'I'm buzzing about coming to Belfast!'

English comedian Paddy McGuinness (33) - familiar to many as Peter Kay's comedy partner in hit shows such as Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere - will be bringing his unique brand of humour to the Waterfront Hall tomorrow night as part of his first solo UK tour. He worked his magic on Matthew McCreary

The words just seem to tumble out of Paddy McGuinness, as he spends the first minute or two of our interview explaining why I've been kept waiting almost half an hour for it to begin.

His breathless apology covers everything from his recent house move to the pressing duty of trying to find a new suit for the horse racing the next day, in spite of the "frightening" prices.

Yet any annoyance I might have had swiftly disappears under this onslaught of child-like honesty. There doesn't seem to be any of the increasingly common 'in-my-own-good-time' attitude which journalists often have to tolerate from celebrities today.

"I'm having a hectic day," he tells me between breaths. "All my interviews have been backlogged, so I'm only just whacking through them now."

Paddy may well be excused for being short on time as he gears up for the latest leg of his first UK solo tour. Better known as one half of Max and Paddy, the dim-witted doormen from hit comedies Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, the Bolton lad is steadfastly ploughing his own furrow in the demanding world of stand-up comedy.

And in a British comedy scene that's fast reaching saturation point with one-liners, inane catchphrases and half-drawn characters, Paddy is one of the brave defenders of old fashioned comedians who don't try to substitute genuine observational skills and comic timing with hollow cynicism or, dare one say it, downright nastiness.

In fact it is a wholesome, back-to-basics approach that underpins Paddy's brand of humour.

"I hate pretentious audiences who stroke their chin and say 'Hmm, we're not laughing but it's very clever'," he says forcefully.

"I like audiences who just want to have a laugh. You know they've been working hard all week and they don't want someone banging on for an hour and a half boring the pants off them. They want a bit of a show, and with my show you get audience interaction.

"There's music and big video screens, it's a bit more of a variety-style show."

It's a showbiz ideal of which his famously brusque Phoenix Nights 'employer' Brian Potter (played by old school chum and Max and Paddy partner Peter Kay) would doubtless approve.

And it's an approach which will no doubt go down well with a Belfast audience tomorrow.

"I am absolutely buzzing about going there!" he says enthusiastically. "I've never done anything Northern Ireland-based, so I'm looking forward to it.

"If I ever do Ireland or Scotland or Wales the audiences are always top class."

By no means a beginner in the world of stand-up, Paddy has a down-to-earth style and is canny enough to know not to try to punch above his weight.

"I don't get political on this show, I don't touch upon subjects that are too dark. There's nothing too heavy," he says. "It's just a fun evening that everyone can come to and go home afterwards with a spring in their step, in a good mood."

The boorish nature of Paddy's Phoenix Nights alter ego, not to mention comedy influences such as Frank Skinner, might very well have newcomers to his live act thinking they will be in for an evening of lager-swilling, lad-mag humour.

"Not at all!" insists Paddy. "A lot of the material I do in the show is geared towards women. I do things that people can relate to, the sort of humour everyone can get. I've even had 60 and 70-year-old women in the audience."

Unlike some comedians whose stage persona is often quite different from reality, Paddy's genuine-ordinary-guy manner is a strength which he uses to maximum effect.

"I don't make any bones about it. On stage I talk about how things have gone for me, from being in Robbie Williams' house in Beverly Hills to shopping on the market in Bolton, things which are on totally different sides of the spectrum.

"It is weird, but that's how my life is at the minute."

Nor does Paddy let such brushes with the high life go to his head.

"I still keep my feet on the ground," he says. "When I mention things like going to Beverly Hills I talk about them from the angle of the man on the street. Just like anyone would when they come back home from work - they'd be saying, 'Bloody hell you wouldn't believe what's happening out there'."

Although a well-earned rest is due following this tour, Paddy is excited about what the future holds, including the possibility of a further raft of Max and Paddy shows.

For now, though, the open road beckons and, as Paddy explains, he's getting back into his Rocky training mode - "knocking slabs of meat about in't butchers" - in preparation for those long days on the move.

"I love the actual onstage part of touring, the interaction and seeing different places," he says. "But the travelling drives me mad. It's hard, because you might be playing somewhere, but you won't get to see the town or the city you're in."

Does this mean the people of Belfast will not be blessed with his company post-gig? "I'll be stopping over so I'll be able to see a bit of it," he says. "I can even get a bit of shopping done the day after the show."


Paddy McGuinness's The Dark Side arrives at the Waterfront Hall tomorrow night. Box office 9033 4455 or www.ticketmaster.ie

(thumbs up)

Awww bless!!!

Thanks for sharing that Karen!!! (thumbs up)

Great interview (thumbs up) Thanks for posting Karen :)

awwhh nice find karen lovely interview

Ah bless - I'll be there offering to be his tour guide whilst over here (thumbs up)

Sam

Nice one, good find!! thanks for posting Karen (thumbs up)

Mel

Thanks Karen! (thumbs up)

Thanks for that Karen
:D

Aww thats a ncice interview!!

I din't know he was 33 - I thought he was only about 25!!!

That's surprised me that!!!

Great thread by the way!!! :)

hehehee You need to visit his official site and learn a bit more about him. ;)

:lol: I think you're right!!!

Hope there's not going to be a test on this though!!! :lol:

Good interview - Paddy comes across so well! He has definetly got the right attitude!

aww great interview,good to see the lads still grounded after his success :) kinda sad that the tours ending,dont know how im going to cope until the dvds out,HE HE,not that im obsessed or anything :wub: