Comics on hitting the heights in Edinburgh
A couple of very different comics tell writer Bill Gibb how concerts in the Capital have polished their punchlines
I once played to three people then a couple stormed out saying ‘Give us a call when you’re funny’
– Joe Lycett on his early gigs
Hitting the heights in Edinburgh is every comic’s dream but Joe Lycett was left on a massive downer after mid-flight misery.
The fast-rising star, new face of BBC hit The Great British Sewing Bee, was hired to perform on a flight to the capital.
“I was supposed to do 10 minutes of stand-up and I had agreed, thinking the passengers knew this was going to happen,” said Joe, 29. “But they didn’t and when I stood up with this speaker powered by AA batteries, everyone just looked at me as if I was mad.
“Someone timed me and I did just two minutes and 43 seconds of the set before sitting down. It was grim, a really horrible experience. I wrote some stand-up about it afterwards because I found it so traumatic.”
Birmingham-born Joe will be back in Edinburgh in November as part of his tour – the I’m About To Lose Control And I Think Joe Lycett tour – that will see him perform at Glasgow Academy on Tuesday and Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday.
The Edinburgh gig is at the 3,000-seater Playhouse, something Joe could never have dreamed of when he started performing in the city.
“I once played to just three people. Another time a couple in the front row kept their coats on and stormed out after 10 minutes saying, ‘Give us a ring when you’re funny’.
“But the city has been integral to my career because the festival is just extraordinary.
“My first show about eight or nine years ago was called The Lunchtime Club and I was wide-eyed with excitement that I was going to be playing in Edinburgh every day.
“I still have that pinch myself sort of feeling there. In that first year I’d cram in as many other shows as I could each day and I did over 100 gigs.
“You can’t help but learn and come back a much better comic. Edinburgh was where I cut my teeth and learned my craft.” Joe had another one of his pinch-me moments last week when he played the Palace Theatre in Manchester, selling out a venue where he used to sell ice creams and work behind the bar.
He has been a regular on numerous panel shows including Celebrity Juice, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Would I Lie To You? and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
But signing up to replace Claudia Winkleman as the host of Sewing Bee, from the makers of The Great British Bake Off, will be his biggest project yet.
“It was a real curve-ball and I didn’t see it coming,” admitted Joe.
“It’s a lovey thing to be asked to do and my mum adores it, it’s her favourite show on telly, so she’s really excited.
“I’ve been trying to swot up on sewing but I think they’ve booked me because
I don’t know much about it and that’ll be funny. I’ll be deliberately naive.”
Having never hosted something on his own,
Joe has been trying to garner as much advice as possible.
And fellow comedian and Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding was one of the first to offer his support.
“I messaged Noel immediately asking what on earth I should do and he basically said to just be myself and I’d be fine,” adds Joe, who starts filming in August.
“And Claudia has been really nice too, but I know she’s a big act to follow.
“She makes it look all very easy but that’s years of work and I only hope I can do justice to filling her shoes.”
I’m 84 and still get nervous before going on but the most wonderful things have happened to me in Edinburgh
– Lynn Ruth Miller on her love of Scotland
Age is no laughing matter for Lynn Ruth Miller – or rather it very much is.
Lynn bills herself as the world’s oldest comedienne and, as she’s just about to turn 85, she reckons she’s on pretty safe ground. Remarkably, she was 71 before she took to the stand-up circuit and she has subsequently appeared alongside Robin Williams and Amy Schumer.
Now, as she gets set to play a string of dates in Scotland, American-born Lynn has told how she owes the success of her laterlife career to Edinburgh.
And how she’s thrilled to be a role model for others looking to live their lives to the fullest.
“Edinburgh made me,” says Lynn, who was born in Ohio and now lives in Brighton.
“I started going as a punter in 1988 and then became a reviewer, so when I started doing comedy I knew all the venues and got bookings in 2005.
“It was a terrible show but it was the beginning of me realising I could actually do this thing.
“I have so many fond memories of Edinburgh. I did the Burlesque Festival there last year and all these beautiful girls were ripping off their clothes with bodies I’d kill to have. Then I get up there with no waistline and being one inch taller than a dwarf and everybody gave me a standing ovation.
“I’ll be in it again this year and I love it so much. Every wonderful thing in the world has happened to me in Edinburgh, it’s the reason I perform and the reason I fell in love with comedy.”
Lynn was in San Francisco, writing and teaching in adult education when she decided to make a massive change and try comedy when she was in her 70s.
She worked alongside Williams shortly before his death and says US TV and film star Schumer had earlier been a massive help.
“She’s a big part of me still being in comedy. She had heard me and told the booker I was funny. The booker hadn’t thought so, but because Amy said I was she started hiring me and I started getting paid for what I was doing.”
Twice-married Lynn last week compered the Old Comedian of the Year competition in London, designed to recognise over-35s on the circuit and still hanging on to the day job.
As someone more than twice that age who gave up that security, Lynn is aware she’s seen as an inspiration.
“I strongly recommend that people get off the merry-go-round and pursue their dream,” said Lynn.
“Health has improved so much and we’re in such better shape that you don’t have to be like your grandparents or even your parents.
“And people have all these ‘what ifs’ that they use to stop them.
“When I’m told I’m an inspiration I’m not sure how to handle it as I think you can do what you want. Comedy is a bit of an addiction for me.
“I was alone, I had no partner, no family and suddenly I’m the centre of attention wherever I go. People say they love me and that’s a lovely thing to hear.”
As well as her Edinburgh dates Lynn will also be appearing in Glasgow and at the Crieff Comedy Festival at the end of next month.
Despite her veteran status and all her experience, Lynn admits she suffers badly from stage fright.
“I’m still a complete wreck, I can’t eat before I go on.
“An audience is like a living thing and every one is different. It’s up to me to make them laugh and if I don’t then I’m not doing my job.”
And although she has a busy comedy schedule, Lynn says she still has plenty of other things she wants to do.
“I want to travel the world, fall in love, get a puppy. I’ve got a million goals.”