Jerry Sadowitz interview

A brave Lucy Wood talks to Jerry Sadowitz, a man is who billed by his own publicity machine as "the world's most offensive comedian". He's currently on a 30-date UK tour, his first in a quarter of a century and, quite possibly, his last...

Yes, Sadowitz is intimidating, terrifying and everything in between. But he's also influenced a generation of comedians - and is one of the best close-up magicians in the world. He's not everyone's cup of tea, that's for sure. He continually pushes the limits of what people think possible - not to mention say-able - on stage.

Sweary, confrontational, abusive... but don't let this put you off. "I only do a card trick in the act if the audience behave themselves," he said. "If they don't, then I do two of them."

"I tend to attract the ignorant, the optimistic, the comedy connoisseur, the nihilist and the eternally depressed. My act hopefully hangs out everyone's dirty laundry and we all end up happier for it. As long as they don't leave wanting a refund, I can breathe a sigh of relief."

Sadowitz was born in New Jersey (which also gave birth to David Blaine and David Copperfield) but raised in Glasgow after his parents separated. He describes himself as a "nice, if fucked up individual".

"My onstage persona actually thinks he has something to offer. The one off-stage is beyond despair, desperation and bitterness, but he's too cowardly to kill himself. I'm aggressive on stage due to the intense anger of everything I have experienced, not experienced and observed since birth."

Voted the 15th greatest stand-up in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups in 2007, Sadowitz recorded some shows earlier this year for a DVD, but the deal fell through. "I'm kind of glad it isn't going to happen though," he continued. "If I had my way, there would be nothing out there whatsoever, and there would be nothing on earth after I die to show that I was here at all. But old age and heating bills might deny me that one too."

"I'd love to do more TV in as much as it brings opportunities to do stuff I can't do on stage. However, I am so eaten with contempt for the BBC and Channel 4 for their sheer denial of my existence, and the perpetual use of my material through other 'comics', that I don't know if I could bring myself to do anything for them now. Just as well I'm not asked!"

"One needs the industry to some degree just to work. To be embraced by them is something else entirely. There are so many performers I despise that it clouds my mind from thinking of those who I like. There are a few, but most are dead or retired. Eddie Izzard and Phil Kay are not only great stand-ups but genuinely original."

Let's face it - it's no surprise if people walk out of a Sadowitz gig, although this in itself is a brave act. Unfortunately for him, he's experienced an entire audience leave. He was the last act on a late night comedy bill at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe, and every single person left the room, apart from some comedians and a promoter at the back. "They thought it was hilarious," he recalled. "Strangely, it was a comedy character that I was doing... a kind of 'intro' to the main set. I hadn't even got to the 'offensive' material."

So what are his ambitions for the future? "I'd love to tour a show of close-up magic with a screen, projector and camera, but the costs versus the number of people who would come and see me make that prohibitive. The irony is that some magician with very little talent, but lots of TV publicity, will be able to do that. Meanwhile, my hands are getting drier and I'm getting some arthritis, so its all academic. Like my whole life!"

To find out more about Jerry Sadowitz visit www.jerrysadowitz.com