Tell us about your Fringe show
It's a stand-up show about my life up until now, and how at 41, I ended up with a housemate named Daddy (yes, he also happens to be my dad); how I'm navigating the dating scene as a divorcee (it's like The X Factor: auditions, judges' houses, the live shows); coping with my friends moving out of London to the so-called up-and-coming areas (goodbye forever); and why I'm more scared of the mumosphere than the manosphere. All that, with a bit of gayness thrown in and tidbits about my old job working on one of the biggest daytime TV shows, which we can't mention for legal reasons (if you're reading this on a Monday to Friday, it was probably on this morning).
How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
A whole run at the Fringe is so exciting. I did a short run in 2024 at ten past midnight, just to get a feel for how it all works. No amount of advice could have prepared me for it as much as actually being in it. That probably makes me sound like I'm ready. I'm really not. Procrastination is my middle name (it's not, it's actually David Frederick). It feels like I'm going to big school. I've got my uniform, my bag, my pens... do kids still have pens?
Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?
In stand-up land, it's the Holy Grail, right? Once May and June roll around, it's pretty much the only question anyone asks: "Are you going to the Fringe this year?" It's almost instilled in you before you even realise you want to do it. It's also incredibly inspiring to see so many brilliant comics pass through the Fringe on their way to the top. My comedy idol, Jennifer Saunders, is one of them, so hopefully I'm following in some very high-heeled footsteps.
If you were not a performer, what would you be doing?
I'd probably still be working behind the scenes in TV, but writing comedy. I spent 19 years in TV production and loved every second, but eventually left to concentrate on performing stand-up full-time. I've actually written a sitcom about a TV warm-up who's desperate to make it in front of the camera. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or companies is purely coincidental. I'd also be happy being a full-time sugar daddy.
How do you prepare for a performance?
I have absolutely no control over my emotions before a performance. Sometimes I'm completely chilled, other times I'm confused, and most often it's a strange cocktail of anxiety, excitement and adrenaline. I'm also a very impatient person. I've tried so hard to strengthen my patience muscle with mindfulness and distraction, but as soon as I know there's a show looming, I can't think about anything else all day. My pre-show ritual is pretty religious: one Mr Black Coffee Liqueur and five minutes of complete silence, just me on my own, clearing my head. After every performance, I debrief with my therapy dog, Jenny, about how it went.
Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?
Edinburgh Fringe veteran Suzi Eddie Izzard gave me a piece of advice that's really stuck with me: treat every zero-audience show like a full dress rehearsal. If you're on a stage with a microphone and a spotlight, the audience is only ever a bonus. The worst advice? Probably my own. "Watch loads of other shows and then go off and do your own."
What are you looking forward to most about being in Edinburgh?
Discovering North Berwick, where I'm staying. My lovely friends' parents are putting me up for the month, which is honestly one of the main reasons I'm able to do the full run. I simply couldn't afford it otherwise. I know the cost of accommodation is a conversation that comes around every year, but it's true. A lot of brilliant performers miss out because of it. It'll be interesting to see whether prices come down now that the TV Festival is moving to Manchester next year. I'm also looking forward to seeing my stand-up friends do well. A few of my comedy alumni are up there this year, and I'm genuinely excited for them.
What are you not looking forward to about being in Edinburgh?
You know what? I'm really going to miss London. It gets a bad rap sometimes, but that city runs through my veins. It's my home. North, South, East or West, I love every bit of it. I'll miss it while I'm away. My friend Yvonne will represent me at Notting Hill carnival.
What do you hope to get out of the Fringe in your first year?
I just hope people take a punt on me and come and see the show. The Fringe is a sea of performers, all trying to stay afloat in a tidal wave of audiences. I don't really believe in manifesting or crossing my fingers for a good outcome. Turn up and turn it on. Whatever happens after that, whether it's a great review, new opportunities or simply people leaving having had a laugh, is a bonus.
Sum up your show in three words
Laugh out loud.
- Jonathan Rudge’s Stay At Home Son is at Just The Tonic – Mash House Snifter Room at 8.35pm. For tickets, go to www.edfringe.com
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