Dave Bibby

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Tuesday 2nd November 2021

One random comedian, eight random questions; it's the ultimate test of funny person and fate. This week we get busy with the adaptable Dave Bibby. Back at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe he coped with that weeks-long estrangement from his cats by writing a popular show about it (Crazy Cat Lad-y), then responded to lockdown by becoming New Online Comedian of the Year, 2020. Well adjusted.

So you wonder how his return to the stage is going. Bibby will appear at Hackney's monthly cabaret bash Big Wowie! on November 9th, doing... what?

"Honestly no idea!" he admits. "I started out doing sketch comedy then thought it might be nice to try musical comedy. I like storytelling and improv and have finally got round to doing some 'normal' stand-up. Now I do a mix of all of them so even I don't know what I'm gonna do at most gigs. My last show was a gameshow where each round was hosted by a different character."

Next Tuesday's event is raising funds for Hackney Night Shelter, and also features the likably leftfield likes of Kat Bond, Viggo Venn and Madame Chandalier. Then what else will Bibby do?

"I'm finally starting the process of writing a new hour, Dave Bibby Remakes Jurassic Park While Trying to Bring Up a Baby, and the audience should expect to play a big part. Actually all the parts. Apart from the role of gigantic triceratops shit. That will be played by all of Laura Kuenssberg's tweets."

Oof! "Also," he says, "watch feature film Knuckledust, I'm brilliant in that."

Time to make a fist of our questions. Dave Bibby, your Random 8 await.

Who was your childhood hero?

Robin Williams. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do so seeing this guy who was such a natural stand-up and improviser but could feel just at home in a serious drama just blew me away. With hindsight, I related to him constantly playing the clown and seeming unable to be himself, so even his faults influenced me to become a better person.

Also John Barnes.

What's the weirdest thing you ever saw?

I once saw a country vote for less freedom, less fuel, less food on the shelves and a generally poorer standard of living. LOL that was so weird.

Ever met a surprisingly great or awful famous person?

I have worked with a couple of heroes who turned out to be dickheads but I'm just not successful enough to name them here and get away with it.

But Tom Hanks joking about coming to our house for tea with Jude Law (who wasn't there and had absolutely no connection to what was going on) was v cool. Hanks was in a children's hospital with someone dressed as Woody from Toy Story and he was being so nice to everyone the people with him seemed worried he wouldn't leave.

And who was the out-of-work actor working as the costumed character...?

Honestly, no idea... they never broke the fourth wall, fair play.

Which film or TV show would you love to have been in?

Band Of Brothers was the moment TV overtook cinema and everyone who was in that seemed to go on to become superstars. So if I had a time machine I would go back and try and get one line in that, die spectacularly in the trenches then watch my career blossom. Would also pick up some bitcoin and do something nice for the world, time depending.

Your most interesting injury?

Five stitches across my left eyebrow hurt like hell as a kid. But it stiffened up that eyebrow so I can raise it like The Rock. I can't tell you how many times that eyebrow has got me parts in TV commercials. Well, I suppose I can. Twice.

Which low-key law would you introduce?

WhatsApp voice notes should have a 30 second time limit or the phone combusts.

What's your favourite mode of transport?

I once bought a scooter in Edinburgh when I rented a Fringe flat a bit further out of town than I realised. Not a fancy e-scooter! Just a cheap push scooter. Oh boy I had some fun on that thing. I never felt so alive as I was then, drunk for a month, hurtling downhill towards a sudden cobbled street.

Which town/city should be abolished?

I'm still not sure about Brighton.