From performing in front of empty crowds to supporting Joe Lycett and Ricky Gervais, comedian Josh Pugh talks to us about stand-up, social media and soccer
Images: Danny Woodstock Photographer
The Birmingham Comedy Festival returns this month with another great line-up featuring both established names and rising stars from across the UK along with the very best from the West Midlands. And one of this year’s star attractions is local lad Josh Pugh who won the festival’s Breaking Talent Award back in 2015.
Josh is now one of the region’s most respected and lauded comedy acts, but when he won the Breaking Talent Award in 2015, he was just a year into his stand-up career. Josh was an office worker in Coventry at the time and described his comedy as ‘alternative but with a foot in reality’. He was part of a top line-up that included Jack Kirwan, who later made a name for himself as Gary Powndland, so the win was an incredible achievement that he remembers fondly.
“I was well chuffed to win on the night, it was a great gig and everyone had a good one. Comedy competitions are always a bit weird – it’s art not sport at the end of the day so all subjective. At least with the Breaking Talent Award you’re gigging with people you’re probably mates with so it’s all a bit nicer.”
COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
Josh went on to scoop English Comedian of the Year 2016, while his solo show Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh Chips And Beans, was nominated for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award 2022. He says: “Being nominated in Edinburgh was obviously great. I’ve had some really tough Edinburghs – losing loads of money and getting no reviews or industry interest. But I’m so glad of them now because they taught me how to put a show together, so when a bit of spotlight did come on me, I was ready. The nomination was just a bonus I didn’t expect at the end of a great month of shows.”
One of the best and most loved comedians of the social media age, Josh developed a large and devoted fanbase who gorge on his frequent viral hit videos, such as ‘Inventing the four cheese pizza’ and ‘P*** up in a brewery’. His profile really started to fly during lockdown. He recalls: “I made a video and put it on Twitter, and it actually did okay. Then I did another one maybe a week later and then another the week after that. They all did well. So, I made the decision to do one every week for a year to see how it went.”
Refreshingly, his huge social media success isn’t down to some cleverly crafted strategy. “I don’t know about algorithms or formatting or editing. I just have a funny idea and do it.” says Josh “I don’t go chasing trends or ever have an idea of what’s going to do well really. I film it on my phone and stick it out – it’s fun.”
MAINSTREAM SUCCESS
From social media stardom to mainstream success, Josh has now made numerous TV appearances include Live at the Apollo, QI, Hypothetical, Unforgivable, Rosie Jones’s Disability Comedy Extravaganza, and Channel 4’s Paralympic Games coverage in 2024, as well as sitcoms Sneakerhead and Parker. On tour he’s supported the likes of Ricky Gervais and fellow Midlands comic Joe Lycett.
Perhaps even more excitingly he’ll be back on TV soon with his own major Channel 4 sitcom, Stepping Up. The new six-part series delivers an original take on the modern family dynamic and is written by and stars Josh who plays… Josh, an over-enthusiastic stepdad bringing well-intentioned chaos to his new and previously harmonious family unit. On writing Stepping Up, Josh says: “I’m over the moon to be doing something that very few people get to do in their lives and make a sitcom. I live and grew up in a small town with step-parents on both sides, and I think it’s a huge untapped well of comedy. Lots of people in Britain are navigating the complexities of bringing up other people’s kids and I want to capture that in a really funny and authentic sitcom that is also hopefully financially lucrative.”
Josh was born in Nuneaton and brought up in Atherstone, where he still lives. He says: “I’ve lived in Atherstone all of my life and I love it here. I think Midlanders are great and it’s such a diverse place. The middle of the country is also a great place to live for a comedian as you do so much travelling and it makes all the journeys a bit easier. I think if I had started out in Devon, I’d have probably only done four gigs by now!”
ENGLAND CAPS
Off the comedy circuit, Josh is a passionate football fan who showed promising talent growing up before suffering difficulties with his vision and eventually being diagnosed as partially sighted. Reluctantly he gave up the game he loved so much before a friendship with John McDougall (the current captain of England Partially Sighted Men’s football team) proved massively important. He introduced Josh to partially sighted football and the passion was rekindled. He has since won more than 60 caps playing for England and even played in three World Championships. Josh often attributes his success on the comedy circuit to the determination, discipline and work ethic he learned from football.
Looking forward to his appearance at this month’s Comedy Festival, we asked Josh what audiences can expect “Erm, essentially I will be filler at the end of the night while the judges deliberate on who should win the competition, but they can expect it to be good quality filler,” he joked. “Birmingham Glee Club has always been one of my favourite gigs, I don’t know exactly what set I’ll be doing on the night really, but my sets are usually a mix of old things that work and new things I’m trying to make work.”