Cheeky council estate dweller Lee Nelson has had quite a year, what with getting his own BBC3 show and making it big in the comedy world. Emma gets the lowdown on Nelson's new Fringe show and how he's dealing with his newfound fame.
This is your second Edinburgh show – do you enjoy performing up there?
I love it up in Scotiland. I well wanted to bring my show here this year coz the Scotties is well good people and a lot of them don't have TVs. It's mental up here mind - the Scotties reckon they've got this 10,000 year old dinosaur snake thing that lives under a lake... But they've also got a serious drinking problem, so you don't know who to believe.
What will you be giving audiences in 2010?
My 2010 is show is a quality hour of well funny stuff for all the family and there's some nice after show extras for the 5 fittest fans. Of course 2010 is the Chinese year of the Tiger, so I'll be letting all Chinamen with tigers in for free.
Are you pretty happy with how Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show has gone so far?
Course I am it's been absolute qualiteeeee! Millions of people has been watching it and we was number 1 in the i-Player charts - I've got a team of Philippino kids tapping away on some stolen laptops in my shed
Are you getting recognised since your TV show aired?
Yeah, I get recognised all the time now, which is nice coz I get a lot of stuff for free. Today I was walking past the station, some bloke recognised me and straight away give me a newspaper. Result.
Does it make you angry when people describe you as a chav?
Nah. I know a lot people take one look at me and think guilty but that's wrong. I'm well nice. Wearing a hood don't make you a bad person. I mean I bet you ain't scared of that bird off the Scottish Widows advert. She ain't bad, she's nice. In fact she niiiice! Yeeeah.
And she's single innit. And loaded. In fact now I'm up here in Scotiland I might look her up.
How do you deal with rude hecklers?
I'll have a quiet word with them and if that don't work I'll sleep with with their mum.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I had a Saturday job at Wimpy. It was a big hassle having to spit in every single burger.
How did growing up on a council estate lead you to a comedy career?
My estate has got all sorts of funny people in it. In fact my uncle and his mates used to play practical jokes all the time - they had this brilliant one where they told the the job centre that they was all too sick to work. Well funny.
How would you describe your style?
Off the scale legend.
What tips or advice would you give to punters visiting the Edinburgh Fringe?
If you're only in Edinburgh for a short stay, make sure you visit the
12 screen Warner Village just outside the city centre. Amazing place and well good value too: you can get an extra large popcorn, extra large coke and an extra large M&Ms for just £65.
How do you celebrate after a particularly good show?
Well, this year I got my little boy up here with me so I can't just leave him at home, go clubbing, bosh some pills, snort some ketamine, bang a random bird and come back home a couple of days later. This year I've got to take him with.
Lee Nelson’s Well Good Edinbra show will be at Pleasance Above at 10:20pm throughout the Fringe. Lee Nelson’s Well Good Tour begins in the autumn. For details see www.leenelson.com
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