I was always a funny kid, hence the practical jokes, and schoolmates would even say that they thought I would end up being a comedian. When I started to perform magic I put humour into it, and as the years went on comedy kinda took over, to the point of it being completely comedy based show. Nowadays, I'm pleased to say I'm back to doing both, among other things.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I remember wanting to be a magician, from a very early age. One of my earliest memories is of opening my empty hand, one finger at a time and saying "Look mum, this is what magicians do". Yep, I had all the moves, and I must have only been 4 years old.
At 8 I got into practical jokes, fake dog poo, stink bombs etc. That also sold magic tricks at the joke shop, which fuelled my love. Then in high school, my maths teacher Mr Penifold would show the class magic, if we worked hard enough in the first part of the lesson.
Finally, when I left school, I was working as the second chef at a local hotel, when they opened a children's fun emporium called Magic City, right across the road. One part of Magic City was a little theatre, where I would watch the magicians perform, on my break.
After a while, I asked the manager if I could be one of the magicians who came to do the shows there. He knew that I had zero experience as a magician, but he needed an ice cream seller, and so offered me that job and said if I took the position, he would also give me stage time. I ended up being a resident magician there, for the first couple of years of my career.
2. How and when did you choose comedy as a career?
I was always a funny kid, hence the practical jokes, and schoolmates would even say that they thought I would end up being a comedian. When I started to perform magic I put humour into it, and as the years went on comedy kinda took over, to the point of it being completely comedy based show. Nowadays, I'm pleased to say I'm back to doing both, among other things.
3. What type of content do you enjoy producing the most and is the most challenging?
This has got to be the artistic pieces that I have created for the show. I have an ultra violet sand art routine, where I move the sand to make a story to music, and a painting with light piece, using UV torches to paint an emotional musical story of a soldiers homecoming, on a glow in the dark canvas. These are the most challenging, but such a joy to put together.
4. Do you prefer digital as a medium or do you enjoy doing live gigs more and why?
I absolutely prefer live gigs. There is nothing like the feeling of making a room of people laugh. I also really enjoy the ad lib parts of the show, the bits that aren't planned. Those bits can really make a show.
5. What are your other hobbies and interests?
I've recently got into 360 degree photography aka Tiny Planet photos. I post one photograph each night at 8pm GMT to an Instagram page called @LilPhilsTinyPlanets If you don't know what a tiny planet photo is well, it's really hard to describe. I'm basically taking a photo of the whole environment I'm in, and showing it in one photo. Maybe just take a look at Lil Phils tiny planet page on insta.
6. Tell us about your experience of being the first comedian to perform on the front line of Afghanistan.
It was such an honour to be chosen, along with Tom Stade, to be the first comedians to perform on the front line. I'd performed at the large bases out there a good few times before, but never a forward operating base. We had to attend a 10 day hostile environment training, before we went, which was an interesting and exciting time.
This includes learning first aid skills, what to do when under fire, and also a mock kidnapping of the trainees. Of course, we didn't know that it wasn't real, at the time.
7. What impact do you want to make in this world?
I'd love it if people would think of me, from time to time when I'm gone, and smile. That's all any of us can hope for.
8. How do you plan to take your career forward?
I'm currently planning my 2021 summer show, which starts in July, in September I will be joining the Paul Zerdin 'Hands Free' UK tour and in November I'll be heading to Pantoland. I also want to keep posting a 360 photo, every night, whatever I'm up to. Exciting times are ahead for sure.
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