wilfully bad at it cause I remember being in the top class then getting booted into the General level one, then eventually Foundation maths with the proper plebs. None of the maths teachers at my school were a great advert for maths though, they were all semi-literate nerds from Coatbridge and I gave up on them completely when they spelled my punishment exercises wrong.

I smugly told the head of maths I’d never need maths but at the time I think I thought I’d be a famous novelist and not the undignified clown I ended up being.

6) What is your favourite television comedy of 2015 so far?

Hmm. Well. There are so many great comedy shows but I’d have to say the thing that stands out is my BBC Comedy Feed Radges, which is about when I was in a pupil referral unit for mental teens. That hasn’t been released yet but PLEASE WATCH IT SO I CONTINUE TO GET WORK.

I generally prefer stuff on Netflix and Amazon Prime so my favourite recent shows are Transparent, Orange is the New Black and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I know the first two aren’t sitcoms but I find comedy drama way funnier than a lot of sitcoms.

7) What is your proudest achievement?

Getting off with two women from the audience of one of my gigs. I’m basically the Hugh Hefner of the UK comedy circuit.

FERN BRADY WILL BE PERFORMING HER STAND UP SHOW, PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL (THE STAND) ON THE 6TH-30TH AUGUST

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The 2015 Election

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Everybody in Britain is well aware that there is a general election this week. At a time like this, it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid hearing and talking about politics. Yes, it’s depressing (well it is for me anyway, only accentuated by the fact I narrowly miss out on the chance to vote as I’m not eighteen until later in the year). But when something as important and inevitably dull as an election comes around, at least we are given something to help us make sense of it all, to vent our frustrations and to bring humour back into our daily lives. When times get tough, comedy takes a more prominent role in society. In 2015, we are experiencing a period rife with satirical comedy.

Newzoids has frequently been compared to Spitting Image, which seems fair as satirical puppetry isn’t something you see everyday (though many, no doubt, may wish it was). Spitting Image may just have been one of the most important comedy shows ever created, as it allowed the power to be placed back into the hands of those creating the programme; straight back into the hands of the public. But the last episode of Spitting Image aired in 1996 and there certainly is a gap that has never quite been filled.

Newzoids

Newzoids

For all its similarities, I can’t help but feel that Newzoids is not the programme to fill the gap that Spitting Image left. There were elements that I really enjoyed, particularly the darker political material such as the UKIP song but there were frequent, and somewhat predictable, pop culture references. Plus, the puppets were nowhere near ugly enough. But that’s not to say that this new show doesn’t have promise or that I didn’t laugh out loud in places. The voices behind the characters should be familiar to us by now (Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson are responsible for a large proportion of them), and they are brilliant, as can be expected of such a talented cast.

In order to be topical, each episode of Newzoids is created days, and often mere hours, before broadcast (just like Spitting Image did back in the 80’s and 90’s). In this sense, there is an excitement factor as here we have a comedy that is able to cover immediately topical material, but, for once, it isn’t a panel show. There is undoubtedly an extensive amount of work that goes into the making of such a programme, and I appreciate that, but for my tastes, I would like to see a much darker satire (though this has been able to build over time as the format has been cemented). Perhaps what I really need is to go back and watch some more of Spitting Image.

Ballot Monkeys

Ballot Monkeys

Ballot Monkeys takes an interesting perspective on the election as it follows various parliamentary candidates during the last weeks of their campaigns. With all scenes taking part inside the party buses, there is little to observe other than the people themselves, so we are given a stripped back representation of each party and their candidates. The results are strikingly accurate, with frequent digs and frequent laughs. Like Newzoids, this programme is filmed as close to broadcast as possible, often on the same day, which enables the material to remain relevant and limits the possibility of stale caricaturing that could sneak in if writers become complacent.

