Kevin Bridges interview: 'I was grateful for Michael McIntyre break'

There aren't many 25-year-old stand-ups as famous as Glasgow-born Kevin Bridges. On the circuit since he was a teenager, a Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow appearance catapulted him to the big time.

Underlining his comedy A-list placing, this month the BBC kicks off a new six-part series all about stories behind Kevin's material, his upbringing and life. We got on the phone to ask him all about it.

What can you tell us about your new show What's The Story?
"Everyone always asks comedians, 'How do you come up with your material'. So we thought we'd stick up five or six minutes of material and then go behind the jokes. Basically it's an excuse to go and have a laugh.

"If I talk about something like American house parties - we actually flew to America and went to a college party. We did a gig in my old school - stuff like that. Any excuse to bring the jokes to life really."

Did you have to twist the BBC's arm to fly you out to Utah?
"The production company seemed up for it - I think it was pretty important that we made it happen because it was one of the biggest jokes on the last tour. It was a big help to go and get it."

How did your parents feel about being involved in the show?
"Aye, they were up for it, they were really up for it! They had a blast."

Your parents were at your first gig, which seems unusual...
"It was only my dad, who had to be there because I was 17. The club said you had to bring a parent or guardian because there's a booze licence."

Was it challenging being so young on the circuit?
"No - I suppose when you start off and you're different from the other comics you've got an angle to go on. So I was doing loads of material about being 17. Being old enough to have sex and too young to buy porn - that was one of my first big routines. Then I turned 18 and I had to ditch everything. I should have seen it coming."



You've still got that great bit about watching the Freeview porn - is it embarrassing doing that stuff with your dad in the audience?
"No, not at all. My dad's always been up for a laugh - especially at himself. He's really supportive as well. If he said that he didn't want to be in my stand-up then I'd lose a lot of material.

"Your jokes are sort of loosely based on the truth. You exaggerate a bit and add a few lines. He knows it's fine. He has people in the street shouting, 'You're a dirty b**tard'."

Stand-up comedians' autobiographies are big sellers now - why all the interest?
"It's quite an unconventional job, isn't it? Other performers, first they went to drama school, then they got a part, then that's it. Whereas comedy everybody does it a bit in their lives and it turns on just going on a stage in a pub to make people laugh.

"Why did you get to that point in your life? Why did that happen? Everyone's got interesting stories. I'm still to meet a comedian who's not got a good story for why they started stand-up, so maybe that's why they're interested?"

What was it like to interview Frank Skinner who was such an inspiration to you?
"That was a big moment for me. It was the first time I'd met Frank. In stand-up you meet everybody - Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre - but Frank I just kept missing him.

"I'd do the same show but he'd be on the week before me. It was quite weird that after eight years I'd never met him. On that show it genuinely was the first time I'd met Frank. We'll probably see each other again pretty soon."



Was it a big shock getting on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow when you did?
"I'd been doing the circuit for six years at the time. So you're constantly looking for a break. I was starting to headline comedy clubs and thinking, 'Is this going to be me for life, just travelling every weekend and just paying the bills?'

"I was always pushing to get on stuff. I wanted to push myself to do an hour and a half and build up my own following. Getting on a BBC One prime time show and getting on it to do stand-up as well, rather than acting or a panel show. Getting on to do what I do - I was grateful for that break."

Michael gets some grief from other comedians - why do you think that is?
"I suppose it's easy to say it's jealousy. Maybe it's just personal relationships. I don't really know mate. I can only take people as I find them and I've always found him to be a really nice guy and really positive as well about stand up."

Why has stand-up become so popular over the last few years?
"Putting stand-up on TV never used to work. I used to watch stand-up shows on TV and they used to be a bit meh. But then somebody's obviously figured out how to do it right.

"Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow look great because it's not a studio audience, it's people in a theatre. With studio audiences you just get people along to see how a TV show's made. They're too conscious to go on the camera.

"But if you put it on at the Apollo and in nice big theatres, people are just happy to be getting a free night and watch some live stand-up, so that's going to come through. And it's more of a live feel than a TV studio."

What do you make of panel shows?
"I don't particularly enjoy them myself because it's in the edit. You go on and record for three hours and you watch the show and you've only got five bits in, unless you're a regular.

"You don't really get seen much on the show. It gets a bit annoying. I hate having to fight to get a word in as well because I think, 'What's the point?'

"I just cannae be bothered. It's other people's thing, that sort of show. If you're up for then fine, it works, it's a good show, it's got massive viewing figures and people love it, but for me, I'm more of a storyteller.

"I've done it once or twice cos you need it. You don't want to turn down big TV shows at the start of your career. But I think now that I've got a following, touch wood, then I don't see the point of going back to it."

Do you ever worry that stripping back the layers might ruin the mystique of your comedy?
"I don't think there's much mystique to what I do mate! I think stand-up's all about honesty. I think you just really be yourself. A bit of a heightened version of yourself.

"I don't really see myself as a performer, as I said on the show. I just see it as pretty much telling my own personal anecdotes. I don't think there's much to strip away."

Kevin Bridges: What's The Story starts on Wednesday, February 8 at 10.45pm on BBC One.