#im not going to list every country every time I talk about something Ive observed. if it only applied to 1 country Id say the name of it

[sexygaywizard]

Me (thinking of a trait shared across several European countries): I dislike that there's so much [X] in Europe

Idiot: Oh my god stop thinking all of Europe is [country I wasn't even thinking of and haven't been to], [singular country] isn't like that

[adelaidecity]

Life bouy for the rain

THINK of Los Angeles and Hollywood stars, and then probably sun, surf and sand come to mind. Especially sun but theres not much of that when Watch catches up with Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy while hes on holiday in the States. In fact its pouring with rain and hes spent most of the past 48 hours holed up in his hotel room, staring at the torrential sheets of water outside. Danny (real name Danni Chaudhry) has flown some 10,000 miles from his home in wintry Scotland to get a bit of sunshine before he embarks on his Australian tour, and the forecast is for even more of the worst rain LA has seen in some time. It sounds like the start to a comedy routine, Lisa, but it really isnt the worst thing is I keep venturing outside to go to a cafe and they go isnt it great, the rain? We really needed that ..., Danny laughs. And I go well, you might have needed it but Ive just flown from Scotland for a week and this is all Im getting, I might as well have stayed at home. It seems its quite the, well, weather pattern for Danny any time he goes somewhere sunny he brings the rain with him. I must have some kind of connection to the gods, he jokes. Heres hoping the connection is strong when he brings his Age of Fools tour to Adelaide next week. We certainly could use some of the wet stuff to end our ferociously hot and dry summer. Danny workshopped Age of Fools last Adelaide Fringe in a 100-seat venue above The Howling Owl in the East End. I had to explain to people when I walked on stage that this wasnt an indication my career had gone tits up, he says. I think I used the line there hasnt been any allegations to explain the sudden drop in numbers. Originally titled Make Something Great Again For Stronger Better Future (Danny changed it after plenty of people in the UK didnt get the irony and the pisstake on the slogans and catchphrases of politics plus it was hard to fit on posters), Age of Fools is a slight departure from his usual, unique and hilarious observational storytelling. Its a slight deviation into the current delightful state of world politics from Brexit, to Trump, perhaps even a mention of Australias penchant for deposing prime ministers on a whim. Your political bingo card is filling up nicely, Danny says. Youre absolutely right but what I dont want people to think this is a political show. Its not its a show about politics. Im not taking any side specifically, but I dont leave any doubt as to where I stand on things. Its not a preachy show, its just a bit more topical that Ive usually done. Its not a complete abrupt left turn for the 44-year-old who has always dabbled in politics. But while he hopes people see it as a progressive leap in comedy terms to slightly more adult humour (no, not that kind of adult humour), he hastens to assure its not a TED talk. Over the phone, Dannys as witty and quick as you hope hed be, does he feel that pressure in everyday life to be funny? I do feel the pressure sometimes, but I dont socialise much for that very reason, he reveals. I tend to associate, certainly in my downtime, with people that know me well enough to not expect me to be funny all the time. I think Steve Martin used to say he had a card printed that had a whole load of answers to questions people would ask like what makes you laugh? Whos your favourite comedian? He literally wrote all this out on a business card and handed it out to people at parties. Thats the kind of way I feel about it sometimes but its an occupational hazard. People either want you to be funny, or they want to tell you something funny.

media_cameraDanny Bhoy.Danny finds it hard to narrow down his own favourite comedian (we just had to ask and fortunately he doesnt have a Steve Martinesque card it would be hard for him to hand that over the phone), there have been so many different influences on his comedy. But just put Billy Connolly if youre stuck, he laughs. And Danny has met his hero the only guy hes ever wanted to meet since he was kid. Some people want to meet footballers or presidents but he only ever wanted to meet Billy and the legend did not disappoint. Hes a delightful man, hes wonderful, he shares. I met him at Montreal (Comedy Festival) a few years ago. I said youve been an inspiration to me my whole life and I shook his hand and I went to walk away. He said Danny, where are you going? I said Im just going to get dinner and he went Can I come? and I said Of course you can, youre Billy Connolly. You can do whatever you want. The pair spent hours together and, while Danny admits it was nerve-racking every Scottish comedian has the shadow of Billy Connolly looming large over them it was also the most exciting thing hes ever done. Its interesting, that despite admiring Billy since he was a kid, Danny came to comedy late. He graduated from the University of Glasgow with a history degree and had vague plans of a teaching career, but took a year off to work it all out. On his bucket list was trying his hand at a stand-up gig, so he gave it a go. It was an epiphany, with Danny realising that was the thing he was always supposed to do. He possibly should have realised earlier, after leaving university he held a series of jobs. He was always fired for not taking them seriously. I would be more concerned with making people laugh than whatever it was I was supposed to be selling, Danny says. I realised this is something that had always been there but I hadnt actually put it all together. Aussie fans are certainly glad he did eventually get it all together. Hes toured here extensively and it is correct to assume he spends more time here than any other country, outside of his country of birth. Although a quick search of his Facebook page shows Scottish fans miss him, posting what about coming home to Scotland to do a gig or three? We all miss you here . Replies include He seems to only do Australia. Its funny, Lisa, because a lot of people in the UK think I live in Australia which sounds great but it means I dont get any work, Danny laughs. Promotors say I would have booked you but I thought you lived in Australia. Ive spent the last five years trying to convince them I dont live in Australia. Wed love to have him here on a more permanent basis especially if he brings the rains with him. Danny Bhoy, Age of Fools, March 12-17 https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/danny-bhoys-searching-for-sunshine-in-the-rain/news-story/20f5e45d37b2bb07b7a3af26c88a9ba2