The cast is saturated with talent, with Ben Miller playing a Lib Dem campaign co-ordinator, Hugh Dennis as the Tory Deputy Campaign Manager and Sarah Hadland as a UKIP office support manager. The characters are diverse, with major and minor roles within the party covered by the likes of Uncle‘s Daisy Haggard and Esther Smith and Theo Barklem-Biggs (Crims). Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin have skilfully incorporated criticisms of politicians and our society in general such as the fact nobody in the Conservative bus listens to the female members of the team when they have something important to say.

In my opinion, creating and appreciating political comedy is vital in today’s society, so the response to this year’s election truly delights me and I hope the humour outlasts the politicians.

April: Comedian Of The Month #15, Gina Yashere

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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.

As one of the latest guests on Stuart Goldsmith’s Comedian Comedian Podcast, Gina Yashere was brought to my attention earlier this month, and the way she conducted herself on the show, as well as the hilarious and often shocking anecdotes she told, made me interested in learning more about her comedy.

Gina’s stand up career began in England, but in recent years she has dominated the American comedy scene, with her admirably confident stage presence teamed with personal accounts of her observations and experiences. And her flourishing comedy career is not only a wonderful thing for her as an individual: comedy in general really needs people like her at this point in time. Our comedy is changing and it truly is an exciting thing to witness.

I did not intend to write a post about the fact that Gina is a woman. Female comedians are not uncommon (and certainly not overlooked on this website). The Comedian of the Month feature I run here on MoodyComedy does not care for gender politics in comedy. But the thing is, Yashere, the comic in question, is fearlessly and triumphantly tackling the male-dominated comedy industry in a way that gives me great confidence that the situation is changing, evolving and that comedy is becoming a more welcoming art form to reside in. I suppose it might seem patronising if I wasn’t writing this as a seventeen-year-old girl who regularly feels under-confident, overshadowed and unmotivated due to the way society views gender.

Gina Yashere is a fantastic performer. She is refreshingly confident, fierce and relentless, with material that references her Nigerian heritage, her family and her experiences of international travel. I really enjoy hearing about the cultures of others through the means of comedy; I find that the humour adds a personal touch that isn’t simply the relaying of information. It’s interesting to see a comedian with so much direction from the very start of her career, which is something that is perhaps not so noticeable in many other artists, who may approach comedy in a less orderly or methodical way. Gina has goals and is open about it. She knows what she needs to do to reach the next level and wastes no time in getting there.

Follow Gina on Twitter or visit her website for more information.

MARCH COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Seven Questions With… Ed Gamble

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Ed Gamble

Ed Gamble (half of stand up and podcasting double act Peacock & Gamble) is a comedian that is fast becoming a regular face on television, with appearances on Russell Howard’s Good News, Virtually Famous and Sweat the Small Stuff. He is a regular presenter on Fubar Radio as well as co-writing the critically acclaimed Peacock and Gamble Podcast. Ed will be performing his second solo show Lawman at Canon’s Gait (1.15pm) at this year’s Edinburgh festival.
To find out a little more, I asked Ed these seven questions…

1) Hands for feet or feet for hands?

Hands for feet, definitely. I’m not a zoologist but I’m pretty sure that’s what chimps have and they have a brilliant life what with all the hanging out up trees and laughing. Also, feet for hands would make eating rather unwieldy and there’s nothing more demeaning than trying to hammer a load of mash into your mouth using a size 11. Especially up a tree. I’ve confused myself now.

2) Did you have any awful jobs before your career in comedy?

Not really- I’ve been quite lucky. I did have a job for a bit where I would have to get up at 4.45 am and go to an office to listen to a lot of local radio and note down every time a company was mentioned. To this day I don’t know why. I never asked either. I make a perfect unquestioning drone worker.  

3) Describe your perfect day?

A lovely walk followed by a smashing breakfast and a very strong coffee. Fill time until lunch where I have a gigantic burger except it doesn’t make me feel ill or full. Then ice cream. Then I find £20 in my pocket and go and see a film which I am unexpectedly the star of. Fill time until dinner. Eat a giant steak for dinner. Then ice cream. Do a gig to people who all think I’m brilliant apart from one guy who everyone turns on. Eventually even he admits I am great. Then ice cream. Hit the hay at around 11pm. Get up at 11.30pm for ice cream. Back to bed for a strong 10 hours.

4) Who inspired you to become a comedian?

I went to see Steve Coogan live when I was 13 and left completely in awe. I probably thought about it ever since then. But honestly I don’t think I ever made the actual decision “I am going to be a comedian.” I just started doing it as a hobby and now I get paid for it. The lack of a true career plan will inevitably be my downfall but that’s the way I like it.

5) What is your favourite condiment?

I am a mustard guy but please don’t try and pin me down on which variety, as it differs day to day. Also I ain’t eating eggs without hot sauce (Franks Xtra Hot or Tabasco Chipotle if you must know).

6) Have you made plans for your funeral?

I don’t plan on dying until 2085 when I shall be cremated and have my ashes poured into the circuits of the robot assassin who took my life.

7) How important is satire to you?

Satire is hugely important, but not to me. Political comedy and satire is a necessary and integral part of the art form and as such I refuse to spoil it by trying to have a go at it.

ED GAMBLE WILL PERFORM HIS STAND UP SHOW, GAMBLETRON 5000, AT THE SOHO THEATRE FROM 7TH-9TH MAY

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TV Review: Inside No. 9, Series 2

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Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have produced another series of their critically acclaimed Inside No. 9, which was, for me, undoubtedly one of the best pieces of television to come out of 2014. And the ingenuity of the plot development and sharpness of the writing have certainly not been diluted.

I marvel at the innovation of Shearsmith and Pemberton who seem to be continuously crafting such carefully constructed and hilarious pieces of comedy. They understand the importance of character development, as well as appreciating the value of the underdog: characters that we may lazily write off as “boring” are explored in great detail and the effects are astonishing. The number of core characters in each episode is limited to enable the writers to get close to the action and get inside the heads of those involved. Plot twists are a key aspect of each episode, which we come to expect but are still somehow caught off guard on every occasion. Shearsmith and Pemberton know how to incorporate shock elements into their writing, despite viewers already expecting to be shocked, which is an unequivocally admirable craft. The resultant effect is that these creatives have yet again shown their uncanny ability to disturb audiences with multi-layered impacts and heavy undertones.

Sheridan Smith is a remarkable actress, and her role as the lead in The 12 Days of Christine made that starkly obvious to anyone that wasn’t already aware of her talent. This episode was a favourite amongst critics with its disjointed and truly gut-wrenching storyline; its powerful emotional impact was aided no doubt by Smith’s inspired performance. The characters in The 12 Days of Christine have depth and are incredibly well-developed for a stand-alone episode. I can’t help but wish we’d been given time to get to know them better, and maybe that’s what makes the story so compelling. My personal favourite, however, was Cold Comfort due to its definite sinister edge and uncomfortably bitter humour. I didn’t know it was possible to build such levels suspicion and mystery into thirty minutes of stand-alone television, but this episode cleverly established a powerful snapshot image of the goings on at a crisis helpline call centre with its subversive characters and ominous service users. But if unnerving comedy isn’t your thing, there might still be something for you, shown in the diverse cast, which includes the likes of Tim Key, Jack Whitehall and Claire Skinner.

Inside No. 9 is one of those pieces of television that demonstrates such undeniably skilled writing that it is near impossible to not be inspired to the point of envy. For me, Shearsmith and Pemberton have created a piece of televisual art that investigates the human condition and what it means to be a part of society. It helps shed a new light on eras we may have forgotten, or people who appear to be easily forgetful themselves, and I honestly believe it is one of the best things to be created for television this decade.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES TWO OF INSIDE NO. 9 ON BBC IPLAYER

Seven Questions With… Chris Coltrane

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Chris Coltrane is a stand up comedian who makes it his business to talk about activism and, in turn, makes a valiant attempt at inspiring his audiences to become more of an engaged and interested part of society. His material is often very political, which, unsurprisingly to some, I find incredibly important due to the relevance of politics in our lives and an apparent lack of it in comedy itself. But Chris can also be silly too, often bordering on surreal, which adds balance to the heavier, political material.
To find out more about Chris, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Are you a productive person?

