Interview: Jimeóin talks with Victoria Nangle
jimeóin jam
Stand up star of the big name live shows, from the Palladium to The Apollo, and widely hailed as a live comedy master, Jimeóin talks with Victoria Nangle about Superman, skateboarding and West End potential
Hi Jimeóin, how’s today been treating you?
I’m at the Edinburgh fringe and I’ve walked these streets with nothing to do but my show in the evening. This interview is a blessing.
You’re show’s called; ‘Is it…?!’. Is this your way of telling us you’re Superman?
You know I can’t tell you that but I’m a handy boy. It’s just a stupid title. Or is it?
You are a bit of a Superman, considering that you perform live tour comedy, act on the telly and in films, have written films, and find time to be a dad! With lots of strings to your bow, what skill would you really like to have that you don’t currently?
Ways of occupying my day when I’m on tour. I really have to find something else to do. Maybe learn another language. I started playing piano a few years back and that is coming along. I’m going to think long and hard about that over the next couple of weeks.
I was asked to do Fagin in Oliver Twist once, which I might consider again in the future
What non-professional thing are you most proud of having done in your life (not counting producing a family)?
There was a time when the stand up was a none-professional thing but it has become a job. Dropped into a 10 foot bowl on a skateboard. Confronting that fear was good.
You’ve been doing observational comedy for years. What do you think the key is to keeping it fresh and finding topics and perspectives that are both easily relateable and never-before-mined?
Looking for those sort of topics is the trick. Stuff that other people haven’t done but is really obvious. But even coming at obvious subjects in an original way is good enough
as long as the joke is good.
What are your plans for the next 12 months professionally?
I seem to just tour all the time between here and Australia. I would like to do a bit more TV but we will just have to see.
You’ve finished shows with a song in the past. Are there any musicals that could tempt you to the West End and singing nightly, and if so which role would be yours?
I was asked to do Fagin in Oliver Twist once, which I might consider again in the future.
What tips would you give to aspiring comics in the current climate?
Don’t take tips of other comics in this current climate.
So some fluke has meant that you’ve inherited the old burned out pier in Brighton. With money no object, what would you do with it?
Burn it again. But this time do it right. And the other one as well.
Where’s your favourite place to visit in Brighton?
It’s some pub on a couple of levels with a fireplace on the second floor.
Thanks very much for this. Have a glorious rest of your day.
Jimeóin: Is It…?!, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Saturday 25 October 2014, 8pm, £17.50,
01273 709 709, www.brightoncomedyfestival.com
