When I was at The Stand in January and going over my set in my head and talking to the other comedians who were performing, I learnt something about me and them.

I got into a really good conversation with successful comedians Lee Kyle and Louise Young. We talked about a lot, including growing up in South Tyneside and how we all struggled in school, mainly for one reason. All three of us have ADHD. It’s what gives us that special magic for comedy.

The thing about our brains is that they are constantly active. Always firing away, and that can be annoying and unproductive, but it also helps me create my jokes. I can find the funny side of situations and sayings just by thinking about them and letting my brain overthink it.
When I’m on the stage, it comes in handy too. Interacting with the audience is a big part too. But when I’m in that zone, it is easier to say random things. It helps with improv too because I have no idea what my brain will make me say, and most times there’s no filter, so I don’t process what has left my mouth until after I say it.

That’s why we struggled in school too. We get bored very easily and need stimulation. I was into drama, so I used that to get by. College was fine because I studied just acting, which was what I liked and was very productive and performance-based. However, when I went to uni, it was the same stuff, which got boring, and I soon dropped out. Lee and Lousie told me they were the same. It really opened my eyes to how much we were alike.

We weren’t the only ones there with ADHD. Another up-and-comer comedian, Hollie Noble, was there, and she had just been diagnosed with ADHD and shared similar experiences with us.
A lot of great comedians have similar behaviour that leads me to believe they too might have ADHD.

I did share one thing with Louise. When she said that some of the stuff she says she thinks the audience will think she is insane, and I shared the same insecurity, she made me promise that I would continue despite the insecurity.