Let me answer your question with another question: Yes? Here’s my typical day: I wake up at 6am. I then go immediately back to sleep, wake up at 10am, and read the newspaper. To save time I just read every fifth word. Apparently Prince Bodyguard is selling birth to her favourite crown this week. Got to be worth keeping an eye on that story.

After that I’ll put my “pen” in my “hand”, and do some “writing”. I’ll also occasionally email new romantic lyrics to Chromeo. One I thought of today was “Hey girl, you need a man that can respect you / A man to love and hug and kiss and sometimes sex you”. Chromeo usually pays £40 for a high-quality lyric like that. The afternoon is what I call my “special time”, and I’ll thank you not to ask anything more about that. And finally, in the evening I usually smash it at gigs like the Comedy Owl Sanctuary, the Comedy Burger, Tim Vine’s Comedy Sadness, The Alternative Frederick, The Comedy Surgery (where comedians perform comedy next to actual live medical surgery, despite the surgeons pleading with us to stop), and the unpopular Comedy Srjigwmf.

Chris-Coltrane-Photo

2) What would make Britain’s political system more effective?

I honestly think it’s time we gave dogs the vote. Haven’t they proven that they deserve it? They’ve been such good boys, yes they have, and they’re so cute and good aren’t they, yes they are, yes they are. Who’s a good boy? They are, yes they are. I had another idea that we could build “Democracy Pods” in each town, which members of the public can sit in for seven days, after which they’ll transform into a fully functional democracy. Like slugs do before they become butterflies or whatever. The pods would be large, and full of a special scientific slime to aid with the transformation process. I don’t think I need to explain to you the benefits that such pods would bring to British democracy.

3) Has being a comedian ever landed you in trouble?

No, although now you mention it, yes. I knew that all the swans belonged to the Queen – but no-one told me that it was treason to make jokes about swans on stage. Apparently it’s technically illegal to hurt a swan’s feelings. Bloody stupid law, if you ask me. Anyway, I went to prison for 50 years, and now I won’t rest until I’ve wreaked vengeance on the entire Windsor clan.

4) Which meal of the day is the best?

It’s a meal that I invented, called Prµñşt. It’s happens at 2am, when you’ve had your dinner, and you’ve had a little bit of supper before bed, but then you’ve stayed up for another five hours by mistake and you feel really #sad. A cheeky Prµñşt helps to keep you going & stops you from dying. Typical things to eat at Prµñşt include: Toad In The Face, Angry Stir-Fry, Moustache a la carte, Immature cheddar cheese, Honey-glazed fear, Steamed ice in a water sauce, Ladyfingers, “Live Or Die” pizza, Sweet and/or sour butterfly, Lamb waffles, Some cakes, Supercrisps, Cock au vin, Sweet potatoes (1954 vintage), Knuckle sandwich.

5) Are you glad the dinosaurs are extinct?

Yes. Fuck dinosaurs. Creepy eight-legged bastards. Fuck dinosaurs, fuck their webs, and fuck their poison fangs. I’m glad they’re all dead.

6) When was the exact moment you decided to become a comedian?

Actually, I remember the exact day. In 1931, sometime in May (I forget when), I was watching an open mic in Germany, and a new act took to the stage, and told the audience that his name was Adolf Hitlers. I’m sure you can see where this is going! He did a 5 minute set which, to be fair to him, was technically perfect. Great stage presence, excellent timing, he really knew how to perform. And his set was structurally textbook. But the content – well, you can guess. Utterly hack. “Aren’t men and women different”. “What’s the deal with airline food”. “What’s up with self-service checkouts”. So boring! I knew I could do better. And that was the day I decided to become a comedian. Here we are, over 6 years later, and Hitlers has become known as one of history’s greatest monsters. There’s a lesson for us all about the dangers of lazy comedy there.

7) Is there something that the whole world seems to care about, apart from you?

