Carl Carzana

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 27th May 2025

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week that person is Carl Carzana, founder of an award-winning format, usually occurring in Brighton, that turns a stand-up staple on its head.

"Boast in Show is a comedy boast battle where comics tell jokes about one another that are nice," Carzana explains. "I came up with the idea about eight years ago after I was in a roast battle with my friend and found the whole concept mean spirited and totally unoriginal. My friend and I wrote jokes about each other that basically amounted to us going 'What's he like eh?'"

They lost that contest but an idea was spawned, in Bath then Brighton, where it's become a must-attend for performers and punters alike, as increasingly grand gestures take on a life of their own. One local comic, Martha Casey, had a new national day bestowed upon them by fellow turn Harrison Thomas, which is now observed every April 19th. And you just don't get that at roasts.

The next Boast is June 13th where "the theme is The Futuristic World of Tomorrow," says Carzana. "We also have our Ultimate Champion show on 10th September at the Brighton Komedia. This show will feature all of our past winners and we will find out once and for all who is the nicest comedian ever!"

Meanwhile the contest-conjuring comic is also prepping his annual show "The Carl Carzana of the Year Comedy Competition. This is a competition that only I am allowed to enter, so only I could win, and it raised money for a local charity. This year I'm opening it up to anyone who wants to apply to be the Carl Carzana of the Year. They just have to show that they have what it takes to be the best Carl Carzana they can be. This will be judged by a panel of industry professionals such as my mum, brothers and my partner."

May the best Carl Carzana win. Now, original Carl Carzana, your Random 8 await.

What was your favourite kids TV show?

I remember really liking Bodger & Badger, I thought it was really fun and silly. I also watched Art Attack religiously. That show was so great and I think it helped me to realise that being creative is a good thing and encouraged me to explore that further. I've definitely embraced that in my comedy today.

Who's the most interesting person you've ever met?

I was on Terry Garrigan's Last Bus to Whitehawk when I was about 11. Terry was a comedian and radio DJ for Southern FM when I was a kid. He ran loads of weird and surreal features on his show like 'What have I got in my hand?' where listeners had to guess what was in his hand with no clues and obviously not able to see it. I remember listening to his show and loving how silly and entertaining it was. It was so different to anything else I'd ever heard.

He ran a feature where he wondered if parents would let him babysit their kids live on the radio. I begged my parents to let me apply and they eventually said yes. I went into the radio station and was on air for the whole show. Looking back I can see how stressed out I made him because he said to me if I want to say anything just say 'Terry' into the mic. All night I was like "Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry, Terry..."

Favourite shop, ever?

I don't know if it's my favourite but for a while I really enjoyed going into the Lego Store and asking them to tell me the story of Lego. I wanted to show that I already knew the story of Lego because I had found the company's new-starter induction video on YouTube. The company's founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen was a Danish carpenter, who started a workshop making wooden toys but the workshop burnt down like three times. I kept thinking, "make the toys from something else!".

Eventually he did because he saw a machine at a trade show that produced small plastic bricks and I think he modified it so they interlocked. Anyway you'd be surprised how many Lego Store employees don't know the story of Lego or don't want to chat.

What's the worst thing in your wardrobe?

Quite a lot of my wardrobe is terrible. I went through a phase of trying to find the perfect on-stage uniform so brought loads of horrible clothes, trying to find my look. These days I wear a massive oversized blazer because I think it adds to my persona, which is quite naive. It kind of looks like I've nicked it off my dad to do the gig.

I think it's important to have a look that suggests to the audience that what you're about to see is a persona or a character, something a bit out of the ordinary. No one looks at Harry Hill as he walks on stage and thinks "That's a normal size collar, he'll probably do some observational material."

Which film or TV show would you love to have been in (and which part?)

I'd have loved to have been in Shooting Stars or Harry Hill's TV Burp. Both those shows shaped my sense of humour growing up. I love shows where there is more going on than just comedians improvising on camera. The fact that both had a surreal/alternative tone to them made me a fan instantly and have both inspired me to make sure that whatever shows I produce there are always moments that take the audience by surprise.

Whether it's a recurring gig, a fringe show or a TV show I think that the audience should be engaged throughout and not be able to guess what's going to happen next. For me that is when comedy is at its best and both those shows mastered that.

When were you most embarrassed?

I don't tend to embarrass easily as I think stand-up tends to knock that out of you, [but] there were definitely times before I started out in comedy. Probably the worst was when I dislocated my foot falling out of a tree at the age of 28. I told them at the hospital that I fell on it awkwardly. They could tell I was lying so eventually I told them I was climbing trees because I had the day off work.

What's the weirdest thing you ever saw?

I tend to have a lot of people say weird things to me more than I see weird things. I was on a flight once and I was a bit nervous so I started drawing to take my mind off it. There was a guy sitting next to me on his own who saw me drawing and said he'd give me a tenner if I could draw his wife and kids. I asked him if he had a photo I could work from and he said 'No! I want you to imagine them." I basically drew Madge from Neighbours and Tracy Beaker.

How do you feel about cats (the animal, not the musical)?

I'm more of a dog person, having said that my partner and I have a cat called Olive and she is a sweet baby angel with no equal.

I didn't realise there was a musical of Cats. Is it based on the film?

Boast in Show returns on June 13 at Presuming Ed's in Brighton. Tickets

The Boast in Show Ultimate Champion is at Brighton's Komedia on Sept 10. komedia.co.uk