Circuit breakers: Jarred Christmas quizzes Lloyd Langford on animal abilities, first jokes and more

We're up to comedian number three on our chain of comedians asking each other questions, and this week Jarred Christmas has set the questions for Lloyd Langford.

 

Lloyd has set himself a reputation as the awkward up-and-comer who sneaks up on you with all sorts of cannily formulated material. As you're about to find out, that's useful when you're being ambushed with questions from a Kiwi stand-up.

 

SSP asked Hal Cruttenden who asked Jarred Christmas who asked Lloyd Langford 

 

And to get us in the mood, here's a clip of Lloyd in action last year...

 

 

I think it was at university when I started dabbling with stand up. "I'm doing an MA in film studies. My lecturer says it'll guarantee me a job within the industry. I just have to decide whether I want to sell popcorn or show people to their seats." It's a pretty solid but unspectacular joke, I think. I dust it off now and again if I'm doing a student gig and it still works!

 

I'd like to be able to breathe underwater like a fish. I'd mainly use it for high stakes underwater swimming competitions, where I'd pretend to be a novice and then grift everyone else. Sort of like a mix of The Hustler and Waterworld.

 

I've been professional for six years now, plus a few years in uni when I must've done about 30 gigs in total. I think the environment has changed, stand up is a lot more visible on television than it was back then. Also, I'm seeing a lot more gel. Never trust a comedian who looks like they've spent more time on their hair than they have on their jokes.

 

It's about the people there as much as it is about the room. A low ceiling, good sight-lines, not too high a stage all help but the audience is the thing. When I played the Hammersmith Apollo, supporting Rhod Gilbert, he announced me onto the stage and I physically felt the audience cheering and clapping as I walked onto the stage. The concentrated force of 3,500 people projecting at you is like being slapped in the face. And they weren't even there to see me! That was an adrenaline rush.

 

My parents didn't mind. Like I said earlier, I studied film at university. They were happy for any kind of employment.

 

THANKS LLOYD. Tune in next week to see who Lloyd has set questions for. We'll tell you now, it should be a good'un...

 

See Lloyd in One Day in the Life of Lloyd Owen Langford at The Assembly Rooms, 2-26 August, times vary, and visit Lloyd online here. See Jarred Christmas in ‘Lets Go MoFo’ from 1st – 26th August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Gilded Balloon Dinning Room. For tickets see Ed Fringe. Follow Jarred on Twitter @jarredchristmas and visit him over here.