In Profile: Jason Cook

Riding a unicycle, running a half-marathon, taking a picture of himself every day for a year, drinking tea through a Kit Kat… these are some of the things Jason Cook is going to be doing over the next twelve months. They are all based on suggestions from Edinburgh audiences when he debuted his new show, The End (Part I), at this year’s Fringe. But this isn't simply another comedian taking on wacky bets. "The whole point," he says, "is, at the end, to see if I’m happier."

Jason doesn't seem like the kind of person who needs "recipes for a better life", as he calls these challenges, to be happy. A genial Geordie with startlingly quick comic reflexes, he learned his trade as an MC in unforgiving venues like Newcastle’s Hyena Club before founding the anarchic comedy night Jason’s Asylum in Manchester. On stage, he’s energetic and engaging and has a flair for bonding with the crowd. He's warm and kind during audience interactions, although he denies this. "I’m really not! I’m a complete cunt to them, I just do it with a smile and apologise after."

His solo Edinburgh debut, 2007’s My Confessions, gave a glimpse of his more introspective side. The deeply personal material, delivered without embellishment or poetic license, reduced audiences to tears and was voted one of the best shows of the last decade by Chortle. The End (Part I) continues in that vein, dealing with a near-death experience and how it made him question his life so far.

It’s a chance for him to tell some great stories, like accidentally knocking dolphins unconscious and helping incompetent muggers. He admits to a lot of his own failings, even reading out an embarrassing email from his wife about how high-maintenance he is, whilst inviting the audience to think about what really makes them happy. Whilst the current show tours the UK – with dates in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen this month – Jason will be working his way through the twenty tasks set for him. Negotiations are currently ongoing to turn this into a TV show and we can definitely expect The End (Part II) at next year’s Fringe.

Does he think he’ll come back a happier person next August? "Well, if I drag myself onstage crying and shitting I think we’ll all know how it’s gone."