HE might have just started out on the comedy circuit, but already Possilpark funnyman James English has set his sights on a sell-out show at the SSE Hydro.

For the confident comedian believes his new career of making people laugh will allow him to take his career to the next level.

“I am selling out the Hydro, it is happening,” he boasted.

He added: “I give myself three years and I will start off with my own shows then move onto bigger venues.

“But the Hydro is the goal. My plan is to get myself well known and respected, and my talent will speak for itself.”

Glasgow Times:

James, 33, has already earned a joker reputation thanks to his starring role on the hit internet-based reality series Glow.

The father-of-two, who is dad to James, six, and Jessica, seven, was cast alongside former WAG Lauren McDonald and businessman Brian Matthews for the show, which has been dubbed the city’s answer to The Only Way Is Essex. 

He, however, has called it quits and after a difficult past, he hopes comedy will steer him in the right direction, and keep him on the straight and narrow.

He said: “Glow was a stepping stone. I have learned so much working in front of the cameras and with other people. My confidence has definitely improved.

“I am grateful for the show because I would not have had the opportunities I have had.

“It has opened up so many doors for me but that’s me officially out of the show.”

Glasgow Times:

While Glow provided James with a platform to showcase his funny side, his comedy actually developed when he had a gambling addiction. James explained: “I was a gambler and when I lost all my money, I borrowed from family or friends. 

“My trick was to make them feel good and laugh before I asked them for the money. 

“Then when I asked them, they were laughing and feeling good, they couldn’t say no. 

“But it was an act because I was gambling for years, and the laughter and jokes was just to cover it all up. That is where the comedy came from.”

In his 20s, James battled with gambling, alcohol and drugs misuse. He even had a spell in prison during that difficult time.

He said: “I would gamble on anything. It didn’t matter as long as I had a bet on. It started at a young age from playing chippy at school where we would throw the pound up at the wall. Then it was fruit machines, and it went harder and deeper. 

“I was playing for Albion Rovers and used to go to the bookies after matches. Then it went to online before it spiralled out of control.”

He added: “I was depressed. Gambling is an emotional thing and I hid what I was doing and bottled it up. I was hiding from the fact that I was screaming out for help. 

“In Possil, there is a street full of bookies, I was surrounded by it, and every time you put a bet on it releases a thing in your brain called dopamine. It is similar to heroin and you are paying for a buzz. It was never the money, it was more about feeling down, and putting on the bet to feel good.” 

Despite a small relapse, he has been three years clean and the focus for James is his new role as a comedian.

He gave punters a taste of his stand-up when he performed his first show in Inverness recently.

He said: “I did my first show in Inverness and it is totally different from doing it in front of a camera. 

“You can have takes with a camera but on a stage you can make no mistakes.”

He continued: “It is a totally different breed, standing in front of people making them laugh but the feedback I got from other comedians was brilliant especially for my first time. I am only getting bigger and better, I am taking over with it.”

It would seem his plan to take over is already in motion with a string of bookings, and plans for several hometown gigs in the coming months.

James said: “Glasgow is a small community, people will come to support you. They get it, people in Glasgow are funny, they like banter. The city will be good for me.”

He added: “I take my inspiration from life and write it down in a notepad. My family have been a huge support especially my kids.”

James has, however, been working on his confidence by taking acting classes. He has already been a supporting actor on the hit series Outlander but he hopes more opportunities will come his way.

He said: “The acting is another avenue and I have been doing classes. More doors will open, I believe.”

Once he has established himself, James insists that he will return to the community he loves and help those who are battling their own addictions.

He said: “I want to help people with addiction. People can change no matter what age you are. 

“Everyone laughed at me at 30 when I stopped drinking, taking drugs and gambling.  I became a personal trainer, did Glow, and now it’s comedy.”

He added: “I am at an age where I don’t have many chances left to be honest, and this is a chance to build on something. 

“Anyone can be famous, I don’t want to be famous. I want to leave a legacy and be successful. 

“I want my kids to look up to me and say that is my daddy.

“I have been blessed to get to where I am, and I know it can only get better.”

For more information on James English, visit, www.facebook.com/jamesenglishcomedian