Meet Ian Christopher – One of Ireland’s Funniest, Live at The Comedy Cellar

Ian Christopher isn’t just another comedian – he’s one of Ireland’s sharpest, most high-energy comics working today. Since first stepping on stage in 2009, Ian has been blazing a trail through the Irish and UK comedy circuit. He’s headlined all the major clubs across Dublin, including the International Comedy Club, The Laughter Lounge, Battle of the Axe, and Comedy Cellar. Now, he performs regularly in Scotland, bringing that firepower with him.

After taking a break from comedy in 2015, Ian made a thunderous return to the stage in 2023 – sharper, smarter, and more unpredictable than ever. He’s become a regular at The Comedy Cellar in Edinburgh, bringing his trademark energy, fast-thinking brain, and unfiltered Irish wit to packed-out crowds seven nights a week.

I’ve worked with Ian more than most – and I’ll tell you straight: he’s one of the best comics I’ve ever shared a stage with. Off stage, he’s a mate. On stage, he’s a beast. He reads a room like a sniper, moves between heartfelt honesty and complete absurdity in seconds, and leaves nothing behind but a laughing room and the odd punter wondering what just hit them.

Whether you’ve seen him before or it’s your first time, do yourself a favour and catch Ian Christopher live at The Comedy Cellar. Raw comedy. No filters. Pure class. You can also catch Ian daily at the Edinburgh Fringe with his solo show – a VR-powered, smart, satirical hour of stand-up that’s been called "hilarious, thoughtful, and original."

Photo by Michael Porter

LET’S KICK OFF – WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I'm Ian Christopher, a comedian based in Scotland. I started in comedy around 2009 and stopped in 2015. I restarted in 2023. Until 2015, I mainly worked on the Irish scene. Since returning, I’ve been gigging mostly in Scotland with occasional trips back to Ireland.

WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO COMEDY? WAS IT A MOMENT, A MELTDOWN, OR JUST MADNESS?

My brain works faster than my mouth. I often struggle to articulate what’s going on in my head. That was a big issue for me, especially in group settings. Around 2008–2009, I started looking for ways to deal with that. I’ve always been a huge fan of comedy, so I decided to give it a go—just once. I found I had a bit of a knack for it. Then it got addictive. The social side of it was brilliant too. Comedy is a great way to express creativity, make points that matter, and it’s just an incredible thing to be involved in.

WHO WERE YOUR EARLY COMEDY INFLUENCES – THE PEOPLE WHO MADE YOU THINK, ‘I CAN DO THIS’?

Like most comedians, I loved Billy Connolly. I think Peter Kay is underrated—he’s brilliant at capturing everyday moments. I’ve always liked Seinfeld and one-liner comedians too. But I especially love Irish acts like Tommy Tiernan and Neil Delamere. One of my current favourites is Dave McSavage—he’s outstanding and should be more well-known in the UK. Honestly, I’m just a massive fan of comedy full stop. There are hundreds of club-level comedians who are better than some on TV. There’s so much depth of talent globally—it’s amazing.

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST GIG – HOW BAD WAS IT? OR WERE YOU ONE OF THOSE ANNOYING NATURALS?

It was above a pub in Dublin called Anseo, on a Wednesday night gig run by Aidan Killian. Everyone performing was doing their first gig, so the crowd was very supportive. It went well—but it wasn’t a true measure of whether I was any good. I was full of anxiety. For the first 100 gigs, I was seriously nervous. But it helped me grow in other parts of my life too. I got hooked. I had a strong five minutes, built a reputation, started gigging regularly, and made lifelong friends.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST GIG MOMENT SO FAR – THE ONE THAT REMINDED YOU WHY YOU DO THIS?

I loved my 2011 one-man show School Books in Wallpaper—amazing crowds, a real learning experience. But honestly, the best gig is always your most recent. Last night I performed at The Comedy Cellar in Edinburgh. The crowd wasn’t as lively as usual. A younger me would have struggled, maybe even blamed the audience. But I dug deep, kept working, and by the end, they’d had a cracking 45 minutes. It wasn’t massive—just 40 or so people—but I walked away thinking, yeah, I’m a real comedian. Sometimes a quiet six-person gig is just as rewarding as performing to hundreds. Each crowd has its own collective personality. It’s fascinating.

