Daisy Doris May

[00:00:00] This show is nominated for a 2026 Golden Globes Podcast Award. Get in!

[00:00:34] More importantly, have a laugh. My special guest for episode 76 is the writer, performer and character comedian Daisy Doris May. Hello! Hi Alex Lynch, how are you doing? Hi, how are you? Thanks for having me. No thanks very much for doing it. Tuesday morning. At the National. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Lovely jubbly. No, it's lovely being here. That's cool. Do you do many podcasts in a kind of similar way?

[00:01:01] Do you know what? It's funny. I, you know what it's like when you put on a show, I feel like it like ramps up. Yeah. I feel like I've done about five podcasts in the last week. Oh really? Yeah. But, um, yeah, I love doing it. I mainly just love doing it. I never hear them back. I've never heard a single podcast back that I've recorded. Yeah. But I love the fact that you go, you meet somebody you don't know, you chat, you like chill with them for an hour. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:01:31] Have the most like unique conversation and then you're like, right, see you in a bizzle. So, no, I love it. And it's, it's, it's really cool what you do. I think it's very niche and I, I'm interested to why you are so fascinated by sketch comedy and characters. Um, because obviously there's something about you and, and your, and your listeners that, you know, you've clearly been on a journey. So yeah. 76. Am I episode 76? Episode 76. Yes. Go on then. What was your favorite?

[00:02:02] Favorite? Oh, oh no. I don't have a favorite. That's like asking your favorite child. Yeah, exactly. No, no, I don't have a, I don't have a favorite, but I mean, it's, it's just been really great how it started as something that I was just an exercise. Yeah. Like record and edit during lockdown. Oh, right. And then it's just kind of, yeah, for the first couple of series, like it was very much flying under the radar. I don't know, like it wasn't sort of getting that many lessons kind of thing. And then when I sort of came back in 2024 with it, having left it for quite

[00:02:31] a while, suddenly it kind of picked up. Really? Yeah. Now it's kind of getting a nice, you know, the numbers are climbing and everything. It's just nice. So apparently if we have like an idea, sometimes there's like magic in trying it, putting it away and then coming back to it. Yeah. Oh no, definitely. Do you find that with your characters? I find that even with just like any ideas, sketches. Yeah.

[00:02:56] I'll like scroll through my notes or a notepad and I'll be like, that's a weird thing that I wrote in like 2021. Yeah. Let me give it a go. You never throw anything away. That's the reason. Yeah. I feel like it's somewhere embedded in my brain. But funnily enough, in lockdown was definitely a space where I started playing with more characters. It's where Hunt Off was born. Yeah. You'll meet later. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:03:25] Tell me about like these. I hear who's coming down from Berlin. Oh really? Yeah. Especially for this. Especially. Which is big. Yeah. Yeah. How did the sort of, what was the sort of origin of Hunt Off and the characters that you have in your solo show Big Night Out? The origin is me being a weirdo and always being like loving voices, characters. Mm. I've done that for as long as I can remember. I really do. I mean my mum would say the same.

[00:03:54] Just like being a clown, playing around, doing different like impersonations and I think, you know, I went to drama school. Mm. I did like ten years I suppose is like, I quote more like normal work doing you know, like Shakespeare plays and. Oh yeah. Inspector Lewis, Whitechapel, The Last Kingdom. Like all these kind of shows that were fine and like I had little bit parts but nothing

[00:04:24] I could really get my teeth into. No. And I remember there being a point where I was like, I'm so unsatisfied as an actor, just like waiting around. Yeah. And I love comedy. Yeah. And I never ever been in a position like before I started creating my own work where I would be going up for comedy auditions. So my best friend, Cheval Marks, shout out, is so blunt. Yeah. And I was like, I want to do comedy. She's like, yeah, but like, no offense. Are you even funny?

[00:04:53] Like, you're funny to me, but like why? No one knows that about you. You need to like put yourself out there. And I was like, you're right. And then I think like that landed of just like, wow, if you want to do something, you almost need to show the world like, hey guys, this is also part of me. You know, like if I wanted to do action films. Yes.

[00:05:19] I should, you know, be doing like, do some stunts or like put myself out there or like, you know, try and get that six pack. I don't know. Especially the sort of shows that you said that you had done previously. They're not exactly Barrel of Laughs, the ones that you mentioned. So yeah, exactly. Yeah, totally. And by the way, not that you can't do action films without, it's not like you need a six pack. I know what you mean though. It's that.

[00:05:46] So what, what attracted you to the sort of say character comedy from stand up? Okay. Well, I have always been drawn to shows like Smack the Pony. Um, and I, my favorite show, um, actually was Summer High Thai. I know, I don't love, um, Chris. Well, I, look, it's, it's kind of strange, isn't it?

[00:06:12] Cause he's one of the kind of character, uh, comic geniuses, but like some of his characters are so questionable. It's like, where have your team been to like be like, maybe don't be that South African lady. Yes. Yeah. With the Afro. But some of the characters are undeniably genius and Summer Heights High, how all the characters interact with each other in the same universe. Yes.

[00:06:39] And I, I really like, yeah, I geeked out about that kind of thing. Like same with, same with the worlds of Borat and Bruno. Like I, I love it. Yeah. I love that kind of world. That excites me so much more than seeing, um, someone speak for an hour as themselves. Like having said that for me, stand up can be just like brilliant storytelling and you know, a supernatural and I love that.

[00:07:07] But I do, um, I love character comedic comedy. Yeah. Um, so yeah, it's just something I've always been drawn to and smack the pony are like pioneers, especially for life, you know, female comics. Absolutely. Um, and meeting Sally and Dune and Fiona, like this Edinburgh just gone actually. Oh, did you go to that? I did. Oh, fantastic.

