Connor Burns
Published: Tuesday 9th January 2024
One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week that funny person is Connor Burns, the Edinburgh-based comic who had a cracking Fringe in that fine city last year. Now the hotly-tipped stand-up is taking that acclaimed show, Vertigo, on a debut UK tour. Is it a Hitchcockian tale?
"Vertigo all started around a story about my dad, which is still the big finale," he says. "The show has grown arms and legs now and it's really just a lot of daft takes on quite divisive subjects, and my own personal failings. There's no real message, I just want people to laugh really hard for an hour."
It's set to be a big year for Mr Burns, then, who'll be stopping off at the Leicester Comedy Festival on February 24th, and their launch gala at the legendary De Montfort Hall this Friday night. Any other plans?
"I head off to Australia after my UK tour ends and then it's all about getting the next show ready. I'll find some downtime on there as well, but right now I'm loving the work."
High times. Connor Burns, your Random 8 await.
Who is - or was - your most interesting relative?
My dad. He was in the merchant navy when he was younger and has worked hundreds of different jobs. To this day I'm still finding out about countries he was in and the escapades he got up to.
Which movie would you love to have been in, and which part?
I love the idea of having a very small part that becomes a little piece of pop culture history, like Jonah Hill trying to buy the fish platforms in The 40-Year-Old Virgin or the guy that tries to set fire to himself in Airplane!.
What's the most regrettable thing you've ever bought?
A few years ago I bought a burgundy suit jacket and I thought I looked pretty swish, until I got on a bus and realised it was the same as the Lothian Bus Company's uniform. I went on dates dressed like a bus driver.
Ever met a particularly great or awful famous person?
I met Lewis Capaldi a while back, he listened to what (upon reflection) was quite an unfunny anecdote and laughed politely along - seemed a top bloke.
What's the best advice you ever received?
Never be the loudest person in the room. I get that that's ironic as a stand-up, but for everywhere else other than on stage its sage advice.
Which British town should be abolished?
Westminster. Would solve a lot of problems.
Your favourite device, ever?
PlayStation One. I remember waking up to it on Christmas one year and then three months later my dad was wallpapering my bedroom and it fell into a bucket of wallpaper paste. I was inconsolable.
What's the worst thing in your wardrobe?
The burgundy suit jacket is long gone, so right now it's probably the expensive leather biker jacket that I bought in a desperate attempt to look like James Dean. The end product was a lot more James Corden.
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