Alfie Packham is back at the Fringe with new show ‘My Apologies To The Chef’, which – I’m told – is an hour of stand-up about “belonging, artists, nerds, retail workers, fruit farmers, friends, family and enemies”. But, you should note, not chefs.

He’s also a journalist and comedy writer, host of the regular South London comedy night Comedy Bandits, and he previously created a podcast called ‘Gun And Wand: The Official Companion Podcast’, all about a TV show that doesn’t actually exist.

I was keen to talk to Alfie about his Edinburgh show and all that other stuff too.

CC: What can we expect from ‘My Apologies To The Chef’?
AP: It’s a stand-up show with many jokes that are both personal and stupid. It’s a loose sequel to my first show, but you don’t have to have seen that to enjoy it.

CC: I know the show isn’t about chefs. Is that what you’re apologising for?
AP: No… when I registered the show with the Fringe last year, I thought it was a fun-sounding title and it’s too late to change it now.

CC: It’s your second Fringe show – how did it go last time?
AP: Plenty of people came last year and they seemed to enjoy it. Same again, please!

CC: What do you plan to do differently this time?
AP: The first one was more of a loose story, whereas this one is more theme-based. It’s broadly about friends, enemies, family, loneliness and which of these I prefer.

CC: What do you plan to do while you’re in Edinburgh when you’re not performing?
AP: I’m going to make curries. I’m bringing several packets of spice blends.

CC: When and why did you begin a career in stand-up?
AP: I started doing it regularly in 2019. Stand-up and writing novels always appealed to me growing up, but I don’t feel like writing a novel at the moment. So here we are.

CC: You’re do work as a writer as well though, writing for both newspapers and radio comedy shows. How does writing compare to performing?
AP: I like writing, but it’s less high stakes than stand-up. Instant public humiliation is always a possibility, so that adds some spice. And as I say, I like curry.

CC: How did you come to be the host of Comedy Bandits?
AP: My girlfriend founded the comedy night, so it’s another showbiz nepotism story. She is Caroline McEvoy and she’s doing her own storytelling/stand-up show at Fringe called ‘Train Man’, which I recommend.

CC: You made a podcast all about a TV show that didn’t exist. Is there anything else that doesn’t exist that you’d like to make a podcast about?
AP: Maybe some kind of fictional wildlife could be fun? Like ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’, but factually wrong. Is that anything?

CC: What are your post-Fringe plans?
AP: To film some of my stand-up for the first time – and to make more horrible little videos with my sketch partner Sam Eley.

Alfie Packham performed ‘My Apologies To The Chef’ at Underbelly Bristo Square at Edinburgh Festival 2025.

LINKS: alfiepackham.com | instagram.com/alfiepackham

Photo: Rebecca Need-Menear