Emma Doran

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 13th September 2024

It was the first of times, it was the worst of times. And this time we welcome Emma Doran, the popular Irish comedian whose current tour includes England and Scotland for the first time, those English dates kicking off in Newcastle on October 8th. Dilemma, Doran's new show, hinges on some spicy hypothetical hang-ups - so what drew her in that direction?

"As a woman who has just hit 40 I'm in constant fear: am I pregnant or is this perimenopause?" the comic reveals. "That coupled with the fact I have a 21 year-old daughter. The chances of me becoming a mother and a granny at the same time don't bear thinking about."

It's quite the double whammy. "But if I'm being totally honest my name is in the title and I hate the dilemma of coming up with a name for a show."

She's had a lot going on recently, in fairness: Doran's first book is out this very week, called Mad, Isn't It? - more on that below. She starred in Prime Video's first original Irish series, LOL: Last One Laughing (hosted by Graham Norton), and is all over your terrestrial and online outlets too. Busy. But how did she get there? Let's double back to Dublin.

First gig?

It was 11 years ago. I arrived extremely early and announced to an uninterested barman 'I'm here to do comedy'. An audience of about 20 or 30 people voted me the best act of the night and I was hooked straight away.

Favourite show, ever?

Whichever one was the best that week.

Sometimes it's the gig that I have low expectations for that I enjoy the most. You're only as good as your last gig so I try to move on fairly quickly, good or bad. And there's always milk and bread to get on the way home anyway so you can't be losing the run of yourself for too long.

Worst gig?

There's so many to choose from but I think a charity gig where I died on my hole and realised shortly after coming off stage to silence that I was sitting beside the Head of Television in RTÉ here in Ireland.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

When I was starting out a security guard used to give me free parking because he knew I was getting pittance for gigs.

And who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

I'm suspicious of any comedian who isn't a little bit contrary, but I'd be reluctant to mention 'the most disagreeable' ones because they'd be only delighted with having something new to give out about.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

I'd more say that sad moment when a good joke must be laid to rest because the universe just decides it's time. Kinda like when you have a pet dog who goes to 'live' on your auntie's farm. You don't want to believe it but you know it's dead.

You've a book out too - is it mostly laughs or do you go quite deep along the way?

Hopefully there's lots of laughs, but I'm Irish so there's a small bit of misery and shame just for good measure.

Any reviews, heckles or post-gig reactions stick in the mind?

The first time I was on television my mother said 'is that it.'

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

Tipping away.

Emma Doran: Dilemma is touring the UK and Ireland from September 20. Dates here: emmadorancomedy.com

Mad, Isn't It? is out now.