UK Comedian Ed Byrne on Kiwi Quirks, Awkward Robert Downey Jr Moment on Graham Norton & More!
Episode Description
Ed Byrne has been on the Graham Norton show numerous times, he’s been on the late-night talk shows in America, he’s been on the Celebrity Chase…twice. And now he’s on my podcast. Very exciting for me…not so exciting for Ed!
At the time of recording this (August 2024) Ed is touring NZ with his show called “Tragedy plus time.”
A heartbreakingly hilarious show that deals with the death of his younger brother Paul.
Reviewers have been calling it the best work of Eds 30-year career. We talk a lot about Paul, their relationship and processing grief with humor. Check out all the NZ tour dates here: https://edbyrne.com/live-dates/
We discuss his very first tour of NZ way back in the late 1990s where he made nationwide news for trolling a barman- it’s a great story.
Why New Zealand holds a special place in his heart and why Oamaru got a completely different Ed Byrne show to every other venue.
His encounter with Robert Downey Junior when they shared the sofa on the Graham Norton show together and so much more.
I loved spending this quality time with Ed Byrne, and I hope you do to.
Brief Summary
Comedian Ed Byrne discusses his career, audience dynamics, and the impact of his brother's death on his latest show.
Key points
- The Unpredictable Audience. Comedians often face unpredictable audience reactions, making every performance unique.
- Cultural Class Commentary. Exploring the nuances of class in Ireland through humor.
- Considering a Move to New Zealand. A moment of reflection on the possibility of relocating to New Zealand.
- Traveling for Comedy. The comedian reflects on the challenges and joys of traveling for gigs.
- The Struggles of Early Comedy Career. The comedian shares the hardships faced while starting out in London.
- High Stakes Comedy. Performing on Late Night TV was incredibly high stakes with everything to lose.
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Episode highlights
- The Unpredictable AudienceComedians often face unpredictable audience reactions, making every performance unique.“It's almost like everybody met up beforehand and said, let's be a bad audience tonight.”2:53Jul 31, 2024
- Cultural Class CommentaryExploring the nuances of class in Ireland through humor.“I guess that means you didn't own a horse.”6:30Jul 31, 2024
- Considering a Move to New ZealandA moment of reflection on the possibility of relocating to New Zealand.“We genuinely considered moving to New Zealand for some time.”20:30Jul 31, 2024
- Traveling for ComedyThe comedian reflects on the challenges and joys of traveling for gigs.“The fun of travel is sucked out when everything has to justify itself financially.”21:26Jul 31, 2024
- The Struggles of Early Comedy CareerThe comedian shares the hardships faced while starting out in London.“I moved to London with hardly any money and no connections.”32:17Jul 31, 2024
- High Stakes ComedyPerforming on Late Night TV was incredibly high stakes with everything to lose.“You have everything to lose and not really a great deal to gain.”39:13Jul 31, 2024
- Therapeutic ComedyThe comedian's show unexpectedly helps audience members process their grief.“It touches people, you know.”49:56Jul 31, 2024
- Sibling Rivalry and LossThe comedian discusses the impact of losing his brother and how it resonates with audiences.“People relate to the whole thing of the competitiveness and sibling rivalry.”53:02Jul 31, 2024





