See Kai Humphries on his new show, In Full Color.

1 Tell us about your Fringe show

My Fringe show is my most honest show to date and has been a lot of fun to write, I've opted to tell some stories from my life that I might have otherwise shied away from telling on stage, it's a very candid and confessional show whilst remaining upbeat and positive throughout. 

2 Best thing about the Fringe?

Having so many wonderful, creative, intelligent people all in the same place expressing themselves through the arts creates a real buzz around the city. The best thing about the fringe is most definitely the atmosphere. You really have to immerse yourself in it to understand. People who have experienced the fringe before know and people going for the first time are in for something special. 

3 Worst thing about the Fringe?


The side effects off the lifestyle. The Fringe is so conducive to eating like a king and partying like a rock star, the good life will certainly put some pounds on your gut and take even more out of your wallet.

4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?

I made my first visit in 2009 for a comedy competition (So You Think You're Funny!?) and have performed at the fringe for the full month every year since. This will be my 8th year, wow, that happened fast.

5 Favourite Fringe venue? 

The Gilded Balloon, this is where I've done the majority of my shows and the majority of my socialising over the last 8 years, and the venue I did my first fringe appearance for the competition in 2009. The venue staff are like a big happy family and the fringe just wouldn't be the same without seeing their daft faces every year. The GB listings are always amazing and I always feel like I'm in the best company when I see the brochure each year. Not to mention it's the home of the world famous Late'N'Live

6 Best Fringe memory?

My first sell out show, when I brought my first one hour show in 2010 I still had a day job and still felt a little insecure about my place at the festival being an absolute unknown not just to festival goers but to most of the industry, I had no idea where I'd find a single audience member from. But the first time I saw my name on the chalk board and performed a show I was proud of to a full house I felt like I was meant to be there, it was a real defining moment. So many fantastic memories have been forged since that day but I feel like that was the springboard. 

7 Best heckle? 

My school teacher Mrs Noble was in the audience one year and heckled me to get me back for all of the times I made her work difficult. It was such a funny moment as I realised who it was, I left the stage to give her a big hug, such a blast from the past from what feels like a previous life. It's also noteworthy to mention that Mrs Noble is the mother of world famous Geordie super-star Ross Noble. We've stayed in touch ever since. 

8 Craziest on stage experience? 

I went on after 'The Naked Promo' at Spank (a late night show) in 2014, during the promo anyone can get up and advertise their show but they have to do it naked. It's difficult to follow such a spectacle with comedy so I began addressing the situation before I got on with my set but in a moment of madness went "F*** it" and pulled down my trousers and boxers to do the gig with my bits and pieces out, I continued with my set as I would have done fully dressed without even mentioning it. I'll never know if they were laughing at the jokes or the situation.

9 What’s on your rider?


I have absolutely zero demands. HOWEVER. I do love a free beer. I friend of mine said to me that this is the best job in the world because you can turn up to work drunk and your boss will ask you what you want to drink.

10 How do you wind down after a show?

At the fringe I always like to go catch up with the comics that performed at a similar time, we're all on the same level from our adrenaline spike. Also because stand up is quite a solitary sport it's nice to share gig reports and stories with other guys and gals that have been through the same thing. Often this leads to an entire night out and a weighty hangover. 

11 What do you love about Scotland?


In Glasgow I witnessed an elderly lady at a bar order a "Haggis Bomb" and receive a shot glass of whisky dropped into a tumbler of irn bru. 

In Edinburgh I witnessed a 9-year-old boy wearing shorts and a waistcoat having a violin lesson in his front garden.

Both of these things are so vastly different yet so very scottish, this is what I love about Scotland.

12 What do you like about Edinburgh?

I lived in Edinburgh for 3 years and I still managed to get lost every single day, anywhere else in the world this would be annoying but in Edinburgh you aren't so much getting lost as discovering beauty. I once tried to take a shortcut from the train station to my house and stumbled across the Water of Leith. There is something to discover around every cobbled corner and down ever flight of stone steps. 

13 What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?

My Girlfriend - Weeey-OH - Seriously though, I've got myself a scottish girlfriend and she asked that if we get married would I wear a kilt, I'm informed there'd be ceilidh dancing too. So although I've ate haggis, drank whisky and swam in Loch Ness, my most scottish moment is yet to come.

14 What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?


At risk of sounding unctuous, literally everything from the darkest of dark jokes and filth, to intelligent satire and whimsical flights of fancy. The Scottish audiences don't limit themselves to one flavour of comedy but rather indulge in an eclectic range of styles. They appreciate that funny is funny, wherever it comes from. 

16 Favourite Scottish food/drink? 

Flat Sausages, Haggis Neeps and Taties, Irn Bru, Potato scones... I'm going to say it though and spoil the whole interview. Not too keen on whisky. I've tried to 'acquire' the taste but I'm starting to think it's a practical joke. 

See Kai Humphries: In Full Color is on at the Gilded Balloon until August 28, 7.35pm. For tickets visit www.edfringe.com