Interview: Rarely Asked Questions – Jenny Bede

By Bruce Dessau on 31/7/2017

It is often said that the best comedians make you see the world in a fresh way. Well, Jenny Bede has certainly done that with her answer to my first question. Bede is the first comedian to point out that it doesn't actually make any sense. I may have to reconsider every life decision I have ever made. But before then I'll go and see her new show, Eggtime. Bede is best known for her viral videos, which have attracted millions and millions of YouTube hits. She now brings the same eye for comic detail to the stage in a "one-woman rhapsody featuring sexy beats, massive pants and her biological clock". You may have seen Bede in Episodes (BBC Two), Josh (BBC Three) and Murder in Successville (BBC Three). Rest assured you'll be seeing lots more of her.

Jenny Bede: Eggtime is at The Pleasance Dome, August 2 - 28. Tickets here

1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?

 
I’ll be honest Bruce,  I’ve read a lot of these questionnaires and I really like them, but this first question has always baffled me…I can’t work out how knickers can stick out of a skirt.  How short is the skirt?  How big are the knick-knocks?  I’m trying to get my head round it, I really am, but I think maybe you don’t understand how women get dressed.  Which is nothing to be ashamed of. 
 
But… in answer to your question, I tend to down a bottle of water and give myself a light slap around the face.
 
 
2. What irritates you?
 
Men who don’t wear a shirt in yoga piss me off a bit.  They tend to be the loud breathers and the projectile sweaters too and if you’re gonna get a ball sac in the face, it will be theirs.  
 
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
 
I’m quite a fearful person; I don’t tend to myself in very dangerous situations.  I’m very much my mother’s daughter, who is very neurotic and safety conscious; every year in my Christmas stocking I get a rape alarm and some antibacterial hand gel.  I suppose snowboarding without any lessons was a bit dangerous.  It was at Altitude Festival and instead of any formal training Ed Byrne and Brendon Burns just sort of screamed me down the slopes.  It gave me a lot of confidence but I did break my wrist. 
 
 
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
 
When I made my BBC pilot a few years ago I had a section called Peter on Dre, which was Peter Andre waxing lyrical about his hero Dr Dre.  It was incredibly stupid but I stand by it as being maybe the funniest thing I’ve ever written. 
 
 
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
 
That it’s more about what you think of yourself than what other people think of you.  Everyone has an opinion about your work but really it’s only your own opinion that is important.  I’ve suffered from quite crippling self doubt in the past and the whole thing was miserable.  I think realising that a lot of the time, everyone thinks of themselves as an imposter is a very helpful thing to realise. We’re all in the same boat.  I made a bit of a decision to not care so much 6 months ago and since then I’ve had a lovely time.
 
Interview continues here.
 

Tags: 

Pages

Articles on beyond the joke contain affiliate ticket links that earn us revenue. BTJ needs your continued support to continue - if you would like to help to keep the site going, please consider donating.

Zircon - This is a contributing Drupal Theme
Design by WeebPal.