Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Student stand-up comedian Jijeesh K Jaimon brings the laughter with open mic society

Student stand-up comedian Jijeesh K Jaimon brings the laughter with open mic society

THE UK live comedy scene has been red-hot in recent years, with more stand-up talent than ever delivering hilarious shows.

While most of the established stars are filling out big venues, interesting newcomers are kickstarting their journeys at the grassroots level, and one of these talents is Jijeesh K Jaimon.


Born and raised in New Delhi, he moved to the UK earlier this year to pursue a master’s degree in international journalism at Brunel University in London, and to follow his passion of becoming a stand-up comedian. In addition to wanting to making his own mark, he has set up an open mic society at his university to encourage other young comedy talents.

Eastern Eye caught up with a 25-yearold star of the future to find out more.

What first connected you to comedy?

The art of making people smile connected me. Growing up, I was a shy kid in school and frightened of public speaking, but one fine day, a teacher asked me to come up and tell the whole class a joke. After I did that, the response of my classmates was transformative.

Tell us a little more about the Brunel open mic society?

I founded this society in March 2021 while I was in India. The aim was to give students a platform to showcase their talent and get more stage time, something which I missed back in my college days. The pandemic kind of took away all the fun of being out and performing at an open mic. We encourage anyone from the university to join us and polish their material or talent every week on campus.

What are the events you organise?

We started performing at a campus event held at Brunel called the Campus Catch up, where Sanskarsan Verma and I performed for the first time in front of a large audience. Later we had our weekly socials on campus, and the first response was terrific. We managed to attract many students from the university. The one we performed at Floripa on November 14 was our first gig outside campus.

How does performing stand-up comedy make you feel?

It is hard for me to express that feeling, as it’s not only my passion but also my goal to be a stand-up comedian. This is such a jollity wave through my whole body, and it just gives me goosebumps every time I’m on stage and get a laugh.

Which has been your most memorable stage performance?

There are two so far. (Laughs) When I tried it for the very first time, bombed like a newbie and got off the stage in 29 seconds because I was scared to death. Another would be my recent performance at Floripa, as I got more stage time and was able to make everyone laugh and get great feedback.

What would you say are your future hopes in comedy?

I will keep trying until I make it, and even after I make it. I will keep trying as it’s something that I have wanted to do my whole life.

Who is your comedy hero?

It sounds clichéd, but my comedy hero is life, as it’s funny to me – all the experiences, people I meet and troubles I get through teach me one thing or another, and I find that hilarious.

What kind of thing do you find funny as an audience member?

I find dark humour is my taste – subtle jokes on taboos are my favourite kind.

Do you find that comedy helps students, both as performers and audience members?

Comedy helps every individual. People watch comedy to release their stress and feel better, and with the performers, it’s like stress-busting art.

Has being funny ever helped you out in real life?

Oh yes, tons of times. Being funny has always either helped me to mingle with people, or it has gone the wrong way, but I love both situations.

Finally, what inspires you?

Inspiration is like marriage – everyone wants to get married but ends up paying either dowry or alimony. The will to make someone’s day or evening just with humour is what keeps me going.

More For You

Jasbinder Bilan

Jasbinder Bilan

Jasbinder Bilan’s journey of heart and heritage: From Himalayan tales to global acclaim

When Jasbinder Bilan first paused her teaching career to pursue a creative writing degree, she had no idea it would lead to a life-changing breakthrough. What began as a leap of faith became a journey filled with hope, rejection and ultimately triumph. Inspired by her beloved grandmother and her Indian roots, Bilan poured her soul into her debut manuscript Song of the Mountain. Though the publishing world was not immediately ready for her story, perseverance paid off when she won the 2016 Times Chicken House Prize, launching her celebrated writing career. Now, following the success of her Costa Award-winning Asha and the Spirit Bird, Bilan returns with a powerful new historical adventure, Naeli and the Secret Song. In this exclusive interview, she speaks about the emotional inspiration behind the book, her love for young readers and the importance of believing in your voice — no matter how long it takes to be heard.

