Will Duggan: Comedy Spotlight

To the impressionable (and probably emotionally scarred) youth who attended last year’s Edinburgh success story Funz and Gamez, he will forever be known as Bonzo the Dog in the Foster’s Panel Prize-winning show. But Will Duggan is more than just the drunken stag party attendee who got lost. He is also a superb standup in his own right, performing sharp, honest comedy delivered with an arsenal of fine-tuned vocabulary. Though he still aspires to be known as ‘that guy from that thing.’

First gig:

"Saki Bar, Rusholme. February 2008. I felt like a God amongst men. It went well and I assumed I was a genius. Though in reality the audience were all my friends and were being very kind. I did Beat the Frog two days later and lasted a sweet 30 seconds. I didn’t do any more gigs for a year."

Best gig:

"Manford’s Comedy Club in Matlock. One of those gigs where the audience were just wonderful, all the acts were on their game and the venue knew exactly what to do to make the night run smoothly. I felt the closest to a rock star that I ever will. Plus they bought me a Chinese."

Worst gig:

"Great question. I had been gigging for about a year and had been asked to do 15 minutes before a famous telly comic at a charity gig. I went down in my suit, ate my dinner and waited. Just before I was due to go on the organiser told me that said telly comic hadn’t arrived and would I mind doing an hour and a half. I explained that to be honest I was sort of pushing it with 15 minutes. He told me to do what I could. He went on the stage and said to the audience of about 400 very rich, posh, middle aged people ‘Who’s looking forward to seeing <famous telly comic>?’ They all cheer. He says, ‘He’s not here. Please welcome Will Duggan.’ I managed 40 minutes. To absolute silence."

Favourites on the Northwest circuit:

"We are spoiled in the Northwest for good acts. The people I started with who have become my close friends are all spectacular. Kiri Pritchard McLean, Pete Otway, Brennan Reece, Gein’s Family Giftshop, James Meehan, Katie Mulgrew, Harriet Dyer. My favourite is Will Duggan though. He’s so, so beautiful."

Best heckle:

"Best heckle I’ve ever heard was one aimed at me in Cardiff. A fight broke out while I was on stage. I tried to have a chat with those fighting and one of the guys said, ‘Sorry about this mate. I think you’re doing a grand job but this cunt won’t shut up.’ Then he immediately hit him. There was absolutely nothing I could say."

If you could be haunted by anyone, who would it be and why?

"Peter Cook. I reckon he’d work wonders for my career."

If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? And why are you on death row?

"I’d be on death row because I’d finally flip and massacre the ever-living shit out of everyone who's ever wronged me. I have a list. Last meal would be doner kebab. Large."

What’s the largest animal you think you could beat in a fight? No weapons.

"Rik Waller."

Question from past Spotlighter Danny Sutcliffe: How do you operate a fire extinguisher? Please hurry.

"Anaesthetise it first. Then cut it open. Fix it. Stitch it shut. Let it recover. Give it any required post-op treatment. Easy."