Top comedy talent doesn’t need to blow his own trumpet

Charlie Brooker’s resident poet, comedy award winner, performer of a one-man West End show, Radio Four writer and performer: even with his extensive and growing CV, Tim Key has kept things pretty low key – he is not a household name. It is not that he isn’t ambitious, just that Key is the sort of person happy touring his small show and winning fans with his surreal, funny poetry.

In 2009 when he won the Edinburgh Comedy Award – formerly known as the Perrier, previously won by Lee Evans and Frank Skinner – it could have been a fast-track to comedy superstardom. With the advent of the McIntyre Comedy Roadshow, why is Key not following the path of appearing on it and then cashing in on a big theatre tour around the country? “I’ve not been asked,” says Key, before spending large parts of the interview making very clear that he has absolutely nothing against the Roadshow, and it’s not as though he’s desperate to get on it, but at the same time he admires the show and what it has done for comedians and comedy. “I’m just really happy to be doing what I’m doing,” he says, although he has difficulty in describing exactly what he is doing in the show he’s currently touring.

“It’s bits and pieces of my poetry, there’s some stuff that I’d describe as being in between stand-up and poetry, some physical stuff, a bit of film – oh, and me drinking lager,” says Key.

Don’t be fooled. While Key’s persona is shambolic, the show, in Yorkshire next week, is pin sharp and the reason why he won the Edinburgh Comedy award. He might not blow his own trumpet, but as one of comedy’s hot talents, he doesn’t really need to.

Tim Key, Leeds Carriageworks, March 1, Sheffield Studio, March 3.