Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Well hello there, nice to meet you, my name is Jonny Awsum and you might have seen me bobbing up and down with Ant and Dec or rapping alongside David Walliams on this year's Britain's Got Talent. I'm a comedian, I grew up in Derby and I now live in Croydon. I'm bringing my brand new show 'Honey, I Promised The Kid' to Edinburgh this August.
How would you describe your show?
It's the true story of what happened when I set out on a quest to play live on stage at the O2. I'd promised my daughter that I'd find a way to do this, but it wasn't as easy as I'd hoped! The last year has been an incredible adventure with celebrity encounters, performing live on TV to 10 million viewers, more ups and downs than the Tour de France and an amazing final twist.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
The idea of setting out on a quest is a universal theme, so everyone can come along and enjoy my show no matter where they've come from. What I love about Edinburgh is that it attracts people from all over the globe, so I'm hoping I'll have people in the audience from Tyneside, Tokyo and everywhere in between!
What differentiates it from other festivals?
It's quite simply the biggest and the best. There's nothing like the buzz of Edinburgh when the festival is in full flow and of course part of that is the backdrop of such a beautiful and historic city. It's like the city itself sits back, beautiful and unchanging, watching the annual flow of craziness and innovation sweep in and that creates a very special contrast.
Do you think the Fringe has changed over the years? If so, how? Are these changes positive or negative?
It's certainly got bigger but also more expensive to perform at which is a shame as I think it puts a lot of pressure on the performers.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I worked a bar job in London and at the weekends the venue turned into The Chuckle Club with stand-up comedy. I saw hundreds of amazing acts first-hand and realised there are so many different ways to get an audience laughing. Milton Jones with his brilliant one-liners and wonderful jumpers, Lee Mack with his incredible energy and huge stage presence and Lee Nelson doing his hilarious character comedy.
If you didn't have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
Well I played guitar in bands for years and at the same time had a string of part time jobs so there's a 1% chance I'd be on tour as a rock star and a 99% chance I'd be working in a coffee shop.
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
One day I would like to write a musical. Perhaps Honey, I Promised the Kid – The Musical should be my next project!
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
Playing 'The Shining Star' in the school nativity play when I was 6 years old. If you want to see quite how ridiculous I looked come along to my show. I'm using a screen to show all sorts of photos and video clips this year and The Shining Star photo is one of them.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
Not really because my act is not based on current affairs it's more about relating to people's everyday life experience. I'm more likely to make a comment on Croydon's tramway system than on Donald Trump.
Equally, do you think there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
I think it's a good time to be a comedian as there are a lot of people that need cheering up. I also think my act is resonating better than ever right now because it is firmly in the feel-good camp and that's what people are wanting – to forget the worries of the world for a short time and have a good laugh.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
"This is everything!" – Amanda Holden
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Freddie Mercury. Seeing him on TV at Wembley in 86 changed my life. I wanted to perform for my job from that day on.
Why would a performer opt to do either a ticketed event or participate in the free fringe? What are the benefits and limitations of both?
There are benefits to both, which is why this year I am doing the fairly new model of 'save a seat' for £5 or pay what you want at the venue. That way people can buy a ticket in advance and make they'll get in or they can chance it and if there is space on the day they can come in for free and chuck something in the bucket at the end.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Make sure you are really happy with it, as you will be doing it every day for a month!
When and where can people see your show?
- 4.05pm 3-26th August (not 14th)
- Just Up The Stairs at The Caves, 8-12 Niddry Street South EH1 1NS.
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
- Facebook @jonnyawsum
- Twitter @jonnyawsum
- Website jonnyawsum.com
Jonny Awsum: Honey, I Promised the Kid is performing at Just the Tonic at The Caves at 16:05 on 3rd - 26th August (not 14th). For tickets and more information visit the Ed Fringe website.
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