STAND-UP WIL HODGSON

Bespectacled John Peel impersonator Robin lnce has been known to tell a story about how his pal Wil Hodgson was verbally abused by some blokes in the street. Meanwhile, Jimmy Carr was one of the experienced comics who offered the mohicaned Chippenham lad some early advice. There might be two comics out there whose acts are less like Hodgson’s than that pair but the search continues. For his part, he is still grateful for Carr’s words of wisdom. ‘He gave me a bit of a pep talk in Brighton,’ recalls Hodgson. ‘I was way too aggressive at the time and moving around too much. I have the wrong build for that really, though someone like Johnny Vegas gets away with it and that’s funny in itself to see that build shifting

around.’

Hodgson’s affection for girls’ dolls and his former life as a wrestler has been well documented, though his fate as one of life’s outsiders even stretches into his current career. ‘l’m wondering whether I should really be described as a stand-up comedian. I could go to poetry nights but l’d have a whole set of new problems there. I’d have a mind to call it Spoken Word Performance and I’d certainly never introduce myself to anyone as a comedian.’ Too many conversations with cabbies and their insistence on him being the performing monkey have put paid to that.

Quite probably one of the most heartfelt performers on the circuit, should he be less than completely satisfied with his act, you might feel your pockets heavier on the way out. ‘I always offer a refund if it’s gone tits up. I know when 1’m dying on my ass.’ This is far rarer than Wil Hodgson thinks.

(Brian Donaldson) I The Stand. Edinburgh, Tue (30 Jan.

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedy©list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Sian Bevan.

Thursday 18

Glasgow

The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 o00 (i055. 8.30pm. £7 (£0 £3 tnetnhersi. l’rincess Susan (‘alinan M(‘s the melting. calling upon the Knights o1‘\\'il to come to her aid. Answering her lonel} er) are Marlin Soan. Michael Redltiond. ('harlie Ross and Phil Hillier.

Edinburgh

Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 1.05 1.55pm. £5. Squee/e some me into )our lunch hour cottl‘tes} oi the good l'olk at The Stand: just £5 gets _\ou top qualil) improt comedy and )llllllll) scran in 55 minutes

ol' litin. It'll he like an athenture htit without snakes and guns.

Ricky Gervais l-‘estisal 'l'lieatre. 13 3‘) .\'icolson Street. 53‘) (i000. 7.30pm. £35. Mr (icnais takes time out trom conquering the uorld to bring his nexs tour l-kum' up to Scotland.

HeresyThe Jek}ll & link. I 13 llano\el' Street. 335 3033. 8.30pm. £3. More deprzned coined} from the basement ol‘ Jeksll tk 11_\de. \\ith .\1(‘ Rick Molland. He's got a mind like a t'at-inl'ested se\\el': not one tor the taint-hearted.

The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373.9p111. £7 (£0 £3 inemhersi. ('losed tor a prixate lunction. not lor the likes of 'soil.

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(‘ Building. RL‘lllTL‘“ Slt't‘t‘l. 08707 870707. 8pm. £10. Join .-\dam (You. Patrick Rollink. Brendan 1)empsc_\ and ('urtis Walker in the Jongleurs coined)

ghetto. \\ ith food and dancing and lots ol' fun for _\ 'all.

The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (300 (i055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8 students/before 8pm £5 members). l‘irehall Stisan Morrison hosts the \seekend. with Mr Martin Soan. Michael Redmond. (‘harlie Ross and Nick l)a\'ies. (iel there before 8pm and the} '11 even give you a quid hack. Yoti could buy some crisps.

Edinburgh

Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 553 7373. l.05 l.55pttl. £5. See Thu 18.

Ricky Gervais l't‘sllVal 'l‘heatre. l3 2‘) .\'icolson Street. 53‘) 6000. 7.30pm. £35. See Thu lh'.

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()inni ('entt‘e. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.l5pm. £10. Join Brendan Rile)‘. Joe llL‘L‘llilll. Jason Rouse and Sttl \Vho'.’ for tonight's Jonglettrs tun.

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 9pm. £1) 1 £8 students/hel‘ore (Split £5 lllt‘llllk‘l'Sl. 'l‘llL‘ cht‘cktt‘SI campstet' on the circuit. Mr ('raig llill. l'L‘lllt‘lls to Scotland as the \\ L‘L‘ls’t‘lith host. lle'sjoined h_\ Bruce Morton. (ireg Mclltigh. Simon Brodkin and Martin 'l'aple}.

Saturday 20

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jotlgletlrs. l'(i(' Building. Renl'reu Street. (18707 870707. 8pm. £13. See Fri 1‘).

The Stand The Stand. 33.3 \Yoodlands Road. 0870 (ile (i055. 8.30pm. £l0. See Hi 1‘).

Comedy Womb The State Bar. 1-18 Holland Street. 333 315‘). 9pm. £1). The initnitahle l-‘ran lleal} lnot that one; this onc's a ladyl hosts the stlcccssliul (’omed) Womb at The State Bar. l'eaturing a litte- up o1 top comedians e\er} week.

Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni ('entre. (it'eenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.15pm. £13. See liri 1‘)

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 9pm. £10. See Fri 1‘).

Glasgow

About Tam O’Shanter The Stand. 33.3 \Yootllalltls Road. 0870 ()00 ()055. (3.30pm. £5 (£41. I’erthshire l'unn} tnan Bruce 1-‘titnme_\' giVCs Burns‘ tales an accessible spin. as his national tour drops in at the Stand alter a successful liringe

Lenny Henry: Where You From? King's Theatre. 397 Bath Street. 0870 060 6648. 7.30pm. £15.50 £17.50. Mr Dawn lirench is hack with an all-neu sl1()\\'. See 5 Things.

Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \thdlands Road. 0870 ()00 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4 £l inetnhersl. Regular host Michael Redmond. one of the most laid hack M('s around. inlrtxluces (ireg Mcllugh and (itis Ta“ se.

Edinburgh

Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 1pm. Free. Regular freestyle comedy \\'llill'(ls Paul (iraham and Stuart Murphy lire up the imagination \\ ith another slice ol' ilnpt'm action.

PRESENT

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.g ' lymphant’ Guardian

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