BAB

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 15th October 2024

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week we welcome a dynamic duo - BAB, aka Amy Spinks and Lauren Soley - who are getting into the promoting game, and join us to promote the night they now, er, promote.

That night is Chippy Tea, at London's Aces and Eights bar, which was "born off the back of a charity night we put on at Christmas last year called Jingle BAB," BAB explain. The ethos? Open minds.

"So far we have had stand-up, musical comedy, sketch comedy, character comedy and we want to champion comedians that join the night to try out new bits, weird bits, anything goes honestly."

"Female and LGBTQ+ identifying comedians are at the forefront of our mind when building a bill and this is a welcoming space to have fun in."

The line-up For November is still TBA but the provisional list does look fun, with at least one recent Edinburgh Fringe award-winner. And who'll be compering? BAB? Together? In character?

"BAB will be compering, together majoritively, and it's just us, Lauren and Amy, sprinkled with our chaotic gig energy. It's not a character, it's a sickness."

They'll get the hang of this night-plugging lark one day. But now, Bab, your Random 8 await:

Who is - or was - your most interesting relative?

Amy: I have to say, I found thinking of my answer for this depressing. Don't get me wrong I love my family, but they're just bonkers.

Lauren: I had to take this one, you don't want to hear Amy talk about her relatives - sparing her grandad, he does quite well. In fact, I'd say my grandad was my most interesting relative, he gave me two very valuable pieces of advice which I'll never forget - "get some paid gigs" and "put money aside for your tax". You can thank me for those later.

What's the greatest invention ever?

Amy: Without a doubt it's tin foil. How does that magic material never get hot when you open your little parcel of delight from the oven. It's metal?! Yet it's never too hot to touch?! Although I will add I have severely bad circulation so it could also be that...

Which TV show would you love to have been in, and which part?

Lauren: I would've loved to have been Alice Tinker in The Vicar Of Dibley. Emma Chambers created such a loveable, unique character and it absolutely couldn't be replicated, it would need reinventing if the show came back for good. To work alongside the likes of Dawn French on such a heartwarming, timeless script would be dreamy.

Who's the rudest person you've ever met?

Amy: I think Lauren would agree with me here but It's the majority of people I've met in my history of working in the service industry. Customers have a tone and impatience that can really take you down a notch. Luckily, as a bartender, I'd just spit in their mojito. Who's winning now Table 12?!

Your greatest sporting moment?

Lauren: I play football locally and we started doing Sunday league matches, beginners and that, lots of kicking up grass. But one time, my mate got a left-footed goal I scored on camera and put it on Instagram. My brother plays football and messaged me saying 'first touch on the swinger too' and I felt like Beth bloody Mead. Gave myself the ick mind when my girlfriend filmed me showing it to my housemate at the time, ICK.

When were you most embarrassed?

Amy: When Lauren's girlfriend Josie woke me up from being their big spoon and asked me to go home last night. Some would say I was third wheel, I would say I'm their adopted wife.

What's the weirdest thing you ever saw?

Lauren: Back when I did musicals, I was in Singapore on tour and my friend came to visit and we went to this zoo. It was a nice, big, open concept zoo which I tell myself would be a nice place to live if I were a tree kangaroo.

They had these monkeys roaming free and I was observing one at a distance and then he jumped off the sign he was scratching his arse on and approached me. I was circling trying to get away and then he shot off into the bushes and came back out on two legs holding a clipboard like he was about to do me a medical check-up. It was fantastic.

If you were talking about comedy, the weirdest thing could be the sketch at the end of Tarot's show last year when one of the guys was soaking wet through his white smock and he was pantless... but I still stand by the monkey.

The worst thing you ever bought?

Lauren: The wardrobe in my flat, in fact two of that same wardrobe because my girlfriend and I need separate ones to stay together.

As soon as the IKEA piece of shit arrived in all its thousand pieces, I thought what have I done? Why do all of the pieces need breaking before going into place? Why do couples think our relationships are stronger than an IKEA flat pack? Why don't they send veggie meatballs as an apology with every order?!

Amy: I just had the joy of travelling to Japan and I bought two adapters labelled WORLD adapter and turns out they don't comply with Japanese plugs. Now someone explain this to me?

Chippy Tea is at London's Aces and Eights on November 12th. Tickets