Stand-up comedian and satirist Andy Zaltzman has charted a unique path through the world of comedy, from a hesitant start to becoming a fixture on shows like BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz. In a revealing interview, he reflects on his career's accidental beginnings, his ancient comedic influences, and the live experiences that have shaped him.
An Accidental Start and a Nightmare Gig
Zaltzman's entry into stand-up was far from premeditated. After a brief and unsuccessful foray at university and the Edinburgh Festival, he abandoned comedy for a desk job in business publishing. His return hinged on a single open mic night at London's Comedy Cafe, hosted by Daniel Kitson. Had that 1999 gig gone poorly, he admits he likely would never have tried again. Fortunately, it provided enough encouragement to pursue comedy as a profession.
Not all stages have been so welcoming. He recalls a particularly brutal headline slot in Killarney, Ireland, around 2002. Replacing a popular local act in a hotel nightclub, he faced an audience split between disappointed comedy fans and impatient revellers waiting for the disco. The reaction was a mix of silence, hostility, and pity, an experience so grim his pre-show ritual is now simply to be thankful he's not back there.
Comedy Heroes and Ancient Inspiration
While wary of the term 'hero', Zaltzman credits Chris Morris's The Day Today and Brass Eye for their satirical ambition. Seeing Robert Newman at the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe inspired him to incorporate more political material. His most profound influence, however, is millennia old. While studying at university, he immersed himself in the works of the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes.
He describes Aristophanes' style as "total comedy", a blend of political satire, literary parody, slapstick, puns, and crude humour. Zaltzman expresses a wish to dine with the playwright, though notes the practical need for an interpreter given the 2,400-year gap.
Memorable Moments and The State of Satire
Among his favourite performances were two shows at Naveed's Comedy Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2011. While covering the Cricket World Cup, he performed in a tiny basement venue modelled on a New York club, an experience he found strange and inspiring. Heckles have ranged from an audience member in Leeds who actively decided to go to sleep mid-set, to cricket fans during afternoon Fringe shows shouting the latest Test match scores at him.
His latest show, The Zaltgeist, which tours from 13 February, is inspired by the increasing difficulty of comprehending modern world politics. He finds satire in 2025 to be simultaneously harder, easier, stranger, more exhausting, repetitive, and cathartic. Following the tour, he will return for a new series of The News Quiz, all while hoping for an historic English cricket victory in the Ashes.
