Following yesterday's interview with Pappy's lynchpin Tom Parry, today we are gently probing the tiniest (in height) member of Pappy's, Matthew Crosby, whose solo show is at Just The Tonic's Mash House from August 6 - 30, tickets here. As we said yesterday, Pappy's have much in common with the Manic Street Preachers – a quartet that slimmed down to a trio, solo outings from certain members, but the band keeps on rolling. What we didn't mention was that like the Manics, Pappy's have a devoted following, who really love and care about them. That doesn't happen in comedy as much as it happens in music, but their mix of chemistry, charm, silliness and – underneath all that idiot mayhem – obvious intelligence, clearly touches a nerve. While Ben Clark is acting in this and Tom Parry is making his solo debut, Crosby, who probably has the biggest profile of the trio, has done this one-man show lark before. He returns this year with Smaller Than Life. He says "come along, have a chuckle or two, leave, never really think about it again." He is being modest. Pappy's will also be doing four nights of their Secret Dudes Society show with special guests and three nights of classic sketches and some new bits. Details of everything here. And don't forget, if you tolerate this then a solo show from third member Ben Clark may be next.

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

Check all my props are in place. This year I made a pact with myself that I'd write a show that, unlike the last two hours I've taken to the Fringe, didn't use a powerpoint display. I thought it was becoming a crutch. And I've stuck to that. This show doesn't rely on powerpoint. It does however rely on a mask, two massive notepads, some Ryvita, four Babybels, a couple of pencils, a puppet, three changes of clothes, a tin bucket, a glass jar, some coins, some oranges and a song by Dr Hook. Apparently I'm not quite over my reliance on crutches. 

2. What irritates you?

I'm irritated by other people being irritated. If a train is delayed and everyone on the platform is rolling their eyes at each other and tutting I refuse to be drawn in. I'll be irritated on my own terms thank you very much; I don't need to get in on your irritation. I've got my own thing going on. Oh and interviews that ask Pappy's if we “met at university”. How is that going to shift tickets? “These guys met at university?! Hello? Box Office? Seven hundred tickets please!”

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

When I was about 21, I was in the Wetherspoons in Bromley, and I swallowed a load of loose change. About £1.20 in total. In my defence: I was drunk and being upstaged by someone doing close-up magic. 

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

See above. It took over a week for the coins to pass. One was a 50p. Not pleasant.

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

How completely lovely and supportive most people are. I think people assume it's a ruthless, backstabbingly bitter world. It isn't. It's an open club. And for a lot of people it's a club that, when they join, they realise, “oh, this is what I've been looking for for the last 20 years”.

This interview with Matthew Crosby continues here.