6. What do your parents think of your job?
My parents are mortified. I gave up a job as a doctor to do it, which probably didn’t help matters.
7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
It’s rather lonely – there’s a lot of time spent on your own. Also, “Tell us a joke”.
8. I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
Honestly? I think I’m an excellent script editor, a decent writer and a passable comedian.
9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
It depends if I’m answering that question to HMRC or the mortgage company. And I’m happy with my current income.
10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
Every time the gradient of my career trajectory has increased it’s either been due to luck or the kindness of others. I’m only in comedy at all because a song I wrote about the Tube got inexplicably popular on the internet a decade ago. I’m only in television because a brilliant BBC Exec called Stephen McCrum took a chance (or pity) on me back in 2010 and let me write on one of his shows. And a hundred other smaller examples.
11. Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into a third category?
Probably more the latter. I’m very critical and analytical – which is probably why I’ve landed up in script editing – and that extends to my own work as well.
12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
Slightly breaking your rules, but my absolute idol since childbirth is Tom Lehrer. But not totally breaking your rules, because he’s so much more than a comedian – he’s one of the fathers of modern satire, he lectured in Maths at Harvard, he taught musical theatre, he even invented vodka jelly (true story). And he only played live 109 times – he decided in the middle of a show at the Town Hall in New York that he should retire from performing forever. I get that feeling in the middle of most gigs.
13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (this is to settle an argument with my girlfriend. If you've taken my side thank you in advance)
A bit of both. I’d like my drawers to be tidy, but I’m congenitally incapable of keeping things tidy. Thankfully we have a lovely cleaner who reconciles this difference.
