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Nish Kumar

'Polite boy' Nish Kumar shares his desire to own a Batmobile and star on The News Quiz.

Who are you and what can we expect from your performance?

In five years time, I鈥檇 like to own a Batmobile.
Nish Kumar

I鈥檓 Nish Kumar and I鈥檓 a stand up comedian and a polite boy.

You鈥檝e been plucked from the Edinburgh Fringe and dropped onto Radio 4. Is there anything you鈥檝e had to do to make your performance work for the airwaves?

I鈥檝e had a take some of the swears out but aside from that, not really. There weren鈥檛 even that many swears 鈥 because I am a polite boy.

Would you like to be involved with radio in the future?

I鈥檇 love to be involved with shows like and because they鈥檙e such a big part of the landscape of British comedy. So many wonderful shows and performers have got their start on Radio 4, so it would be great to be a part of that grand tradition.

Speaking of the Fringe, can you tell us any stories from this year鈥檚 festival?

I had a lovely time at this year鈥檚 festival. It was my seventh year there and my expectations were not high, but it ended up being really fun. The following story is a microcosm of my experience at this year鈥檚 festival...

I was about to finish a performance and was expressing my hope that everyone had enjoyed themselves when two audience members began to wave their tickets at me. I asked them why they were doing this. They explained that they had bought tickets for a different show and had been directed to mine accidently. They apparently felt 鈥渢oo awkward to leave but ended up really enjoying ourselves鈥. That best sums up my fringe 鈥 an inadvertent success.

Did you see any other acts at the festival that you think we should investigate?

Peacock and Gamble, Eddie Pepitone, Ben Target and David Trent.

Edinburgh aside, is there anything else we might recognise you from?

I鈥檓 also in a double act called the Gentlemen of Leisure with Tom Neenan. We recently did a site specific comedy show at the British Museum which went well, much to the delight of the museum and the surprise of us.

Finally, let鈥檚 have the all-important 鈥榗areers talk鈥欌 Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years time, I鈥檇 like to own a Batmobile. I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 too much to ask if I鈥檓 doing stand up shows in theatres.

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