Hi Daniel. Who are you and what do you do in comedy?
My name is Daniel Powell and I do stand-up, write topical jokes for radio (some of which they occasionally use) and I write lots of other stuff that rarely sees the light of another human eye. I do all of these things well or badly, depending upon who you ask.
Can you remember the first thing you wrote?
The first thing I ever properly wrote (excluding school newspaper articles and crap poetry) was a derivative action/comedy film called Extraction, when I was about 15. Basically, I was obsessed with the film Grosse Pointe Blank, starring John Cusack, so I basically rewrote that, but shite. I never showed it to anyone and I have no idea where it is now, but I'd love to read it again for some sick reason I can't put my finger on.
Tell us your favourite joke, sketch or routine.
My favourite piece of comedy as a whole is Stewart Lee's "Childhood" episode from his Comedy Vehicle TV series. I love almost all of his work, but that 27-28 minutes is a perfect example of why he is considered one of the best to ever hold a microphone. The control he has over the audience and the environment is astounding, and I think about quitting almost every time I watch it.
The comedy industry is competitive. Why should people pick you to work with?
Because I'm a nice person who knows how to write, and because I have been making blood sacrifices nightly to the comedy gods in an effort to secure work, and I'm running out of blood.
If you had £1m to spend on comedy, where would your money go?
I'd set up a version of The Bill Murray/Angel Comedy in Yorkshire. There isn't a comedy club in the country that feels the same way to me, and I'd love to replicate it closer to home because trains to London are expensive and shit.
Where would you like to be in 10 years' time?
Ideally I will have made my way into writing full time and not having a "day job". I love writing for topical radio, I love stand-up, I love developing new sitcom projects, and I'd love it if, somehow, all of my loves could coalesce into a paying career. Failing that, I'll lead research projects into ways of quickly replenishing blood, so I can continue my sacrifices.
What's been the most significant plot twist in your own life?
I've written a stand-up show about the time a cat that looked like Hitler tried to kill me with its arse. It changed the entire course of my life, so probably that.
What's been the most significant plot twist in your own life?
More blood.
Published: Monday 22nd July 2024