Words: Claire Smith

You’ve called your show ‘Family Friendly Comedian’ what’s that about?

It’s an ironic title.  It’s about me becoming a mainstream comic.  I pitch a bunch of TV show ideas at the audience and it’s for them to decide if I’m family-friendly by the end of it.
I’m telling a lot of jokes but I also talk about my life and some of the things that have happened over the last few years.

You haven’t done a full run in Edinburgh for 11 years – and you’ve sold out Wembley Arena and the Hammersmith Apollo since then.  What’s the appeal of the Fringe?

For a comic it is the best place to be.  This show has been a two hour show on tour but I have to cut it down to an hour for Edinburgh.  If you don’t you get fined.

What have been the big events of the last few years for you?

The pandemic had a big effect on me and on everyone else.  We had more deaths in this country – proportionally – than anywhere else in the world.  Our 75-year-old NHS has been eroded by the Conservative Government.  We have been conned by Boris Johnson for sure.  He’s now saying he can’t remember the password for his mobile phone. You can’t write this stuff

How have you changed as a comic since you first came to Edinburgh?

I think comedy evolves as your life evolves.  I’m not the person I used to be and I’m not the comic I used to be either.  You change as a human being and so does your comedy.

Where do you think it’s all going?

I think comedy can be used to break down barriers – people are more receptive when they laugh.  But now we have people getting their comedy from things like Youtube and Instagram I’m a bit afraid that stand up comedy could go extinct.

Paul Chowdhry: Family-Friendly Comedian
Pleasance Courtyard – Cabaret Bar 
21:40