When I wrote about Romesh Ranganathan winning the Leicester Comedy Festival Comedian of the Year Award in 2013 I spelt his surname wrong. It is no excuse of course, but I had never heard of him back then. There is not much chance of getting his name wrong now. The ex-teacher has very quickly made his name as a high-profile jokesmith on TV and stage. He’s got what they call the skills to pay the bills. Charisma, confidence and a firm, original way of reconfiguring sometimes familiar source material about the irritations of adult life. Ranganathan is currently all over your TV screens. More here.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage?
I ask my Dad (in my head, he’s passed away) to help me not tank. And then I start my stopwatch. I do my time, dogshit or not.
2. What irritates you?
Burritos are one of seven things that don’t irritate me most of the time.
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
I reheated and ate rice after three days in the fridge. It was a terrifying few days afterwards.
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
When my Dad died my brother and I tried to run his pub for a bit, because we thought we had to. Then one day I realised that we could just tell the brewery to fuck off.
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
That you never really ever ever feel like you’re doing it very well. It attracts the least emotionally robust people and then tests you in ways best suited to people who are the most emotionally robust. 
6. What do your parents think of your job?
My Mum has very little regard for anything I do outside of TV. I am successful to her for exactly the duration of any TV show that I’m doing. Then I go back to being the son that doesn’t call enough. My Dad was a massive comedy fan and thought the whole thing was very exciting, but did not understand why I wasn’t yet at McIntyre level. He used to come to a lot of gigs and, get smashed, and then offend one of the acts after the show.
Interview continues here.
