Seven Questions With… Fred MacAulay
© Andrew Ogilvy
Fred MacAulay is a name known to many a Radio 4 listener having appeared on The News Quiz, Bridget Christie’s Mind The Gap and The Unbelievable Truth, to name just a few. The Scottish comic has also featured on episodes of QI , Have I Got News For You and Mock The Week and is currently touring his first stand up show since 2012 named Twenty Fifteen. MacAulay clearly has a great deal of experience working on the comedy circuit, having performed at the Edinburgh Festival 27 times in his career so far.
To learn more about Fred, I asked him these seven questions…
1) Are you glad that comedy wasn’t your first job?
Yes. And I’m equally delighted that it’s my last job. Can’t see me doing anything different ever. Maybe acting. Maybe singing. But they’d be sidelines. Comedy first.
2) Which time of year is your favourite?
Toss-up between summer and winter. I love the fresh crisp winter days when the hills are white with fresh snow, but I love the summer mornings when the sun is streaming in through our front door to greet me as I come downstairs to feed the dogs. If you could give me one such winters day with 16 hours of sunshine I’d be a happy man.
3) What motivates you in life?
I’ll be honest with you… I like earning, it’s not the sole motivation, but when I was a boy I was envious of the rich kids who had great skis and the best ski boots. I had wooden skis and lace-up boots, and I was determined that one day I’d be able to have the good gear. Having said that, I was doing very well in my previous occupation, so the REAL motivation is that in work terms… I get to do what I love to do. Simple as that. Ask anyone who does that and you’ll find a degree of satisfaction that is missing from people on jobs they ‘make do with’.
4) What attribute do you wish you had?
Wisdom.
5) What are you bored of?
TV shows like Cash in the Attic or Shit in the Loft or whatever it’s called. Surely there’s NOTHING left for the BBC to evaluate.
6) What is the most frightening thing about performing comedy, for you?
That I’ve no idea what the next routine is. Or even worse, the end of the current one. The former has happened, the latter thankfully, never.
7) Are you at peace with the world?
Most of it. I’m not as forgiving as I should be, so there are a few people I’ve got issues with. Given the chance to settle scores, I probably wouldn’t. I generally avoid hassle and direct encounters.
INFORMATION ABOUT FRED MACAULAY’S LATEST TOUR IS AVAILABLE FROM HIS WEBSITE