[00:07:34] And I basically lost my shit. I was sorry, language. Oh, don't worry about that. Um, no, I completely lost my shit. I was like, this is so iconic. Can't believe my eyes. Um, and I met Sally afterwards. I was, I was, I was, whilst I was buying a smack the pony t-shirt and she had heard about my little show and she was like, let me come. I'll come tomorrow night.

[00:08:02] And she came and she bought me a drink after and we've, we've kept in touch. And that's amazing. So I did cry afterwards. I might have cried after I met her. I was just so overwhelmed. I was like, she is one of my heroes. Yeah. And I'm not very good at dealing with that. Like sometimes when I meet someone, they're mess. I, I'm like, I, I kind of am like, yeah, you're just, you're, you're, you're a human.

[00:08:29] You're a normal human with that is, might be shy. And, but yeah, I think when I first saw this about the pony girls, I was just like, wow, I've just. Yeah. And the fact that she, she heard of you. Yeah. It was all too much. It was all too much. I like, um, but yeah, I suppose that's, that's mainly the origins of, of why character comedy in particular has excited me. Just, um, you know, I'm a voiceover artist as well. Yes.

[00:08:58] And so I do a lot of different accents and sounds and voices. Um, so I really love the idea and the challenge of bringing, um, a different sound to each character. Yes. Do you start with a voice? Yeah, I do actually. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Before a costume or a kind of, um, makeup or anything like that. When I met my drag uncle, Frankie Sinatra, um, in the drag king world, he said to me, um, also goes by Karen.

[00:09:29] Mm-hmm. Um, who's in Rebel Dykes. Absolute legend. Yeah. Yeah. She was like, you need to not worry about your tash, not worry about the beard, just get the message and the voice before anything else. Anyone can go on YouTube. I mean, I say this lightly, like not anyone, it is skill. Yeah, yeah, exactly. But what I mean is like, you can learn how to, you know, get makeup done or like, how to paint a beard on. Yeah, yeah. That can come later.

[00:09:58] But what is the message of the character? Like, what are you trying to say? And sometimes you'll just have a silly voice, um, and you're like, I don't know what the bigger reason is for this. Like, I love, um, I've had for like 10 years, um, a character, Jackie, cause I've actually got Geordie Blood in her. So all my cousins are like Daisy Mayer, they're like, say my name and it sounds so much better in a Geordie accent.

[00:10:26] So I've had this old area ago called Jackie and over lockdown I did Prosecco Robix with my crew, House of Dinosaur. Great. Anyway, Jackie is, um, yeah, like an example of just how a voice can transform me. And I don't know what the message of her is yet, but the more I do it, I'm like, actually, she's just like a complete hun. Yeah. She's up for it. She makes people feel great.

[00:10:55] Um, and it, what I'm saying is if you're building a character, if you listen to this and you are a character comedian and you're like, oh, I don't know what the bigger point is. I think that's okay. I think like, just enjoy the play of it and the silliness of it and it will come. Yeah. Um, and it also doesn't need to be that deep, you know, like it can just be a stupid, silly hook of an idea. Yeah. Um, so that's what their point of view is. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:11:23] I mean, maybe it says more about me that I love this world so much. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Like I find it easier to be, to host when I'm not myself often. Mm. Um, you know, and I think there's something quite wild about character comics. Yeah. Yeah. It's like, who's the real you? Do you know what I mean? Yeah. I have like a lot of respect for standup comedians who are just themselves. Yeah.

[00:11:50] But then as, I mean, it's been said by many people in previous episodes of like standup is also a version of themselves. It's like an older ego of themselves. No one's ever being truly themselves to an extent. I'd agree with that. Yeah. Yeah. With the, um, with the kind of stuff that you're mentioning, um, like Borat and I don't

[00:12:18] know, um, that type of comedian who is very, um, very daring, especially with like members of the public and audience and your show big night out. You, you really get the audience. Yeah. Um, one, how say like the difference between you and being a character, how are you in talking to audiences and like groups of people?

[00:12:44] And also how do you kind of, how are you able to put such trust in your audience to kind of help carry these character sets? Oh my dear. That is such a good question. So I've done, I've done three shows now. Steve Porter's How to Flirt, the TEDxXX talk. Mm-hmm. Steve Porter's presents How to Mate, the TEDxXX talk. And now Daisy Doris May presents Big Night Out. So it's my third show. Yeah.

[00:13:14] Every show I have done has been stupidly bold with how much I'm relying on the audience. Yeah. You know, I'm getting guys to be the stag in the stag do. Yes. I'm getting like, you know, people to come and go on dates with Steve. I'm getting people to be like, you know, my mate's dad cutting them. Yeah. All of it. Like, you know, getting people to be the bouncer. I, I'm going to be arrogant for just a second. Go for it.

[00:13:43] I feel like I've got good instincts for people. Yeah. And I feel like I have a power of going up to someone and being like, when I kind of am about to ask, I can see whether, I mean, maybe it's not power. Maybe we've all got it. We've all got it. Um, but I can see like, no, this is not going to be an energy. This is that they're cringing already. Yeah. Yeah. And there's a difference between that, like cringing, like don't fucking come near me. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:14:11] And also I'm going to be nervous, but I'm kind of up for it. You know, like those are the people you want. Yeah. What you don't want is that guy in the friendship group who wants to go on stage and show off. Yeah. So I often pick people who are quieter, who are like, you know, if I say put your hand up if you've got anything to say, I'll, I won't pick the person. The person that's really waving their hand up shouting. Mm-hmm .

