Comedian Jim Daly is preparing to bring his show ‘Jim Daly: Football and Fatherhood’ to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, and in the words of Edinburgh legend Kevin Day, he is ‘living proof that very nice people can be very funny’.
Using the one thing he knows best, a football match, as the framework, the show sees Jim take audiences through his first two years of fatherhood with gentle jokes, songs and stories.
Described as ‘Hilarious!’ by SportBible and ‘very, very funny!’ by The Daily Mirror, Jim’s show is light relief from many shows that are covering some pretty heavy topics this year.
I was lucky enough to get to talk to Jim all about the show and his hopes for the upcoming Edinburgh run.
Could you please tell us about the show and inspiration behind it?
The show is called Jim Daly: Football and Fatherhood and it’s a show about… well, football and fatherhood. I thought I’d just make the title exactly what’s in the show! Basic marketing technique! It’s also about self-belief, feeling like a fraud and finding inspiration to keep going in the strangest of places. I was inspired to start writing it after my daughter was born almost three years ago, becoming a dad completely changed my life and trying to work out how to me a parent was really tough, but I found solace in the amazing autobiography of probably one of the most average footballers ever. Once I started noting down a few jokes and thoughts, the whole thing came together really quickly and here we are!
What excites you the most about taking Jim Daly: Football And Fatherhood to the Edinburgh fringe?
Sharing my show with people, that’s what really makes me happy. I’ve been absolutely loving doing my previews and the thought of doing it every day is really exciting. I’m really proud of this show and it’s warm, silly, funny message. Audiences in my previews seem to have been enjoying it and that puts a smile on my face too. If I can get lots of people in every day to my Edinburgh show and have them leaving feeling uplifted that would make my Fringe.
You’ve stated that you want your show to be gentle and fun, do you think that this will be a light relief to other more serious shows?
Exactly that yeah. It’s been an awful few years for us all, including those who organise the fringe as this is the first proper one for three years. So, we all need a bit of light relief anyway and adding to that, there will be a lot of comedy shows covering some heavy subjects this year put on by some fantastic comedians who are great at tacking those subjects (and quite rightly and you should go and see those shows too!). But my show is the alternative if you like to those shows. Once you’ve seen a heavier show, come and see mine for a gentle, silly, warm come down (that still has a heart-warming message). Also, if you are someone who doesn’t like ranty/political/shouty comedians or don’t like sitting in the front row for fear of being made fun of, this show is for you as there is none of that.
Do you think that events such as the Edinburgh fringe are important for bringing small shows and new work to audiences?
Definitely. I’ve been lucky enough that my social media presence has increased a lot this year but I’m the same on there; friendly, silly, funny, warm, gentle. This show is an extension of my only comedy persona (and, as it happens, my actual real-life persona!) so I’m hoping people who know me online will want to come and see the show and will enjoy seeing the me that they know from my videos chatting about my life. But the beauty of the Fringe is that the audiences are so savvy and are ready to see new works from those of us who are relatively unknown compared to TV names. It’s not quite a level playing field, but it’s the closest we get to a summer comedy camp where all are invited. I also love the opportunity to see new acts I don’t know and see some shows that I’d normally never get the chance to see.
What would you like the audiences to get out of your show?
Audiences at my previews have very kindly said that they feel uplifted and heart-warmed (is heart-warmed a word? It is now) after seeing the show and that’s exactly what I hope Edinburgh audiences will get from the show too. Plus, I’m thinking about making badges, so, literally they will get badges too (maybe)
Why should fringe goers come and see your show?
You should come and see my show; Jim Daly: Football and Fatherhood, because if you don’t my nearly three-year-old daughter will ask why no-one came and you wouldn’t want to upset her now, would you? Actually, she’d probably sit me down and give me a dressing down of some sort). Seriously though, you should come if you like gentle, warm comedy, and have an hour spare in the afternoon after lunch and before you go and see a big TV act. I’m the perfect warm up for your evening show at 4.30pm and it’s a show that I’m not only really proud of but has a message that I think everyone can relate too. Hope to see you there!
I would like to thank Jim for taking the time to talk to me about his show and wish him to very best of luck for Edinburgh and the future.
Jim Daly: Fatherhood and Football runs at Just the Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre at 4.30pm from August 2-28, tickets are available here https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Jim%20Daly%3A%20Football%20and%20Fatherhood%22
Photo credit - Amy Cassidy