Phil Jerrod talks about his new show, Hypocrite.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
My fringe show is called Hypocrite. It’s my second debut show and it’s on at the Pleasance Cellar at 6pm every day. The show started out as a sort of examination of the good and bad parts of my character. But now is pretty much about what a horrible person I am. I don’t come out of it looking good at all. Not one bit. I don’t know why I’m doing it to myself. Can you stop it? Maybe call my Mum or something?
2 Best thing about the Fringe?
It’s great for a whole load of reasons. It’s a lot of work but all of your mates are there. It’s like a big comedy conference really.
3 Worst thing about the Fringe?
Being away from home for the whole month is a bit difficult. Especially when you’ve got a young family. I don’t have a young family - but I imagine that would be difficult. Also Edinburgh is a very long way away from where I keep all of my stuff. So that’s a bit of a pain.
4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
My first year was 2013 I think. I came up to lose some competitions. Then I did a package show called the Pleasance Reserve which was a lot of fun. Then last year I did my first debut show - Neanderthal - which was kind of about monkeys but far too depressing to be defined as comedy.
5 Favourite Fringe venue?
I’m really lucky this year because my show is in a room I’ve always wanted to play. I’m in the Pleasance Cellar - which is great because it’s below street level. Comedy is better when it’s below street level. Well mine is.
6 Best Fringe memory?
One time me and Chris Betts were walking home very late after our gig at the Pleasance Dome. We went into a Chicken shop just as they were closing up - and they gave us all the chicken for free. We had more chicken than we could eat. I had to have chicken for breakfast. Also one year I met Rory Bremner.
7 Best heckle?
Well - it didn’t happen at the fringe, but the best heckle I’ve heard was in Brighton. An open mic comic was on stage, pulled out a piece of paper and said “Okay guys - so this is some new material” and a woman at the back shouted, “naa mate - paper’s been around for ages”.
8 Craziest on stage experience?
At a preview in Leicester a shirtless homeless man rolled a polo mint at me.
9 What’s on your rider?
I used to have a glass of wine on stage with me the whole time - but after a while it just seemed like a crutch. So now I just have the crutch.
10 How do you wind down after a show?
Watch documentaries about Serial Killers.
11 What do you love about Scotland?
The Stand. Scottish people. Scottish people at The Stand. Last year I did a gig at the Glasgow Stand, got confused and said “Hello Edinburgh” - if you’re quiet you can still hear them booing.
12 What do you like about Edinburgh?
I love the massive long tunnel that connects Holyrood Park to the Innocent Railway. It’s very calm, and peaceful so it’s a really good place for quiet contemplation. I go there a lot during the fringe to punch myself in the face.
13 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Voted Remain.
14 What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
I haven’t noticed a great deal of difference with Scottish audiences if i’m honest. Every audience is made up of vastly different people. I am more than capable of bombing in front of people of all colours, races and creeds.
15 Favourite joke?
My favourite joke at this precise moment is from a fellow Brighton comedian called James McDonnell. “I just finished reading 1984. God the eighties were shit.”
16 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
I genuinely like Haggis - I don’t know why that isn’t more widely eaten. Apart from the obvious reasons it isn’t more widely eaten. I really like white pudding as well. Basically offal. I enjoy the offal.
Phil Jerrod: Hypocrite is on at the Pleasance Cellar at 6pm until August 28.
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