Joe Bains hosts London’s up-and-coming comedy club, Licence to Laugh, featuring comedians from the city’s comedy circuit. Joe talks to Martin Walker via email about bringing his club to Edinburgh for August, swapping one capital for another.

“I wanted to bring Licence to Laugh to the Edinburgh fringe, so it’s a compilation show.”

Why did you choose to perform as part of Laughing Horse?

“Because they are well organised, which makes it quick and easy to book and organise your show with them.”

Why did you get into performing comedy and how did you get started?

“I’m an IT geek, actually a Linux Network Administrator, and wanted to do something that was challenging and did not involve computers, plus I was dropped repeatedly as a child and wasn’t given enough love.”

Tell us your best, worst experiences as a comedian.

“I lasted forty seconds on the Comedy Store gong show, and did a gig in Ipswich, where I didn’t get a single response from the audience; they just looked at me silently. I walked off to a very slow clap, and took solace with my friends Heineken, Budweiser and pity.

If you were curating a stand-up show for television, who would be your guests?

John Bishop – love his chatty style, Russel Peters – brilliant, Russ Monkeywithagunn, Obonjo Obonjo Obonjo and Russell Brand.