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blind comedian walks onto the stage at the Hammersmith Apollo. It’s not a joke – the UK’s only professional blind comedian Chris McCausland speaks to us about his recent appearance on Live at the Apollo, the Edinburgh Festival, and gig nerves. Chris McCausland decided to give stand up a go in 2003, after being signed off work during a bout of shingles. He’d always been a fan of stand up, and he was bored of sitting at home all day. Chris thought he’d try writing something funny, then dared himself to perform at an open mic night in Balham, South London. “I went out and watched a few lowlevel open mic pub gigs,” said Chris, “and saw some good people and some absolutely awful people, and on the way home, I realised that I already couldn’t remember the names of the awful people, because you’ve got that fear haven’t you? You think, ‘if I’m awful, 15 years from now, people are going to be pointing at you in the street going “that’s the bloke!”’ But you just leave people’s minds. That was a bit of damage limitation, validation in a way, that it wouldn’t haunt me for the rest of my life if it was awful.” The gig went well enough for him to confidently continue, and 15 years later, he would appear on the BBC’s flagship stand up show, Live at the Apollo. For Chris, the opportunity to perform on the show was one of the highlights of his career, but it didn’t come without some nerves. “I was nervous, that would be an understatement,” Chris said. “I was nervous and excited. I don’t drink before I do gigs, but I made a decision
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31/01/2018 12:55