Tom Wrigglesworth is a Sony Award winner, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Chortle Award winner and star of Radio 4 and BBC2. He is touring the UK with his sharp, funny and sentimental show, Utterly at Odds With the Universe. The show explores the poignant and profound relationship with his grandfather. The two frequently taped themselves interviewing each other and it is in these early conversations that Tom comes to understand the influence this man has had on his own life. Wrigglesworth is at the Leicester Square Theatre on Oct 23. For tickets click here. For full UK tour dates click here.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage?
Check shoelaces, flies. Deep breath...
2. What irritates you?
Bad manners, and Sodium lauryl sulphate. Both are everywhere these days
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
I always live life on the edge. You won't catch me finishing a course of antibiotics.
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Agreeing to do a skywalk, I'd genuinely forgotten I'd grown into a massive fear of heights
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
The soaring intelligence of singular audience members versus the staggering stupidity of a crowd.
6. What do your parents think of your job?
They don't know I do it. Please keep this under your hat.
7. What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
It takes one bad gig to make you think, right, I can't do this....who am I kidding.
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 not quite as good as I can be. Which is both motivating and frustrating. But I know I can be better.
9. How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
I don't know. Somewhere between my agent and accountant, I earn enough to buy food and gadgets.
10. How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I might be in the middle of a lucky break, albeit no one knows Aaron Rodgers on this side of the pond. I guess that's an unlucky lucky break.
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?
My word he may be right. I wish I could just get on with life, but I never think anything is finished and I always over react when I make tiny mistakes. And I'm none to keen on golf.