Sports. Whether it be footsball, basketsball, rugsball, hockeying, sprints, badmanton, horses, tennips, keep-them-up, “John’s Game”, or a simple game of goals, nothing interests me less than the idea of sports. If I had one wish, I’d wish for everyone to stop caring about sports. And if I had two wishes, I’d wish for it twice, just to make absolutely sure that sports STAYED THE HELL AWAY from me and my seventeen awful daughters.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING GIGS, PODCASTS AND TO VIEW CHRIS COLTRANE’S 2014 LIVE COMEDY SHOW ONLINE FOR FREE, VISIT HIS WEBSITE

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TV Review: Raised By Wolves

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Raised By Wolves is a brand new, refreshingly unyielding sitcom written by Caroline and Caitlin Moran. It follows a loud, predominantly-female family, which reflects the upbringing the Moran sisters had (described in detail in Caitlin’s best-selling book, How to be a Woman). A twist, however, is that the programme is set in the present day, rather than the Eighties. The essence of Caz and Caitlin’s teenage years is reflected in the characters of Germaine and Aretha who are played by Helen Monks and Alexa Davies. These two ladies truly are a match made in television heaven; their conversations are cripplingly funny and their personalities are near-polar opposites.

The girls are very intelligent, which immediately challenges the prejudices Caitlin (I can only talk for her, rather than both sisters, because I have read her book) no doubt faced growing up in Wolverhampton. It is also reminiscent of the way many young people feel they are interpreted by people from outside the Midlands, whether that is down to our accent, or the areas in which we may live. In this sense, Raised by Wolves has the potential to be revolutionary and as a Midlands teenager myself, it is encouraging to hear the accent used in a non-derogatory way for once, in a way that doesn’t suggest stupidity.

Channel 4

Channel 4

The kids’ mother, Della, is played by Rebekah Staton who approaches the role with brilliant sarcasm and brutal honesty. With helpful, yet somehow aggressive, motherly advice like: “Germaine, you’ve got the posture of a victim- sort it out,” the character of Della acts as a sort of moral device for the entire programme. Della holds all of the wisdom.

Some critics have accused the Moran sisters of being arrogant in suggesting that this is the only sitcom on television with a mainly female cast, but I think that accusation is ludicrous, not least because they haven’t once implied this. Rather than worrying about whether there are any programmes of  this sort, we should be asking ourselves whether there are enough. To criticise Raised By Wolves for being, at the end of the day, unnecessarily feminist sounds like just the thing an oblivious misogynist might say.

The resultant message is that this sitcom is needed more than ever. Not only is this programme bitterly funny, but it also implies something far more poignant beneath the surface. I eagerly anticipate another series.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES ONE OF RASIED BY WOLVES ON 4OD

Review: Bramall Comedy Night, David Morgan, James Dowdeswell & Adam Kay

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This week welcomed the sixth instalment of the University of Birmingham’s comedy night with David Morgan, James Dowdeswell and Adam Kay performing.

David MorganDavid Morgan was the night’s compère and also happens to come from Birmingham himself (if Solihull counts). He effortlessly cracked the formal atmosphere that such a beautiful music hall inevitably brings with his un-floundering energy and cheeky conversational style. Morgan expertly intertwined humorous personal stories into his interactions with the audience, which ensured his performance didn’t come across as forced which is an obvious obstacle for many MCs. His set was diverse but he tied all the threads together well, talking about his family, childhood and the prospect him and his boyfriend having children themselves one day.

Next was James Dowdeswell, who also showed that he is comfortable talking to an audience and incorporating those interactions into his comedy. With mannerisms that reminded me of Hugh Dennis, Dowdeswell reminisced of the time he met Stephen Fry, which gave him the opportunity to showcase his uncanny impersonation of him. As his set progressed it became clear that this comedian is rather accomplished at performing accents, which definitely enhanced his funny anecdotes about his hometown and experiences of mugging.

