Ian Smith’s new Edinburgh show is called, ‘Ian Smith: Snowflake’ It’s about uniqueness… like everybody else’s. It’s also about a holiday he had in Tromso, Norway. We asked for the deets.

Hi Ian, tell me about your Edinburgh show.

I spend too much time at home eating flapjacks – so I thought I best get myself to Norway and see the Northern Lights. So I whacked on some thermal socks and did all sorts of fun stuff, like nearly killing a man in a sledding accident and eating alone in restaurants paranoid that people were looking at me. It’s also about something a University lecturer said to my class – that we’d never have an original thought in our lives, and how my trip to Norway (and a fishcake recipe) disproves him.

What does Edinburgh mean to you?

It means I’m going to be having battered sausages and going to a steam room more often than usual in August.

Who inspires you and why?

Watching Chef’s Table on Netflix is really inspiring – they’re artists on that show and they’re attitudes to creating and working hard are completely transferrable to stand-up. Especially when you have a joke about fishcakes.

Describe your best or worst experiences on stage.

I once stage-dived into some empty chairs because the other people in the crowd didn’t seem up for it. That can do under best AND worst.

Describe your best or worst review.

When I started out I had a review that said I subsisted telling jokes with just standing on a table and shouting. I felt like I was doing both, but fair enough. That was a long time ago. No tables for me anymore.

If you weren’t a performer, what would you be?

Maybe a lawyer – but a funny one who would say things like, ‘Have you changed your hair?’ to the judges! HAHAHA. They’ve always got the same wigs on! Classic.

What was the last book you read?

A Behanding in Spokane – an excellent and very, very, very funny play by Martin McDonagh.

Will Popatron be getting another series Ian?

It’s been 7 years mate, it’s not coming back! Nobody even remembers it. Get over it.