Mark Dolan: 10 Edinburgh Fringe questions

Mark Dolan answers 10 questions about his 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show...

Give us a quick overview of your comedy career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

Comedy became my living in 2000. There has never been a grand plan, but I ended up fronting many TV series (C4's Balls Of Steel, The Worlds .. .and Me documentaries, among others) as well as being a stand-up comedian. It's been an amazing ride so far, but I'm certain my best years are ahead of me!

Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself (but mix them up, keep us guessing!).

1. I bite my nails.

2. My time management is terrible.

3. I once dated Mick Jagger.

Describe your new show in exactly 23 words.

Featuring a series of ingenious life short cuts, Life Hacks will make you laugh, change your life and make your hair noticeably shinier.

Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Just doing the best, funniest show possible usually does the trick. If that doesn't work, I'll go for the Kate Winslet option and remove my clothes.

What's your plan for trying to eat - and drink - healthily during the Fringe?

Alcohol free until after the last show. At which point I shall drink the city dry. And that's saying something, as Edinburgh is a city in Scotland.

What will you miss most while you're away from home?

You are wrong to assume I would ever miss family and friends. They are terrible people. I'll miss good wi-fi and wearing a t-shirt outside.

Aside from performing, what else are you looking forward to doing in Scotland's fine capital?

Revisiting my old haunts - I was a student at the University of Edinburgh in the mid-90s. I'll pop into the brilliant National Gallery Of Scotland, I'll have tea in the iconic Jenners department store and I'll trawl the 8 million charity shops Edinburgh currently boasts. Charity shops are my guilty pleasure. As a result, I own a lot of slightly damaged teapots and polyester sweaters.

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

I'd put Tim Fitzhigham on all day.

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

The head of the Politics Department at the University of Edinburgh. I think I may still owe her some coursework.

Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,800+ other Fringe offerings listed on BCG this year?

It's a show which is very funny but which doubles up as a brilliant survivor's guide to life. Also, I can't come next year due to other work stuff, so catch me while you can!!

'Mark Dolan: Life Hacks' is at Gilded Balloon at 8pm until the 29th August. Listing