2015 Edinburgh Fringe

John Osborne answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

John Osborne - Most People Aren't That Happy Anyway

John Osborne, who you might have recently heard on Radio 4, is back at the Fringe this year.

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

I'm really happy with how things are going. I've had a few things on Radio 4, written a few books and I've got a sitcom on Sky1 in the autumn [After Hours] that I wrote with my friend Molly. I think I'd be a bit stupid not to be happy with that. If you can earn a living hanging out with your friend all day you must be doing something right.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Poems and stories and occasional special guests. It won't go on too long. If you don't like it you don't have to pay.

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

I thought it was the best way of becoming friends with Tiernan Douieb.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

My friend Katie did a drawing for the flyers and poster. She is such a good illustrator I'm hoping it will trick people into thinking my show is a higher quality than it actually is.

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

I've worked out that if I get 20 people in a day and they all pay £3 I'll cover most of the boring adminy costs. The booze and chips costs I'm happy to pay for myself.

John Peel's Shed. John Osborne

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Me and my friend Paddy did a show called The Mid 90s la la la in 2008. I loved it and it was the first show either of us had ever done. We stayed in his auntie and uncle's house in Musselbro sharing a double bed. It was all fine because it was 'part of the fringe.' So I'd say that whole experience was fun, exciting, bewildering, life changing, crucial but above all baffling.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

I saw a preview of Pat Cahill's show and it is so, so funny. Luke Wright's show What I learned from Johnny Bevan is incredible and will be one of the Edinburgh buzz shows. Brigitte Aphrodite is at the Underbelly with a new show and she is one of the greatest human beings on the planet, and I'll hopefully go along to see Tony Law too because I love him.

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

I'd have songs from Gavin Osborn, poetry from Tim Key, stand-up from Simon Munnery and Sara Pascoe, Arthur Smith compering, Bryony Kimmings messing around and the venue would be a nice temperature and it wouldn't go on too long.

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

Mike Tyson seems a pretty intense guy.

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

They might take their seat, look at the person next to them and fall in love and be happy forever. (They might not.)

'Most People Aren't That Happy, Anyway' is at 1:30pm at The Voodoo Rooms on 8-18, 20-30 August. Listing

Published: Tuesday 28th July 2015

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