It is possibly quite apt for comedian Russell Kane to call his latest touring comedy show ’The Fast and the Curious’.
Having been described as ’one of life’s Duracell bunnies’, the top TV comedian and presenter, who is heading to the island for a night at the Gaiety Theatre this weekend, said that the title came from how he sees himself living his life, channelling all his energy into constant mental activity.
’I called the show "The Fast And The Curious" because that is how I have to live every single day of my life,’ said the turbo-charged funny man.
’Nothing slows down, I bounce out of bed at 100 miles an hour, before I even have a coffee. I analyse everything - it is exhausting being me some days.
’And it’s like that on stage. The tiniest crease in the curtain sends me off on some kind of journey.
’It’s the opposite of ADHD,’ he laughs, aware of his own peculiarities enough to be able to joke about them.
’I’ve got "Overly Focused Attention Disorder".’
Russell has spent many years presenting a variety of TV shows, including ’Big Brother’s Big Mouth’, the E4 spin-off show of the original reality TV show, followed by a stint with the presenting team of ’I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now’ in 2010 and 2011 and the MTV reality show Geordie Shore: The Reunion in 2012.
He has more recently become a regular voice on BBC3, presenting Freak Like Me, Britain Unzipped and Live at the Electric, along with the reality show Stupid Man - Smart Phone, where he was deposited in a random location each episode and had only his mobile phone to rely on for support.
However, he says his first love has always been stand-up comedy, and he grabs any opportunity to perform in front of a crowd, no matter how big or small it is.
His previous shows, Gaping Flaws, The Theory of Pretension and Smokescreens & Castles were all nominated for multiple awards, and he became the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Award, formerly known as the Perrier awards, and Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry Award in the same year, in 2011.
’I absolutely live for stand-up,’ he said.
’I love doing TV, but I’m so excited about going on stage in front of 40 people in Edinburgh, let alone when it gets to 3,000 people or whatever on tour.
Having come to stand up comedy relatively late in life, he found that comedy was a natural fit for his personality, something he says has not changed in his approach to comedy, or his latest show.
’If you’re past that 25th birthday when you try stand up, you know yourself,’ he said.
’I was just a fizzing volcano of ideas that wanted to talk about life, love and family. And that could still be the blurb for this year’s show.
’If someone hands me a microphone, I just continue with my personality. That’s my business model.’
Russell Kane appears at the Gaiety Theatre on Sunday, March 31, from 8pm.
Tickets are £20.50, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety Box office, on 600555, or online from villagaiety.com
by Mike Wade
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