Ahead of the launch of her new comedy show 'Maeve Higgins Fancy Vittles', the former 'Naked Camera' presenter talks to RTÉ.ie.
Taragh Loughrey-Grant: Tell us about your new show 'Maeve Higgins Fancy Vittles'?
Maeve Higgins: It's a comedy show that looks like a cookery show. I wrote it and am the main person in it. In Cork that's called 'being up yourself'. My sister Lilly does most of the food in it - she is talented and clever, I'm sort of not great at anything. I can't type or count or drive or maintain my hair but I am funny. I think.
TLG: Are you really preparing food using your own genuine recipes or is it part of a comedy routine?
MH: We make real food but it's sort of from the 1970s. We both love garish, funny looking snacks and meals. I never want to have a wedding but, if for some reason I had to, I would have a pineapple upside down wedding cake.
TLG: How did you develop the idea to feature your sister in the show?
MH: Lilly and I did a live show where I did funnies and she did cakes in 2006. Since then we've been begged by television networks all over the world to allow them to capture us on tape. We finally relented but they had to accept us as we are - we are like miniature parrots - difficult to film and very colourful.
TLG: Growing up were you close or were there the usual fights over clothes etc and you grew closer over time?
MH: We're great friends; I'm a big fan of Lilly's. She is a real peach. We don't ever fight about clothes because she has an innate sense of style and wears beautiful outfits all of the time while I favour cotton clothes I can sleep in and continue to wear right through my waking hours.
TLG: If 'The Afternoon Show' asked you to feature in a cooking segment, would you do it?
MH: No way.
TLG: What has been your biggest comedy high? And low?
MH: Stand up is my main job and I love doing that even when it's going badly on stage, because at least I'm on stage.
The low points are when I am not on stage and I have to let other people talk and say their opinions and ideas. BORING!
TLG: Who were/are your biggest TV influences?
MH: I'm not crazy about TV. My favourite show is 'Two Fat Ladies'. It's amazing - I have the box-set and don't really watch anything else.
TLG: Who were/are your biggest comedy influences?
MH: It's impossible to know who or what has influenced me - I know if I have a can of Fanta before I go on it can change the entire show. Comedians I love include Maria Bamford, Josie Long and Larry David.
TLG: Who do you bounce your comedic material off?
MH: My audience - I test it out on stage. I bring my notebook on stage with me and explain what I've been thinking is funny recently. I find out pretty fast if I'm right or wrong about that thought's funniness. I don't mean to blow my own trumpet - but I am usually right.
TLG: With Ryan Tubridy getting his dream 'Late Late Show' job, what would be yours?
MH: I love doing stand up. To make it into a dream job it would just have to include more opportunities to eat cheese. My dream is that one day my agent will phone me and say 'Maeve - you need to do a sold out show in France to English speakers but they are insisting you judge the Chabichou first!'
TLG: If you were a character in 'Fair City' who would you be and why?
MH: I have no idea. like I said - 'Two Fat Ladies' or nothing.
'Maeve Higgins Fancy Vittles', Tuesday 15 10.30pm on RTÉ Two.
