sketch

INTERVIEW: JIN HAO LI | Glasgow, BBC New Comedy Awards 2023

Interview

— Congratulations on winning the semi-finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards 2023. How did that feel?

Not to be gross, but the biggest takeaway was genuinely the friends I made. We all agreed to do this bit: when they announce the winner, if it isn’t you; bury your head in your hands in disgust and disappointment. Everyone committed. It was the funniest thing they filmed that night, and meant a lot more than if they just clapped for me.

— For someone who’s never seen you before, how would you describe your stand-up comedy style?

I would say it’s a warm hug that lasts too long.

— How did you get into stand-up?

The first live stand up show I saw was back home in Singapore. I was wearing my army uniform at the time and sat in the front row. I absolutely deserved getting roasted. But the biggest feeling that night was, if this is the standard that is acceptable to face the public, there is nothing to be afraid of.  So I did it the following week and once you start, you can’t really stop.

— What’s next for Jin Hao Li?

I’m building towards my first hour, which has to be excellent and immortalised. I’m working on two scripted projects at the moment: a sketch show, and a series that I’m writing with my friend Iris, about Chinese actors living in London.

Watch the BBC New Comedy Awards 2023 on BBC iPlayer.

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TÜMANZ: TÜK18 | Leicester Square Theatre, London

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This is sketch comedy as you’ve never seen it before: camper than a Gilbert and Sullivan away day; it’s a sort-of musical; it’s topical satire; costume quick changes; very silly accents. There are also sketches that stretch from the traditional to the inexplicably macabre.

Yes, Unleash The Llama are back with an hour of dystopian sketch-comedy about a totalitarian dictatorship not too far away (cough—America—cough). Saul Boyer (pictured: psychotically grinning) and Joe Bence are being forced to rewrite and perform all known audiovisual media to the exact specifications of their televisual overlord, Big Dick.

The opportunity to see these two sensational performers in their idiosyncratic wünder-show cannot be missed. And in the West End, no less. (Well — an intimate fringe venue with limited tickets. But still. Good enough for Audra McDonald.)

TüManz: TüK18 is likely to end up leaving you Tü shook for words on the first viewing, so you might have to go Tü timez, but not more than three (they are only doing three dates). Best to go see this dynamic duo now, before the TV commission and the arena tour begins.

TüManz TüK18 is on at the Leicester Square Theatre 18-20 January 2018. Tickets £10.