Paul F Taylor: 10 Edinburgh Fringe questions

Paul F Taylor 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?

I started messing about with stand-up in 2006, so it's been 10 years on and off in various forms. I've been in a double act, I'm in a sketch group and my stand-up act has had many incarnations. If I'm honest I'm really very happy with what I'm creating as a comedian at the moment. In the last 2 or 3 years I can look back at some things I've done with real pride, and this year's show is more where I want to be as a performer than in any other Edinburgh Fringe I've done previously. In this year's show I play with with the idea of being bitter and sour probably because deep down I am hungry for more impact on the scene.

Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself.

1. I used to do a double act with Nick Helm called Helm & Taylor.
2. I really love fudge.
3. I won the NATY award, formerly the Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year Award.

Describe your new show in exactly 23 words.

It's the Falling Down of comedy, but instead of Michael Douglas and a baseball bat it's Paul F Taylor, and a gorilla suit.

Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Not really, I try to conserve my energy in Edinburgh and concentrate on the show. If it's good enough you have to trust that's what will get people in.

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

I've developed a recipe for a meal I'll eat every day which contains spinach, Sandersons, echinacea, Berocca, matcha powder, manuka honey and vocal zones. It tastes disgusting, but I believe it will make me immortal.

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

The weird taste of London's highly toxic tap water; Edinburgh's water is too clean and healthy tasting for me.

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

I really don't think I like fudge, but I keep trying to because my friend Patch works in a fudge shop. Every year I go in to try a free sample to see if I've changed my mind. I'll probably go there and remind myself of what I already know.

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

David O'Doherty, Spencer Jones, Tony Law.

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

I'd rather not bump into any punk comedian who might have spikey clothes, I could do without the spike wounds.

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

I'm stomping all over the line between accessible observational and surreal nonsensical fantastical stand-up. It promises to be something that is hard to fit into any genre. Plus I have a totally absurd ending.

'Paul F Taylor: Sour Apes' is at Bannermans at 4:15pm on 7-12, 14-19, 21-26, 28 Aug. Listing