http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...2-2902,00.html Keeping a cool Ed
Siobhan Duck
April 11, 2007 12:00am
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Print Email ED BYRNE has a tragic secret. The Irish comedian says some of the best jokes ever written will never be told on stage.
Byrne says when he and his comedian friends get together for a few beers they come up with pure comedy gold, but can never agree on who will use the material. "That's the tragedy," he says. "When we get together we do try to out-funny each other and as we talk the joke gets more and more hilarious. But all these great jokes never see the light of day because none of us can agree on who should use it in their act."
Last year Byrne was voted the 99th funniest person alive in a Top 100 poll conducted by a British magazine. The ranking, like most things in Byrne's life, is good for a laugh.
He's has been on the stand-up circuit for more than 13 years, but despite gigs in such glamour zones as St Moritz, Byrne says the novelty of living out of a suitcase is wearing thin.
"I am about to turn 35; I'll be middle-aged because frankly I do not plan on living past 70," he says.
"When I started I was happy to pocket my toothbrush and see what happened from day to day. I was happy to travel because I was single and living in a dirty flat, so it was all a bit of a holiday."
Byrne was born the middle child in a funny family and always sought the spotlight.
"I'd speak along with Billy Connolly on Not the Nine O'Clock News or sing into my tennis racquet to Iron Maiden," he says. "It's incredibly lucky that I have no musical ability because my first choice was to be a rock star."
ED BYRNE: Where: Capitol Theatre, Swanston St, city, until Sunday.
Tickets: from $27.
Bookings: 1300 136 166 or
www.ticketmaster.com.au