2015 Edinburgh Fringe

Tiernan Douieb answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

Tiernan Douieb

Tiernan Douieb, the comedian who possesses both a funny surname and a funny sense of humour, is returning to the Fringe after a few years away.

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

Yeah pretty much. I'm doing the gigs I want to do, writing what I want to write and earning an ok living. My dream would be to be able to tour more often too but hopefully that'll come. I started comedy in 2003/4 so I'm coming up to 12 years of doing it. It's been my only job since 2007 and while there were a few years of panic and sad looks at cash machines that gave me bad news, I'm now getting to do what I love and live off it properly. So I can't complain. Even though I do often anyway.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

A mish-mosh of astronomy, politics and ill thought out ideas put together to berate humanity & dream of a life in space.

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

Because I'm an idiot.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

No. In fact, I'm almost trying less in order to just get nice punters in. I'm not sure I've thought this through. See the answer to the previous question.

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

I'll probably lose too much and make not enough. But I don't think I'll lose everything and make nothing. So you know, there's some hope.

Tiernan Douieb

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

In 2010 when I was doing a show in a particularly sweaty room, a man stood up halfway through my show to proclaim 'Look, I'm really enjoying the show and I want to stay, but it's like a sauna in here and I need to stay fresh for the ladies, know what I mean?' Then left. Incredible.

It's either that, or when I lived in a cardboard box for 14 hours as part of one of Mark Watson's 24 hour shows. It wasn't very comfortable but people did keep giving me Kinder eggs.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

Loads and loads. I hear Lolly Adefope's show is great, so I want to see that. Adam Hess too. Pat Cahill always makes me laugh. Also Laura Lexx's first hour looks great. I've got tickets to see Jena Friedman already and Limmy at the Book Festival. Bec Hill, Chris Coltrane, Keith Farnan will be guaranteed great shows too. There's too many things! I'm hoping to cram in as much as possible this year.

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

Louis CK. Definitely. Chelsea Peretti, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney. Basically all American acts I don't get to see very often and seem to miss when they come to the UK. Oh and Key & Peele doing a sketch bit in the middle. Clearly the club would go bust after one gig due to costs, but it'd be one great gig.

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

Any of current government. With what they're to doing to culture (let alone the country) I'd feel sad that they were taking up any seats at the Fringe that could go to people who'd appreciate it. I mean, I'd also not like to bump into any of the White Walkers from Game Of Thrones, as it'll probably be the right sort of weather for them, or myself as it'd mean a parallel universe me had appeared to sabotage my show and we'd have to fight to the death.

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

'Cos I'm in it. And I'm not in the other ones. Unless I get lost. Also I'll say the words 'crinkle cut chips'.

'Tiernan Douieb: The World's Full of Idiots, Let's Live in Space' is at 2:30pm at The Liquid Room on 8-17, 19-30 August. Listing

Published: Tuesday 21st July 2015

Share this page