‘I wanted my comedy show to be as good as Limelight’s Bingo Loco’ - comedian Amy Gledhill

“There was so much pressure on my comedy show to be as good as Bingo Loco,” recalls Hull-born comedian Amy Gledhill of the last time she performed in Belfast.

“Last time I was over, I was in Limelight 2 and in the bigger room opposite they were hosting something I think was called Bingo Loco.

“Oh my god it was so loud - when I was in the dressing room all my water bottles were shaking because of this bingo - it sounded amazing.

“But I was quite concerned my show wouldn’t be as much fun.”

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However, it’s clear Amy had nothing to fear as she “ended up having the best time” in the city.

“There were these sisters that came along to the Belfast gig and I had such a laugh with them - then after the show they were like ‘do you want to get in our van, and we’ll go for a night out?’

“And I was like ‘I kind of do’ but I couldn’t because I had an early flight.

“There’s nowhere else in the world where I’d be like ‘yeah, I’ll get in your van’ - they were such good craic.

Now she’s back with her brand-new solo show, Make Me Look Fit on the Poster.

“You have to come up with the poster and the name way before you’ve written the show,” Amy explains.

“I had an idea that the show would talk about self esteem and coming out of a relationship but that was kind of it.

“So, I started thinking about the title and the imagery and about what I actually wanted to get out of it, and I realised I wanted to look fit on the poster,” she laughs.

For the record she does look fit on the poster, complete with massive hair and flawless makeup, but Amy confesses that despite achieving her objective, she’s not entirely sure how she feels about it.

“It’s weird because as comedians we shouldn’t have to look fit.

“It shouldn’t be about that, but there is quite a lot of pressure even if you’re just being a silly clown to still look good.”

Although she admits the picture was a “massive confidence boost” when she was performing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

“When you’re in Edinburgh you do have to walk past yourself and your big face on a poster every day so it’s nice to be able to walk past and go ‘she’s doing alright’.

“But I also hope, with the big wig and everything, it’s still seen as fun and not too serious – a bit like the show.”

I’m not convinced I’m a good comedy writer, I think I’ve just got a ridiculous life

—  Amy Gledhill

Amy has described the new show as a “confessional”, covering everything from body confidence and the pressure to look good, to romance and the awkward early stages of being newly single.

“I think it’s good to talk about things that we find embarrassing, so I talk about experiences I’ve had that I think about as I’m going to sleep.

“You know that feeling when you’re just drifting off and then you’ll go ‘oh my god why did I say that?’ or ‘why did I do that?’

“The show talks a lot about experiences like that and how they can affect our self-esteem, self-confidence and what we can do about it.

“It’s really fun and silly with just a little bit of a thoughtful message in there as well.”

So far the show has been met with rave reviews and in August it won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for best show – not bad for a routine that was “forged in the pressure cooker a few days before the (Edinburgh) Fringe”.

“My writing style is very chaotic and last-minute,” says Amy, who was, rather ironically, speaking to me whilst on a writing retreat.

“I’m not convinced I’m a good comedy writer, I think I’ve just got a ridiculous life.

“But I think the good thing about writing things quickly and close to the deadline is that it means you’re not bored of it, whenever I go on stage it still feels very fresh.”

Make Me Look Fit on The Poster also leans into more theatrical storytelling techniques that pull on Amy’s acting skills, recently on display in the likes of BBC’s Alma’s Not Normal and Netflix’s Sex Education.

“I’m in such a privileged position where I can do all these different things,” she enthuses.

“And I love acting because it almost feels like you’re cheating because you just turn up and you haven’t written the words.

“It feels like you haven’t had to do any of the hard work you show up and get the credit for reading the lines.”

She’s also developed a penchant for podcasts and panel shows. Co-hosting Northern News alongside Ian Smith and more recently Single Ladies in Your Area with Harriet Kemsley as well as appearing on the likes of Would I Lie to You?, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

“Would I Lie to You? Is one of the nicest TV productions you can do,” she says.

“You all have a bit of dinner together before you record so you’ve all met and everyone’s a bit more relaxed and you feel more comfortable calling them a liar,” she laughs.

“I honestly believed you would be shown the lies and truths beforehand but no - you really don’t - which just highlights how incredible the guests are because everyone’s so quick.

“It was one of the best things I’ve ever done, I loved it so much.”

Although, she admits that nothing quite compares to being on stage.

“It’s so much fun, you have that instant response and energy from the audience – there’s nothing else like it…as long as it’s going well,” which she hopes will be the case when she brings her show to Belfast later this week.

“We’re going to have a fun time, no one’s getting picked on we’re all having a laugh together at me.

“It’s a little bit rude, really silly and I do need some people to go out drinking with me afterwards of if you’re up for that do come along.”

Amy Gledhill will be bringing Make Me Look Fit on The Poster to Limelight 2 on Thursday October 17, ticketmaster.ie