text: CIARAN DOWD Ciaran Dowd, Fringe 2019, Comedy, Best Newcomer
  It's a follow up to last year's show, same idiot character, new dumb adventure. Last year he was an obnoxious sword-fighting lothario looking for revenge, this year he's trying to leave that world behind and be a better man. He joins the priesthood and though he's not built for the monastic life, quickly finds a role for himself as an exorcist and demon hunter. It's a bit supernatural and a lot stupid.
  You're very imaginative in your comedy, what adventures did you get up to as a child?
  Well I grew up in a place in Ireland called Drogheda – it's a town steeped in Celtic mythology and history and also weird stuff – we have a perfectly preserved head in a glass box in a church. So I'd visit that daily. On rainy days we'd make our own amusement – I once zipped my brother up in a suitcase and pushed it down the stairs – just good old fashioned fun.
  What advice would you give to this year's new comers?
  Stay off my patch and out of my face. And it's the most beige answer in the world but just enjoy performing your show, there's a lot of "noise" that surrounds Edinburgh – reviews and awards and agents and industry – goalposts change and it's easy to lose sight of performing a show you like to the people in front of you. That's the only bit you can control and it's what you came to do.
  What's your favourite fringe memory?
  On the last day of every fringe I've always gone to Los Argentinos Steakhouse and ordered their mixed-grill-for-two for one. The heady mixture of meat and relief is a powerful one and I cherish those moments.