[00:14:40] I'll be like, what is that sweet little guy doing in the back with like a tiny finger up? Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. But, um, to answer your question of like, how do I rely? Like, how do I have faith that that will work? Yes. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it's an absolute disaster. But I would say 95% of the time. Yes. I kind of managed to just, if they're being too much, I will literally kind of be, if

[00:15:09] I'm Steve, I'll be like, brother, I love that you're getting into the role. I love that you're taking this seriously. I just need you to dial it down a little bit. And then the audience feels safe. Like, okay, Steve is in control. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? And like, we, so there's nothing more annoying than seeing an audience member like, who are like, this is my moment of fame. Yeah, yeah. And when you can see that the comedian is losing control. Yeah. I think that's quite good.

[00:15:37] You've got these characters where you can, you can be maybe not ruder, but you can definitely show more authority. Yes. Because it's not, you are hiding behind this facade anyway. Yes. So true. Like, hands off, he doesn't smile. Yeah. He's like, Bush, I don't know who you think you are, but this is my show. So dumb. Yeah. Oh my God. Sorry guys, an ex-boyfriend tried to sabotage my show. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. Yeah. I'm not going to be able to say that.

[00:16:07] I'm going to be awkward. Yes. Yeah. But, I often think that I've created these characters who are sassier than me, or who are ruder than me. Yeah. I'm a people pleaser. I'm a self-reformed people pleaser, and I'm trying my best to not be like that, but... It's a good outlet, isn't it? But, like, yeah, I find it awkward to like, I want people to feel nice and I feel, I don't

[00:16:32] want to be rude, but if I'm a character, I will find a way to like, get rain people in. Yeah, yeah. Is that kind of your backup plan if say, the audience is not on board? Say, you know, I mean, I imagine, I don't imagine you've had that problem because the show is very much a kind of fun vibe and there will always be one person who wants to get involved. Yeah. But, have you been in a situation where the audience, maybe not necessarily that whole

[00:17:01] hour, but when you've just gigged, is there a time when the audience has not gone on board and you're like, a bit sort of like, shit, what do I... Yeah, interesting. What do you do as your sort of, to try and turn it around? Well, what's been a blessing is the last year I've done, you know, Adelaide, Melbourne, the UK tour has taken me to Norwich, you know, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, or, you know, done the loop. Mm. Some of the loop. Yes.

[00:17:29] And shows in South Africa and Cape Town and Johannesburg and Durban. How did that go down? It was, well this is what I mean, like everywhere I've gone, there's a different approach to the audience being like, I want to get involved. For example, Edinburgh audiences, you're going to get people who are involved. They know what they're in for, this is a festival. Of course. They've probably been to a show with a naked man painting before, do you know what I mean? Yes.

[00:17:59] Like doing an interpretive dance, getting them involved. Yes. So I'm purely tame. No, but when I go and I, specifically South Africa, like audience interaction is way less of a thing. Sure. But I have, I love it. It's like the best challenge in the world to just be like, I don't ever say I need a volunteer. That's not my approach. Sure.

[00:18:25] It will be more like Steve going up to a guy being like, brother, can I just say you are looking such a vibe. I'm a little bit lonely actually on stage. Could you, could you give me a cuddle? Are you up for it? But Steve always asks for consent as well. Yes. Like he's big on the C word. Yeah. So I feel like with him there is always a very vocal, are you up for it? Yes.

[00:18:55] Whereas there is other characters that it's more, I'm having to use my instinct. Yeah. Like with your Australian character. Carol. Yeah. She's a bit more, there's a bit more of that arrogance. She's an absolute psycho. Yeah. Yeah. Self-appointed guru. Um, she's that white woman who really thinks she's brought back the downward dog. And she's, um, you know, she'll just like, there's less consent with Karen. Yeah.

[00:19:22] She'll like float over and she's like, don't worry, it's meant to feel uncomfortable. Well, yeah, I guess that's sort of it. You're like, there's no, you're kind of stating quite quickly, like I am, the point is I'm here to make you feel uncomfortable with this character. Yeah. And like, there's some, there's a line, isn't it? But between like, that being funny and also like, you want to have consent from an audience member to like, you want someone to enjoy it.

[00:19:51] Otherwise it's not going to be fun. So I think it's the main skill is instinct there. Yeah. It's, it's, it's looking out for the signals of like, when someone shakes their head no, and you know that that no is a no, you move on. Yeah. I mean, but I guess that comes with practice. Yeah. Reading the signs and being able to tell. I've got to be honest, audience interaction is my favorite part of any show that I've ever done. Like, that's great.

[00:20:21] I way prefer it than being on my own. Um, no, I love, I love it. I think it is a, it's a big challenge. And I think when I go back to doing plays, my goodness, I did a play a couple of years ago in Sheffield, Sheffield theaters. Oh yeah. And it was so interesting how all the character stuff has changed me as an actor, you know, just like being more comfortable with like those moments of slipping between the character

[00:20:50] and also bringing the audience in on a joke. Um, so I love how my character, I love it. My journey as a character comedian, yeah, has kind of influenced me as an actor. Yeah. Um, that's great. Yeah, it's been fun. I'm in the heart of spiritual London. Chemdon, follow me. As I find a new look. Take for 18 pounds, it won't rip off. Oh, it matches my toenails. Lilac, colour of my aura. It's got a little stain on it. Maybe I can get a little discount.

[00:21:20] You've got anything more rich, more purple. Even more purple than this purple. I actually made this design myself. It's amazing to see how well it's travelled. Oh, f***ing fake. It's beautiful. Oh! How did you know that that was my colour purple? Another one of my designs. Two majestical elephants facing each other. Making love with our eyes. I designed this in a past life. How much is this? Okay, and how much can I have it for? Same prize.

[00:21:48] Do you, when you're doing your characters, do you kind of riff in the voice in the character before you write it down? Or do you write it down and then sort of... Does the voice dictate the script? So good. Such a good question! I don't even know. I think when I... I'm glad I'm not making you go over, trit over old ground. No! No one's asked me that. No one's ever asked me that. Ask me one more time. So, am I writing...

