Nanny by day but joker by night

COMEDIAN Eva Bindeman wears many hats, including nanny, theologian and tortoise-owner.

Originally from Northumberland, the 36-year-old, who lives in Bristol with her boyfriend, also hosts a podcast called Get Your Pets Out.

She says: “We just talk to comedians about their pets because I’ve found it’s the easiest way to get comedians to talk about stuff without doing their set accidentally. They sort of open up a little bit more and I love pets as well so it’s a really fun thing to do.

“I’ve got a tortoise, Barry, but he’s hibernating. He’s stuck in a fridge in a shoebox and he occasionally moves over and kicks out sand to let me know he’s alive and I’ll just see if he stays that way until February. He sort of decided when he wanted to go to hibernate, usually he digs himself down and stops eating and then just gives me the eye roll.

“Then I have to find somewhere to put him at a regular temperature for a few months and then hope for the best in February when we unbox him. My entire family have had tortoises to varying degrees of neglect over the years. My mum had one and it disappeared and then it was brought back by the postman about eight months later — it had been walking down the road — about two miles away, he was like, ‘Is this yours?’

“My tortoise has not disappeared yet, he’s very needy. He’s being looked after better than I look after myself.”

Eva is excited about visiting Henley. “My actual career is as a nanny. I’ve been doing it for 15 years and I started comedy as a hobby alongside it, just as something I could go and do later at night because nannying hours are rather unsociable and I just really loved doing it, it was really addictive.

“Then it got to a point where they’re both sort of equal. I’ve accidentally gone from having a career I love and a hobby that balances to two jobs, but I love both so I’m very lucky. I’ll be
37 in January, which for a nanny that’s like 400 years old, so this comedy stuff better take off soon.

“I know Henley is a pretty right-to-do area — I know there’s plenty of nanny jobs around that way…

“I’ve been to the regatta years ago, where the little men in bowling hats let you into a certain area if you’re with the right person, I got in there, that was nice.

“It was fascinating, there were people drinking Champagne by the river, oblivious to the actual race. So clearly you all know how to have fun.”

Audiences can expect light-hearted giggles and a bit of naughtiness, rather than theological discussions.

“Mostly my stand-up comedy is just about existing in the world. It's all anecdotal, it’s all conversations and there’s like four or five directions you could sort of go when you get started.

“I just see where it takes me really but usually my club stuff is pretty crude — it’s not crude as in vulgar but crude as in cartoonish, we all have a good laugh. I just like to see where the audience want to go with it which is a lot of fun, a bit of interaction but nothing too much, it’s still a show and it’s very different. Online I’m more sort of theology and pets and in person it’s definitely down to sort of base club comedy.

“Nannying and comedy are very similar — you just make sure that you’re focused on whoever’s listening and everybody’s had a wee and a snack and then we’re all going to have a good day.

“If I could give out snacks before I went on stage I absolutely would, sort of some buttered rice cakes to a few of the particularly angry men wondering why on earth there’s a woman talking, that would be great. But they’re my favourite members of the audience.”

Also on the bill are Nihal Arthanayake, Sapphire McIntosh and Stuart Nixon.

l Honk! Henley is at the Relais Henley on Thursday, November 27 at 7.30pm. For information, visit linktr.ee/honkhot or follow “@evabcomedy” on Instagram.