Steve McNeil

You might well have come across Dave's video game vehicle Go 8 Bit, but you may not realise that it's based on a successful live show, which was hosted by the TV show's team captains, Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon.

McNeil now has a new live show with Rob Sedgebeer (who does the TV show's technical stuff) called Wifi Wars, "a live comedy game show where the whole audience play along," says McNeil. "They log in with their smartphone or tablet - make sure you've got plenty of battery - and compete in a range of games, quizzes and challenges to win the show. And prizes!"

Prizes! Pretty cool, and they're touring it as we speak. But let's travel back ten years, and some shows where the audiences weren't always quite so actively engaged.

First Gig?

London, March 5th, 2006. It was a one-off Pappy's Fun Club gig to coincide with the Oscars - comedy gig first, Oscars after, with all the acts writing Oscars-based material.

Me and Sam Pay (who used to be in Pappy's in the VERY early days) wrote a song that referenced a lot of Oscar-winning films. It took days. None of the audience seemed to know anything about the Oscars. It did not go well.

Pretty sure Fat Tongue (latterly Cardinal Burns) were there, and some guy whose set went so badly he curled up on the floor and screamed for a bit. Good times.

Favourite Show, Ever?

WiFi Wars this year at the Royal Institution. It was our second annual show there - a dream come true for two nerds - the BBC were in to film, and we broke a Guinness World Record. It'll be a while before a gig beats that. There's video of it here

Worst Gig?

Really early on in McNeil & Pamphilon's career, we went on between Doc Brown and Micky Flanagan at Jongleurs. Not the ideal place for badly-written sketch comedy. The worst bit about it was how little the audience reacted. No booing, no throwing glasses, just silent indifference. At least if they're horrible you can hate them.

The Weirdest Gig?

At the live TV recording of Go 8 Bit, I found myself controlling a custom version of Track and Field with me as the in-game character, on a giant recreation of a Spectrum keyboard. Rachel Riley from Countdown was helping me with the run buttons, while Kris Akabusi jumped the hurdles using a massive space bar and Dara O Briain commentated on the race. As gigs go, that's certainly up there.

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

In our first McNeil & Pamphilon sketch show, we had a sketch where Derek Acorah and his spirit guide, Sam, fell out. When the spirit guide came on stage, he quietly sang "I'm wearing socks" to the tune of Diana Ross's I'm Coming Out to himself for a bit, before Derek noticed him. We still do this now, but it was never funny. It just feels nice to do. Try it. Life-changing.

What's your best insider travel tip, for touring comics?

Always have minty things so your breath is nice, and some deodorant and a fresh shirt for when you get off stage. Don't be stinky. It feels horrible being stinky.

The most memorable review, heckle or post-gig reaction?

McNeil & Pamphilon's three star review from Broadway Baby will forever be my favourite, because of this quote from it: "Easily a four-star experience".

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

I can't believe my luck! I make a living being an idiot that plays computer games. If I wasn't happy with that, I'd be the most ungrateful person ever!

WiFi Wars tours the UK until December this year, visit www.wifiwars.co.uk for a full list of tour dates.