From post-covid audience behaviour, selling his kids for Oasis tickets, and don’t get him started on ice skating, Aperol Spritz drinkers, comic Mark Nelson doesn’t hold back.
The multi-award-winning Scottish Comedian of the Year, BBC TV presenter of Edinburgh Unlocked, and shark fan, takes his show Getting Better Man to the 2024 Fringe and it’s already getting plenty of praise through social media. It’s only just kicked off, but Nelson has hit the ground running. He’s just stormed a gig to 3,000 people at The Playhouse. He’s buzzing.
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh when we meet in Biblos Bar to discuss the 1990s, sharks, and Richard Gadd.
How is the Fringe going so far?
“It’s been weird this year because it’s such an early start. This is the first time I can remember the Fringe starting in July. It feels like people didn’t realise it was on because it started so early, but last night it felt like it really kicked off”.
We’ve gigged together once before, with a Mr Richard Gadd. Do you remember?
“Jesus, yes! It’s pretty insane cos I’ve known Rich for years. When I first started doing gigs in London, I’d go and stay with him. It’s been fascinating watching his recent success”.
Is post-COVID comedy different to pre-Covid?
“I would say that it’s not as busy, like most kinds of high street businesses. Covid made people comfortable with staying in, and it doesn’t help that we have emerged into a cost-of-living crisis. One thing I did notice was that the audience's behaviour changed.
“There was an incredible period when covid finished and everyone was allowed to go back out again. People were so happy to be seeing anything, you literally could have done anything on stage and got a round of applause for it,, but it was noticeable that some people had forgotten how to conduct themselves in public. I don’t mean hecklers, I like a good heckle.
“There’s an algorithm on everyone's phone that caters to their personal taste. So all people see are things that are fed to them by the algorithm, so when they see something like live comedy that isn’t to their personal taste, they don’t know how to deal with it. That’s when people start to say “I hate this and that”.
What was your best-ever gig? (Apart from the one you did with myself and Richard Gadd, obviously)
“One of my best gigs was when I supported Jim Jeffries at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. I was quite new and Jim was one of my comedy heroes. Also, the idea of performing at the best music venue in the world was incredible, seeing all the posters backstage of previous performers. The gig went really well too. Also, the King's Theatre was a dream, because of all the other comedians I’d seen perform there.”
Who is your comedy hero?
“As a Scottish person, it’s hard not to say “Connolly”, but I was a huge Frank Skinner and Jack Dee fan, growing up. But I was always interested in American comedy when I was younger.
“Early Eddie Murphy interested me. I used to listen to his albums over, and over. But if I was to pick one person, I’d say Doug Stanhope. I think he’s the best person to ever do stand-up comedy.”
So, not me then. (He laughs)
What does “making it” in comedy mean to you personally? How do you know if you’ve “made it”?
“It shifts all the time. You’ll know that the idea of being able to do a weekend at The Stand was a huge, huge goal. And when you’ve done that you start to get more comfortable and you think,’Now I want to be headlining that gig’. Then you want to tour, and keep building.
“You have to keep doing it. It’s like being a footballer. If you’re away from it for even a few days, it can take you a while to get back into it and be match fit. I was at The Stand doing the late show last week and I was trying to showcase myself without performing the stuff I’m doing in this year’s show and it was nerve wracking trying to remember my old stuff.”
So who is your sporting hero?
“I’d be tempted to say Andy Murray. His post-retirement tweet was phenomenal, but as a Scotland supporter, I’d have to say James McFadden. His goal against France in 2007 was incredible.”
So as a Scotland supporter, how are you feeling about Gareth Southgate’s departure as England manager?
“I’m still hurting”, he laughs. “I’d have loved him to have stayed for a while longer”.
You have a time machine when and where do you go?
“I’ve always had a fascination with 50s America, but I think there’s a 50s America that only exists in the movies. That rockabilly, Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra kind of thing. But I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t say I’d go back to August 4th1996 when Oasis played Loch Lomond. Iit was the best ever life thing.”
WHEN will Oasis reform?
“I don’t think they ever will, mate, which is devastating.However, if they do, I’ll sell one of my children for tickets.”
You’re a huge shark fan. What’s your favourite shark movie?
“Jaws, obviously. Jaws 2 is okay, Jaws 3 is a bit embarrassing. Jaws the Revenge is okay cos Michael Caine’s in it, and the way they kill the shark is quite funny. The Shallows and Deep Blue Sea are pretty good too. There’s a new one Under Paris about a shark that swims about the river Seine “
What about Sharknado?
“Nah! That’s just pish”
Say something controversial for Loaded magazine so we can get it to go viral. I’ll start you off. “Huw Edwards…”
He laughs. “Actually I did a Huw Edwards joke at that Playhouse gig this afternoon. But, do you know what? Ice skating is the worst thing in the world. It should be banned. Just because I’m so shite at it. I’ve never been able to do it I have no balance whatsoever.
“Also, if you are a person who drinks Aperol Spritz, you’re a bellend. If you drink it regularly you’re faking it. You know you don’t actually like it. You’ve been told it’s good, so you pretend. Bellend!”
What does the future look like for Mark Nelson?
“I just want to keep gigging. Another, bigger tour and just to keep building. The lovely thing about this job is that you never know what’s around the corner. I mean, I never thought I'd be doing an interview with Loaded. As a guy who grew up reading it, it’s incredible.
Why should folk come and see your show, apart from getting to hear that Huw Edward joke?
If they want to see an hour of a guy being funny. A lot of shows are guys trying to get across a message and experimenting with stuff- and that’s fine, I’m not being detrimental. But if you want an hour of comedy, come and see me.
It looks like things are getting better all the time for Mark Nelson. I’ll raise a glass of Aperol Spritz to that.
Mark Nelson is appearing in Getting Better Man at the Edinburgh Fringe.