Adam KayAdam Kay, who co-wrote Crims, is not someone I had previously associated with stand up comedy, but I have since learned that he is quite a fantastic musical comic. His demeanour on stage is considerably sinister and, beginning with his darkest material, he certainly set the tone for some distasteful comedy that wicked people like me thrive on. Kay adapts many pop songs: adding new lyrics to develop wacky concepts with the chorus often becoming the ‘punchline’ to the core joke. In this sense, these musical interludes feel a little like stand-alone one-liners, but Adam’s clear aptitude for playing the piano was refreshing enough to avoid the occasional stale atmosphere that one-liners can build.

And so, another wonderful comedy night at the University of Birmingham drew to a close and I am already looking forward to the next event in May.

BRAMALL COMEDY NIGHT: MARCH 2015

TV Review: Nurse

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Paul Whitehouse stars in a new comedy, based on his BBC Radio 4 series: Nurse, and I am given further reason to believe that 2015 is set to be a brilliant year for British comedy on television.

This heart-warming programme has a format similar to that of a sketch show but this is approached in a new way, intertwining the narratives through the use of community mental health nurse, Elizabeth (played by Esther Coles), who visits vulnerable adults in their homes. The group of service users, most of whom are played by Whitehouse, include an elderly man with schizophrenia who thinks he has received a letter from Ted Hughes and a morbidly obese man called Graham who seems to have an unhealthy relationship with his mother, as well as with food.

© BBC/Des Willie

© BBC/Des Willie

Nurse appears to be incredibly well-established from the very first episode, which is certainly worthy of credit, thanks in no small part to the years of writing experience Paul Whitehouse possesses, I’m sure. The humour is satisfyingly dark (note a moment where Liz, PC Dave (Doc Brown) and PC Terry (Colin Hoult) discuss a racist man, referring to him as “Ku Klux Kevin”) with a certain layer of bleakness reminiscent of Ricky Gervais’ Derek. But the aim of Nurse is certainly not to mock those who struggle with mental illness, but rather, Whitehouse wanted to “explore the world of a Community Mental Health Nurse with warmth, compassion and humour.” With excellent, sensitive writing from Whitehouse, Coles and David Cummings, this target is certainly met, and the programme revolves around the people, rather than their reasons for requiring extra support.

When we don’t talk about something, it makes us all so much more fearful of that thing, which is why I think this programme has come at a perfect time. Nurse is helping us challenge the stigma attached to mental illness in its own small way, and is a prime example of how important comedy is in today’s society as a means for getting a message across.

Its first series is quite literally short and sweet, being just four episodes long, but I hope for another, and perhaps longer, series of Nurse off the back of this one’s success.

CATCH UP WITH NURSE ON BBC IPLAYER

Seven Questions With… Iain Stirling

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Iain StirlingIain Stirling is an Edinburgh-born stand up comedian with a charmingly childish look in his eye and an aptitude for incorporating personal elements into his often quite silly anecdotal stand up style. Stirling was a finalist in the Chortle Student Comedian Of The Year competition in 2009 and has since gone on to work as a CBBC presenter and actor, as well as appearing on Russell Howard’s Good News and Sweat the Small Stuff.
I asked Iain these seven questions to learn a little more…

1) Do you care about the Royal family?

Not particularly, perplexed if anything. Should people still wear crowns in 2015? Doesn’t feel right.

2) How many wrongs make a right?

None.

3) Which comedians do you most enjoy gigging with?

Tom Webb, Joe Lycett, Steve Bugeja, Mark Smith, Liam Williams, Carl Donnelly, Joel Dommett, Romesh Ranganathan and everyone at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh!

4) Do your parents take your comedy career seriously?

I have a law degree, I think that gives you a fair idea of their stance on the matter.

5) Something that makes you feel out of place?

Posh clothes shops.

6) Ever been responsible for the death of a pet?

No comment.

7) Can people trust you?

People yes, pets no.

IAIN STIRLING BRINGS HIS SHOW: EVERYTHING TO THE SOHO THEATRE ON 17TH-18TH APRIL

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