Lucy Pearman on her most memorable gigs

Lucy Pearman comes to London’s Soho Theatre on Monday with her show Lunartic, which was nominated for the The Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality. Her the comic – who appeared on   The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk, Mister Winner and Red Dwarf – recalls some of her most memorable gigs

Gig that taught me the biggest lesson

I did a preview once where the audience thought they were coming to see Paul Sinha. Unfortunately Paul couldn’t make it so I was a very last minute replacement (Mad decision by them BTW) and the audience hadn’t been told. I should also add that it was sold out. LOL.

So you’re expecting Paul Sinha and I wobble on stage inside a suitcase. Basically they realised I wasn’t Paul Sinha and they absolutely HATED what I was doing, so one by one the audience walked out. 

But about three people stayed and I did it for them because they had paid and they did me the huge honour of staying. So I guess what it taught me is, even if people come for Paul Sinha and walk out on you, do it for the people that stayed. Even if 99 per cent  of the audience hate it there might be one person enjoying it so try and do it for them just in case. 

There is obviously the danger they are just a nice person trying to make you feel better and they hate it too but that’s OK, get to the end for the nice person. After you’ve cried for a bit it will be funny, eventually.  

Gig that changed my life 

When Harry Hill saw my Maid Of Cabbage show he was really supportive and helped me a lot. He makes me feel like its OK to want to be silly for a living

Most exotic gig

Do people do exotic gigs? Let me think…I’ve been dressed as an egg in Beckenham a few times. I’ve worn a very large suitcase in Tring, I’ve been a bunch of grapes and potato in Leicester and now I’m about to be the Moon in Soho. So yeah I’m no stranger to exotic gigs when I think about it. 

Worst journey to a gig

I was in a car with two other comics and the one driving spent the entire journey talking to ONE OF his girlfriends on speaker while me and the other female comedian sat in silence staring at each other basically sort of baffled for two hours 

Best gig as a punter

I will never forget the time I took my little brother, who was very new to the Edinburgh Fringe, to see Barry From Watford. 

We had seen quite a few shows that he hated and I could tell he was starting to think everything was boring or crap. About five minutes into the Barry From Watford show I looked over to see my brother crying with laughter, absolutely loving it. He still shouts at me in Barrys voice ‘CHEEEEEESE!!!!!!’

I was so relieved I’d managed to find something he loved. I think Alex Lowe who does Barry From Watford is so funny and a really incredible actor. I managed to get him to be in The Train show I made with Baby Cow and he was absolutely perfect I’d love to work with him again. 

Least welcome post-show comment

‘No TV station would commission this’

• Lucy Pearman is at Soho Theatre from Monday to Saturday with Lunartic. Details and tickets

Published: 24 Sep 2025