Tom Wrigglesworth: Utterly at Odds with the Universe

On the back of another stellar sell-out Fringe run, Yorkshire comedian-cum-raconteur Tom Wrigglesworth is elbowing his way into the impermeable storytelling nook once reserved exclusively for the likes of Kitson. The multiple award-winner and star of Radio 4 and BBC 2 brings his latest show Utterly At Odds With The Universe to The Stand, Glasgow, for one night of funny, familial nostalgia. The show, borne from the rediscovery of a trove of interview tapes of him and his grandfather, triggered an exploration of their relationship, and a heartfelt quest to make one final tape. It’s suddenly gotten rather dusty in here...

This show is about your grandad; what can you tell us about him?

Well, he was like a wizard. Gandalf-like really. Pipe and everything. He was constantly fixing things – if there was nothing left to fix, he would maintain his tools, waiting for the next opportunity...

What made your relationship so special?

He taught me so much – kind of Mr Miyagi (Karate Kid) style. I didn't know how good I was at using tools or fixing house niggles until I lived in a student house, and I suddenly realised I could do everything. Very much wax on.

Do you have an enduring memory of him?

Lighting up his pipe, disappearing for a few seconds then reappearing from the cloud with a joke or philosophical statement.

Why did you start doing interviews? Did you ever foresee yourself using them one day?

In the mid-80s, these new-fangled portable tape players were just getting popular. My grandad would record everything. The interviews seemed like a normal thing to do at the time. No, I had no idea how awesome it would be listening back.

What did you learn from revisiting the tapes?

Mainly how much of an effect he had on me, and now when I speak to young relatives of mine, I've already turned into him.

This is a more personal show than your previous ones; what made you decide to bring it to the stage?

It is personal, but there's a good deal of it which is pure fantasy. I like telling stories, and I was so moved by the whole tape discovery part that it felt like the right thing to do. It turns out that most people loved their grandad too – which is always nice to hear.

Because of that, did you feel more nervous about doing this show?

Yes – well, not more nervous, more emotionally exhausted I think. Writing it took ages, a lot of that time spent staring at my laptop welling up. But now I've kind of gotten work-hardened to it. I'm more excited to tell people the story and hear their reactions.

How has the show gone, compared to previous ones?

It's more emotionally hard-hitting. The first few times, I had people in such a teary state, that I changed a few things; I never wanted to mug anyone with grief so I'm a bit gentler with the sad parts now. My other shows were just funny – with a bit of peril – but it's gone better than the others really. I think people enjoy the light and shade.

What’s next for you?

This tour keeps me busy for ages – then I'm doing another series of Tom Wrigglesworth’s Hang Ups, which will mean following my dad around with a note pad for a few weeks. Chaos reigns when he's about.....

This show is a personal journey, far removed from the cloying laddishness of over-exposed commercial comedy. If you’re hankering to see something intimate, funny and with a side order of northern integrity, you’d be daft to miss it.