COMEDY REVIEW.

Byline: KEVIN BRIDGES; Jonathan Trew

WHEN Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow launched from a packed Edinburgh Playhouse earlier this month, Scots stand-up Kevin Bridges was the show's first guest.

At the relatively tender age of 22, Kevin could be forgiven for being a little nervous about performing for a prime-time TV audience of 5.2million, but he has had tougher gigs - the deadpan Clydebank comic played Shotts prison at the age of 18.

"You're not scared of 3500 people in the Playhouse when you've played to 10 murderers," he said.

It's early days for the comic's career, but many reckon he has what it takes to do a Frankie Boyle and become a households name.

While Kevin has gigged with the Mock The Week star, it was another Frankie that encouraged him in to stand-up.

He said: "I'd read Frank Skinner's autobiography and he wrote that he didn't want to spend his 50th birthday wondering what might have happened had he not tried stand-up comedy.

"He thought that aged 30. I was 17 when I first played at The Stand, so I gave myself more time to make an a*** of it. Fortunately, it went well for me from the beginning."

According to Kevin, he has never had any game plan for his comedy, but he has still been canny enough to make some wise decisions.

He said: "You need to turn down most of the TV work offered because you don't want to be known as the guy who was on the 100 Greatest Pedigree Chum Adverts show.

"You want to do something with a bit of prestige and the Michael McIntyre Comedy Roadshow was the first thing like that to come along."

Kevin plays The Stand, Glasgow, tonight and tomorrow, Tel: [phone], Jongleurs Glasgow, Fri 19/Sat 20, Tel: [phone], Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, Thu 25, Tel: [phone]. Kevin's Fringe show, An Hour To Sing For Your Soul, is at the Pleasance, Aug 9-31 (not 17) Tel: [phone].

Jonathan Trew