PAUL FOOT & MITCH BENN (Edinburgh Previews)

Event information

Critically acclaimed comedians Paul Foot and Mitch Benn come to The Cookie Jar to preview their new shows for Edinburgh 2012.

PAUL FOOT in his own words...

"I was born in Amersham in Buckinghamshire at an early age. Initially, I was unable to fend for myself. I could not work out how to walk or even say words. Luckily, a kind lady and gentleman took me home from the hospital.

My mother taught me to speak nicely and talk about the weather. My dad mainly used to cook a pie. It wouldn’t always go right. Quite often he would drop the pie on the floor. “I’ve dropped the pie on the floor!” he would shout. That’s what he’s like, because he doesn’t use oven gloves.

Later I became a teenager, and decided to have a go at stand-up comedy in a little bar. I did not have any jokes. So I just made up stuff like, “Can anyone here name a fruit? A peach, madam? Personally, I prefer a pineapple.”

Amazingly, it went well, due to comic timing, stage presence and luck and I resolved on the spot to become a professional entertainer.

17 years later, I became an overnight success."

As seen on Never Mind the Buzzcocks!

MITCH BENN is not only one of the most sought-after acts on the comedy circuit but is widely acknowledged as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country. Mitch began his comedy career in Edinburgh in 1994. He moved to London in 1996 and quickly established himself as a comedy club "headliner" as well as a favourite on the university circuit.

Mitch is a regular writer and performer on "The Now Show" for BBC Radio 4 and "It's Been a Bad Week" for BBC Radio 2. Three series of his successful Radio 4 show, "Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music" have been broadcast so far. He also presents "The Mitch Benn Music Show" on BBC Radio 7.

On TV, Mitch appears regularly on BBC1's "The One Show" as the writer and arranger of "The Complaints Choir". Mitch contributes occasional songs to Channel 4's "Bremner Bird And Fortune". He has also appeared on "The Last Word" for More4, "Gas" for Channel 4, "Live at Jongleurs", "The Warehouse" and "Today With Des & Mel" for ITV, "The Comedy Store" for Channel 5, "The World Stands Up" for Paramount and "Raymaan Is Laat" for Dutch TV. He was the presenter of the paranormal discussion show "Out There" for Carlton World, and in 2009 made semi-regular appearances on BBC1's "Watchdog" performing songs highlighting consumer grievances.