Show: Tom Ward: Anthem Venue Monkey Barrel 1 Time: 10.25pm Dates: 3rd – 28th August (except 8th, 15th, 22nd) Photographer: Matt Crockett Links: Tom's Profile and Social Media
Tell me about your 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Anthem
It’s about all my obsessions really – love, music, identity, the planet. Anthems provide a few minutes of clarity and emotional sharpness. I’m trying to find clarity but it’s hard when nothing remains constant. This is just my latest attempt to pin some flags on the map. I’m letting myself be opinionated, which I didn’t used to do.
I think it’s fair to say that you’re a firm Fringe favourite. How does Anthem differ from previous Fringe offerings? Is its subject matter slightly more serious?
Am I? I certainly didn’t feel that way! Though does anyone? Erm maybe, yes. I feel less restricted. I guess time and getting older does that. I’m 28-40 years old now and at that age you drop a lot of rubbish and just want to get to the good stuff.
You’ve done loads of TV now. What was it like appearing on Live at the Apollo for the first-time last year?
It was the best thing that ever happened. People warned me that it could be tough and said “don’t worry, they can make it look good in the edit”, but I had the best gig I’ve ever had which felt like good timing. I was just so relaxed, I don’t know why – maybe the scale of it was so great that it felt like it wasn’t happening. Waiting behind that big screen thing to walk on to the stage you’ve only seen from the other angle was so weird. I didn’t treat it too differently from any other gig though, which is why I didn’t look like I had a rod up my arse (like I did on ‘Live from the comedy store’ and ‘Roast Battle’)
You presented the popular LAD Bible series In My Personal Space, which featured interviews with celebrities. Are you ready to be a celebrity yourself? Do you want to be famous?
‘Celebrity’ has pretty horrible connotations to me – idiots who just want to be gazed at for nothing in particular. Fame I feel more able to handle now. My ego isn’t the preening, easily engorged wanker it used to be. I like myself more every day, which makes life so much nicer.
Finally, ask and answer a question of your own.
How convenient for you to leave your journalistic work to me.
Are you rich?
I am, yes. There, finally someone rich that admits it. I’m filthy fucking rich. Got out of debt for the first time in 2020 and now every day is like Christmas. Today alone I spent £12.38 on coffee and cake.
Book Tickets: Tom Ward: Anthem
Links: Tom’s Profile and Social Media
