Medway columnist Zahra Barri continues her series of interviews with ‘cene, this time meeting Edinburgh Fringe award-winning comedian Fiona Ridgewell

I’ve always found that the most successful stand-ups make you feel like you’re talking to a friend. Like the Sarah Millican types who make you feel like you’re having a cuppa tea with them as they regale a tale about an unfortunate incident involving a Müller Fruit Corner and a custard cream.

Or the Mickey Flanagan types who make you feel like you’re down The Nag’s Head as they regale a tale about an unfortunate incident involving a bulldog and a Ford Fiesta. Or the Alan Carr types who you neck half a bottle of Prosecco as they regale you a tale about an unfortunate incident involving a trip to DFS and the No. 69 bus. The most successful… scratch that, the funniest comedians are ones who make you feel like you’re just chatting to a pal.

Perhaps that explains Barnehurst (Bexley) comedian Fiona Ridgwell’s (@fiona_ridgewell) success at the Edinburgh Fringe this year with her show, No Nonsense, which won the coveted Best Newcomer prize at the Edinburgh-ish awards. Ridgewell even confesses to doing just that, albeit just a WhatsApp chat. The word ‘just’ both diminishes the comedic skill and remains true to the chatty best-friend form, as Ridgewell is self-deprecating to match. But to be likeable and funny enough to create the ambience of just a chat is hard!

I’ve tried myself and, if my recent Hinge dates are anything to go by, I was not successful. But Ridgewell makes it look easy! It got me thinking that chatty best-friend comedy requires more brainpower than, say, a political comedian. Nothing against political comedians (some of my best friends are political comedians), but politics has become so funny that the jokes write themselves and what Netflix specials have taught me is that you don’t need to make people laugh - you just need to make them clap (clapter), which you can get by saying really obvious things like ‘men and women are equal’. Yet the art of the chatty best-friend comedian is the new way to subvert comedy. To actually BE funny for funny’s sake, Ridgewell is skilfully resurrecting.

She fully encapsulates the chatty best-friend genre covering very serious topics such as Percy Pigs, neighbours’ front gardens, her basic bitch friend’s spirituality, ex-boyfriends and mood boards.

“... the show became a live version of a WhatsApp group with your mates!”

— Fiona Ridgewell

You’ve had a pretty epic Edinburgh Fringe this year, winning Best Newcomer for your show No Nonsense. What made you write it?

Until a week before the Edinburgh Fringe I wasn’t really sure what the show was about. I wanted it to have some big meaning or a heartfelt message, but then I decided all I wanted was audiences to leave feeling like we were mates. So the show became a live version of a WhatsApp group with your mates! A bit of an over-share on my part but also lots of chat between me and the audience. I was really chuffed as I think I achieved what I set out to do.

Award aside, what was your Edinburgh Fringe highlight moment?

I was invited to an ‘industry’ party, which I believe is meant for networking, but it took place in a bowling alley! Free food, free drinks and free arcades… I spent the whole evening playing basketball, axe-throwing and air hockey! Great evening despite the carpal tunnel syndrome from playing endless games. Living the dream.

And your Edinburgh Fringe low moment?

I performed at a free venue, which is fantastic as it means the performer doesn’t risk too much financial loss. It does mean after your show you have to stand at the door with a bucket asking for donations. That’s not the low part… it’s that the audience members can give you feedback as they walk past, things like I really enjoyed that, you were funny, or, as one woman put it, “you seem like a nice girl!”. I don’t know what it meant, but I don’t think she enjoyed the show.

Describe your comedy in three words.

Joyful, silly, conversational.

Who are you the comedy love child of?

Rob Beckett and Lucy Beaumont

Why did you get into comedy?

I always wanted to be a dancer. I used to perform routines from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats in my living room whenever family or friends came round. I went to university to study dance and then on to a stage school for a year. After training, I went to so many auditions where you would queue for four hours and then perform a short routine and go home deflated. The competition was brutal and it just felt impossible. With stand-up, I could just get up and perform - then I realised that was the thing I loved: performing.

Who are your inspirations?

I love Kerry Godliman, she has the sort of career I would love to have. She’s great on panel shows, a brilliant stand-up, but she also gets to act in so many fantastic TV shows.

Best gig to date and why?

I got to perform at The Comedy Store with Jack Whitehall, Chris Ramsay and Russell Kane - they were practising for the Royal Variety show. I loved being on stage but also hearing stories about their careers on the way up!

Worst gig to date and why?

I performed stand-up at an army barracks when I was very new! It was awful, the room was 99% men, I had nothing relatable to say and it felt very intimidating. When a set is going that badly you start to wonder if anything you’re saying was ever a joke.

When did you realise that you were funny?

I had recently seen my first live stand-up show - then I went on a first date all dressed up and trying to flirt, but he just kept saying how funny I was. I put two and two together and became a stand-up comedian.

What are your comedy plans?

Right now, I’m focusing on writing new material and putting out content on my social channels. I want to build an audience so that when I tour they’ll not only be people at the shows but hopefully ones that know what to expect from me. That way I can have really fun shows!

Finally, what’s funny about Kent?

People don’t seem to leave. I’ve lived in Kent my whole life so have my neighbours and people I went to school with. I’ve seen some of the people every day of my life for years and still all we do is give a little nod to acknowledge one another and say nothing!

Zahra Barri

Zahra Barri is an Egyptian-Irish writer and comedian. Her debut novel, Daughters of the Nile, won the Unbound Firsts Writers of Colour 2024 and her writing was runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2020. She has featured on Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, Radio 2, BBC Asian Network and BBC period dramas online. She is currently doing a PhD in creative writing. You can order Daughters of the Nile at unbound.com.

@zahra.barri.comedy