[00:22:15] Am I riffing in the voice and then writing it down? Yes. Or the other way around. Or... Okay, no I'm riffing in the voice first. Yes. I often go for walks and I'll voice note myself. Oh, great. And I'll be like this... Because basically I married my best mates last year, Steve, as a celebrant. And I was like, how can I approach this? So I went for a walk and I was like, right, the thing is about love is... You know what I mean? I would just talk about love on an absolute tangent. Yes. Speak about Amy and Nick.

[00:22:45] Speak about how they met, because I knew obviously they gave me like... ...that the intel. Yes. And then listen to it back and be like, okay, that was rubbish, that was rubbish. But that line, I've never said that before. Ooh! Yeah, so I feel like little golden nuggets come from just... I'm a big walker. So sometimes I will just walk in character. No one knows this, Alex. That's great. Only you. Oh!

[00:23:14] Yeah, so I feel like walking in character, you do look a little bit wild. I'll give you that. Probably no more wild than people doing like Instagram videos as they're like walking and talking. Yeah, exactly! I'm fine. No, but I'm not really great at being like, sit down and write. Sit down and write. I mean, funny enough, I've got to do that today. Totally. I'm filming a comedy pilot for Steve's YouTube channel tomorrow. Oh, sweet!

[00:23:44] And I'm meant to be... I'm meant to sit down and write his intro. And it's essentially... I mean, working title, it's called Dry Spell. And it's about... It's about him... You know, he hasn't had any luck with the ladies. Yeah. So he's bringing in different guests into his bedroom to play... Like, not in that way. He's still listening to his mum and Gilbert Surrey. Right, yeah. He's like, yeah, just come around mine and we'll have a little chin mug. I'm imagining Top and Tail in bed. Yeah.

[00:24:14] You know, maybe a game of Truth or Dare, Truth or Dare. Yeah, and... Yeah, like I'm meant to be sitting down and writing the script, but I do find it easier when I've got my goatee on to just... free flow and just... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, I love all ladies. All ladies. Blondes, stunners, petite, tall. Oh, I've been with an older lady. You have? Yeah. What's your age bracket there, Leighman?

[00:24:44] How old are you, Steve? 26. 26? Yeah. An older lady? What are you... I could probably be with someone 42 maybe, 43. Ah. Props, maybe. 31 maybe is quite scary. Maybe just 27 is the oldest year. Yeah, right. Yeah. Skipped right down there, didn't you? Vibes. What attracted you to the drag element of character comedy? Well, I'm queer.

[00:25:13] I have always loved any space that feels unusual. And when I first saw a drag king show, it like lit something inside of me. I was like... I found it electrifying. Um... There was something so... Just... Just the whole energy of the room felt so... Like nothing I've experienced before. Wow. Um... I just thought... I just think it's the most incredible art form.

[00:26:01] Um... Drag king feels limiting to what I am. Character comedian sums me up as slightly more. Yeah. But I'm really proud to have drag king, alter egos. And, you know, I started up a troupe, House of Dons. Yes. Drag platforms. Yes. Kings. Just because I feel very passionate about seeing kings more in the spotlight. Um... You know, obviously, queens firmly on the commercial landscape, thanks to RuPaul. Sure. Yeah.

[00:26:31] And I just think kings are so punk, political, unique. Yeah. No king is the same as the other. Um... I mean, on one hand, you've got Dairy King, who's got like... These udders and he's an absolute genius. Oh my god. You know, um... Steve's cousin, Duncan Disorderly, who's like, amazing musician and brings that skill in. I've got like... Amazing drag king. Um...

[00:27:00] Patricia Lange is like insane dancer, clown, has brought that into her craft of kinging. And, obviously, drag kinging is more than just play. I think for people it's such a necessity for their identity and... Yeah. Yeah. It's like a vital part of their essence and being. Yeah, yeah. And I think for a while I really needed to explore in...

[00:27:27] In that kind of world for me to be like, oh wow, I... Actually, do you know what? I'm not just a she-her box. Mm. Maybe I am slightly gender curious and maybe I am more fluid than what I've thought. And that is all down to drag kinging. That's great. Um... So yeah. Yeah, was that the motivation and starting house of dons? And sort of getting a troupe together to sort of... Yeah. Yeah. Purely to platform kings.

[00:27:57] Oh, that's cool. And then it's this awkward thing because I did get a residency at The Box, Soho Theatre, you know, festivals. Um... We did Soho House. Really? And then it's like, oh, this also feels tender because now you're getting... You're getting people that aren't queer watching these shows, you know, maybe that aren't as sensitive as the queer audience in the basement and the glory. Sure.

[00:28:25] It was called the glory, now it's moved to the divine. Um... So everything is strange and wonderful, but... Did you feel a real shift then? Complicated journey. Yeah, I did. I think... I think... What I'm trying to say is, there's like a beauty of the drag king world being an underground, less commercial space. Yeah. There's something really beautiful about that.

[00:28:51] Because it feels safe and it feels like it's for queers. Yeah. With queers, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Um... But... But equally, we do want prides and programmers and events and stuff to have more like a quality of drag kings, drag things, drag creatures, not just queen, queen, queen, queen, queen and the lineup. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, it's um...

[00:29:19] It's a complicated thing to explain. I'm probably not doing it very well, but nothing is black and white, you know what I mean? No, of course. No, I think you've articulated it very well. Like, it's um... What... Tell us about the rest of the troupe. Who they are and who you... How you all met. So I run the company with Bear Winder. Bear is an amazing DJ. She's actually my DJ teacher. Oh, good.

