Even over a crackling, fragile phone connection, Paul Chowdhry exudes confidence. When I ask him if playing London's 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena was daunting, he simply says; "I'm a living legend."
Though Wembley is quite the crowd for any comic to hold, Chowdhry was more than up for the task. His 100-date Live Innit tour was a sell-out throughout the UK, receiving glowing reviews across the board and elevating his already-high profile. But Chowdhry's confidence is grounded in humility. "I was more impressed by the fact that it was on a Wednesday night and that many people turned up," he says.
For New Zealand audiences, Live Innit will provide an introduction to Chowdhry's searing political humour. "I think every comic has to talk about Trump," he says. "I talk about the state of political correctness in the current climate. I talk about Brexit. I talk about being mistaken for a suspected terrorist in the UK."
Chowdhry's previous show, PC's world, was named both for his initials and the aforementioned term, political correctness. His approach to the topic thankfully eschews the all-to-familiar cries of those who find their old ways challenged by new ways of thinking. Instead, Chowdhry – who has encountered far more than his fair share of horrendous online abuse – approaches it as a balancing act.
