Quick bit of background - where are you from, and why are you in Sweden?
It’s a story as old as time. Boy from Birmingham in England meets a girl from Sweden, girl has a kid, boy moves to Sweden, girl has more kids, boy shirks all parental responsibility and travels the country seeking the approval of strangers by doing stand-up comedy.
Have you performed for many Swedish locals at your gigs?
It’s usually about 60% Swedes - I perform in Swedish too, but if I’m booked to play in English it’s always a mix of both disappointment and pride if there are no native English-speakers in the audience. If it’s all Swedes, I’m not sure which of us should show off: Me, because I can speak Swedish, or them because they can understand English.
What makes Swedish audiences laugh?
Comedy is pretty universal, but it’s always a question of finding the sweet spots for local recognition. You have to have references that an audience understands. I did some gigs in England recently, and I was suddenly faced with the prospect of scrapping jokes about fika and snus. It’s often a single word or phrase that says everything to some people - Kalles Caviar works in Sweden, whereas Marmite works in the UK.
Who are your all-time comedy heroes?
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, without doubt. Then Frank Skinner was the person I grew up watching. And to square the circle, I met him when I was a teenager at a Laurel and Hardy convention in Stourbridge.
Name me a funny Swedish comic
There are lots! At the moment, I would say the next big tour to look out for is Carl Stanley.
What are the main differences between Swedish and non-Swedish audiences?
UK and Irish audiences are notoriously more vocal and are occasionally funnier than the comedian. Swedish audiences sometimes need a little bit of encouragement to relax and just enjoy the show.
What are the biggest differences between audiences in southern and northern Sweden?
That’s a really tough one as usually when I play down south I tend to play to international crowds. So I do more Swedish-language gigs north of Östergötland, which is still very south for you guys, I know! But needless to say, and not just because this is Norran, northern audiences are beautiful, wonderful, intelligent and better people all round compared to any other group of Swedes, by whatever metric you care to choose.
How has being a comedian has shaped your perspective on Swedish society and culture?
It’s probably been a semi-therapeutic process - it helps to analyse and deal with the oddities of living in a new country. Also, comedy is a very egalitarian art form and I have been able to travel and meet people from a wide range of places, backgrounds and social strata.