How did you get into comedy?
It was messing around at school really that got me started. I got a real buzz for comedy. I started on the stand up circuit at 19 and developed a Latin American pop star character. Then I did the cabaret circuit and then I did the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004. It all just kind of snowballed.

You were recently on BBC3's Upstaged with your "Bristol Terry the odd job man" character. What was that like then?
It was amazing. I got to think on my feet and test the comedy part of my brain. I was in character for the whole four days and it was a proper cut-throat experience. The execs seemed to like too and I'm doing a pilot with them, so fingers crossed.

A lot of your comedy is based on your travels. What's the funniest travelling experience you've had?
In India I suffered from a hallucinogenic jelly belly. I started seeing my past flash before me and creatures chasing me. I woke up at 3am screaming. It was really weird, but then I'd been hanging out with some strange people, convicts, people on the run, you know... the usual.

Rumour has it you're some kind of unashamed spiritual type.
I like doing yoga. It's a couple of guys surrounding by beautiful women bending into all sorts of positions – what's not to like. I've also done reiki. It was bizarre, I went to a guru who made me kneel down, give money and thank this tacky little photo on the windowsill. I put a lot of this in my act, mocking the pretentiousness of it all. I do it but I don't think I'm cool because I do it. I don't brag about how bendy my legs are.

You've done radio, theatre and stand-up. What's your favourite?
Definitely stand-up. It's immediate and you're thrown to the wolves. People either love or hate you. Mostly I do ok, although they didn't get me in Nottingham. They sat there with blank expressions expecting more than silliness.

What's the best way to get rid of pre-gig jitters?
A shot of ginger. Other than that I practise visualisation, I imagine that I'm making people laugh. And I pace. A lot.

You co-founded jamjuicers.com. What is it, how, when, why?
People loved the sketches we put on YouTube. When I put one up with me as the odd job man, people thought I was a real, actual odd job man and sent me offers of work. So me and some mates decided to bung all our stuff on our own site, and that's jamjuicers. Bigger than YouTube. Almost.

Being half-Iranian, do you feel any rivalry with your semi-countryman Omid Djalili?
Sadly not. He does his thing, I do mine. I met him years ago at a gig and I went back stage. I was like, "Wow you're Iranian, I'm Iranian... this is great." I guess it's a good thing for both of us, it gives us something to blather about on stage.

You're doing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, what can we expect from you? I'm doing Backpacker Two, so drawing on my travels. I did my first solo show at the Fringe last year so I like to think this one will be better. I'm also taking part in a sketch called Nude with two other new young comedians. It's about a life art class, with two nude models. I, however, will be wearing clothes. No nudity for me.

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