Bhoy oh Bhoy!

I ask Danny Bhoy to share the best piece of advice he’s received about the working in world of comedy. He leans back into the sofa and contemplates the question.

“A guy told me years ago that you never learn anything from a good gig and it’s absolutely right. If someone hadn’t told me that, I’d always have questioned what I do after a bad gig. You can always take something away and learn from it, whereas after the good gigs you come off stage and say ‘hey, who wants a drink?’”

While Bhoy’s speedy rise through the ranks of comedy has been rather fortuitous, he’s quick to remember his humble beginnings.
Like many Australians who have lived in London, Bhoy knows all about the harsh reality of starting out in the big city, putting in the hard yards and earning next to nothing.

“I lived in London during my first six years of comedy,” he says. “It was really tough but as a young comedian you have to go there. It’s so good for live comedy.”

The Scotsman believes it was his fear of public speaking that initially drove him to do stand-up – much the same way, he explains, that people who hate heights do bungee jumping.

“When you get that buzz from the actual laughs, it becomes addictive. But the best part of the show is the silence in between the laughs, because that’s when you know the audience is hanging on your every word.”

The 36-year-old’s style of observational humour has certainly proved a hit with Aussies. Bhoy spends so much time in Australia that he officially became a resident. Next on the agenda is buying a place of his own Down Under. He’s also been chipping in to help his fellow countrymen. On Australia Day he turned a warm-up gig in Sydney into a fundraiser for Queensland flood victims. He ended up raising a total of $8,500. He’s no stranger to fundraising. In 2009 he raised funds for victims of the Victorian bushfires as well.

“Mother Nature is not a fan of Danny Bhoy! She does not like me!” he jokes. “I’m getting a bit worried about it. I’m also doing a tour of New Zealand in May, but since the earthquake we’ve found out the theatre in Christchurch can’t be used, so we’re trying to find another suitable venue.”

One Australian thing Danny Bhoy hasn’t quite warmed to is Vegemite. He says it’s “not for him”. Other than that though, he’s a fan of the green and gold.

While Bhoy has been enjoying his time in Australia, he also says he’s looking forward to his UK tour this summer. He’s built up a strong reputation Down Under, often having to add extra shows due to public demand. He hopes the UK follows suit. In amongst all of this career success, he’s taking time to smell the roses.

“Billy Connolly once told me, it’s important that when you climb the ladder, you stop and enjoy the view. I haven’t necessarily been following that, because I’ve been very focused on work, but I’m trying to do that a bit more these days.”

Danny Bhoy is touring the UK from 3 to 26 June. Visit dannybhoy.com.

www.australiantimes.co.uk/entertainment