What first connected you to writing?
It was stories more than writing that were my first love. My grandmother, Majee, was the storyteller in our house and it was those bonding moments that sparked my love for creating my own stories. She told me lots of Indian folk tales at bedtime, but she also shared stories of our life in India on the farm near the foothills of the Himalaya. So, I grew up feeling connected to a place that I then filled with my imagination. As a little girl I loved drawing and writing, and always wanted to be a writer, but it took me a long time to make that dream come true.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Zegler’s ‘Evita’ Performance Sparks Broadway Buzz

Rachel Zegler stuns in Jamie Lloyd’s Evita as Palladium crowds grow nightly

Instagram/officialevita

Rachel Zegler shines in Jamie Lloyd’s ‘Evita’ as West End hit eyes Broadway transfer

Quick highlights:

 
     
  • Rachel Zegler plays Eva Perón in Jamie Lloyd’s radical Evita revival at the London Palladium.
  •  
  • A viral moment features Zegler singing live from the theatre’s balcony to crowds on the street.
  •  
  • Lloyd’s stripped-down staging amps up visuals and sound but sacrifices storytelling depth.
  •  
  • Talks are on for a Broadway transfer as early as 2026 with Zegler confirmed to reprise her role.
  •  
 

Rachel Zegler commands the London stage as Eva Perón in Jamie Lloyd’s daring reimagining of Evita, a production that trades subtlety for spectacle and could soon be heading to Broadway.

Following the success of Sunset Boulevard, Lloyd’s signature stripped-down style meets rock concert intensity in this revived version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical. Zegler, in only her second major stage role, dazzles with commanding vocals and presence, even as critics debate the show’s dramatic clarity.

Keep ReadingShow less
K Anis Ahmed

K Anis Ahmed’s new novel Carnivore is as imaginative as it is provocative

AMG

K Anis Ahmed’s 'Carnivore' serves up satire, class war and moral rot

From the blood-soaked backstreets of Dhaka to the polished kitchens of Manhattan’s elite, K Anis Ahmed’s new novel Carnivore is as imaginative as it is provocative. A satirical thriller steeped in class tension, culinary obsession and primal survival, Carnivore follows Kash, a Bangladeshi immigrant-turned-chef who launches a high-end restaurant serving exotic meats – only to become embroiled in a sinister world of appetite and ambition.

But this is no simple tale of knives and recipes. Ahmed – a seasoned journalist, publisher, and president of PEN Bangladesh – brings a sharp eye to the grotesqueries of power and privilege. In this exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, he speaks about his passion for food, the moral murkiness of his characters, and why even the most ordinary people can spiral into extraordinary darkness.

Keep ReadingShow less
Artists respond to a world shaped
by division at Summer Exhibition

Visitors view works in the main gallery

Artists respond to a world shaped by division at Summer Exhibition

THE theme of the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition 2025 is “dialogues”, prompting the question: can art help bring together the people of India and Pakistan? Or, indeed, Israel and Iran – or Israel and Palestine?

It so happens that the coordinator of this year’s Summer Exhibition is the internationally celebrated artist and Royal Academician Farshid Moussavi, who is of Iranian origin.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kanpur 1857 play

This summer, Niall Moorjani returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with 'Kanpur: 1857'

Pleasance

Niall Moorjani brings colonial history to life with powerful new play 'Kanpur: 1857'

This summer, Niall Moorjani returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Kanpur: 1857, an explosive new play that fuses biting satire, history and heartfelt storytelling. Written, co-directed and performed by Moorjani, alongside fellow actor and collaborator Jonathan Oldfield, the show dives into the bloody uprising against British colonial rule in 1857 India, focusing on the brutal events in Kanpur.

At its centre is an Indian rebel, played by Moorjani, strapped to a cannon and forced to recount a version of events under the watchful eye of a British officer.

Keep ReadingShow less