Amy Gledhill gears up to host the Friday night show at Bristol Comedy Garden

Over the years, midsummer nights in Queen Square have become synonymous with the sound of laughter.

Bristol Comedy Garden returns once more in 2024, for five days and nights of mixed-bill comedy shows in the big top from June 12-16.

As ever, the lineups boast a stellar clutch of the most exciting comedians working in the UK today. This year’s names include Josh Widdicombe, Dara Ó Briain, Sara Pascoe, Stewart Lee, Harriet Kemsley, Josh Pugh, Dylan Moran, Shaparaki Khorsandi, and Bristol favourites Jayde Adams and John Robins.

Returning to the festival is the award-nominated comedian (and one half – with Chris Cantrill – of sketch duo The Delightful Sausage), Amy Gledhill.

What is funniest about you as a person, do you think?

“I’ve been told I have a funny face. SUCH a compliment if you’re doing something silly but actually quite rude when it’s just your normal, resting face. Babies, animals and one man on insta find it fascinating – like a magic eye puzzle.”

You always appear to be having a lovely time on stage. How would you characterise your comic persona – how close is it to your normal self?

“I genuinely love being on stage (gross) so my persona is very much a woman who is thrilled to be there! I don’t enjoy doing the style of comedy where the comic roasts an audience member and stay away from the meaner side of things – which is very much what I’m like off stage. A people pleasing coward.”

How does the process of making your solo standup differ from the work you and Chris make for The Delightful Sausage?

“It is a completely different process. My solo stuff is very confessional and all stems from real events. I barely have to write it to be honest- I just have to lead a s**t life. Ha! The Sausage is waay more fictional and absurd. Me and funny boy Chris Cantrill basically just try to make each other laugh by being grotty, daft and ridiculous. Topics often include things like yeast, pogs and pyramid schemes.”

Amy Gledhill at Bristol Comedy Garden – photo: Lloyd Winters

Can you run us through some of the ideas underpinning your current solo routines, and why you wanted to talk about them?

“My new show is going to be loosely based on Self Esteem (Not the singer, also she’s great.) and I’m looking at (hopefully relatable) situations in which our self esteem lets us down or takes a beating – leading us to do quite ridiculous things. I think sharing the odd, embarrassing stuff we do makes us all feel less bizarre which can only be a good thing. An example, I once quickly spat a bit of chewing gum into my hand before a man leant in for a kiss. I didn’t want to ruin the moment and ask him where his bin was. So I held that chewing gum in my fist throughout the sexy time and all the way through the night until the next morning. He saw it and said ‘What’s that?’ and for some reason I said, ‘Huh. I don’t know.’ He asked if it was my chewing gum and I said, puzzled, ‘It can’t be. Can it?’ Anyway, I never saw him again.”

How does the experience of performing in the Bristol Comedy Garden big top at Queen Square compare to your usual gigs?

“Well, for starters it feels a lot closer to being a rock star than performing at the Wigan Chuckle Hut. (Not real.) Being outdoors makes it feel like a real ‘event’ for acts and audiences alike. The atmosphere is always so great and honestly I think this might be the year I try a stage dive.”

Who are your favourite comics and top tips from the 2024 Bristol Comedy Garden bill?

“How do you even begin to choose?! It’s the best of the best. Not a dud in sight. (I feel very self-conscious saying that whilst being on the bill myself but as mentioned babies really do like my face.) Personal favs and people I enjoy watching over and over again: Jen Brister, Fern Brady, Dan Tiernan, Lou Sanders and the mighty Harry Hill. Basically, every line up is a banger and Bristol audiences are top tier so it has all the ingredients for a legendary festival. See you there!”

Photo: Lloyd Winters

Bristol Comedy Garden presented by heycar returns to Queen Square from June 12 to 16. For tickets and more information, visit www.bristolcomedygarden.co.uk.

Main photo: Lloyd Winters

Read next:

• Review: David O’Doherty & others, Bristol Comedy Garden 2023 – ‘The air was thick with laughter’
• Bristolians flock to buy tickets for the return of Bristol Comedy Garden
• Standup and viral comic star Josh Pugh to visit Bristol twice on tour