Rory O'Keeffe talks about his new show Monoglot.

1 Tell us about your Fringe show

It’s called Monoglot, which is a weird and stupid word which means I speak only one language. I’ve been trying to learn un petit peu Italian, though, so that’s the main idea. But relax, it’s all in English. And I mostly talk about English phrases and the way we use language. With lols.

2 How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?

I’ve been up a few times before with other shows but this is my first time with a full hour at a paid venue. It’s exciting, but I am also checking my ticket sales each day as addictively as if it were Pokemon Go. (I actually have very little idea what Pokemon Go is).

3 Live act most looking forward to seeing at Fringe?

Daniel Kitson’s play.

4 If you were not a performer/comedian what would you be doing?

I’d probably be a management consultant. That was always the dream but then the comedy got going and I thought I’d do that for a few years just to make some money. I can always do management consultancy in the evenings or at weekends.

5 How do you combat pre-gig nerves?

I don’t. I have very nervy preparations, including queueing up in the box office to buy my friends tickets for my own show. That happened yesterday. Not a nerve-calming situation.

6 Worst on stage experience?

Once, as part of sketch group ‘Rory & Tim’, we were told that 36 doctors had booked tickets to our show. Then when they arrived our Box Office person said they were all German. I thought we’d do some audience interaction so we went on and Tim said “Any doctors in?!” Big cheer. I said “Any Germans in?!” Complete silence. Then an elderly woman said “We are Dutch, not German.” The show did not go well.

7 How do you recover from a hefty heckle? Do you have a set of stock replies?

Heckling is a bit of an urban myth. People tend to shout out things that are contributing in some way or do random and unexpected things. So far this Fringe I’ve had a woman walk across stage to go the toilet, move to the back of the room because it’s “warmer over there”, and a man ask if I am an “Entryist” to the Labour party. I don’t think stock replies would cover all those situations but I always love a chat.

8 What do you love about Scotland?

The views.

9 What do you like about Edinburgh?

The people.

10 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?

I once led the Scots to victory in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, 1297.

11 Who’s your favourite Scottish comedian?

Limmy.

12 Favourite joke?

More of a tongue twister but say ‘Space Ghetto’ in an American accent. It sounds like ‘Spice Girl’ in Glaswegian. You’re welcome.

13 Favourite Scottish food/drink?

As the show is Italian-themed, I’d like to shout out the amazing Italian food that has come to Scotland over the years. My grandmother is an Italian-Scot, so I ate a ‘Pizza Haggis’ in her honour the other night. As a recovering fussy eater, this was no small feat.

Rory O'Keeffe will perform Monoglot at Plesance Courtyard until August 29.