Performer: Terry Alderton Photograph by: Steve Ullathorne Show: Terry Alderton: The Musical Venue: Assembly One – George Square Promoter: Brett Vincent for Get Comedy in association with Dabster Online: Box Office Website
Tell me about your Edinburgh show.
The show covers my early career as a professional footballer, my time as a BBC One Saturday night TV host, my Perrier award nomination, my time in the CIA, the fight over a parking space with Prince Charles, the loss of my imaginary friend Bogey and my total and complete mental breakdown. All set to music.
Written by me with music by Grammy nominee Owen Parker – who has recently worked with the Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams, Girls Aloud and Simple Minds. I think people are going to love it! It’s new and original – but still very much a Terry Alderton show.
Tell me about your first gig.
It was on a barge somewhere near Chester. There were 4 people there and I did an impression of Julian Clary for 45 minutes. It went pretty well. Although I never got asked back.
Do you have any rituals before going on stage?
I do 40 press ups, drink 3 cans of Red Bull, dress up as a bee and run into a window.
Tell me about your best and worst review.
The best review is when you get a standing ovation – and the worst review is when someone walks out. I often have both things happening on the same night. I’m not too worried about reviews – I want the audience to enjoy it.
During this Edinburgh run, do you plan to read reviews of your show?
No.
How do you feel about reviewers generally?
I think reviewers are ok – they’re comedy fans – I like comedy fans.
In April 2018, YouTube comedian, Markus Meechan (aka Count Dankula) was fined £800 for training his girlfriend’s pug dog to do a Nazi salute with its paw, in response to the phrase ‘Gas the Jews’. Do you believe Meechan committed a criminal offence, and why?
I think Meechan wants us to talk about him. I don’t want to talk about him.
Are there any subjects that are not suitable for comedy?
Of course there are. But everybody loves it when I dress up as a bee.
Have you ever gone too far?
Yes! I once ended up in Dundee instead of Edinburgh.
Looking back over your time as a comedian, tell me about the best gig of your career.
It hasn’t happened yet! I think it’ll be on August 18th 2018.