Jordan Gray, writer, musician and comic burst into the headlines after playing the piano and singing ‘Better than You’ on Friday Night Live about the experience of being a trans woman.
Jordan is also the creator of Transaction – a six-part series on ITV about a trans woman working in a supermarket.
This year’s Fringe show comes three years after her hugely successful debut Is it a Bird?
Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
Do what you like, I’m not your Mum. I will say I’m leaving it all on the stage this time around. I took a difficult subject (death threats) and found the funny. I’m proud of it – I’m gonna push it as far as it will go and David Tennant said he liked it.
It’s a show about living up to suddenly being in the public eye – with the audacity to own boobs AND a penis. The title “Is That A C*ck In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Here To Kill Me?” speaks to the fact that I’ve had more people threaten to shoot me for being naked on TV than I’d expected from life. It’s also an attempt to live up to the last show’s title (“Is It A Bird?” – now available to stream on Ch4).
What is your favourite thing about your show?
Honestly, playing the guitar. I was a pop singer for 10 years, on the piano, and I was always jealous of rockstars striding about like they do. Plus I just spent a year writing an ITV sitcom – which means a lot of fingers entering your brain-pie. My favourite thing about standup is that it’s all me – my brain – my pain – without sanding off the sharp edges. And it’s nice to be up on stage singing my heart out again.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
I’m gonna say Natalie Palamides. Because she is a pure pure clown and I’m so jealous of clowns. I always take the chance to see her when I can.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
‘I. Need. Love’. Because isn’t that all of us? I play a high status version of myself, striding about like I’m the best thing ever – because inside I’m constantly questioning if I’m good enough. And I don’t think I ever will be – so I just have to KEEP GETTING BETTER until someone says I’m done.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
Natalie, Josh Glanc, the seagull that stole my ice-cream last year, and everything that Berk’s Nest is bring up.
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
I just want to live up the hype of my last show. Edinburgh 2022 changed my life forever, and the knock on effect is that is that I’m a ‘TV comic’ now. I’m gonna do everything I can to live up to all that – and do something new with it.
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
Low iron. I’m not joking. I’m super anaemic (a LOT of us are at the mo) and Edinburgh is STEEP! Eat a bag of spinach and suck a lemon.
But in comedy terms, I suppose imposter syndrome?
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
I’d love people leaving feeling nourished by an interesting story. And surprised by how much they just laughed at a show about death threats.
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
No idea. Please tell me how to do that. I will pay good money to person who can bring me that information. I will miss my Minecraft, I know that. Sex, maybe? That’s always a good laugh.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
Wake up, after a 10hour sleep (having crushed my show the night before), have a vegan sausage sandwich with BBQ sauce, go see a cool person’s show, eat some spinach, suck a lemon, have some sex, crush my show even harder than last night, and walk home in the early hours staring up at the castle – feeling like I’ve finally done it.
Jordan Gray: Is That A C*ck In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Here To K!ll Me? 21:05 Assembly George Square Gardens – Piccolo Tent
Tickets:
