Published: Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 9:19am

Comedian defends hometown claim

by Julie Gilbert

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Kevin told audience he was from Glasgow — but Clydebank is where his heart is

A Clydebank comedian is scaling the heights of stardom - and he is so talented Bankies may even forgive him for claiming to be from Glasgow.

Kevin Bridges performed a side splitting set on Michael McIntyre"s Comedy Roadshow, which was aired on Saturday night on BBC1.

But when introducing himself, however, the Hardgate boy told the live crowd at the Edinburgh Playhouse that he was from Glasgow.

Kevin told the Post: 'I only had eight minutes and I just didn"t have time to explain that Clydebank is close to Glasgow but not in Glasgow.

'Plus I was born in Glasgow so in a way I am from there.'

The 22-year-old has done some TV work before on Sky TV channel Paramount Comedy Central but this is his first appearance on a major terrestrial station.

He said: 'Around five-million people watched the programme so it"s good exposure.

'It was actually recorded in April, but on Saturday night after it went out, I turned on my phone and there was just message after message from people who had seen it.'

Kevin"s style of comedy is to tell stories based on real experiences that he has had, such as standing at bus stops and encounters with tramps.

He says he always carries a notepad with him to write down anything that he could use in his set.

The funny man said: 'I just take real things that have happened and turn them into jokes, and then once I"ve told it a few times I start to add bits on.

'The story I told on Saturday night was based on something that happened when I was about fourteen.

'A guy was threatening me and asking for spare change, and then the whole idea came to me that it was only a quid he was asking for and that was quite a good deal for not getting stabbed - so the joke grew from there.

'And I just pick stuff up walking around Clydebank - like I noticed the other day there are three Greggs in the shopping centre - why do we need three Greggs?'

Kevin started his career at just 17 when he asked the organisers at Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow to let him do a set. Looking to the future, he is planning to continue with live stand-up and will also try and get some more TV work.

He added: 'There"s not a lot of work for comedians on TV apart from on panel shows.

'I used to write for Frankie Boyle on panel shows so I might get something there.'

Kevin"s performance on Michael McIntyre"s Comedy Roadshow is available on the BBC iplayer until Saturday.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer to watch it.