2015 Edinburgh Fringe

NewsRevue answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

NewsRevue 2015. Image shows from L to R: Kieran Mortell, Naomi Bullock, Katriona Perrett, Simon Prag

Nobody is safe from NewsRevue, the long-running satirical sketch show, which is back in Edinburgh for another year. Here Keiran Mortell from the cast answers our 10 questions...

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

Personally; go back exactly 9 months from my birthday and it's New Year's Eve, so technically my whole life is a bit of a joke? But we have all been being funny for money for a number of years now.

In terms of where we are at, we're obviously delighted to be following in the footsteps of some serious big comedy names; Bill Bailey, Alistair McGowan, Sara Pascoe (the list goes on) in this great show. I've even heard the other three cast members (Katriona Perrett, Naomi Bullock and Simon Prag) discussing what an honour it was to be working with someone like me. Because I'm not sure if you know - but I once did a version of Little Red Riding Hood in Primary Schools, but whatever, I'll stop going on about it now.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

NewsRevue gives the satire lemon a good squeeze. Leaving politicians and celebrities alike with a bitter taste as audiences enjoy our zestiness!

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

We didn't have a choice really. Emma Taylorm, our producer, well she's actually part of the little known Comedy Mafia. I think Keith Chegwin is sort of the Godfather, with Emma and Les Dennis as his second in commands. So it was a sort of; "Naomi, Kat, Simon & Kieran - here's the deal - do my NewsRevue show, or we'll never consider you to be the next presenter of Wheel of Fortune" type of vibe. We had no option.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

No not at all. None whatsoever. How cheap. We wouldn't stoop so low. Besides, we're sure that the free beer, dinner and £50 gift voucher, along with lots of topless scenes is enough in itself to bring in an audience anyway. (Get your tickets at www.newsrevue.com).

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

Well to work this out, we've taken the average ticket sales from last year, and added our wage. From this figure, I've then subtracted cider (Using an average cider as £4). We then times 4x120 to get our alcohol expenditure. If you then minus 7x battered mars bar - BUT ADD all those dollar bills that'll get slipped into our knickers during the naughty NewsRevue sketches - you get a grand total of "a bloody wonderful month".

NewsRevue 2015. Image shows from L to R: Simon Prag, Naomi Bullock, Kieran Mortell, Katriona Perrett

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

At the hairdressers last week, I asked them to cut off 1 inch but they ended up putting this extension on and bleaching the tips... Sorry? Oh you mean Edinburgh Fringe. Cool. Umm... Well weirdest would probably be a review I once got for a dance piece I was in. They 'complimented' (loose term) me by saying my movement style was akin to that of a performer from a famous DISABLED dance troupe. Said performer is fantastic but has no legs. I have legs, fully operational legs. Did they mean it would have been better without my legs?

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

We've heard Rolf Harris is covering some of Queen's biggest hits, so we'd like to go and see his 'I want to break free' concert. Also we are into the weird and wonderful, and apparently Paddy Ashdown is doing some experimental physical theatre piece about the general election. So we're going to get tickets to watch him; eating his own hat, live.

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

Well I think it would have to be a venue specifically programmed for double acts! Obviously you would headline with Morecambe & Wise bringing your bit of sunshine. Who could look any further than those two? But you could also have The Two Ronnies whacking out some classics in the early evening. Fry & Laurie. Fancy a cheeky bit of Bottom? Something for the kids too, as The Chuckle Brothers take the morning slot. Also out venue would go throughout the night, with Harry & Paul characters 'Smashie and Nicey' providing a late night DJ set.

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

Well for us lot, probably any of the people we take on during our show. So that's anyone in the news really. But if you had to push us - I'd say Kim Jong Un would be pretty mad if he met us. [The last sentence has been removed by North Korean authorities].

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

Funny you should ask. Actually all four of us are really, really not well. It's well documented our last wish is to play to full houses every night, just to keep our flame burning bright through these dark times. But I mean sure, if you can just ignore that and go and see another show regardless - then I guess that's fine. If not, and you want to see a little smile on our sad little poorly suffering faces, then go to www.newsrevue.com

'NewsRevue 2015' is at 6:30pm at Pleasance Courtyard on 5-17, 19-31 August. Listing

Published: Friday 21st August 2015

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