An animation that became an Edinburgh hit propelled Joe Bor into a comedy career

Joe Bor did a variety of different jobs before becoming a stand-up comedian – yet one thing remained a constant in his life. “I’m just one of those people who attracts embarrassment. I have an embarrassing mum and an embarrassing dad and embarrassing things happen to me all the time. That’s the great thing about being a comedian, when something happens, I know I can use it for material,” says the 29-year-old who, since attending Acland Burghley school in Parliament Hill has worked for six years in comedy.

Bor now also uses his embarrassment to warm up the crowd for big television shows like Graham Norton and Loose Women as well as performing to his own audiences.

“Graham Norton’s show is considered one of the best to do,” says Bor. “It’s a good show and there’s also quite a lovely crowd, I find it really fun and it’s a great place to test my material. Now it’s a big show too – I get to meet some really famous people. Last night I met Cher.”

Though described by Bor as “a bit of a doss”, his previous career, as an animator, led directly to becoming a comedian.“I made a comedy animation and it was shown at the Edinburgh festival. It got laughs and I thought, ‘I can write funny.’

“I never thought I could be a stand-up comedian” says Bor, who now lives in Crouch End, where he also did his first comedy gig following the success of his animation.

“My first gig was at the King’s Head, one of the best comedy clubs in London. A lot of comedians think London is the best place for stand-up – because the crowds know what they want.”

Bor is now part of a comedy community that affords him the chance to see people who regularly test the funny bone of the London crowd. He cites Sean Walsh, Carl Donnelly, Jack Whitehall and Adam Bloom as some of his favourites.

For him, comedy seems to be, ironically, a vehicle to taking life more seriously, in spite of the embarrassing misgivings that often happen when he is around.

“When I watch comedy now, like most comedians, I am guilty of analysing a joke rather than laughing at it. It’s just part of the job.”