2011 Edinburgh Fringe

Lloyd Langford interview

Lloyd Langford

From a very young age, Lloyd Langford has been obsessed with comedy and trivia. For his third solo show in Edinburgh, he thought he would combine the two. An hour crammed full of jokes about mice, knives and cling film; at last, a comedian who's unafraid to tackle the big issues!

Here, Lucy Wood, talks to Lloyd about his inspirations, aspirations and Anne Frank...
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Tell us about your show for the Fringe this year...

It's an hour of jokes with some added trivia. I didn't do a solo show in Edinburgh last year and so I've been itching to get back in the saddle. N.B: There is no saddle.

You have worked with high-profile comics. What have you learnt from them and how has that helped your career?

I think you're always learning stuff from other comics, especially those with a lot more experience. I've been lucky to work with some great comedians. Rhod Gilbert is an expert at layering gags on top of each other. His comedy is like one big lasagne. An angry lasagne. What I learnt from Russell Brand is that he didn't want to meet his support act. I supported him on tour for a few dates and he never even said hello. He just stayed in his dressing room. It was like gigging with Anne Frank.

Who are your comedy heroes?

There are too many to mention but Steve Martin, Leslie Nielsen, Harry Hill and Craig Campbell are up there.

So what made you want to get into comedy?

The catalyst was seeing a 30-second bit of Daniel Kitson performing in Edinburgh on some BBC review programme in 2001. I'd always been interested in comedy and performing but that clip lit the blue touch paper. The first gig I ever saw was Francesca Martinez and Chris Addison in October 2001. I had a ball but I knew I'd prefer being on stage to being in the audience.

Tell us about your favourite ever gig...

As a punter (and occasional on-stage assistant), Mark Watson's first 24-hour show would be pretty tough to beat.

It's your third year at the Fringe. How do you relax when you're not at work?

It's not my third year at the Fringe. I've been up here in some capacity every year since 2002, so it appears I mainly relax by correcting mistakes in interviews.

We meant it's your third solo show. Being as you're an old hand at the Fringe, do you have any tips for surviving the festival?

Buy an umbrella. Or quickly evolve those vagina gills Kevin Costner had in Waterworld.

And what's next after August?

I do an occasional improv show with Dan Atkinson and Jon Richardson called Git. I'd like to do more of that. And I'm doing the next series of Ask Rhod Gilbert. Then, I think I might have a bit of a lie-down.

Lloyd Langford: The Cold Hard Facts of Life is at The Stand at 10:05pm. Listing

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