Benji Waterhouse returns to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with his new show. I have caught up with him before he heads up to Edinburgh to start the festival run.

What do you do when you’re not performing  comedy? 

I’m a psychiatrist, which people confuse with psychics. To quickly explain; one of them is hugely unscientific, relies on intuition and is hardly ever right. And the other lot use crystals balls. 

 

When were you last performing at the Edinburgh Fringe?

In 2023 I did my first hour-long show at the Pleasance Courtyard. 

 

What was the name of your previous show?

‘You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here’; which looked to unlock the doors to the psych ward. I’m now adapting the story for television after releasing a book by the same name. The book did fairly well was number 2 in the Sunday Times best-seller list and even got a glowing review in The Daily Mail. So I take back anything I ever said about those guys. 

 

How long has your current show been running for?

A few months as before the fringe I went on my first national book tour. ‘Maddening’ is a mix of stand-up, old and new stories plus an audience Q&A (probably people’s best chance to speak to an NHS psychiatrist without the 12 month waiting-list)

 

How is it combining psychiatry with stand-up comedy?

The good thing about being a comedian who is also a psychiatrist is that if anyone ever heckles me, now I know it’s just because they didn’t get enough attention as a child. Once someone shouted “you’re the worst comedian I’ve ever seen!”. And I just thought ‘but what’s this reallyabout?’ 

 

 

How have you found booking accommodation this year?

Luckily I’m living 2 minutes away from my venue – the Pleasance Courtyard, 5pm – with some nice comedians in University halls. The rooms even come with en suite (a sink). 

 

What three pieces of advice would you give to first-timers going to the Fringe?

Bring a waterproof, waterproof socks and waterproof dreams.

 

What are your plans after the Edinburgh Fringe is over?

Relaxing. By which I mean moving house.

 

 Photo credit Rebecca Need-Menear.

 

Buy show tickets https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/benji-waterhouse-maddening

 

Buy Benji’s book https://amzn.eu/d/7BUjwlt