Following a sold-out tour and international success, comedian Ian Stone is back – and he’s searching for life’s missing magic with his new show: Looking for the Wow. A hugely experienced broadcaster, podcaster and writer and a brilliantly funny comedian, he performs at major comedy festivals and venues globally. His popular posts and reels on social media have quickly earned him a following of over 60k, and in 2023 he won the prestigious Spirit of the Fringe Award.

Q: The title of your new show, Looking for the Wow, suggests a quest for something extraordinary in the everyday. What inspired this theme?

A: For me, life is about having as much fun as possible and cramming in as many wow moments as I can before the inevitable slide into decay and death. That’s what the show’s about. Although I won’t linger on the decay and death bit.

Q: What’s the most “wow” moment you’ve had on stage?

A: Being heckled by my own father at the Comedy Store. He stood up (really) and started clapping when I mentioned his grandchildren.
I said “that’s my Dad” and everyone laughed. And I had to say “no, no, that really is my Dad”.
And then I turned to him and said “well you’ve met your grandchildren and I know you love them”.
And he said “more than I love you”. And I said “now sit down and shut up, Dad”.

Q: And the least “wow” moment?

A: Too many to mention but standing on a stage made of pallets and doing a corporate show in a DIY warehouse was definitely not Wow.

Q: From stand-up to podcasting to radio — how do you adapt your comedy for different platforms?

A: In the end, adaptability is the key to any creative job. The Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta only really buys players for Arsenal if they can play in a number of positions. And throughout my career, I’d like to think I’ve shown the sort of adaptability that Mikel might find attractive.

Q: You won the Spirit of the Fringe Award last year — what did that recognition mean to you?

A: Obviously, when you don’t win awards, you say that they mean very little and you’re just happy to be part of the artistic community. My attitude slightly changed once I got a Spirit of the Fringe Award. I now think that my whole life has been leading towards that moment and I’m delighted and humbled to be worthy of this great honour.

Q: With over 60k followers and millions of views on social media, how do you feel about the digital side of comedy today?

A: My missus describes me as someone who likes sharing and social media gives me the chance to share. If I didn’t have social media I’d just go back to talking to strangers on public transport.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell your younger self before your first stand-up gig?

A: You won’t be shit forever.

Tickets for Ian Stone’s national tour are on sale now:
👉 https://www.ianstonecomedian.co.uk/