Hi Billy. Who are you and what do you do in comedy?
Dublin based comedy professional with a successful career across screen, digital, stage and radio.
Tell us about how you first became involved in the comedy world.
Listening to BBC radio as a kid and in 1st year in University College Dublin formed a live trio The (Spike) Milligan Machine that wrote and performed for both student and city audiences. Final performance in London in August 1973 for a BBC (R4) series (name escapes me!) that was aimed at commissioning new material. After that performed solo at a time (late 70s) when Ireland had no comedy clubs. So I invested in opening Dublin venues in the early 1980s and later a live Irish circuit early 1990s.
Tell us about your comedy favourites.
The Goons; Python; 1980s ITV sketch series; great UK sitcoms - inc Irish inspired Fr Ted plus US classics Cheers, Taxi, Frasier etc. Flew to see Steven Wright (London); George Carlin (NY) and The Producers (LA) live; fan of Mel Brooks; Zucker Bros & Woody Allen films. And enjoy great storytellers.
The comedy industry is competitive. Why should people pick you to work with?
I approach any project with varied hats of writer, script editor, producer and director plus experience as a commissioner and talent manager with a healthy UK network.
What's the best advice you've ever been given, read or heard?
Writing Comedy - Better to have funny people talking than people talking funny
Career - Make money while you sleep
Home - Problem shared, problem halved
Where would you like to be in 10 years' time?
Above ground still laughing at how ridiculous the world is. We lived outside Orgiva in Las Alparrahas near Granada for 6 months in 2010 (with 3 kids under 5) and would love to do same when the nest is empty.
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
3 screenagers at home so many hours pw cooking, driving or watching them (usually sports). Have an 'overseas' Season Ticket for Spurs (confused emoji) few times a year. Otherwise enjoy tapping away making up stuff on a computer.
If you ever get free time, how do you spend it?
BCG drops the British only rule and includes Irish based comedy professionals
Published: Monday 1st May 2023