Mawaan Rizwan: 10 Edinburgh Fringe questions

Mawaan Rizwan 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 in 2009, filming sketches and uploading them to YouTube. In the first two years I racked up over 19 million views and 70,000 subscribers. So I thought to myself - man, I must be pretty good, maybe I should give live comedy a shot.

I remember hearing everyone talk about Edinburgh so the following year I decided to do a three-hander show at the Fringe, beaming with hopes and dreams. When I got to the venue I realised it was right next to a dance floor, with a curtain for a door. Every night I'd be shouting over Rihanna or The Venga Boys, trying desperately to win the crowd over. I failed night after night. During one show, a particularly drunk audience member lobbed his Subway sandwich at me. It's never happened since, which clearly indicates my rapid progress as a comedian. What doesn't kill you makes you smell of Italian BMT.

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

1. I've never seen Star Wars.

2. Custard is my favourite food.

3. I'm a vegan who loves Star Wars.

Describe your new show in exactly 23 words.

A whole load of gender-bending glam rock nonsense. Seductively eating grapes then pissing out red wine, impersonating a trampoline and slut dropping. Obvs.

Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

I give away a free drink at every show. I'm just that generous. Or desperate.

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

I've bought loads of tupperware! Now comes the hard bit - cooking food and putting it in there.

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

A spice rack. But I refuse to buy a £2 packet of cumin when I know I'm going to have to throw most of it away at the end of the month.

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

Going up to Arthur's Seat and posing for a new Facebook profile picture.

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

Candy Gigi, Paul Currie, Spencer Jones, Paul Foot, Sam Simmons, Betty Grumble and an amazingly talented and sexy man named Mawaan Rizwan.

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

The guy who chucked his Subway at me.

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

I'm the only free fringe show that uses a fog machine. But also - it's my most high octane and silliest show yet. It's not trying to drive home a hard hitting message. It's a whole load of pointless, surreal fun but with a ton of heart. I hope. You be the judge of that.

'Mawaan Rizwan - Gender Neutral Concubine Pirate' is at Dropkick Murphys at 5:15pm until the 28th August. Listing