“Content-wise, it’s veeery revealing”

After sell-out, critically acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and London, comic Lou Sanders heads out on her first national tour this spring, looking in at Bristol Improv Theatre on May 18 courtesy of the ace Chuckle Busters. And she brings with her… a spring in her step, presumably? No: “stabby stepmothers, alcohol issues and an unusual sexual encounter in LA”, it says here.

“Shame Pig is all about shame. Sanders has met some pigs – and been a mucky little pig herself – and now she’s rolling around in her own filth for your delight.”

As seen and heard on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Hypothetical, Comic Relief and Radio 4’s The Unbelievable Truth, here’s Lou to tell us more about shame, laughing at ourselves – and that photo shoot.

You’re probably a familiar face to TV audiences, but this is your debut national tour. How excited are you?
Yes, it will be nice to see what the regional babes are saying. Get out into the countryside, have a look at a museum in Doncaster – that kind of thing.

What should audiences expect from Shame Pig?
First and foremost, a comedy show.  That’s the main take-home, with a bit of luck.
Content-wise, it’s veeery revealing. I always try and have some message in my shows, as naff as that sounds. I just love giving people advice they haven’t asked for.

Lou Sanders and an obliging pig. Pics: Idil Sukan/Draw HQ

How difficult is it to laugh at your own shame? Does it help with your wellbeing?
Yes, I think everyone should. I mean once you’ve stopped wetting yourself when drunk, you must be able to laugh about it. But it’s good to stop doing it first, I would say.

You’re very forthcoming about shame. Is there anything you’re too ashamed to talk about on stage?
No, I don’t think so. But there’s stuff that I am thinking about how to word in my new show, because I don’t want to hurt anyone.

The poster for this show shows you posing with a pig. How did that come about?
I hired two pigs from a couple of nice ladies. One was sociable, the other not so much – but then a pig’s a pig, you know?
We couldn’t believe that neither pig had pooped in the studio with the amount we were feeding them. But then right at the end, as they were leaving, they pooped everywhere. A lovely parting gift from the piggies.  I don’t know if they discussed it beforehand, but it was beautifully choreographed.

Shame Pig won best show at the Comedian’s Choice Awards. What does it mean to receive the acclaim of your fellow comics?
It’s lovely – but there was no cash attached to the award, ha ha. No: it was very nice, thank you.

Before stand-up you had a variety of jobs. What was the worst?
Worst job was data inputting. Looking at a sheet of numbers and putting them in columns on a computer. All day, every day. No fun colleagues, no music, no headphones. Just me and Excel. Hideous.
And that’s why I think, ‘yes, let AI take over, get a robot to do that job, thank you’.

Lou Sanders performs Shame Pig at Bristol Improv Theatre on May 18. For more info and to book tickets, visit chucklebusters.com/events/lou-sanders-shame-pig

Read more: Bristol Comedy Garden announces 2019 lineup