Mock The Week star to 'pop-up' in Wirral (From Wirral Globe)

Mock The Week star to 'pop-up' in Wirral

4:16pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News Exclusive By Craig Manning

COMEDIENNE Zoe Lyons pops up at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton next week as part of her new tour.

The critically-acclaimed entertainer - a regular on BBC’s Mock The Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy - appears at the seaside venue on Saturday, February 23, as part of the 'Pop Up Comic' tour.

Explaining the thinking behind the show's title, Zoe told the Globe: "I have a career which sees me ‘pop-up’ anywhere.

"It could be, for example, as a panelist on shows like Mock The Week or on stage. So people will recognise me from somewhere."

The show promises to take a long, hard look at the big issues of the day, such as why are there so many one-footed pigeons and motion sensitive air fresheners in the world. It also includes one or two cautionery tales about life in showbusiness.

Zoe continued: "The show is basically an hour and a half of silliness and various odds and sods.

"I also talk about TV appearances that were, on reflection, ill-advised. For example I did a Christmas special of University Challenge, not thinking for a moment that there would be some serious questions.

"I was probably the thickest contestant on the show, never even got past my starter for 10! I was mortified."

The 22-date tour opened in Leicester on Tuesday, ending in Maidenhead on March 30.

Looking forward to getting back on the road, Zoe enthused: "It's a do-able tour, and most of it will be spent in hotels eating pot noodles.

"It takes a while to put the show together. I write all the time, working constantly as I go along.

"After doing all of that you then have to try to make it stick together as an edited collection of consciousness."

The 41-year-old graduated with a degree in psychology from York University in 1992, but never pursued it as a career.

She said: "My mum always wanted me to be a psychologist, but I really didn't pay that much attention in college.

"Maybe if I had done, I would have pursued it as a career, could have had my own office.

"I've had no long-term career plan, but what I have ended up doing for a living seems to be working for me."

Zoe's debut show in 2007, ‘Flight Or Flight’, earned a nomination for an If.Comedy Best Newomer award. She also won the award for Funniest Joke of the Fringe from Dave TV at the Edinburgh Festival in 2008.

On the acclaim, Zoe said: "It’s lovely to get the acclaim. As a comedian you are only ever as good as your last gig."

She cites the late Goon and star of the Pink Panther films, Peter Sellers, as a huge influence on her career.

She said: "I remember watching him in the Pink Panther films with my dad. As Inspector Clouseau, he was just such a brilliant actor.

"In fact one of my favourite jokes of all time is from a Pink Panther film.

"In it Clouseau asks a man if his dog bites. The man says no. Clouseau strokes the dog and is bitten.

"He says to the man 'I thought you said the dog doesn’t bite'. The man replies 'it’s not my dog'. Brilliant."

Tickets for the February 23 show, which starts at 8pm, are from the Floral Pavilion box office on 666 0000.