Edinburgh Fringe Q&A - Andrew Maxwell

A regular at both the Edinburgh Fringe and on our TV screens, Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell is back at the festival for another year.

His show, The Bare Maximum, sees the double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and panel show regular find the funny in everything going on in the crazy world we live in.

Here, he answers our festival Q&A…

How are you feeling ahead of this year’s Fringe?

Excited, can’t wait to get back. I wasn’t there last year and I have a pent-up desire for salt and sauce chips.

What’s your show all about this year?

It’s funny voices, funny faces, standing up AND sitting down, stories, the lot! And if that’s still no use to you, I’m on at 5:40pm so there’s still time to go home, have your dinner and forget all about it.

How have your Edinburgh experiences changed over the years?

Well, every year the late nights aren’t quite so late. And as I bring my family with me every year, the type of show I see now has definitely changed. I see more and more kids shows as the years go on.

How much do you enjoy doing your Eejits of the World podcast?

One of the highlights of my week by far is sitting in a shed at the bottom of the garden picking apart the stupidity of our world with my very, very funny friend Glenn Wool.

You’re a Celebrity Mastermind winner, how was that experience – and where do you keep the trophy?

It was very nerve-wracking choosing an entire middle eastern country, Lebanon, as my speciality topic. But as a life-long history and geography nerd, it was an absolute delight to learn of the longest river, the Litani, the highest mountain, Qurnat as Sawda’, and of course the topographic origins of the rift valley, which of course is the Beqaa Valley.

The trophy sits in a cabinet just out of shot in the studio where we record Eejits.

If you were in charge of the Fringe, what changes would you make?

It’s not a particularly glamourous piece of house keeping but by god they have to sort out the accommodation costs.

What’s your favourite spot to visit in Edinburgh?

At some point during the Fringe, I like to nip down to the shore in Leith and enjoy some delicious Scottish seafood at Fishers.

I shall also be climbing Arthur’s Seat every day, taking in the fresh air of the North Sea and gazing longingly down at the global capital of live comedy.

What essential item are you packing to survive a month at the Fringe?

A snowboard coat cause in August in Scotland, the minute the sun goes down, it changes season.

Who’d be your dream:

Podcast guest / co-host

Mark Twain, of course

Wrestling tag team partner

Andre the Giant every time!

Comedian to split a bill with

Billy Connolly.

Who else are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?

Every year one of my personal highlights is to wait until I get to Edinburgh and have an actual copy of the Fringe programme in my hand and have a good mull.