Comedian Jimeoin speaks to the News about being funny, keeping his shows interesting and making it big in the UK

Mar 14 2012 by Daniel ODonoghue, Birkenhead News

TWO aerials on a roof fall in love and get married. The wedding wasn’t good but the reception was fantastic.”

It’s a one-liner typical of hit Northern Irish funnyman Jimeoin.

The Australia-based comic has toured the world from New Zealand to New York leaving a trail of laughing audiences in his wake – and on Friday he’ll be at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton.

Asked by Day and Night to sum up his style of comedy he answers with one word: “funny”.

This razor sharp wit has earned him plaudits from audiences around the world.

Born in England and then growing up in the small Northern Irish town of Portstewart the young Jimeoin started out as a builder.

Twenty-four years ago he switched the Emerald Isle for the sunny sands of a land Down Under.

He said: “I went to Australia originally on a holiday and loved it.

“I was a builder before I was a comedian and decided that I wanted to work in the sun, so that’s why I emigrated.”

His first venture into stand-up came soon after arriving in Oz.

He said: “A pub in Sydney had an open mic night and I got on stage for a laugh and told three jokes, the audience laughed and that was it.

“I decided to go back again and after I had done a few more nights I got booked to do a gig in the Melbourne Comedy Club.

“From that I got 14 weeks’ stand-up and it led to me writing a comedy programme for Australian television.”

Since those early days the comic has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks, Best Of Just For Laughs and Best of Edinburgh Comedy Festival, last year’s Royal Variety Show and Live At The Apollo.

Despite his success Jimeoin remains modest about his achievements.

“There is no grand plan really,” he says. “I just take each step as it comes.

“The only real long term dream for me is to be a success in the UK.

“When the audience starts to laugh at a new joke or line, that’s what it’s all about.

“The good stuff takes a very long time to find, it takes a lot of shifting around to find a gem.

“But each show I do I make a real point of trying to write new stuff.

“It keeps it interesting.”

Jimeoin is at the Floral Pavilion Theatre on Friday, March 16, starting at 7.30pm.

Standard adult tickets are £14.50.

To book call the Floral Pavilion box office on 666 0000 or buy online at www.floralpavilion.com