It was the first of times, it was the worst of times. In this interview column edited by Si Hawkins we probe comedians' murky pasts. A new interview every Thursday.
Tom Taylor
Thursday 14th September
The Wodehouse-fuelled character comic recalls an unsexy burlesque bloke and a seriously weird village hall.
Athena Kugblenu
Thursday 7th September
Athena Kugblenu recalls Rastamouse confusion, horror-movie audience and an excellent bit of stand-up advice.
Justin Moorhouse
Thursday 31st August
The popular Manc muses on misguided characters, delusional comics and a garden centre secret.
Maria Shehata
Thursday 24th August
The London-based, currently Edinburgh-Fringeing Egyptian/American Maria Shehata recalls memorable shows in Ohio, Paris, Norway... and a stinker in Birmingham.
Ian Stone
Thursday 17th August
Comedian Ian Stone tells us about his best and worst gigs, a cracking Snoop Dogg joke, and some memorable reviews.
Dino Wiand
Thursday 10th August
New York-based comedian Dino Wiand talks about his return to comedy, and his home country, after a 16-year absence.
Joz Norris
Thursday 3rd August
That nice Joz Norris is mildly concerned by career-minded comics and wishes more punters were clued up about ZZ Top.
Angela Barnes
Thursday 27th July
Newsjack host Angela Barnes recalls proud, painful and peculiar shows, and offers some seriously useful radio-writing advice.
Loyiso Gola
Thursday 20th July
Back from Latitude and about to grace Edinburgh for a month, Loyiso Gola recalls bewildered tourists, in-the-dark comedians and one electrifying hall.
Harriet Kemsley
Thursday 13th July
Newly hitched-on-telly Harriet Kemsley tells all about a busy bed, nuclear beverages and an awkward owl death.