Russell Kane talks 'Comedy Masterclass'

Russell Kane has said that he gave journalists "constructive and healthy" criticism as part of last week's Comedy Masterclass project.

Supported by the Fosters Funny website, the stand-up gave a short talk to his "students" before helping them construct a two-minute set via one-on-one tuition.

Kane quipped to DS: "It's possibly one of the most exciting things I've done this month, and I've done some pretty cracking things this month!

"It's just f**king brilliant for me, because I spend the whole time on stage doing this stuff with journalists trying their best to assess and grade what I've done from a place of knowledge but not experience, but today's the other way around."

Asked if comedy can be taught or is innate, Kane replied: "It's obviously a massive help if you have innate funny bones - someone like Lee Mack I would say has just got funny bones - as soon as he walks on the stage you're laughing.

"It's probably the case that 90% of the time, people who add sheer effort, determination and dogged persistence to innate talent are going to be the ones who make it - and I do realise I'm ejaculating [US writer Malcolm] Gladwell at the moment."

He added: "However, there has been and always will be examples [French writer Gustave] Flaubert, [Victorian novelist] Anthony Trollope, of people that think 'F**k that, so what I wasn't bright at school, I've never shown no potential, I will now f**k you all up by working my t*ts off till I eventually die of an aneurysm... I will just use effort to rise to the top'. It can be done!

"If I took up weightlifting today I'm only going to go so far - even in my weight category - because I'm not a big bloke, I don't even have pecs!

"But I reckon if I got on the steroids, worked out every day, I could probably become quite respectable at it in two years - and maybe even fluke a minor title."

Russell Kane won Best Comedy Show at this year's Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards. For access to more comedy content visit the Fosters Funny website.