[00:29:47] I wanted to learn to DJ, by the way, just for Stephen Hans and then it turns out that I love doing it, as me. So we, um... Yeah, we've got Tabu, who's an amazing Vogue artist, who is our kind of Vogue, like almost advisor. And whenever we can, we support Vogue balls from behind the scenes. Um, yeah.

[00:30:13] And we will do whatever we can to kind of support that art form and then book incredible Vogue dancers and artists for certain events. So I love that world. Yes. It's changed my life. And I think, um, it's something that I will always try and continue to support. You know, just knowing like what a privilege it is to be in those spaces. Yeah, yeah, yeah. As a white body and, and like learn from that craft.

[00:30:44] I think it's changed... Vogueing has changed me as a mover. Because it's given me... I mean, as a physical performer. Yeah, it has. It's given me more confidence, I think, with my body and moving and feeling like an alter ego version of myself, funny enough. Like when I'm, when I'm walking, when I'm voguing, I'm not really myself. I'm not second guessing myself. I was actually voguing in my dream last night. You just reminded me. And I'm pregnant right now.

[00:31:11] So doing a duck walk pregnant, I can't do in real life. But in my dream, I was amazing. Um, yeah, I think... ...House of Dons is, is not exclusive to certain performers. We often use Louis Cipher, who's one of our favourite hosts. Um, Chio is another brilliant drag king. Uh, one of our go-to pussy tamer, a.k.a. um, Portia. Yes. Is just a force.

[00:31:39] And has so many different characters. And, um, yeah, like the mother of Dons is Olly Mariage. So we've been on, um, a journey. Um, and I also need to shout out Frank, who is a circus performer. Ah. And the character is kind of like Napoleon Dynamite vibes. Um, super geeky. Um, yeah, like... ...or doing that kind of Napoleon Dynamite dance. Well, more like on roller skates. I'm just like roller skating into the splits, you know. Oh, wow.

[00:32:08] But I think what's beautiful about House of Dons is... ...is it's gone on a journey of like using different, um, kings and things. Yes. And yeah, who knows what's next. I mean, I've definitely been quiet on House of Dons. I've had to realise, okay, you can't do everything. You can't... I can't go off and write my own shows and do that... Sure. ...that thing that I've been doing for the last three years. And giving House of Dons... Yes. ...the love that it deserves. So it's, it's, it's had a, um, a slight step.

[00:32:38] Yeah. Not even a step back, just it's pause. Do you feel there's something you can dip in and out of, or do you have to kind of... ...wist a lot of... Yeah. ...your energy and time into... I mean, I think as a person I often find it difficult to admit to myself, okay, you've taken on too much. I think that's definitely one of my faults actually. And I'm getting better at being more realistic. Yeah, I'm sure you're not alone there. That's, uh... Yeah. I think I'm getting more realistic.

[00:33:06] Funny enough, we've just put together a new show reel for House of Dons and I'm excited for the next, um, episode. Amazing. Where I will be hosting less and, you know, curating more, you know, with, I'm in a different era of my life and I think... So bringing new people into the fold. Bringing new people into the fold, exactly. And hopefully, you know, we look at ourselves as an agency as well of different, um, kings

[00:33:34] and creatures. And obviously we do have amazing queens as well. Yes. Um, Reese's Pieces is one of the most incredible artists. Drag queen, but also drag king, drag thing. Yes. They're just a complete queer-do. Um, and that was the name of their... I've never heard that phrase, that's a good one. That was the name of their troupe as well. But Reese's Pieces is unreal.

[00:34:01] And, um, it's people like that that really inspire me to expand my own box of just like, okay, what can I do? Maybe I've got a queen in me.

[00:34:12] You won, um, man up. I did, yeah. Yes, which is, it's interesting because just a couple of episodes ago I was, I didn't know about this until I was chatting to Cathy Manura.

[00:34:42] Oh, I love it. The cycling man. Yeah, yeah. The cycling man. And just telling me about man up. Okay. And, um, yeah, yeah. So like... Yeah, I mean, oh my God. What was your kind of, um, yeah, memory of that? It's, I mean, it's Europe's biggest drag king competition for starters. Yeah. It is. I believe so. We weren't sure whether it had like stopped or whether it's still going. Ah. Listen, I'm in my own bubble these days. Sure, no, no, no. I don't even know what's going on. But tell me about when you, when you did it. That was in 2023, right? It was terrifying.

[00:35:12] I just started, um, I just started, you know, drag kinging and had all these, uh, different characters that were living in my brain and I was living, I was actually living in the Western Cape and Cedarburg in South Africa, um, on a, on a farm. And I came back and I did, um, man up and yeah, that's where my partner's from and we

[00:35:39] were living there and I remember just being like, okay, when I'm back, when I'm back in the UK, I'm gonna, I'm gonna sign up, I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do man up. And I just, I remember the, the weekly heats being a real, it was just incredible. Yeah. Just like seeing all of the different kings. I, like, I think I just said this, but no drag king is the same as another. Like. No.

[00:36:07] Everyone is so unique and I think often the message behind the king is so powerful. Yeah. Um, I find watching drag king shows really inspiring and there's something about a competition that is really satisfying, isn't it? Like we love, we know the format, but the difference with man up is it did, it, it feels like a safe space in a loving space. Yeah. It's not. You're not in a Britain's Got Talent situation. No, it's not. Yeah.

[00:36:38] So I, I really loved it. Yeah. What was your alter ego for the heat and for what you wanted? Oh, that's a hunts. Oh, great. Yeah. I did a remake to let's have a kiki. I want to have a kiki. Arseholes tight. Um, I did that. I did, um, you know, stand up his hands really, you know, he was born. I'm a, I'm a big, sadly, ex raver right now. I was actually, funny enough.

