Step into the world of comedy with Kieran Hodgson, as he shares his journey from childhood antics mimicking classic sitcoms to landing prestigious gigs at the Leicester Comedy Festival. From memorable anecdotes to passionate rants about public transport, get ready for a laughter-filled exploration into the mind of a rising comedy star.
Kieran Hodgson Interview
Hi Kieran, thanks for taking the time to speak with us, can you start by letting us know when you first realised you had passion and talent for comedy?
Hi, Student Pocket Guide, it’s a pleasure to speak with you! My passion for comedy came at an early age from watching repeats of Fawlty Towers and Blackadder on telly. I’d see the episode in the evening then parrot my favourite bits to my parents at breakfast the following morning. They pretended to find this funny, though I do remember saying ‘bugger’ once in Tesco and Mum told me off – ‘Just because Blackadder says that it doesn’t mean you can.’ Wise words. In terms of talent for comedy, I’ve yet to be convinced I have much.
How would you describe your style of comedy, and what is your favourite joke?
My style of comedy is light on jokes, heavy on factual content, regional accents and overstretched similes. My favourite joke is that line in Futurama where the alien Lrrr threatens ‘We will raise your planet’s temperature by one million degrees a day. For FIVE DAYS.’ Unbeatable.
Can you give a tip for a student looking to woo someone, maybe the best pickup line, or a top tip for a dating profile to make someone laugh?
Hey there, woo-ing student. My top tip is to ignore everything I say and do and imagine you never heard of me. I am a romantic cyanide. Plus be yourself, etc etc.
How in your opinion has comedy changed over the years, and what keeps your content fresh?
I think comedy has probably become kinder and a fair bit less hateful. I’ve tried to buck this trend by finding more and more aggressive ways to hate myself.
After celebrating its 30th year as Europe’s biggest and longest-running comedy festival, you’ve just been announced to perform at Leicester Comedy Festival 2024 – It must be a big deal landing gigs like this, what are you most looking forward to at this festival next year?
I’m very excited to return to Leicester and see how my show about moving to Scotland is received in the East Midlands. Perhaps the well-established Scottish community in nearby Corby will come along to heckle. Speaking of which, I’m looking forward a great deal to wandering the streets of Leicester and earwigging on the East Mids accent, it’s a genuine favourite of mine, a connoisseur’s choice.
As well as being a successful comedian you’re also a respected writer and actor known for playing roles in The Flash (2023), See How They Run (2022), and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013). Do you prefer writing/telling jokes, acting, or screenwriting for bigger movie productions, and what is your focus for the future?
I have enjoyed all three of my one-scene film roles, especially the two where I speak. In the future, I would love to speak in many more scenes in many more films. However, my teeth being in such poor shape it’s unlikely that I will be given much more film work, and so will be obliged to write those films in order to guarantee it. I genuinely don’t think I have much talent either as an actor or a writer, but I’ve found that by pursuing both careers simultaneously I can just about pay the mortgage/cat food bill.
Tell us a recent funny story…
I can only tell you a recent joke that my 5-year-old nephew made up. ‘What did the owl say to the duck? Lay an egg!’ There’s also: ‘What did the baby say to the other baby? I’m more evil than you.’ He’s streets ahead.
We’ve got to ask, have you ever pretended to be David Tenant?
I have done an impression of him a couple of times, including once to his face when he came to see my show ‘Maestro’. We then had dinner afterwards and no mention was made of it. So call it a draw, really.
Kieran Hodgson Interview
You’ve just performed at Norwich Theatre Playhouse as part of your UK tour, we’re based in Norwich so just missed you! I went into the pub that joins the theatre recently, and for the first time in my life ordered a cup of tea at the bar and left after one drink. Have you had any “first-time” experiences recently?
Probably my first time drinking a cask ale in France, which was kinda adorable. It was like watching a toddler who’s got a little toy kitchen and is being very serious cooking you peas and a burger in the wooden microwave. The barman pulled the pump about 40 times to fill a half-pint glass and most of it was foam by the end. He looked very pleased handing it over, and I was proud of him for trying it out.
You’re a train enthusiast – what is it that you like so much about trains?
They provide structure and knowability in a chaotic, overwhelming world. They take cars and lorries off the road. They have cool stations. There’s often a trolley.
Does it feel you with rage if you see someone with their feet on the seat?
I tend to get quite Maoist when it comes to my opinions about public transport codes of conduct, so I probably shouldn’t give a full and honest answer to that question. Let’s just say my friend Joe put his feet on the seat of a London Overground train from Gospel Oak to Crouch Hill in 2012 and has yet to apologise for it and I have yet to forgive.
Have you ever met Francis Bourgeois – maybe there’s scope for a collaborative project?
I don’t watch Made In Chelsea, I’m afraid.
What’s the proudest moment of your career to date, and what are your plans for the rest of the year?
My proudest moment was when I got an email from Acast, the podcast-hosting website, to tell me that because so few people were listening to my podcast ‘Makes Art Will Travel’, it was making no advertising revenue and I would have to pay them £70 a month to keep it up. I deleted the podcast. For the rest of the year I plan on fuming about HS2 and debating whether or not to do a show about it.
