Geoff Norcott discusses hecklers, Mussolini and his run-in with a beer smuggler.

Tell us about your Fringe show

For some reason, most comics tend to come from the left of the political spectrum.

I’m right wing, but more in the Ken Clarke than Mussolini mould.

It’s not just about politics, I guess I’m into people taking responsibility for their actions and situation in life.

I am an idiot and I gladly admit this is pretty much all my fault.

Best thing about the Fringe?

The fact that you get to do it again the following day. I remember in 2009 I got a shocking review, but later that same day I had a sold out gig.

Sadly, 20% of my audience were blokes in slightly racist Mexican fancy dress but we got through it.

Worst thing about the Fringe?

The fact that the last bit of summer passes you by. Plus Scottish schools go back early, so halfway through August you’re seeing kids in school uniform. It’s like seeing Christmas decorations in February.

How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

On and off since 2009. I tend to come if I think I’ve got something to say. Or if my agent tells me to.

Favourite Fringe venue?

The Tron. I played there in 2013 and I’m back this year. It has hands down the best air-con at the whole fringe. It’s so odd that such things matter, but any seasoned Fringe goer will tell you that nothing is funny when you’re losing half your bodyweight in water.

Best Fringe memory?

In 2009 I got the entire audience to sign as witness that I had pledged to buy my wife a proper engagement ring. Everyone was into it.

Apart from one woman who told me she was now running late to see Jason Byrne.

Best heckle?

‘Could everybody hurry up? I’m late to see Jason Byrne.’

Craziest on stage experience?

A guy trying to sneak in with bottles of beer in his cargo pants. The bottles were open and there was beer running down his leg. I kept trying to tell him but he repeatedly shushed me in this oddly patronising manner. He had such conviction I started to doubt who the idiot was.

What’s on your rider?

A bottle of Coke Life. It’s 50% less sugar so I drink three times as much.

How do you wind down after a show?

I don’t. On the circuit in England, I have a drive home to come down, but in Edinburgh you’re sort of spat out into a million and one other things to keep your mind ticking.

Maybe I should drive to Falkirk and back each night.

What do you love about Scotland?

I love the local crowds. I love the Saturdays. I feel if the locals buy into the show, that’s the best approval of all. I think with the focus on international crowds, people forget that Scottish word of mouth is the one that will actually get you punters.

What do you like about Edinburgh?

I always stay in Leith. Leith is always Leith, no matter what’s happening in the festival. When I walk back to the flat and a guy exits a pub and ends up in a kerb, I know he’s as likely to do that in May as he is in August. It’s reassuring.

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

My sister married a Scottish bloke. It’s great to play on the hoary old tight stereotype. It’s not true at all but at the wedding all his relatives were so keen to prove to the contrary that I didn’t buy a single drink.

What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?

I think that’s a tough thing to extrapolate. A Glasgow crowd have very different sensibilities to an Edinburgh one. However, I love the fact that Scottish crowds will give full value to a piece of well thought through cynicism. I think English sarcasm can be a bit route one. Scottish cynicism on the other hand is more three-dimensional.

Favourite joke?

Not a joke as such, but If I’m ever feeling down, I watch this 70s documentary about animals getting drunk.

You can write as many jokes as you want  - but NOTHING is funnier than a pissed up Baboon stacking it down a hill.

Geoff Norcott will perform at The Tron from August 10-17 and 19-29.