[00:37:06] I was going to ask because of big night out and the sort of theme of it. Yeah. Are you a raver yourself or is this total? No. It's a big part of me. I love it. Yeah. This is the current house music of Scotland. It's crazy here. What flag is this? What? What flag? It's a Scotland flag. Scotland? Yeah. Is that where I am? School's a bit sour. VIP coming soon. Where are the clubs? Where do I go from here? Yeah. A fun studio.

[00:37:34] Well, if it's so fun, where's the party or not? I think, you know, from loving the scene in Berlin, Burkheim, Sisyphus. Oh wow, the big techno scene. I mean, I'm not a big fan of techno. Hans loves tech, yes. Um, I love house. I'm like a, I love minimal house. I love, um, yeah, like basically kind of any kind of house. I also love like garage house. Yeah.

[00:38:03] Um, yeah, disco, all of it, all of it. Dance music, but, um, I think Hans is definitely an extension of that kind of inner club kid inside of me. Yeah. I do find it quite funny those people you meet in the club that are like really took hold for school, like never smiled. Like just the people that are dancing on sea dance hall, like so minimal. So minimal, the moves you can't even see them. Yeah. They're just like this.

[00:38:32] I love how you can't see what I'm doing. People listening. The podcast, uh, Daisy is, is for minimal movement. It's a very fixed, uh, facial expression. Yeah. It's kind of, it's kind of like a pout. Yeah. Try it. Try it. Let me see. Wow. Is that a sensational push? Minimal clicks for you. Um, Vienna. No, I think I do find it interesting. I wonder all the character comedians you've met.

[00:38:59] Is there a seed of that character within that person? Or could it have been based on someone that they have been with? A family member. It could be anything, right? Yes. Yes. But I do find it interesting, like the different worlds that I'm exposed to. Yes. You know, Karen, I love, she used to do yoga like four times a week. I was addicted at one point. And. As you're taking that element of you. Yeah.

[00:39:26] I think just like people I've met there that I find quite jarring and funny, you know, the. Yes. Yeah. You know, you know the ones, you know, especially like, um, I think we've all met a Karen on holiday or traveling. Do you know what I mean? He's just like. In a sari. Wandering around. Like, do you find that in the kind of, um, being self aware, um, that elements of you creep into that character where you're a bit kind of like, oh, I didn't quite know

[00:39:55] that was in me. Yes. I relate to that with Steve. Yes. Um, Steve is based on the boys who I grew up with in Guildford. Right. Yeah. Who are trying to be cooler than they are. You know, he's still living with his mom. Yes. But he's just like, yeah, come over, let's do the drinks in. And it's just like, he's, bless him. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Me as well. He's a very sweet, sensitive soul.

[00:40:21] Um, and I think I relate to Steve in that, um, he's just a human. He'll get things wrong. He will, he will say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Like I'm actually someone is sometimes a bit overly tactile in general. Yeah. Like I, I remember my, um, ex was so overwhelmed with like the way I was hugging his mom because I'm just such a cuddler. I'm like, the May family were, we're a tactile bunch. Yeah.

[00:40:50] Um, and I, and I love language, presumably. Yeah. Yeah. And I think I, I probably, you know, I'm a bit too much for some people. And I think realizing that I'm like, Oh, that is probably like Steve. Do you know what I mean? Like he'll, he'll do something in goodwill, but it will come across too much for someone. Yes. So I think in, in a deep way, I relate to Steve in that way.

[00:41:17] Like for me, Steve is the hero, his heart's in the right place, but he's human. He'll make mistakes and he's willing to learn from the mistakes. Yeah. So in that way I relate to Steve. Oh, that's interesting. And what about someone like Hans? That's the raver in you. Yeah. I mean, Hans, I think, you know, I was saying that I'm a people pleaser. Yeah. And he like doesn't smile and he's just so blunt. I find it so fun and refreshing just being this sassy, blunt gay man. Absolutely. Yeah.

[00:41:47] I'm like, Oh, did you get the idea when you were in Germany? Or did it, or was it later? How PC, how PC is this thing? Um, that's a good question. No, basically I'll keep it, I'll keep it very minimal. Yeah. It was in lockdown. There was a tiny microdose or something. I was on my own. I was. Oh, I see. In that respect. Yeah. I was living on my own. Listen, I hadn't seen anyone in two months.

[00:42:11] And basically that happened one morning and I created this character in a day, found a harness under the bed, painted a tash, white, white tash, glasses. There was a berry that came on that day. I went to Tesco, joined a queue, filmed myself, went to the front of the queue where there was a security. I was like, hi, Bush, I'm on the guest list. And he was like, what are you NHS? Scan card. I was like, no, I'm just hands off.

[00:42:40] And he laughed at me. He was like, I need to join back of the queue. He thought I was real. Brilliant. So I did this video purely for myself to keep myself giggling, sent it to my mates, did the rounds. I was like, that is a pure, like that is such a moment in time when we had to queue for supermarkets and people were panic buying new roles. Yeah, of course. Yeah. I created a German alter ego. Do you know what I mean? That would try and skip the queue. That's wonderful.

[00:43:09] So that's the real, that's, listen, I'm being too honest on this podcast, I tell you. So you've obviously done like filming stuff online and everything. How, it might be a bit of an obvious question, but obvious answer, but doing, do you get more of a buzz out of doing performance live than like online? Do you kind of have to think differently in terms of like how your creative brain works? Yeah. Definitely. Do you enjoy doing online?

[00:43:38] Mm, it's a good question. I think, I think it depends if I'm with a film team that I love, if I'm, if I'm, if I'm vibing with the person who I'm filming with, if it, if I'm in a situation where someone else is filming me who I trust and I'm going out to a festival and I'm doing box box. Yeah. I love that. That to me is a real high. Yeah.

