Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges on his path to stardom ahead of Hong Kong return

Following in the footsteps of fellow Glaswegian comedian Billy Connolly, Bridges has won fans around the world with his infectious brand of no-nonsense stand-up comedy that he will soon bring to Kitec

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Comedian Kevin Bridges will perform in Hong Kong in early October at Kitec.

Published: 8:00am, 29 Sep 2017Updated: 9:54am, 29 Sep 2017

When Scottish stand-up sensation Kevin Bridges takes the stage at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre in early October, it’s safe to say that his reception will be rather more rapturous than at his Hong Kong debut in 2008.

Bridges began his comedy career at the age of 17 after reading comedian Frank Skinner’s autobiography.

Back then, Bridges was an unknown 21-year-old making his name on the UK circuit and appeared as part of a Comedy Store showcase. This time around, however, Bridges is a bona fide superstar of British comedy, arriving as part of a mini Asia-Pacific tour that sees him play a string of solo shows in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore and Dubai.

When we speak on the phone, Bridges is midway through the Australian leg of his tour. He’s in Sydney, where he will play two shows at the city’s Opera House. Surely a venue for any performer to tick off the list, I suggest.

“It was never on the list,” he says with a laugh. “I never thought I’d get to play the Sydney Opera House, so it was a good moment. It’s pretty surreal.”

Surreal or not, playing to big crowds has long since ceased to be a novelty for Bridges. After making his British national TV breakthrough on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow in 2009, he went on to perform his solo show the following year to a hometown audience of 10,000 in Glasgow’s SEC Centre at the age of just 23. Two years later, he sold-out a 10-night run at the same venue as part of his 136-date tour.