Christian Talbot answers our questions.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

Like every comedian, I'm not at all happy with where I'm at. I'm far too under-appreciated. My career started in 2010 doing sporadic gigs in Dublin and Belfast. By 2012 I was chosen for the final of The Secret Policeman's Ball, "World's Shortest Gig", based on a one liner joke I had. I lost out to a guy in an ill-fitting green dragon suit. Apparently he's in Las Vegas now or something. I've yet to recover.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

You know the bit in The Crying Game where Stephen Rea finds out yer wan has a mickey? It's a bit like that.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

There's nowhere else you can plan and perform a whole one hour show. You're surrounded by talented, funny people at the biggest arts festival in the world for a whole month. It's bloody great fun.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Last year my twelve-year-old daughter flyered for me. She'd walk up to people looking lost and say "Have you seen my Daddy?". When they said no, she'd pull out a flyer and say, "Well you should, the Scotsman says he's an absolutely engaging performer". We won the Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award for that. I say we. I mean she.
She's under a lot of self-inflicted pressure to top that this year. I say "self"...

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

Last year I was in the same venue (Daisy Room, Underbelly - Med Quad) and I broke even except for the accommodation costs. This year I hope to do a bit better than that.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

The weirdest was watching a very famous comedian being carried unconscious like a sack of spuds by the bouncers from one of the private bars at 3am. I thought he looked shorter in real life.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

I'm hoping to see Daniel Kitson, Liam Williams, Aisling Bea, Bridget Christie, John Robins, Mary Bourke and Puddles Pity Party. And loads more. I've already seen Bec Hill, Michael Legge and Aidan Strangeman but I'll go again multiple times because I like them and I enjoy pointing out their flaws afterwards.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Daniel Kitson, Johnny Vegas, Doug Stanhope, Louis CK and Dylan Moran. I'd have Michael Legge MC.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

I'd rather not bump into that guy in the ill-fitting green dragon suit.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

Because I promise there won't be a single Tinder joke.

'Christian Talbot is Shite at Being Irish' is at 5:40pm at Underbelly Med Quad on 5-17, 19-31 August. Listing