EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- A Woman's Wit

Tell us a bit about A Woman's Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls.

It's about women. Smart, funny, flawed and literally floored - those banana-skin moments where life rips the rug away. The times that make us human and make us laugh.

The show is based on the 4 women from my books - an alcoholic with a warped taste in men, a girl burdened by guilt and a woman in a man's world itching to find the perfect response to the question: 'I haven't had you, have I?' And me, an ad girl in the 80' (think Mad Men meets Bridget Jones) juggling work with single parenthood in the 90's. I dropped a lot of balls.

I also worked with a lot of celebrities including TV's first talking cat and The Milk Tray Man. Less charming was the murderer I met who was as fascinating as he was frightening. Glad to be alive and inspired by the workings of a criminal mind, I wrote 'The Killing of Mummy's Boy' which was shortlisted for the Winston Fletcher Fiction Prize 2016.

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

Why not? I am 57 it's now or never. I have performed the show from London to the Isle of Wight, Edinburgh is the icing on the Kendall Mint Cake.

How has the show been received so far?

'A bloody good laugh' has to be my favourite with 'Severely interesting and inspirational' a close second. Great to know 'Everyone left with a smile on their face.' Happy Days.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

My flaws. My mess. My life is unique. Who else meets a murderer on a train and loudly announces their address down the phone? Who else passed up the opportunity to have the ride of their life with one of TV's hottest men? Who else worked with the Milky Bar Kid and hates white chocolate? We're all human. The show gives us the opportunity to laugh at our mistakes. So much of our society is about seeking perfection. It doesn't exist. I love performance that focuses on the flaws. It makes me feel better about my own.

Who would you recommend comes to see it?

Women! Especially the ones who ever thought they were Gypsy Rose Lee and belted out 'Gotta Get a Gimmick' before an apoplectic nun pointed out it was a convent not a school for strippers.

And the women, like me, who get it wrong, try to do better and still cods it up. I've got mates who say the only reason they hang out with me is because I make them feel better about their own lives.

Timings and ticket information for A Woman's Wit, Wisdom and Pratfalls are available on the edfringe website.

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