A-list Finnish comic Ismo Leikola talks about working in Britain, America, and his new Fringe show.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

My first gigs were in 2002, in Finnish (I am from Finland). 2003 I won best newcomer (of Finland). Quite soon I got to spots in Finnish TV, gave up on my studies and started giggiing a lot. So far I've done five different one-man-show tours and put out two DVDs.

First English gigs were in 2005 in London and I've been on and off the UK ever since, mostly off though. Last year things have started to move forward fast here, and I also won a competition in America called "The Funniest Person in the World", which was nice.

I'm currently filming a TV comedy series in Finland. By the end of this year I will go to America for a longer period, so this is a very exciting time. Very happy.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Pointing out the extremely obvious but still most hidden things lurking in plain sight. Doing this in a very very very funny way.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

I wanted the pressure to put together a new show. It has worked.
Also someone has convinced me that doing the Fringe is the best way to get British people to see my stuff. A promise made to a couple of thousand others as well, I've come to realise...

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Yes, now when I think about it, the show would actually work out even better with people in the room. I really should have a cunning plan, shouldn't I.

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

In Finland we don't have to ask about money. The tax information is public and we can just read everyone's makings from the paper. It's probably the national main event of the year.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Performing a 30 minute gig to an audience of one person. Using a stage and a sound system to do it.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

My show is at 4pm, so at least theoretically I should be able to see a lot of others. I haven't started reading the programme yet though, the first step is always the hardest with really thick books.

I heard Glenn Wool is coming so I'll try to catch at least him.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Doug Stanhope and Paul Foot.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

A bus driver working with his equipment.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

The show is really unique, both in delivery and content. And I mean unique in a positive way, not in an a-bit-too-unique-and-just-annoyingly-weird way.

For more analytical people, the punchlines-per-minute ratio is very high and the level of original insightfulness also high.

'Ismo Leikola: Observing the Obvious' is at 4pm at Gilded Balloon on 7-15, 22-30 August. Listing