Nish Kumar says he ‘really hopes’ Mock The Week finds a new home after BBC axe

Virgin Radio

4 Aug 2022, 11:07

Comedian Nish Kumar is back on the road with his Your Power, Your Control comedy tour, which will stop at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe later this month. Speaking to Ricky Wilson, who is currently sitting in for Chris Evans on The Breakfast Show with Sky, Nish revealed the main point of inspiration for his latest stand-up routine, and his reaction to learning satirical panel show, Mock The Week, is coming to an end. 

Nish, alongside the likes of Russell Howard, Josh Widdicombe and Rob Beckett, all broadened their telly skills on the much-loved BBC comedy show, but the broadcaster recently announced the series would be coming to an end later this year. 

When asked about his reaction to the news, Nish replied: “It was a break-in for a lot of us. I sort of hope that there's plans for a commensurate showcase for new comedians to come through on the television, because it is a place where a lot of us sort of cut our teeth.”

On whether British comedy channel Dave, where much of Mock The Week’s back catalogue lives, should revive the show, Nish says he’s hopeful they will, to ensure new comedians have a place to grow their telly craft. 

He added: “I really do hope so because it really is a good place for new comics to come through and in quite a protected environment. Dara [O’Briain] is a great host. And he's very supportive of the new acts that come through on the show. It is strange. I mean, it's been on TV for 17 years. So it has certainly left its mark on the televisual lands.”

The former Late Night Mash host will be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe later this month, which itself is back to full capacity following two years of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. 

“I absolutely love it,” Nish said when asked about his Edinburgh comeback. “It's so much fun. It's kind of a social activity meets trade show meets summer camp. It's so nice to be in a city that your friends are all in at the same time. We live quite itinerant lifestyles 11 months of the year. And so for one month, it is really nice to be in a place where a lot of your friends are.”

The tour continues throughout September, with the final UK date in Basingstoke before moving to Australia, and when asked what fans can expect, Nish dropped in the inspiration behind his Your Power, Your Control routine.

“The bulk of the show is about me having a bread roll thrown near me at a charity event in December 2009, and the subsequent fallout,” explained the Taskmaster alum. 

On the crowd he was performing in front of, Nish continued: “They didn't really have a sense of humour about themselves. And I lack the ability to not wind those people up. 

“I lack the self discipline to not wind those people up. They don't enjoy being wound up. And it's what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. And it turns out what happens is bread.”

Nish Kumar’s Your Power, Your Control will head to Edinburgh Fringe from 22nd to 28th August. Tickets are available on nishkumar.co.uk/gigs.

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or  catch up on-demand here.