Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Paddy Young

How does it feel to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe after your successful newcomer hour; has the recognition you’ve received had a positive impact on your last year as a stand-up?

Feels good! People who once looked over my shoulder are now licking my boots. I still feel exactly the same deep down; like my actual self-worth or happiness haven’t changed at all, but I’ve had meetings in some really nice offices. I toured that first show until spring so building a new hour felt completely quackers and for a while (February - April) after certain previews (Leicester) I thought it was a terrible mistake. But now I reckon this shows a real goer.

What can audiences expect from If I Told You That I’d Have To Kiss You?

In part, it’s about love. That desperate yearning love where you turn into the stupidest person in the world and your heart pounds out of your chest like a cartoon wolf. But there’s also some incredibly nuanced stuff about public executions and Babestation. I like it to be fairly loose (NOT the same as underwritten) so it changes depending on who’s in and what’s going on. You could see the show two nights in a row and it would feel like two completely shows (other than about 80% of it which I’ve painstakingly prepared over the last year, how much of a mad cunt do you think I am to just turn up and busk it?!) 

You work with well-recognised creative teams at Berk’s Nest and Parkas, and other comedians creating videos. How important are these collaborations off-stage when you’re writing an Edinburgh show to be performed solo?

In this game you can’t move for crooks, nonces and charlatans, so being around good people is what it’s all about. Berk's and Parkas are the very best. I feel very lucky to be mates with some of my favourite comedians; we make work together, massage each other’s egos when needed and say truly unforgivable things on the WhatApp group.

What inspired you to create, and what can audience’s expect, from your late-night variety show Rodeo!?

Lois Walshe and I were complaining at the lack of rowdy, fun, late night comedy shows in London, the type that comedians would want to hang out at even if they weren’t performing, so we created one. When we took it to the Fringe last year it went up a notch. It’s pure chaos and is an excuse for our gang to do whatever we want alongside our favourite comics.

Were you always interested in comedy and who were your favourite comedians growing up? 

I think I was always obsessed with comedy. I found my dad’s Viz when I was way too young and couldn’t believe it. Austin Powers and Shooting Stars came along soon after and that was that. The best comedians are the ones with that twinkle in the eye; Norm Macdonald, Chelsea Peretti, Roy Chubby Brown.

What shows are you most looking forward to seeing in August, and why?

I can’t wait to see Maggie Winters – she’s one of those Americans that comes over here and steals the show. I’ve already seen Bebe Cave’s show and it was brilliant. It’s a play – but get this – it’s funny. It’s like a stand-up routine from a starlet in the golden years of Hollywood.  

The Fifth Step at the Lyceum will probably be amazing – I loved Ulster American, David Ireland’s last play so much. It’s at the same time as my show so I’ll have to pull a sickie.

How can Edinburgh audiences keep up with you beyond the festival? 

You HAVE to follow me – @paddyisyoung on most things. My first special is coming out later this year and I’m in something on telly which I think will be really good but I’m not allowed to talk about it yet so you should probably just follow me, shouldn’t you.