Comedy

Why did you decide to move to the States?
‘Last year I did a show over there called “Last Comic Standing”, which is like “American Idol” but for professional comedians. They got me a two-year work visa and I thought: Hey, I’m off. Every comic wants to make it in America – if they tell you otherwise, they’re lying.

‘The media in Britain have got this very tokenistic, sort of nightclub one-out-one-in policy. There are always white comedians coming through but when it comes to black comics all we’ve had is Lenny Henry for 30 years.

‘There just aren’t the jobs there should be. We’re all fighting for that one TV show, and as soon as someone gets it the rest of us are fucked. Jocelyn Gee has got her own show now, so I know I’m never going to get one because they’ve filled their black female quota.

‘So I said to myself: I’m 34, I can’t be sitting round waiting for that one shot. I sold my house and everything I owned and headed over there with just two suitcases to my name. I’m living the dream in a council flat in the sun. There are a lot more opportunities in America. England is going to be losing a lot of black talent unless the powers that be stop pigeonholing us.’
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Have you had to change your set for an American audience?
‘I’ve had to change various little words like “petrol” to “gas”. I’ve also had to slow down my speech and have to enunciate clearly so they can understand me. I guess I’ve had to become posher.’

What’s the difference between your old life here and your new life in LA?
‘In Woodford I had a four-bedroom house and a Mercedes. In LA I have a one-bedroom flat and a Toyota. But I’m happier. I’ve stripped down to the bare essentials. LA isn’t all Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton. I’m living a normal life, mixing with normal people. I’m doing what I love, but in the sunshine.’

What would success in the States look like?
‘A mansion, a pool and an Aston Martin in the drive. That’s the material side of it. Careerwise, I’m not interested in movies. In LA everyone wants to be an actor. I don’t. I just want to be the biggest and best stand-up. I would love Jay Leno’s career. I’d love to have my own talk show, where I get paid millions of pounds to chat to celebrities.’

When you landed there, what did it feel like?
‘Liberating, exhilarating. I needed something to kick me up the arse and get me salivating about comedy again. So I thought I’d take a big risk and go somewhere where nobody knows me. I’m starting from scratch again, going to comedy clubs asking for ten-minute slots. It’s a challenge; I love a challenge.’

Are comics funnier over here or over there?
‘I think British comedians kick LA comedians’ arses. We are ten times better. Most of them are cheesy and hacky. It’s a bit different in New York, but in LA it’s clogged up with actors pretending to be comedians. The majority of them are really terrible. English comics are sharper, with much better material.’

What have you missed about London?
‘Chocolate. The chocolate in America is shit. I also miss doing an hour-long show in front of an audience who knows me. In LA everyone’s set is seven to ten minutes, which is frustrating because I’ve got hours of material. That’s why I’m excited to be back doing this tour.’

What’s your new show, ‘Skinny Bitch’, about?
‘As well as loads of other stuff, I talk about how I lost four stones in ten months by trying things like detoxing and colonic irrigation. I’m now a healthy size 12. If I lost any more weight I’d look like I had I weirdly big head. My whole life’s turned around. I feel like a new person. It’s like I’ve been reborn. I’m starting again with all that experience and weight behind me.’

Gina Yashere performs ‘Skinny Bitch’ at the Bloomsbury Theatre on May 31.