By Jessica Roddy
We had a chat with comedian Garrett Millerick, who will perform ‘Just Trying To Help’ at the Hot Water Comedy Club, Liverpool on Friday 12th May 2023.
You’re bringing your new show ‘Just Trying to Help’ to Liverpool, do you enjoy playing in Liverpool? What do you like about a Liverpool audience?
I was raised in an Irish family and I find the Scouse sense of humour very familiar. There’s a real warmth to the place, crowds come in with a really good attitude. They let you know if you’re not up to snuff, but they come out wanting a good laugh. You can’t beat that.
Can you give us some insight behind the meaning behind the name of this tour: ‘Just Trying to Help’?
It’s a reference to a fight I once saw when I was stood at a cab rank. This massive bloke tried to break up two scrawny lads who were having a scrap. One of the little guys smacked the good Samaritan in the head and so the bloke changed tack and just beat seven bells out of the scrawny blokes. It was really funny. He then just looked to the heavens and shouted, ‘I was just trying to help!’ So it’s basically a reference to what happens when we are all doing our best – the unintended consequences of trying to do good.
What has inspired the material for this tour?
I was on Twitter one morning and watching people rip each other apart and it reminded me of that fight from years ago. Then I was looking at how angry everyone seems to be after the pandemic, so I started breaking down all the reasons we’re angry and frustrated at the world and trying to make jokes about it. Hopefully, if we can laugh at ourselves and our frustrations, we can move on a bit. So the show is about everyone letting off some steam and finding a bit of joy in these difficult times.
If you weren’t a comedian, what job would you do?
I am not qualified to do anything – it’s really by the grace of god that I can do this – so I honestly have no idea. Since I was a kid, I’ve only ever wanted to take the piss and have a laugh. I’m lucky there’s an outlet and I can do it as a job.
What would you say are the best and worst things about being a comedian?
Being on the road is tough. I’m away from my family, and that can take its toll on my relationships – it’s a big ask of the people I love for me to be away so much. But then I get to go out and tell jokes, which is amazing. I’m not one of these people that think comedy can change the world. That’s not what it’s for. It’s about us all being able to come into a room together and have a laugh, let off some steam and leave feeling better. Being able to be a core part of that experience for people is something that never gets old.
Who are some of your biggest comedic influences?
When I was about seven, we got a second telly and video in the house. I used to sneak out of bed and record Spitting Image, Harry Enfield, Rik and Ade, all sorts really. Then I’d watch them in secret, learn how to do all the voices, then go into school and do renditions in the playground. I got into a huge amount of trouble doing that, and my parents were always being called in because I was teaching the other kids rude words. That’s where this whole thing started. God bless Dad for getting that video recorder.
And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring comedians?
Don’t do this because you want to be famous – there are easier ways. Don’t do this as therapy – whatever is wrong with your mind, this will make it worse. Don’t do this because you want to change the world – if comedy could change anything, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Do it because you love jokes. Do it because you want to be around people who are having fun, and you want to be a part of that. You won’t be frustrated, and it’ll be the best job you ever had.
Garrett Millerick will perform ‘Just Trying To Help’ at the Hot Water Comedy Club, Liverpool on Friday 12th May 2023. To book tickets, visit www.hotwatercomedy.co.uk/garrett-millerick