Comedian Richard Stott is making his Edinburgh Fringe debut this summer and he certainly has an original story. Richard was born with Poland Syndrome making him lopsided with a misshapen hand and missing pectoral muscle. Following life-changing surgery he now has toes for fingers on his left hand and in this unflinchingly honest show he examines body image, mental health and being disabled in an image-obsessed world. An hour of anarchic storytelling and acidic punchlines exploring how he has learnt to roll with the hand life dealt him and draw humour from what we are told is humourless. Directed by acclaimed stand-up Rob Deering.

Originating from Hull, Richard Stott is an actor, comedian, voiceover artist and writer. He gained a degree in theatre from The Arden (Awarded by Manchester University) and went on to a postgraduate in acting at Drama Studio London where he has since run workshops in show creation. 

Richard Stott: Right Hand Man is at The Gilded Balloon from July 31 - August 26 at 12.45pm. Tickets and details here."

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)? 

If it's a full show I dance around as much as I can to Steve Winwood's Higher Love to get tension out. If it's a club set, finish my drink and sit in a dark corner.

2. What irritates you?

So many things... if I have to narrow it down to one thing that never fails to put me in an awful mood it's Boots. I hate the lighting the music the narrow aisles, the amount of buggies, the sheer amount of staff there is but never where you need them, the diabolical way it's laid out... I feel like I'm going on a polar expedition when my girlfriend says "I just need to pop into Boots" but at least a polar expedition would be worth talking about...

3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

The most dangerous thing I've ever done is follow the wrong kind of person to the wrong kind of party. They said 'party' but what it actually was was a few questionable people sitting around smoking and listening to drum and bass... At about 7am two guys started having a fight... one of them was waving an axe... it was happening in front of the only way out... I just had to accept that I may watch someone be bludgeoned to death and then possibly turn on the witnesses! Thankfully someone got the axe off him without any injuries sustained and I just decided that my "partying" days are behind me. 

4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Aside from the above? There's a long list of reckless things that I've accumulated but a lot of them appear in my show. How about the time I was looking in a mirror in a bar fixing my hair but it wouldn't go right... after about 30 seconds my reflection walked off... a friend informed me it wasn't a mirror but just another bloke with a similar beard.  

5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?

How warm and supportive the community is. It gets a reputation for being full of bitter, difficult people... it is! But they're at least kind as well.  

Interview continues here.