Liverpool comedian Paul Smith's 'weird' admission as he shares Grand National streak

Paul Smith heaped praise on Liverpool as he shared what makes the Grand National meeting so special.

The comedian was in attendance at Aintree racecourse yesterday for the iconic steeplechase and told the ECHO about his reversal of fortunes as as he enjoyed a lucky day in L9. He said: "I've had some winners. It's the first time I've won a horse race, I'm not going to lie I'm on a weird streak so I'm doing ok and I'm up."

The 41-year-old joked he was putting on a succession of £1 each way bets and spoke about the unique atmosphere created at the Grand National meeting. He added: "It's mad because it's the biggest race in the world but when you think you think about Liverpool, you don't immediately think of Aintree races.

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"But when it comes round to races weekend, it's incredible isn't it? Everybody's lovely and having a boss time."

Paul shot to stardom as a resident comedian at the Hot Water Comedy Club and has gone to become one of the biggest comics in the UK. He will soon embark on his new tour, Pablo, which is playing at arenas across the country and Paul praised the support he has received from the people of Liverpool throughout his rise to the top.

He said: "Liverpool is the best city in the world. If the people get behind you, then they get behind you. It's such a supportive place and it's not just with me. We've got so much going on at the minute and it's the best place on earth. I'll never leave."

Liverpool has become a hub for UK comedy with one of the biggest clubs in the world. Blackstock Market, opening its doors earlier this month and some of the most successful podcasts being recorded in the region. Paul said the comics that make up Liverpool's thriving scene have helped establish the region as such a hotbed for great comedy.

He said: "A rising tide raises all ships. When I started 18 years ago there was nothing here and, due to Hot Water Comedy Club, we've all pushed eachother and been supportive of eachother.

"You can't be bad and we've all had to raise our game because I don't want to be worse than Adam Rowe and he doesn't want to be worse than me so it's been a good thing for all of us and made us all better. Liverpool comedy is really strong at the minute and we all should be very proud of that."

Paul was one of the first comics to successfully utilise the power of social media as his hilarious interactions with the crowd regularly go viral and brought his comedy to a wider audience. The comic was able to hone his skills in the early days at Hot Water Comedy Club and said being natural on stage is the key to to his craft.

He said: "When I talk to people, I really care about what they say to me. I've got an ability to be interested in people and what they say to me, bounce off that and be comfortable with it. There's no massive skill to it.

"I had Hot Water and I knew I wasn't going to get sacked so I had the ability to just mess about a bit. I had a bit of freedom there and I'm really glad that happened because I was always terrified of crowd work and I love doing it."

Although his comedy has brought him great success, Paul said he is different off the stage as he added: "People get really disappointed because I'm not that funny in real life. If you come and sit with me, I'm not the funniest one on at the table.

"I'm just weirdly comfortable on a stage in front of 9,000 people, I don't know what it is." The comic's career is going from strength to strength as he is aiming to take his new tour overseas.

However, he joked some of the audiences across the world may need time to get used to his accent at a live show as he said: "I took the kids to Disney World in December and I got recognised by an Orange County sheriff who was really happy to see me until he spoke to me and was just looking at me.

"He'd clearly been watching Instagram and TikTok videos with subtitles on and he could not understand what I was saying so I've got that barrier to overcome." He added: "[I'm] bringing Scouse comedy to the rest of the world and seeing if they can understand me without subtitles."

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