Performer: Elf Lyons       
Photograph by: Andy Hollingworth
Show: ChiffChaff
Venue: Pleasance Jack Dome     
Promoter: Mick Perrin Worldwide in association with CKP and InterTalent Group

Tell me about your Edinburgh show.

It’s me trying to explain all economic thought through the mediums of lip-syncing, mime and musical theatre.

Tell me about your first gig.

October 16, 2008. Downstairs at the Kings’ Head. I was 17. I lasted two minutes. It was by far the worst gig I’ve ever done.

Do you have any rituals before going on stage?

I sacrifice a young member of an improv troupe to the god Dionysus.

Tell me about your best and worst review.

“An Ordeal” by The Times, I think is both my best and worst review I’ve ever had. I’ve never been able to read the whole review though as it is behind a pay wall.

During this Edinburgh run, do you plan to read reviews of your show?

Not really. Though to be honest I don’t really have a choice as my parents tend to love reading my reviews to me over the phone.

How do you feel about reviewers generally?

I think they are more scared of us than we are of them.  I have met some reviewers outside in the wild and they are actually just like us. And not as big.

In April 2018, YouTube comedian, Markus Meechan (aka Count Dankula) was fined £800 for training his girlfriend’s pug dog to do a Nazi salute with its paw, in response to the phrase ‘Gas the Jews’. Do you believe Meechan committed a criminal offence, and why?   

It’s a crappy joke and a crappy concept. I don’t want to give it any more attention than that.

Are there any subjects that are not suitable for comedy?

I once saw a stand-up routine about molluscs which personally didn’t seem that well researched – so I would argue that wasn’t the best subject for comedy.

Have you ever gone too far?

Perhaps, when I accidentally set myself on fire. But, I think that happens to most comics at some point.

Looking back over your time as a comedian, tell me about the best gig of your career.

Honestly have no idea. There have been so many lovely, fun ones. It’s hard to pick a favourite. The one with the fire stands out as a highlight though.