Heads up people who need a good laugh! Youre in luck. There are two days left in JFL42! The 2017 edition of the annual comedy festival closes tomorrow. We’ve been catching up with a couple of featured comedians during the fest, checking in and finding out how they feel about the 6ix.
Wednesday night we made the trek to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to see Jack Whitehall, an English comedian, TV presenter and three time King of Comedy winner at the British Comedy Awards. Fancy, eh? We linked up with Whitehall and talked about Justin Bieber, as well as how hes enjoying his first time in Toronto.
First off, as youre from a different timezone, are you experiencing time differently? Are you more aware of time as a concept?
Jack Whitehall [laughing]: Im very easy with time. Im late to everything.
Is this your first time in Toronto?
JW: I’ve never been to Toronto before. This is my first time in the city and Ive come at the same time as Gordon Ramsay and Prince Harry. I feel like Im the third most exciting Brit to be here at the moment. I should have probably waited for a better moment.
The Commonwealth overlords are just taking over.
JW: Yeah, weve really come back with a vengence this week.
How have you been enjoying Toronto so far?
JW: Its been great! What have we been doing? We arrived and played tennis in a park. Weve also been to some lovely restaurants and caught some shows. We went to Momofuku and a poke place. Were big into poke and theres lots of good poke here. Thats been a highlight.
What did you know about Toronto before arriving here?
JW: Im very excited about poutine. People had told me Toronto has a New York vibe, which… yeah I guess it has. Which is good thing because I like New York, so I like Toronto. But I think someone told me not to say that. “Dont tell Torontonians that theyre like New Yorkers cuz they dont like that…”
Its more so an inferiority complex, as we get overshadowed by the U.S.
JW: I was also told not to ask people if theyve met Drake.
Naw, thats fine. Most true Torontonians have a Drake story.
JW: I havent asked at all which is obviously hard because Im a big Drake fan. Is the Drake Hotel his hotel?
No, the hotel was around first.
JW: Is Drake named after the hotel? Its a cool hotel. I did a gig there.
When Drake was on Degrassi he wasnt Drake yet, he was just Aubrey Graham. Drake is his middle name and rapper name.
JW: So is there an Aubrey Graham hotel then?
Not yet! But you should open one. Speaking of music, youre a music fan. Are you a fan of any Toronto bands or Canadian acts?
JW: Justin Bieber! I made a joke about Justin Bieber tonight. Ive actually become a bit of a Belieber. I was a bit of a Belatheist and then I figured that I was actually probably Belagnostic, in that I would slag him off, but if he walked into a room I would be very nice to him. Now I am a fully fledged Belieber.
Its been a journey… Theres an exceptional story about him being on a UK chat show. Theres a woman called Carol Vorderman who hosts a daytime quiz show, which is all about words. Shes a national treasure. Moms and dads love her. Shes the nicest woman ever. She was on a chat show with Justin Bieber and in the break between recording she turned to him and started chatting with him. He was nodding away and his security came over and without breaking eye contact he went, Get this woman away from me. [laughs] She didnt know what to do! They had to start the recording up again. It just sounds like the most horrendous social experience.
Well at least now hes Sorry?
JW: Ive heard his apology – and it sounds great. It really does. Its the best apology Ive ever heard. I love that song.
Jack Whitehall has finished his Toronto stint but theres a bunch more other sweet comedy acts you shouldnt miss out on. Check out the JFL42 calendar and grab yourself a pass now!
