Bobby Mair

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 29th March 2022

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week that funny person is the UK's most persistently undersung Canadian stand-up survivor powered by peanut butter, Bobby Mair.

We've seen Mair outshine the greats in support slots before, so it makes sense that he's on a name-above-the-door tour of his own, as we speak. Which presumably has a suitably glamorous title?

"Cockroach is very much a show about where I'm at in my life," says the Toronto-born comic. "I talk about being in my mid-30s and being completely beyond having potential, having a baby and being mentally ill in an age where everyone seems to want a label that deems them mentally ill."

He's lived a life, and that show was originally planned for a few years back, pre-lockdowns. Has it changed much, since?

"Most of the original show survived the pandemic, I just lost some topical jokes and cut out my plan to talk about tragedy because I genuinely felt like the whole world has had enough tragedy."

Indeed. And any other goals for 2022, plagues/nukes permitting?

"My plan for the rest of the year is to keep touring, and hopefully grow my podcast The Year Is to a point where Spotify give me a pile of money to deny science."

They've got form. Bobby Mair, your Random 8 await.

Who was your childhood hero?

My childhood hero was comedian George Carlin. I watched him obsessively and loved everything he did. He had these long incredible bits that were so funny and insightful that he made me want to do comedy. Also, Batman.

Your most memorable injury?

It was the first day of winter a few years ago and I was opening for Tom Stade in Southend and was running late so sprinted. I slipped on ice I didn't know was on the ground and broke my elbow. But I still had to go the gig. So I had to get up and KEEP running with my arm dangling off my body.

I got to the gig, went on stage with my arm dangling off my body and whenever I moved in between jokes, screamed in pain. A few months later right when it healed, I slipped on the ice again and rebroke it.

Ever met a particularly great or awful famous person?

I wish I had a story about the worst celebrity I've met. But I don't really. I've met a lot of famous comedians (Doug Stanhope, Bill Burr, Jimmy Carr) but it's always been in a professional capacity and like most people that get to the top of their industry, they were very nice in person.

What was your favourite shop?

It's so cliche but I love Tim Horton's donuts. That might not mean anything to readers in the UK, but Tim Horton's is like Greggs meets Starbucks and there's one in every Canadian town and one on every block of every Canadian city.

In Manchester a few weeks ago I was killing time before my tour show and we drove by a Tim Horton's (there's a few in the UK). I was so excited I went in, bought half a dozen donuts and ate them while my opening act Red Richardson stared at me in disgust.

Ever gatecrashed anything interesting?

I went to a wedding reception in a hotel in the middle of Devon once, but was so filled with anxiety that I would be caught, I left after five minutes.

Your greatest sporting moment?

I LOVE golf. Have since I was 11. I was paired with my high school bully in a club championship and he forced me to hit a drive when there were people on the fairway because he said I couldn't hit the ball that far. I proved him wrong and hit a lady in the back. It was a mixture of feelings I've never had before. Extreme guilt, shame, and pride.

Which town/city should be abolished, and why?

I used to hate towns that I bombed in, but after 11 years in the UK, it's hard to hate most cities.

But also, I've had great shows in those cities after becoming a better comedian so there's nowhere that I really HATE like I used to.

What's the weirdest thing you ever ate?

I avoid any food that is not the food I eat all the time. I am not an exotic eater. I can say that on average I eat three jars of peanut butter a week and it is a staple of at least two meals I have every day. That's not a weird food, but my love and commitment to peanut butter is definitely weird. Smooth, not crunchy.

Bobby Mair: Cockroach is touring the UK now, click here for dates and details: bobbymair.net