What comedy most inspires you?
I'm taking my debut hour to Edinburgh this year so lately I've been watching a lot of stand up shows, seeing what can be done with the hour show format. There's a lot of stuff on Next Up Comedy that I've found very inspiring such as Stuart Laws, Lou Sanders, Fern Brady and Sean McLoughlin.
Which comedian most inspires you?
Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee or John Robins.
Which comedian scares the shit out of you because you know you'll never be that good?
Mat Ewins, James Acaster.
Why and how did you get into comedy?
I used to work sweeping floors at The Glee Club. It was the first time I realised that could be paid to do comedy in shorter chunks than the hours I'd seen on Ben Elton and Eddie Izzard videos. It didn't occur to me that you could build up to an hour. Even then it took a friend to take me along to an open mic night and twist my arm into signing up.
What drives you to do what you do?
The feeling I get during and after a good gig, I'm unhealthily dependent on the laughter of others.
Describe your perfect Tuesday.
My perfect Tuesday would involve a lazy morning and lunch with my girlfriend, an afternoon in the cinema eating fancy flavoured ice creams and a gig in the evening followed by staying up late with friends talking, drinking rum and cokes and drinking more rum and cokes.
Describe your worst experience on a bus.
Any trip where the toilets are broken can be a bit uncomfortable but the worst is the 16 hour Megabus trip from Cardiff to Edinburgh, via London. It's just too long to be on a coach and left me grumpy and off-kilter for about 3 days.
Best sofa you've ever slept on?
My mate James used to have a really comfy sofa in Birmingham but then he moved back to Cardiff and ruined it! Also, I once rented a flat with a sofa so comfy that I would sleep on that sometimes in preference to the bed.
Best piece of advice a comedian ever gave you?
Write more, everyone should always be writing more.
Worst piece of advice a critic gave you?
I mostly fly under the radar of critics. A barman where I was gigging once told me I should 'posh up' my voice and it'd be funnier.
Tell us a joke
No, come to the show there are loads in it.
What's the furthest you've travelled for the least amount of money/open spot ?
Manchester several times.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh this year?
Mat Ewins, Chris Coltrane.
On a scale of 1-10 , how hungry are you right now?
1. I just had a massive cooked breakfast with some disappointing black pudding.
How was lockdown for you?
Lockdown was an amazing time in my personal life,I got to spend quality time with my partner and we got engaged. I've been lucky I've not been directly affected by the virus.Professionally things have been tricky with live comedy going away and not returning very gradually and unreliably .I've been trying to shift towards online creativity whihc has often been rewarding but any online success is really dependant o followers or subscribers and so. It really feels like after 10 years in comedy I'm starting at the bottom again. Ho
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Were you more or less productive?
During lockdown I had sporadic bouts of productivity but also long spells of getting nothing done. I've recently returned to a part time day job and it' mde me value my free time more than I did before lockdown. I've been pushing myself harder on the evenings and days that are my own.
Any last words?
I'm not really a last words kid of person, I never know when to shut up or how to quit when I'm ahead. Plus I'm too rambly for a pithy sign off.
p;l.'/
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