Maisie Adam moved from Yorkshire to Brighton in the hope of boosting her comedy career. Ahead of her second full stand-up hour at the Edinburgh Fringe she speaks to Jamie Walker about how she has found her time by the sea and what her new show Hang Fire has in store.

Hi Maisie, how much are you looking forward to returning to Edinburgh Fringe?

I can’t wait. I absolutely loved my first one last year and honestly I can’t wait to be back.

Yes it’s intense, but it’s also the biggest arts festival in the world so I just feel super lucky to be able to go there for a month and do what I love – and all as a job.

This is your second full stand-up hour, has it been more or less difficult to write than the first?

It’s definitely been more difficult. With the first show, I didn’t feel much pressure as apart from winning So You Think You’re Funny the year before, there weren’t a lot of expectations as no one knew who I was.

Now, I’ve felt a little bit of “difficult second album syndrome” as I know there might be people who came and saw me last year coming back to see what I’ve done this time.

I’ve also been lucky enough to get some TV things this past year so I know there might be audiences from those who come.

With my first show, it was all about me and my personal experiences, and obviously I know exactly where I stand on that.

This new show tackles a bigger subject and that’s been a challenge – a good challenge, but certainly a challenge.

You were nominated for the best newcomer award at last year’s festival, how much of an honour was that?

It sounds cheesy to say, but it really was just such a special moment.

I went into my debut year with no expectations but to just hopefully enjoy it.

The last preview I did was to three people so honestly I just wanted bums on seats.

To then sell out every day was just amazing, then the nice reviews came in which was a real relief, then I won Amused Moose and that’s when I thought “this is the best month ever” so then when the nominations came out for the newcomer award in the last week, that really was the cherry on the cake.

It was already an incredible month, but that felt really special.

I saw all of the other shows I was nominated with and loved them all, so it was a true honour to be alongside them.

Does that put any added pressure on you to deliver again this year?

Yes definitely. As I said, last year I had no idea what to expect from Edinburgh so everything just felt like a bonus, whereas this year I’m more conscious of those “benchmarks” but I’m trying not to think about them.

The most important thing is that I make a show that I’m proud of and that people will enjoy.

The rest is all just an extra.

Has your comedy style changed at all in the last 12 months?

I’ve stopped waffling. I look back at clips from gigs I did before last year’s Edinburgh and I don’t half bang on.

At last year’s fringe I gigged at least once every night, sometimes three or four gigs, as well as my show every day.

And when you’re on a line-up that has a super strict running time night after night, you become a much better comic and learn to stop waffling and get to the jokes a lot quicker.

Some gigs I did started at 1am and were full of drunk people. You can’t go on to that and start waffling on about your hometown, you just have to get to the funny bits dead quick or they’ll have you for dinner.

What can people expect from Hang Fire?

Firstly, one massive reveal. This show has a twist in it and I’m proud of the way I’ve written it so that when it’s revealed, it’s a big moment.

You can also expect tales of mistakes, how to learn from them, how not to learn from them, and hopefully come out of it with a bit more understanding for human error.

God that sounds very hippy doesn’t it?

You’re not from Brighton, so for those who don’t know you what drew you here and how have you found your time in the city so far?

No, I’m a Yorkshire girl born and bred.

But I moved to Brighton at the end of 2017 and I’ve absolutely loved it, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

I moved because after So You Think You’re Funny, I was getting booked for a lot of gigs that were down South or in London and as great as my London mates are, there’s only so many times you can crash on their sofas.

But I hated the idea of moving to London.

With Brighton, I’m close to all these gigs but I’m able to get out of the capital afterwards and head home.

There’s also a great comedy community here in Brighton, which I struggled to find when I lived in my village up north.

It’s just a great city, I moved here knowing no one, and now I’ve got friends through not only the comedy circuit but football and the local pubs.

After my first gig here in Brighton (I’d been here three days) two girls came up to me and said “have you really just moved here?” and they invited me for drinks.

We’ve met up loads since, and I even spent my first birthday in Brighton with them at the White Rabbit.

Why should people come and see your show?

Because it’s funny AND shocking.

And I think we need to be a bit more understanding with people these days, and let them learn from their mistakes rather than brand them a bad person permanently.

God I really do sound like a Ted Talk speaker now.

And if you could recommend any other show to people going to Edinburgh that isn’t yours, who would it be and why?

Rosie Jones is a great comic and I can’t wait to see her new show. Suzi Ruffell is also always brilliant.

But stand-up comedy aside, I’m really looking forward to seeing Rosa Hesmondhalgh’s Madame Ovary.

For more information about Maisie Adams Edinburgh Fringe preview shows visit the Brighton Komedia and Caroline of Brunswick websites. Maisie plays the Gilded Balloon at Edinburgh Fringe from July 31 to August 26. For tickets visit www.tickets.edfringe.com.