Alex Mitchell

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 13th May 2025

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate.

This week that comedian is Alex Mitchell, who armchair viewers should recognise from last year's Britain's Got Talent, where he got all the way to the final, having won Disabled Comedian of the Year in 2023. So what's lined up for this year? Well he's in at the start of a brand new night, on May 30.

Sunderland's cocktail-and-gaming hotspot Spacebar has just launched its first comedy club, in association with North East comedy types Little Robot. Also aboard are Michael Legge, Laurie Brewster, Kelly Anne Younghorn and Si Beckwith - plus a load of arcade games. Pac Man? No, there are still some seats left at time of writing. But be quick.

So is there a certain frisson, for Alex, at an opening night? A dash of added danger?

"It makes it more exciting. I love playing brand new places and getting to see new venues, and performing to new audiences is always fun. I guess it's sort of the reason I started in comedy, it's the joy of performing to people and places that may not know who you are yet."

His profile is certainly rising. This August Mitchell will do his second Edinburgh Fringe show, Tough, and there's a podcast, Queers On... "where we interview queer artists about a subject or issue they're interested in."

But right now "I'm coming to the end of my first UK tour, which has been a really surreal experience but so much fun. I've played in cities that I've never been to before which has been really cool and I've learnt a lot. Mainly about places I thought were nice but are actually dumps."

We've all been there. Alex Mitchell, your Random 8 await.

What was your favourite kids TV show?

Raven! No hesitation. It was bloody brilliant. They got a bunch of kids together to complete challenges and as children we genuinely believed that if they failed, they died. The jeopardy was immense! Plus, Raven himself was probably my queer sexual awakening.

They've just added all the original series on BBC iPlayer and, if for a second I thought it was acceptable, I'd watch them all again.

Who's the most interesting person you've ever met?

I'm obsessed with people who are just odd and completely different to who I imagine. I recently gigged with Joe Kent-Walters (AKA Frankie Monroe) and that was insane. I love Frankie as a character and think Joe is one of the best new comic minds out there. But Joe is so far away from the character it's insane. He's just a really lovely softly-spoken guy.

The opposite of that is Richard Madeley. I did Good Morning Britain last year and got to chat with him before the show went live, and honestly... I'm not sure how that man functions. I'm not even sure he's human, I think he's a character from the mind of Steve Coogan.

What's the worst thing you've ever bought a ticket for?

I took my friend's daughter to see Space Jam: A New Legacy. Space Jam was a massive part of my childhood, it was absolutely amazing! And like most sequels this one absolutely ruined the original.

Is there a book or film that changed your life?

Femme is a truly magnificent film that I urge anyone to watch. It's probably the most honest and realistic interpretation of both gay culture and the repercussions of a homophobic attack. Plus, it's a great revenge story.

TV shows like Sex Education and Big Boys have also had big impacts on me. Mainly because I just wish they had been around when I was younger trying to find out who I am.

What's the greatest invention (that deserves more attention)?

I love The Royle Family, so am beyond tempted to say the corned beef key. But I guess an invention that changed my life is the Nintendo Wii. Everyone wanted one when I was a kid and I remember when it came out the news went crazy.

The idea that you could play video games and be active at the same time was applauded like it was the best thing ever created. And then three weeks later everyone worked out how to get a strike in bowling while sitting down.

When were you most embarrassed?

At a party at the Edinburgh Festival last year, I dropped a full (and I mean full to the brim) glass of rosé at the feet of Dara O Briain; then had to do that weird thing where I tried to mop it up off his shoes with nowhere near enough tissues.

Your favourite phrase or expression?

Shit on it!!!

Who are you most envious of?

There's only one person I'd want to swap my life for and that's Andy Zaltzman. He's an incredible comedian who's done some of the best comedy panel shows we have in this country, but crucially he is paid to sit and watch cricket and come up with often completely insignificant statistics as part of his work for Test Match Special. As an autistic cricket fan, this is very much the dream.

The Spacebar Comedy Night is on May 30. spacebararcade.co.uk