Daniel Sloss brings his new comedy show to Dunfermline

It’s a sort of homecoming as, although he was born in England, he was brought up in Fife and returns with a new show, X. So will it be X-rated?

Tell us a bit about X, what’s it about, how did you go about writing it, how have audiences responded to it?

“No. Come and see it. You know those funny movies where all the funny bits are in the trailer? I can’t run the risk of being the comedy equivalent of that. It’s a funny show. It’s my best show yet. But if you’re easily offended then please go away forever. My comedy isn’t even that offensive but it’s still best you just stay in and watch Strictly. Please.”

You’re taking X on tour later this year around the UK, where are your favourite places to perform?

“The European cities are all incredible. Vienna, Llubljana, Zagreb, Tallinn. And most of the UK dates are excellent. Some of them absolutely suck but I can’t specify which ones suck because I’m doing them again this year and they’ll get upset that I think they suck as an audience. Once I’ve burned all my bridges there I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Dark and Jigsaw (previously titled So?) are two of your previous shows that are now available to view on Netflix. How did it feel to secure that deal?

“Getting the Netflix deal was a huge moment for me. It was literally five years in the making and I’d lost a lot of faith that it was going to happen. Then right when I’d fully given up on it, they gave me it. The moral of the story? Give up on your dreams sooner.”

Can you tell us a bit about them both?

“Dark is me explaining why my sense of humour is seen as dark. And Jigsaw is my love letter to single people that ‘accidentally’ (I f****** meant it) broke up 500-plus couples and led to two divorces.”

They were filmed in LA and Sydney, respectively. Do you change the content of a show depending on where you’re performing it?

“I don’t change my material depending on what city I’m in. I believe that comedy is truly universal but of course I don’t tour places like Saudi Arabia or North Korea. If your material doesn’t work globally it’s pretty much always because you’re either a political comedian and the references don’t match, or you’re a crap comedian.

You’ve said in the past that you don’t like the British panel show format because it doesn’t allow you to perform stand-up. Now that you’re in with the deal-makers at Netflix, have you thought about approaching producers or creators to come up with a more American-style, stand-up friendly format?

“I’m not willing to push my relationship with Netflix yet. If they like these two and they go well, maybe I’ll pitch stuff to them. It’s a good idea though. If I have any ideas I’ll pitch them to Netflix and not UK-based channels because I’d much rather deal with people who care about artists getting a chance and taking risks even when they don’t always work out. No experience is ever wasted but I look around at the number of really talented people in the UK who don’t even get a look-in cos they are in the wrong city or with the wrong agent or whatever.”

You’ve appeared eight times now on the Conan O’Brien show, how do you find American audiences differ from UK ones?

“It’s a tense time in America and they’re all very proud people despite having done very little to be proud of in recent years. So it’s best not to mention everything I just said. They rock as a crowd though. Comedy started there and the audiences are real intelligent and fun. I love gigging there.”

Who are some of your favourite American comedians? And British ones?

“Bill Burr, Bo Burnham, Ali Wong, John Mulaney, Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan, Mark Nelson.”

Can you describe how it felt back in 2009 to become a record-breaking comedian aged only 18, being the youngest comedian to perform a solo season in the West End?

“It didn’t feel like anything. I wasn’t aware of the title until two years after. It’s a pretty cool title though, if you ignore the fact that the show sucked. I’m glad people enjoyed it, but as the leading expert in my material, I can categorically say it was not that great a show. At all. I don’t think the title counts if the show sucks. But I guess I was 18. Who listens to an 18-year-old?”

What advice would you give to young comedians?

“Get out of my job. How dare you? That’s my title. I will burn you to the ground. Kidding. Just get on stage. There’s no other way to get good. Stage time is the key. Get on stage and do it now. Work out how to be good later.”

You’ve been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe for more than 10 years now, what are your favourite aspects about the Fringe?

“All my friends from all over the world come over to my city and develop a pretty severe drinking problem, and I like to show them how the professionals do it. Edinburgh is the most beautiful city in the world and it comes alive during August. It’s my favourite time of year. The Edinburgh Fringe made me the comedian I am today.”

Do you think your career would have skyrocketed as much as it has if it weren’t for the exposure that the Fringe offers?

“I highly doubt it. That’s where the Conan people saw me, that’s where Netflix saw me, that’s where Live Nation saw me. That’s where my agent saw me when I was 17. I owe a lot to the Edinburgh Festival and the people that have seen my shows there.”

You’re well-known for not holding back with the topics of your comedy, eg death, abortion. Do you feel there are any topics that should be completely avoided in comedy?

“Nothing is off limits in comedy. At all. Ever. If you think otherwise you don’t belong in comedy. There are some subjects that I absolutely will not tackle, and that’s because I don’t have an experience in them and my voice isn’t the right voice to talk or joke about it. But that doesn’t mean other, better-versed comedians shouldn’t be able to talk or joke about. I choose to avoid topics not because I’m scared of them but because my opinion on them doesn’t matter.

You decided against university in favour of pursuing a full-time stand up career, have you ever considered returning to study?

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no. No, no, no. No.”

How do you relax after a show?

“Drinking heavily.”

What’s been your worst heckling experience?

“Every heckling experience is the worst heckling experience. It’s rude, it’s pointless and it detracts from the show. It annoys other audience members and it ruins the flow. Even if I’m smiling while you heckle, and winning the exchange (which I will, believe me), deep, deep down I want awful things to happen to you and the people you love.”

Daniel’s show at the Alhambra starts at 7.30pm. The tickets cost £14.50 plus booking fee and can be obtained from the box office on 01383 740384.