Chances are the Oxfordshire based comedian Andrew Bird has made you laugh. Possibly live as7 years as compere of his Lone Wolf Bicester Comedy night, or on tour supporting Lee Hurst, Micky Flannagan, Rhod Gilbert, Jon Richardson, Rob Brydon, Michael McIntyre, Brian Regan, Michelle Wolfe or Russell Howard.
If not, then as a joke writer for Comedy Annual, Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks, The Matt Lucas Awards, Room 101, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, The Mad Bad Ad Show, Jason Manford’s You and Whose Army?, 8 Out Of 10, Cats Lee Mack’s Duck Quacks Don’t Echo, Mock The Week, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown or Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Worrier to name but a few.
And now, with the launch of his Lone Wolf Bicester Comedy Festival coming in June, he will hopefully reach a larger audience and become better known across the county for the comedic talent that he is.
Prior to his comedy night, we caught up with the comedian that Michael McIntyre called “a truly excellent comedian” and Russell Howard said was “brilliantly funny”.
Who is the Comedian Andrew Bird?
Andrew Bird is from Towcester in Northamptonshire and moved to London to pursue his stand-up career. He now lives in Bicester, and started the Lone Wold Comedy Night back in 2017.
You can find Andrew at the Lone Wolf Comedy Club Bicester at Littlebury Hotel on Fridays, and regular nights in Preston Bissett, Long Buckby, Milton Keynes, Grendon Underwood, Waddesdon.
The first Bicester Comedy Festival is 28th-30th June.
Interview:
Ox: Considering you’ve been arranging and hosting the brilliant Lone Wolf Comedy nights in Bicester for 7 years, why now for the first comedy festival this summer, especially when Covid locked down the venues?
AB: Because of Covid, the weekly event moved to Littlebury hotel who have a lovely garden where they hold weddings.
We’ve been doing outdoor gigs there every summer which are always fun so we thought we had to do a full festival with a bit more space and get as many big acts as we could.
Which act(s) are you looking forward to at the festival?
Well as I booked all of them I really love all of them. I can’t wait to see how much people will love the French arrogance of Marcel Lucont. And I’ve heard Seann Walsh is on incredible form at the moment.
Being a comedy compere is a tough job, what’s your best heckle you’ve had and how do you deal with them?
People heckling isn’t the worst thing at least they’re listening. The worst is people just talking. Although I was on stage talking about the deodorant Lynx Africa, these two men were just talking loudly. I asked what they are talking about. They were discussing how Aldi have their own version of Lynx Africa, its called Kenya! Its all anyone will remember from that show.
Outside of Lone Wolf events, have you been doing anything else exciting this year?
Well I supported Russell Howard on his national tour which was incredible. Now I’m doing some show supporting Troy Hawke which are great fun.
Have you ever been recognised anywhere unexpected on your travels?
I once did a gig in Hong Kong and a lady said she saw me do a gig in Singapore. I asked how many comedy nights she’s been to in her life. Two! I was on both!
You’re a great comedian, and no doubt get annoyed when people ask you for your favourite joke? But go on, I feel I need to ask too?
It’s more bits of material I love.
Paul Tonkinson has a great bit about how people are scared now of being bloated which makes me laugh every time.
Ben Norris has a great joke where he says he has a new girlfriend who is really hot! She’s menopausal.
You are famously one of only seven comedians to perform for Banksy at Dismal Land. Did you have to sign a disclaimer to not share his identity or did he wear a disguise? How did you actually know it was him/her?
I still don’t know if he was there or not. I’ve heard he’s a big comedy fan. I did graffiti in the dressing room. Sure he wouldn’t mind
You’ve been warm up act for some of the big comedians and TV shows, but which comedian makes you laugh?
I still love stand up like a fan. All the acts I’ve supported still made me laugh after seeing their show dozens of times. Russell Howard’s last show made laugh every night. Jon Richardson really makes me laugh. I love Bill Burr and always a massive fan of Daniel Kitson.
Is there an underrated comedian on the circuit who deserves to be better known?
The circuit is full them. Some of them beginning to get more known like Ian Stone and Jeff Innocent. One who is ding his first tour to look out for is Matt Bragg.