[00:44:05] If I'm filming on my own at, at home to try and do a promo for a show. Yeah. Less fun. Well that's it. Do you sort of feel like you have to, you know, in the kind of way that it is now that people sort of feel kind of pressured they have to keep regularly putting out content. Oh my God. As it were. Relentless. Do you have that? Um, yeah. Do you, do you, do I relate to that? Yeah. I think I do.

[00:44:33] Um, I think the way around that is by doing stuff that I find interesting and fun rather than not putting out what I think I should be putting out. So joining a queue in Tesco dressed as a German. Literally. And I think, I think there's something that happened in lockdown where I was purely playing. I wasn't, I didn't know that hands, I was going to be doing hands in years to come. Are you joking?

[00:45:03] I just was like, this is just going to keep me amused for the day. How do I find this party? That way. Thank you. I'm looking for a party. Do you know where one is? Glasgow. Glasgow. I'm in the wrong city. You're in the wrong city. You're in the wrong universe to be honest. They're telling me. Basically someone said this to me a while ago and I really relate to it, that we should, we should have seasons of showing off, doing shows, right? Performing.

[00:45:28] Then seasons of going back into a creative cave where we are experimenting and trying new things. The minute things get dull is when we're not experimenting anymore and pushing ourselves. That's so true. And I think I am finding that when I'm doing the same old stuff, I'm like, ugh, I'm bored of myself. Yeah. So other people, I'm sure, are going to be bored too.

[00:45:58] Versus, you know, trying a new character or putting one of my characters in a new situation. Yes. Or developing their character in some way. Right now, obviously with the pregnancy, I'm about to do Soho Theatre run. Yes, of course. And Big Night Out is turning into Big Belly Out and I'm having to figure out all the different reasons why these characters have got a belly. Right. So that's been so fun. That's great.

[00:46:28] Is that in the downstairs? Yeah, downstairs. Yeah. Fantastic. Oh my God. Yeah, I'm excited. It's going to be a special one. It's going to be one for the history books. And I think, not in an arrogant way of like, it's going to be the best show I've done. More just like, I'm doing it for me. Yeah. I'm doing it to mark this era. Yeah. I'm doing it to just like, honour this time in my life. Yes. And yeah, just be like, wow, what a decision to do this.

[00:46:58] Yeah, yeah. You know. As you try to find a way to articulate this question, but when you become a mother and you're old and then you start eventually going back onto the circuit and everything, do you think you will, probably difficult to say, but do you think you'll still be doing those characters or do you think you'll be working on something new to kind of fit with perhaps your change in perspective and how life is?

[00:47:26] I'd love to think that I'm going to be doing both. I'd love to, I'd love this world where I can never kill Steve, Hans, Karen. Yeah. Um, I love, I know them like they're actual humans. Um, and, and I have so much fun playing them and I think they will change. Steve now is, you know, um, the babysitter, godfather kind of character. Yeah.

[00:47:55] Hands with a little micro VIP. I mean, ridiculous. Karen is obviously, she's currently hosting a tiny visitor in her sacred womb. So she is going on the pregnancy journey and I think she's just going to be so jarring as a mother. Um, but I think meeting other moms, meeting other, uh, people in that space, I'm probably going to be like, wow, that's so funny.

[00:48:24] And, and so far removed from me, like when I'm seeing these American pregnant women, you know, like ads coming my way on Insta, I'm like, that is jokes. Um, so I hope that, um, I hope that my journey as a mother will take me on all kinds of tangents. Yeah. Um, I, I do have a structure, an idea for my next live show. Oh, fab. Can you say what it is? Or?

[00:48:53] At the moment, the title is, so obviously Big Night Out. Mm-hmm. I think it's going to be called Big Fat Wedding. And I think Steve is finally getting married. Oh, great. And I have a big trilogy. Yeah. And I think it is going to be, um, a big old wedding. And I think we're going to meet loads of other characters as well. So, um, watch a space. That sounds very exciting. I'm over here. How are you?

[00:49:23] Excuse me, do you have schnapps? If you had to be isolated with any comedy character, who would it be? Uh, whatever. Oh my days. But yes, the character, not the actor. Well, it would not be Mr. Bean, I tell you that. I'd kill him within a week. Um, let me just think. It would not be Borat. It would not be Bruno. Oh, Bruno would be awful.

[00:49:53] Would be absolutely awful. Um, I'm just thinking of Catherine Tate's old woman. Oh, Nan. Again, awful Nan. It wouldn't be her. Why can't I think of any kind of reasonable nice? Because most characters are awful in there. Yeah. Right. Okay, let me just think about. Oh, I, I know. Mm. What about. What about Little Britain?

[00:50:20] Um, the only gay in the village? I reckon he. Oh, David. I think he would be quite. Yeah. Joke. But am I only with him for one week? No, this is a lockdown for like. Oh no. Essentially the foreseeable. No, man. I don't want him. Who's a silent character comedian? I mean, you can go for sitcom characters as well. So like. Okay.

[00:50:45] People have said in the past, Liz Lemon from 30 Rock or even Basil Thorntey. Amazingly. Oh my God, I love that. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, it can be sketch or sitcom. Oh, do you know what? I want to pick Moira because I miss her and I'm still not over. From Schitt's Creek. Yeah, Catherine. Yeah. I just, I love the actors. I'm, you know, when you hear one of those passings that really. Oh yeah. Stripe me to my core. Yeah, no, Catherine at heart.

[00:51:12] I'll lock down with Moira for as long as possible. Yeah. You're the second person in this series who has said. Really? Well, Cathy Maniura funnily enough. Really? Yeah. Maybe it's a drag thing. Yeah, I'm going to be with her. I'll be with her for as long as possible. Oh, that's nice. Yeah. Lovely. So you're going to lock down with Moira Rose. Yeah. I love her. My friend, Olly Mariage, does the most outrageous impression.

