Cerys Bradley

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 17th December 2024

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week we welcome Cerys Bradley, who is about to star in the ultimate festive thing - a pantomime! Then early next year it's full steam ahead on their new show, which debuts at the Leicester Comedy Festival.

First, this Friday, it's Weirdos panto at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, with Cerys heading up an epic ensemble. Does it enhance the festive season, being in one? "Yes!" Bradley exclaims. "Mostly because the panto is on the 20th and is my last event of the year so I'm sort of using it to mark the start of Christmas."

The title: The Race for Space. Any hints on the role?

"I am playing a confused and naïve little boy who gets bullied by a lot of big meanie characters. Unfortunately, Adam really likes to typecast his actors..."

Adam Larter that is, the Werner Herzog of Weirdos, who also has a hand in Bradley's new solo venture. Queer Tales for Autistic Folk "is a big, interactive choose-your-own storytelling show where the audience gets to decide what happens," the latter explains. "Adam has made all of my props so it has the beautiful cardboard 2D world of Weirdos. I've had lots of help writing it from lovely people like Steffan Alun, Beth Watson, Amy Greaves and Mikey Bligh-Smith and it has been written collaboratively with my audiences at WIPs this year."

That 'first official not-a-WIP version' is on Feb 15 at Leicester's Attenborough Arts Centre, and will also be live captioned, "so there are lots of reasons to see the show in Leicester specifically."

Let the festivities commence: Cerys Bradley, your Random 8 await.

What was your childhood career dream?

Cult leader.

(I briefly wanted to be a writer but when we had to do an exercise investigating our dream job in PSHE class in school, the person they interviewed about her life as a writer made it sound really dull. She just sort of pottered around the house and occasionally wrote boring-sounding books so that put me off.)

Is there a book or film that changed your life?

Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha.

I first read it in 2019 at my lowest point of the Edinburgh Fringe and it radically changed my perspective on disability and how to fit into society. I'm currently re-reading it and it's even more relevant now in this post-pandemic garbage fire world.

What's the worst job you've ever had?

I'm currently an A Level maths teacher....

When I was a student, I made a bit of extra cash writing fake reviews for fancy restaurants. You had to look at the pictures of the food you could not afford and imagine what it was like to eat there so that one kind of sucked.

Which underrated thing deserves more attention?

I think Co-op West Country Cheddar and Red Onion Chutney Crisps (from their Irresistible range) are, hands down, the best cheese and onion crisp. They are tasty and delicious and contain an above average number of curled-over crisps. And they must be underrated because I think (fear) they have been discontinued as the Co-ops in my general area have all switched to stocking cheese and spring onion crisps (bleurgh) instead.

I am genuinely heartbroken and appreciate you giving me this platform to share my pain because this travesty certainly deserves more attention. I have tried raising awareness on my Instagram and would like to appeal to your readers - if you see these crisps in your Co-op, can you send me the address of that Co-op so I can buy some, I miss them dearly.

Which British town should be abolished?

It's not technically a town (because do towns even really exist anymore??) but Hendon is home to Saracens RFC so it can get in the bin.

What's the most regrettable thing you've ever bought?

My very small flat is full of half-finished art projects because I regularly dive head first into new hobbies and buy all of the kit and then get bored and move onto something else.

It is difficult to choose just one regrettable purchase but my wife would probably say the portable smoothie maker (blenders just don't need to be portable) that never actually arrived because I bought it through Instagram from what was very clearly a scam account.

Which live event would you most like to have attended?

I don't really like live events because they're usually loud and have a lot of people but I wish I'd seen Vic Reeves' Big Night Out, specifically when it was at The Goldsmiths Tavern.

What's your favourite phrase or expression?

Now that you have asked me this question, I cannot remember a single phrase or expression.

Weirdos Comedy and The Race for Space is at London's Bloomsbury Theatre on Friday December 20. Tickets