British comedian Russell Howard on a ‘very weird’ Hong Kong gig and his upcoming show in China

Russell Howard’s last gig in Hong Kong was one he fondly remembers as being “very weird”. While working one of the smaller venues at last year’s Udderbelly festival, the British comedian was surprised to see a female fan on the front row had brought a giant stuffed teddy bear along. The mute, hirsute audience member was immediately incorporated into the routine – and ended up becoming the star of the show.

It’s these unplanned moments of fun that Howard looks forward to most. “People came back the next day asking if the bear was on again!” the 37-year-old laughs. “I love doing those small gigs where you can veer off from prepared material and chat about anything you want.”

Speaking over the phone from Bournemouth, southern England, towards the end of the British leg of his Round The World live tour, his longest yet at more than 80 dates, Howard was a little hoarse.

March saw the comic play London’s Royal Albert Hall 10 nights in a row, enough to steal Frank Sinatra’s record title for the longest consecutive run of dates at the historic venue. But applying his trademark energy to a solid string of dates took its toll on his vocal cords, requiring a laryngoscopy and as much rest as possible – not easy during a tightly packed schedule. With several more months of touring to get through, he quietly marked his achievement with a cup of tea and a walk with his Jack Russell terrier, Archie.

As well as a stop-off in Hong Kong, Howard’s tour will also take him to Shanghai on a remarkable first foray into China. The visit stems from a single Chinese fan who took it upon himself to translate the comic’s topical news show Russell Howard’s Good News into Putonghua, turning the performer, born in Bristol in the west of England, into an unlikely star as the views stacked up. “I owe that man a beer,” says Howard.

The road to Chinese stages isn’t well-worn by Western comedians, who face censorship and tightly regulated performances, but Howard can’t see how the night will differ from any other on his tour.