6. What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?

 

Both of my parents have an incredible sense of humour. They laugh a lot and so when they can shut thoughts of the family's impending financial ruin out of their minds they enjoy the work of me and my peers very well.

 

7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

 

The extra clothes ironing. Because we often wear the best of our own clothes on stage and then another out fit during the day, comedians have double the amount of laundry/clothing preparation a non-comedian.

 

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?

 

I try not to think about myself at all. Its possible I dont even exist. The self is a very boring subject. Other people are way more interesting.

 

9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?

 

I recently did the sums to work out how much I would have to earn to fund the lifestyle I dream of and it came to a total of £20 million. 

 

10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?

 

I was born into a white middle class family, got a great education, have two parents and so far have only had a couple of broken bones in my life. My luck was due to run out some time ago.

 

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?

 

Sadly I'll fall into the self harmer category here which is definitely the more self involved one. Except on those days when i self harm with a golf club in which case I guess I am both.

 

12. Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?

I dont have a favourite but I'm gonna say I am developing a late appreciation for bono, the lead singer of U2. Though he can claim to be an international music superstar, in my homeland of Ireland bono has been a figure of ridicule for some time now.  I used to join in with the jibes until I asked myself recently what the singer had done so deserve such treatment and could not come up with anything apart from his sincere desire to do good. 

 

13. Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).  

Eleanor Tiernan: Success Without a Sex Tape is at the Banshee Labyrinth from August 6 - 26. Details here.