Kim Blythe’s past year and a bit has been a whirlwind, with a Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award nomination under her belt following her excellent debut show, Might As Well. A warm, charmingly daft, and – sorry for the ‘R’ word – relatable performer with talent to spare, she’s the very definition of one to watch. She also does that TikTok, you might know. She’s back for 2025 with her follow-up, this time navigating the old enemy, imposter syndrome, in her new show Cowboy. We grabbed a quick 10 minute chat to find out more.
Last year you brought your debut show, Might As Well, to the Fringe. You hadn’t been doing stand-up for long at that point. How was that for you?
It was the first time, I mean I’d only been doing standup for five or six months at that point. I was told by people, you should wait a while before you go to the fringe. I’m glad I didn’t [listen to them], but looking back, actually, that could have went terrible.
You’ve been touring your new show, Cowboy, across the UK this year.
Last year, cause I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, I basically played the Glasgow Comedy Festival and then I just took my show straight to the Fringe without having ever done it again. So this year I was like: maybe I should try and work it out a wee bit. So, aye, I’ve been doing work in progress, touring around the country. It’s been good.
I’m always quite aware of my accent, thinking: will people get it, will people understand? But it’s been incredible, the response. It’s funny though, I’ll do London and 50 percent of the crowd is Scottish. I feel like all the Scottish people from London come out for me. Belfast, that was just like another Glasgow.
What can you tell us about your new show, Cowboy?
Cowboy, it’s kind of touching on the last year. The last year has been very successful, thank God, but I’ve had a lot of imposter syndrome, a lot of anxiety. So, the show is kind of based around trying to be a bit braver and stepping out of your comfort zone. I’d say bravery is the overarching theme. I just want to be brave, less like a cowboy builder and more like a cool western cowboy. That’s pretty much what the show’s about.
And, how’s that working out for you?
It’s nice. I think doing the show was a form of therapy for me, cause I was getting quite anxious about everything and I think doing the show has actually been therapeutic, in a way. It’s made me feel a bit more confident because the last show was great. It was fine, but I’m proud of this show. I really like this show. Whereas the last one, it was more about just getting up there and trying it out. I can have a wee bit more fun with it and just be a wee bit more sure of myself.
I guess in a year you’ve learned a lot about yourself as a performer?
Absolutely. I think I’ve surprised myself more than anything. I wanted to do stand-up for years, but it was something in my head I told myself, ‘No, there’s never a danger you’re going to have the guts to go up and do that.’ If I was to go back two years ago and say, ‘By the way, you’re about to do your second Fringe run.’ I’d be like, ‘What?’ It’s mental. I’ve really surprised myself more than anything and it’s made me feel annoyed that I didn’t go for it sooner and lit a fire up my bum to be like: right if I want to do something I should just go and do it. Why am I waiting?
In a way, you’ll be well used to ‘just doing it’. You’ve got a massive TikTok following, a huge community there that you’ve built.
I mean, TikTok’s been amazing. But I look at standup comedians who have had to start with no audience and build that. I look at them with so much admiration cause I feel like I’m really lucky that I stepped into this space and already had people that wanted to come see me. TikTok is just such a different ball game: some people do think it’s quite daunting filming yourself, putting it online, but I just think it’s so easy. It’s like, I’m just sitting in a room by myself and then I post it and I don’t think about it again.
So you’re not ever thinking: how has this been going down? What’s the numbers?
I think that’s sometimes the key. I think when someone cares too much about the numbers, I think it comes across. I’ll never post and force myself. I posted a video today but I’ve not posted, before that, in over a week because I’ll just never force myself to do it, unless I want to. I think people like that – I think that comes across.
You’ve been raising money for your friend’s community in Palestine.
I’ve got a pal, Mohammed, who lives in Gaza who has a GoFundMe that was originally started to rebuild his home, but unfortunately that’s not going to be a possibility. Muhammad decided to use the funds to give water tanks to his communities, because in most communities there’s no water. These water tanks cost about $500 – they’re not cheap at all. Obviously, the price of everything in Gaza is skyrocketing. So it’s been so nice to see how my followers have reacted to it. I was blown away. Every time I share it, people donate and it’s dead heartwarming that there are people there that care, really.
If anyone does want to donate: there’s a link in my bio and all my socials [and at the foot of this interview]. I think the Scottish comedy scene specifically is just filled with sweethearts. I mean Susan Riddell, I could talk about her all day –she’s incredible. Paul Black’s putting on a fundraiser that we’re doing at the end of next month for aid in Palestine. I think it just speaks a lot about the Scottish comedy scene. I think there are a lot of good gems in there.
Cowboy: Other Yin is at Gilded Balloon Patter House, 7:30pm, 30th July till 25th August (except 11th). Tickets here.
Support Mohammed’s Providing Water in Gaza fundraiser here: bit.ly/WaterGazaGoFundMe
All photos, credit Daryll Buchanan
