High Achiever: Rhys Darby is Mr Adventure

Known primarily in the UK as Murray Hewitt, the lovable, bumbling manager of the Flight of the Conchords whose business nous extended to getting them a gig that paid in soup, Rhys Darby is a comedian who has a sense of adventure that travels much further than his native New Zealand. After the release of his own TV show on Netflix entitled Short Poppies, in which he plays a host of characters far removed from Murray – though many do share his boundless optimism, something that surely drives Darby in his career and life – in October he will be climbing Everest before delivering a set with some of his comedic friends including Craig Campbell and Tommy Tiernan at Base Camp (www.standuponeverest.co.uk).

The Skinny: Your new show, Mr Adventure, takes in a lot of the world’s most beautiful places – but what’s the most terrifying place you’ve ever been to?
Rhys Darby: Definitely the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. I was so out of breath and physically distraught by the time I reached the top I was afraid for my life. On the way down I found myself in a rainforest; it was a calming feeling until I turned a bend and came face to face with a tree stump shaped exactly like a human skull.

Traversing the globe, do you have to cater your set to the geography?
I just do and say whatever I want, it's the audience that have to do the adjustment. To be honest I usually deal with very universal themes. Everything I say is relatable to humans in general... I think.

Who’s your favourite explorer?
In the real world I'd have to say Jacques-Yves Cousteau for all his amazing ocean and river explorations. Sir Edmund Hillary deserves honourable mention because of course he was the first to conquer Everest and get away with it. In the fictional realm, Indiana Jones is my hero. I love adventure, science and history, so yeah, he also battles with the Nazis and his dad is James Bond, it doesn't get much better than that.

How’s training going for the Everest climb?
I usually do a 6km run twice a week and alternate this with a 10km cycle every other day. Lately however I've been too busy touring New Zealand with my new stand-up show. I'm currently keeping myself physically fit by dancing on stage and carrying my four-year-old around everywhere. Unfortunately the 'on the road' touring lifestyle doesn't really fit in with 'training for Everest'. I'll have to pick up my game later in the year. After my last mountain climb (Kilimanjaro) I discovered the most important thing was to have healthy working lungs and throat. Plenty of vitamins is the key.

You’re a very physical comedian – are you worried about the thinner air inhibiting your performance?
I really struggled to reach the top of Kilimanjaro due to a chest infection that slowed me down considerably. I was the last in my group to summit. Once I got there I was pretty much an emotional wreck. I had this great idea that I was going to tell jokes to my colleagues at the top but alas, all I could do was cry. So yes, I think there's a high chance that all the comedians will sit around and cry. Maybe this will turn into laughter though and, hey, if you all just come back after the break maybe the jokes will start flowing!