Find out all about Tom Ballard - your new favourite chubby, non-driving gay Australian.

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

As a comedian, I am never allowed to ever be fully happy with my career, body or number of Twitter followers. Generally, though, I just feel pretty lucky to be here.

I originally wanted to be an actor, then had a crack at a stand-up comedy competition for high school students in 2004 because it seemed like another chance for me to get some of that attention that I so desperately craved. I fell in love with the craft and the fact that when I was onstage EVERYONE HAD TO LOOK AT ME AND ONLY ME. I kept at it and in 2006 I was a national finalist in RAW Comedy (the Australian version of So You Think You're Funny). My first solo show won the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, I did four years of national breakfast radio show and a bunch of TV hosting and 7 hour long shows and then I wrote this and now I'm tired.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Taxis (I don't own a car), Rainbows (I'm a gay) and Hatred (sometimes the taxi drivers don't like me because I'm a gay).

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

I'm doing it because it really is seen as the Mecca of comedy. I feel like I'm ready to take on the challenge. I'm so glad I've waited a while before I made it over so that I can figure out who I am as a comic (for now) and to have a bit of cash under my belt so I won't have to become a sex slave in order to pay off the debt I'll chalk up. I've heard enough horror stories/warnings/glowing endorsements to feel appropriately prepared and excited.

Plus - bit of a laugh, innit?

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

I'm hardcore Facebooking every single person I know who might be in the general vicinity of the UK in August. What's that? You're living in the Ukraine? I don't care, BOOK A FLIGHT.

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

At one point I went over my budget with a producer and I think we worked out that even if I sell 90% of all my tickets, I'll still be down around £1,000. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

6. What are you most looking forward to about your first Edinburgh Festival?

Honestly, any time I get a decent laugh from a crowd who has no idea who the hell I am is a real buzz. I'm sure that throughout the Fringe I'll kill sometimes and bomb some others, because that's comedy. But the satisfaction of having a great gig in a city on the other side of the planet is pretty addictive.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

I've already booked tickets! What a comedy-loving loser! I'm very excited to see Stewart Lee, Alun Cochrane, Lost Voice Guy, Tiffany Stevenson, Bridget Christie, Paul Sinha (I saw him in 2009 and he blew my mind), Mark Watson, David O'Doherty, Daniel Sloss and probably 80 others.

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

MC Daniel Kitson, then Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, DOD, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, Josie Long, Oliver Clark, Anne Edmonds, Patrice O'Neal and ME AS THE HEADLINER AND NO-ONE'S ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

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

Bill Cosby. You know why.

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

By all rights they probably shouldn't, but I'd bloody love it if they did. If you really want to embrace the spirit of the Fringe and take a punt on a nice, chubby, pale Australian who's been doing this for a long time and who will shake your hand as you walk into the room and make you laugh, then I'm the one for you.

'Tom Ballard - Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred' is at 9:15pm at Assembly George Square Studios on 5-16, 18-23, 25-30 August. Listing