James Campbell Q&A

So, what subjects can we expect in your show this year? Any chat about couscous, scooters or Scottish country dancing?

I don't know yet. I've developed a tradition whereby I write the show on the way up. I always stay at my friends' house in York the night before and then I think about the show between York and Jedburgh. There's a cafe next to a carpark in Jedburgh where I always stop and write some notes down. And that'll be the backbone of the show. 

What’s the best heckle you’ve had from a kid?

I don't really get heckled. Or maybe I do but I'm not listening. In any case, kids usually put their hands up first so I get to choose.

What did you want to be when you were little?

I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was seven. I loved the way that stories took me to other worlds in my head. Now, a normal child would just read more books but I said to myself, "I need to control this. I'll write my own stories." And since then I've been writing. I'd never heard of comedians when I was little but I did like Les Dawson's opening monologues on Blankety Blank. I only became a comedian by accident much later on. I don't think it's something that should be aimed for. I see myself as a writer first, comedian second.

We hear you're writing your own series of children's books; what are your favourite children’s books? 

I love Michael Morpurgo, I'd like Anthony Horowitz to be my Dad and I've got a bit of a crush on Cressida Cowell. ‘Boyface’ is my own series of children’s books. It's about a family of Stripemongers who buy and sell stripes using an incredible Machine. Mainly they import cheap zebras, take the stripes off them and then sell them as ponies to shouty children with too many teeth. The first one comes out next year but in the mean time you can follow him on twitter: @Stripemonger

This year all kids shows will be reviewed by Fest Force; our ten-strong kid’s review panel. If you were a superhero who would you be?

I am a superhero. My name is James and my super power is making families laugh at the same things together.