AND YOUR WORST? THE ONE YOU STILL WAKE UP SWEATING ABOUT?

Definitely an after-dinner gig at a tennis club in Dublin. My mate Tommy Kennedy—one of the best comics I know—was headlining. I was the warm-up. I’d just come off a great set at a regular club and thought I was flying. But when I got there, they were still eating, and no one knew comedy was even scheduled. I started my usual set, which had killed an hour earlier, and got absolutely nothing. Total silence. I’ll never forget one guy staring at me with contempt while eating fish with a fish knife. Tommy went on after and destroyed the room. I just sat in the corner thinking, yep, that’s comedy. It taught me not to get carried away with the highs, and how to survive the lows. So much of it is luck—just enjoy the ride.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF COMEDY FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE?

I’m probably still figuring it out—and I’ll still be figuring it out ten years from now. But I’d say it’s a mix of observational material, some political stuff, and comedy from the heart. I tend to shift between personal, emotional material and zooming into the tiny details of everyday life before zooming back out again. Lots of zooming!

WHAT’S YOUR WRITING PROCESS LIKE – NOTES ON YOUR PHONE, FULL SCRIPTS, OR WINGING IT ON STAGE?

Mainly bullet points. I jot things down as I go through the day. Nothing beats that moment when you spot something, say it on stage that night, and it gets a laugh. That’s real creativity. I record my sets, tweak them, but I don’t obsess over edits like some top-level comics do. Maybe I should. But there’s a line—I don’t want to over-edit and lose my voice. Still, I know I could be sharper. That’s the goal moving forward.

DO YOU THINK COMEDY IS CHANGING? ARE THINGS GETTING TOO SAFE OR TOO SENSITIVE?

Comedy is a release valve and a launchpad for society. It should be free and uncensored. When you clamp down on it, you don’t just lose comedy—you lose the ability to examine society properly. Comedy helps us progress socially. Sure, there are risks. Harmful content like racism, homophobia, and transphobia shouldn’t be accepted. But we’ve also got to watch out for knee-jerk accusations and over-policing. Satire has been around since before we had tools. Comedy should challenge assumptions, offer new perspectives, and make people think. That’s its power. I’m obsessed with how a comedy room is set up. Everything should make the audience feel anonymous. The moment someone starts thinking “do I want to be seen laughing at this?”—you’ve lost them. That need to be seen laughing or not laughing—both of those impulses can be monetised in today’s world, but they kill the art. That’s not for me.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE COMEDIANS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW?

Honestly? Not many. Being a comedian is a privilege. Sure, there are financial challenges, and it’s hard to make a living—but that’s the case in most creative industries. If someone else is doing better than you, take it as a sign to get better. Or maybe your path just isn’t to be rich. Imagine if everyone was rich—what a nightmare. Comedy is a gift. If you don’t see it that way, maybe it’s not for you.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SHOW – WHAT’S IT CALLED, WHAT’S IT ABOUT, AND WHY SHOULD PEOPLE COME SEE IT?

My show is called Zero Zero Billionaire and it’s on at the Edinburgh Fringe. The audience walks in to find me on stage wearing a VR headset, playing a game. Then the “virtual agent” kicks in, and the crowd realises they’re part of the simulation. It’s all a bit meta—who’s real, who’s not—and I use that to explore ideas about family, politics, connection, and what matters. It’s funny, it’s serious, and it ends with a message: through all the noise and tech and chaos, human connection still matters.

FINALLY – WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU ONLINE OR IN THE PUB AFTERWARDS?

I gig regularly at The Comedy Cellar in Edinburgh—run by Michael Porter, who’s doing incredible things for the scene. You can catch me every day during the Fringe at 1:20pm with Zero Zero Billionaire, and I’m also the resident host of Irish Comedy Headliners at 2:55pm most days. Listings are on the Edinburgh Fringe website. I’m on Instagram at @ianperth222—but I don’t post much. Really, just come out and see live comedy. Even if it’s not mine. Just support it. It matters.

Ian will be with us throughout the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Ticket information here:

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