The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jon Richardson
Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, April 26
It’s the little things that have always bugged Jon Richardson.
If you were to pop along to his touring show, Old Man, expecting to be regaled with the latest theories of what’s going on with Brexit, the White House and Syria, you might be left somewhat bereft.
If, on the other hand, your stand-up bag is perched among the micro irritations of watching someone load the dishwasher badly, to the perils of unwashed earthenware, then two hours in Jon Richardson’s company will be a ball.
For the comic himself, being on tour might simply be a welcome distraction to the chaos of his domestic life, now that he is the father of a young daughter: “Gigs have become very cathartic for me, as things are so hectic at home.
“Gigs are now the equivalent of going to the pub or the cinema. This is obviously the perfect time for me to be leaving home for several weeks and, it has to be said, I’m not terribly popular at home. But I’m assuming that by the time I get back, my daughter will be toilettrained, capable of dressing herself and able to drive.”
Despite his pernickety and curmudgeonly ways – which Richardson has admitted previously are a form of OCD – parenthood has altered his world view a tad.
“Suddenly, global events take on more significance. When you’re single, you’re not beholden to anyone and you can shut down more easily. In the past, I had the idea that I’d live in a caravan with a dog near a pub and with no responsibilities. But now when bad things happen in the world, I feel responsible for them because they’re going to impact on my daughter. The caravan, the dog and the pub have gone now.”
Since earning himself a spot on the best newcomer awards list at the Edinburgh Fringe of 2007, Richardson has grown into one of the most assured and reliable stand-ups in the British game.
The inevitable panel show work has come his way and stints as team captain on 8 Out of 10 Cats and its Countdownbased spin-off have turned him into a household name. But getting out there and meeting his public is when his mojo reaches its peak.
“I can’t believe I get to do this job,” he says. “As I get older, I’ve got more and more to talk about and I have more and more confidence.
“I love the privilege of looking back on my life every three years, turning it into a comedy show and sharing it with an audience. It’s a way of converting the difficult elements of life into comedy.”
He adds: “None of us know what’s going on at the moment, so to be able to laugh at it in unity for two hours is absolutely great.”