[00:51:39] So she's, she's still Moira, the character Moira Rose is still alive. Cause I can just, I can see my mate Olly and I'm like, wow. But yeah, that character. It's an unusual accent, isn't it? It's bizarre. Yeah. I can't cope. Yeah. That's who I'll be with. Oh, that's lovely.

[00:52:07] This is the final section. Okay. It's called Changer of Character. Okay. Who's given me the character name? This name has been gifted to you by Mark Evans. Okay. Do you know Mark? I've heard of Mark, yeah. Yeah, yeah. The name he's given you is Susan Thundershoes. So who is Susan Thundershoes? Hiya. Yeah, you're right.

[00:52:37] Is this mic on? Mm. Hiya. Susan. Hiya. You're right. What's your name? My name's Alex. Do you know how many stairs there are in this building? Are you going to tell me? 222. I've had to climb all those stairs. Have you seen these? The famous Thundershoes we hear so much about. Yeah. Do you know how heavy they are? The shoes or the stairs? The shoes. It's not okay.

[00:53:06] Why? What are they made of? Oh mate, I... Steel. Steel shoes? I designed them right so if things went peaked on with my ex I could just slap him round the head if I found him cheating again. That would like kill him wouldn't you? Alright, pause. Susan is definitely a bit of a... She's a bit of a psycho. Yeah. She's that gal that will...

[00:53:35] She's a big collector of Sainsbury's bags. She's a hoarder. She's a bag lady. She's a bag lady. You would think she's got loads of cats. She doesn't. Okay. Gerbils. Breaking the stereotype. Oh gerbils. Gerbils. Loads of gerbils. Yeah. She's got... She's got eight at the moment. Eight gerbils? Yeah. You can never have enough gerbils can you? Exactly. Susan is... Bless her. She's been stilted at the aisle. Oh.

[00:54:04] And the current... Current guy is yeah she did... She did catch him cheating. Is this why she dons the steel shoes now? Yeah. She genuinely has got really heavy shoes. It helps her feel grounded. Does she do a lot of running then? Or like... Does she fuck? Does she fuck? No. She just walks around. Just walks everywhere. Yeah that's enough. That's my exercise zone for the day. Doesn't do any marathons or anything like that. Absolutely not. In the future. I reckon she's um...

[00:54:33] I reckon she does just need a cuddle. She's probably got a heart of gold but... She's got a lot of armour. I'm thinking visually you know the twits. Yes. You know I'm imagining you know... Mrs twit. That kind of drawing. Oh god okay. Yeah. Quite horrible looking. Quite horrible looking but very sweet again. Yes. Yeah yeah. She just needs a facial. And maybe a bit of a wax. She's gonna be great. She's gonna be fine.

[00:55:02] She just needs a free holiday. Bottlings. Has she left um... Her hometown? Where is she sort of... It's a very good question you mention the hometown because she's moved around a lot up north. Oh. Hence why her accent is all over the place. Um... Let's say she's... She's Yorkshire. She's born and bred Yorkshire. Okay. But she has moved around different northern... I'm not very good at the northern accent. I don't know why I made Susan Northern. It's a choice. It's a character choice. You've committed to it. You've got to own it. Yeah.

[00:55:32] That's our season. Susan. Where does she see herself... You know what's her kind of goal? What does she want to be doing with her life? She wants to be... Far from having a cuddle. No, if you do want to know, she wants to open her own zoo for little creatures. Aww.

[00:55:52] She wants to open something that tiny little people can come over and think, you know, play, add the loo rolls, make a little roller coaster for the gerbils. She wants to make a theme park for her gerbils. A gerbil theme park? That's what she wants. So, the zoo is kind of... It's a nice... It started off as a zoo, but really it's just become a theme park for gerbils, right? It's just for the gerbils, yeah. She's got a big passion for them. Yeah, yeah. Well, she's got eight of them.

[00:56:19] And then that's pretty seemingly just what she has at home. So how many has she got? Well, she's got her eye on another 22 from a mate down the road. Does she breed them? Yeah, no, she's just a gerbil dealer. She's a gerbil dealer. One of those gerbil dealers that we often hear about. Oh my God, I love it. I can't wait for Mark to hear about Susan being like, that is... Is her gerbil... Last question, is her gerbil theme park a success?

[00:56:50] Massive. In the local neighbourhood. Just like big success means, you know, 10 visitors a year. She's happy. That's right. She charges enough. She's ambitious, but not too ambitious. You know what I mean? Yeah. She could probably monetise as much as an ordinary podcast would. Yeah, 100%. Go on, Susan. Oh, nice. Well, that is Susan Thundershoes. Thank you very much for that.

[00:57:18] Can you please tell me the name you are going to pass on to my next guest? I'm going to give your next guest a name that appears in Big Night Out. Rita. Rita. Rita Book. Rita Book. Love it. Thanks for having me. Thank you so much. It's been lovely to chat. Oh, it's been lovely. It's been gorgeous. Yes, thank you.

[00:57:45] Good luck with the sixth podcast that you probably end up doing this week. Thank you. This has been a very special one. Oh, well, thank you. Thank you so much. Hello, this is Alex Lynch here. Thank you so much for listening to this episode and indeed other episodes if you have done.

[00:58:13] If you like the show, why not tell people about it? You could do this by either leaving a review on Apple, rating it on Spotify, shouting about it on social media, and then the old fashioned but probably most effective way of just telling people about it. Any support really does help push the show to more listeners, and it also gives me a little less anxiety that I'm not wasting my life with my audio endeavors. Anyway, that's enough from me. Thanks again. Bye.