My Festival: Bilal Zafar

There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours.

My show is a very fun experience and isn’t trying to be too serious. Fans of some of my online work will be excited to see me finally bringing some of that silliness to the stage. I feel like I’m really doing something fresh and exciting.

What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?

A lot about my personal struggles in a difficult industry - but in a fun way, don’t worry - and how I’ve been able to turn things around.

What’s the best review you’ve ever had, and the worst?

My best was a five star review in 2017 which came out a few days after the Fringe finished and was seen by me when I was in a hospital bed with severe pneumonia. My worst was a two and a half star review by a Twitter account.

Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year?

I’m looking forward to seeing Rob Auton, Sami Abu Wardeh, Nick Helm, Cecily Hitchcock and Richard Stott this year. I’m also very excited to take a chance on shows from performers I haven’t heard of before.

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Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh?

Gareth Richards, Rob Auton and I used to regularly go for meals and had a little secret club that I can’t reveal the name of. Gareth passed away in 2023 and me and Rob try to meet up for a meal at least once to remember Gareth. I’m very lucky to have many amazing friends in comedy that I don’t always get to see and get to catch up with at the Fringe.

Tell us something about you that would surprise people.

I just learnt how to skip - with a rope - and I’m absolutely brilliant at it. I would love to show it off in my show but it wouldn’t be funny would it?

What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?

The best thing was when I met Aidan Gillen in a bar, he was really nice to me and we chatted for ages. My Best Newcomer nomination during the same month was also good. I guess the worst thing that happened to me was when I got severe pneumonia in 2017 but someone once knocked my coffee all over loads of my flyers and then didn’t even buy me another drink. I’m still angry about it.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?

I try to focus on my breathing and do a little meditation thing to calm me down and feel good but I usually end up watching instagram reels and melting my brain.

Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?

Pepsi Max Cherry please, somewhere that’s not too noisy, thank you!

Bilal Zafar: Rubicon, 8.30pm, Underbelly Bristo Square, until 30 August

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