I just try to realise that ultimately, this is what I wanted. Of course there’ll always be pressure, but it’s all voluntary. I can lay down the microphone and walk away at any time. 

What irritates you? 

In life, the fact that some people just have it is so goddamn easy. It’s never a level playing field.

What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

To be honest, I’ve lost count, but a recent one was during lockdown in 2021. It snowed in February and I went for a drive to McDonalds. Some kids hit my car with a snowball. I got out and shouted at them, walked over to tell them off. One of them then said he had a knife. I said, “Go on then, use it.” And he actually pulled out a knife. I ran back to my car very fast.

What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?

Again, so many moments. One that comes to mind is telling a woman in a nightclub that I was a police officer, when I was actually unemployed. We stepped outside and her friends got into a fight. She then promptly yelled something akin to ‘back off, this guys a police officer’…pointing at me.  I didn’t know what to do, so… I ran away. I really need to stop putting myself in situations where I’m likely to get beaten up.

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

I didn’t realise there would be so many cliques. I naively assumed everyone was like a sole trader, carving out their own path across the comedy universe. But of course, we’re human, we form groups, boost our own through likes, shares, bookings, and podcast appearances, and make sure it’s known that our clique is the cool one, while everyone else’s is hack and terrible. I’ve always wanted to stay solo, so this instinct to clique up is starting to clash more and more as I (slowly) climb the ladder.

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

My parents think I'm in the wrong country to do this and should move to LA, New York or Mumbai. As the years pass, I'm starting to agree.    

What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?

It sometimes feels like the Wild West. You don’t know whether you’re on the right path to something or drifting into space. I disliked the corporate world, but at least you get your 25 days a year holiday and your annual 3% salary increase in line with inflation. That, and the panic during a show preview when someone heckles, “I hope you’re funny,” and your instinct is to destroy them…but you don’t want to ruin the narrative. This happens way too often. 

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'm genuinely grateful I get to do this. Creating artistic ideas and sharing them with an audience is a wonderful thing. I'm now about to do my third Edinburgh show, and I'm learning to be more empathetic about what an audience actually wants from a performance. I'm growing all the time and continuing to move forward.

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

When your whole focus, raison d’être, and modus operandi is to be ambitious, innovative, risk-taking, and experimental, the money usually doesn’t show up until you hit a breakthrough. That said, I recently took the best bits from my three shows and shaped them into tight 10, 15, and 20-minute sets. Getting paid for club spots has been a bit of a revelation. Maybe it’s worth exploring a more “Diet Coke” version of my act in those spaces.

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

I have my own personal benchmarks to hit. I view my career in the performing arts as a mix of being a craftsman, a tradesman, and an artist. As long as I’m getting better, I consider that success. Ultimately, no one’s coming to save me, except me.

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 third category?

I was a self-harmer, now I'm a golfer.

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

There are so many to name, but the first that comes to mind is Michael Jordan. His commitment to constantly bettering himself as an athlete, his drive to be the best, is something we can all learn from.

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).

Tidy.

Picture by Steve Ullathorne

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