Ignacio Lopez Interview

When was it that you knew you wanted to go down the route of comedy?

Always, I think. Even when I was 6 years old I’d be trying to get my grandmothers to laugh. One was Spanish and the other was Welsh; they couldn’t understand each other but they’d have a good giggle at my antics, grabbing each other’s arms and tears would run down their faces, as I’d pretend to be different characters and act out silly stuff. When I got older, being funny was really important to me. Everyone’s got a different sense of humour, so if I could get someone to laugh it was like I’d learned their language. In my 20s a friend I worked with in a cinema insisted I give stand-up comedy a go and I’ve been doing it ever since. If I’d known you could make a living from making people laugh, I’d probably have gone on tour at 6 years old!

What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?

I love films; I went to film school, my mother ran one of the first video shops in the UK, and I met my partner working in a cinema. If I’m not on stage, cooking or eating, you’ll probably find me watching a film. When I remember I’m not a potato, and I shouldn’t live my whole life in the dark, I’ll play tennis or shoot baskets at the outdoor courts. At night, if I’m not gigging I’ll go to a rock bar.

We would love to hear about current/future projects?

My comedy album “Ignacio Lopez: EspañYOLO” was just released on most streaming platforms, spotify, apple music, amazon music, tidal, etc. It’s a show that was recorded in The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club in Manchester last year, and it’s basically me trying to convince British people that Spain is the greatest country in the world.

I’m heading out on tour with my latest show “Spain’s Best Export” which is a collection of some of my favourite material and a load of new jokes. I’m taking the show to some of my favourite venues in the UK and a bunch of places I’ve never been before. People can book tickets at comedylopez.com and follow me for all kinds of online comedy (sketches, one liners, video clips, twitter threads), my handle is @comedylopez on everything, because barely anyone can remember ‘Ignacio’ in the UK.

Who is your idol?

I grew up as a huge fan of Jack Dee, some of his jokes are still embedded in my memory, his whole routine about ‘Jif’ changing to ‘Cif’ still makes me laugh out loud just thinking about it. I’m more animated than Jack on stage (I’m not doing gymnastics or anything, but I’m not as deadpan), though my love of his comedy is in my DNA.