Spotlight: Danny Sutcliffe

Being funny in 140 characters is a tough ask, which is why a lot of comedians shy away from the clipped style afforded to them by Twitter and its short attention span. But for those who have embraced the format, it's provided them with another avenue to find new fans via abstract musings. One such tweeting hero is this month’s Spotlighter Danny Sutcliffe, who, with pithy wonders such as "If you drink Evian backwards, they let you go home from work early" and "If you don't make a parping noise after Patrick Swayze sings 'She's like the wind' then you probably weren’t asked to leave the wake" has marked himself as one of the best Mancunians to follow.

He recently cemented this reputation by taking over uber-cool bar Gorilla’s Twitter feed to promote Group Therapy, going on a fictitious – and hilarious – rampage across the city dressed as a gorilla, obviously.

Hailing from the mean streets of Droylsden, he has won a host of comedy competitions, and dazzles with his mix of surreal and observational gags. A manic, unruly energy belies a great writing talent, managing to jump the gap between tweet and routine with ease.

First gig:
"At the Comedy Store Manchester after completing a comedy course run by Ashley Boroda and Seymour Mace. It was lovely."

Best gig:
"Not my gig, but French electro DJs Justice at Madison Square Garden in 2009. Amazing night. After the gig they glassed a lad in the car park."

Worst gig:
"Getting glassed in Madison Square Garden car park at a Justice concert in 2009."

Circuit favourites in the Northwest: 
"Colin at The Frog and Bucket. Sound guy."

Favourite venue:
"Alton Towers.  It’s mint. They’ve got a KFC now." 

Best heckle:
"My dad (to a cyclist that pulled out on us in the street when he was driving): 'YELLOW BRICK ROAD, KNOBHEAD.' He meant to shout ‘Green Cross Code… KNOBHEAD.’"

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing standup?
"Crying in a call centre and getting pissed at lunchtime."

If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? And why are you on death row?
"Sunday dinner made by me mam. Class. That gravy. Phwoar. I’m on death row for killing an entire stag party dressed up as bananas. They wouldn’t get chance to execute me though. Steven Seagal would break me out. He owes me. Wait ’til I’ve had my Sunday dinner first though, eh Steve, OK? LOL! 

What’s the largest animal you think you could beat in a fight? No weapons.
"Elephant. Piece of piss. Actually, what has everyone else put? Bring them ‘n’ all. Join the queue pal. I’ll fuck theirs up as well. #doublehard."

If you lived in medieval times what would you do for a living?
"I’d be a jack of all trades. King of the spiders. Systems analyst for Fujitsu. Father Christmas."

Question from past Spotlighter Rachel Fairburn: What do you think is on my mantelpiece?
"A broken flask. MY broken flask. And I want it back."