‘I painted myself blue – but got skin problems’: how four Edinburgh stars created their weird characters

In the Covid lockdowns, I was drawing all these silly things, and one day I drew Elton John as a scone. It brought me lots of joy. I love Elton John and everything he’s about – his music and his outfits – and my first job as a musician was in a bar in Soho, where I used to play his back catalogue.

I turned the drawing into a very silly character, just for my enjoyment. I didn’t think anything of it until last year, when I was talking to my friend, the amazing drag artist Michael Twaits, and mentioned Sir Elton Scone. He was, like, “you need to develop that.” The character has evolved, but he’s still true to his roots in that it’s basically a bit like Elton John – but obviously for legal reasons, nothing like Elton John – and he just loves to bake.

He’s hosting a TV baking gameshow that uses no ovens, so it’s completely nonsensical. It’s become really fun because audiences understand how a TV studio audience reacts, so it’s a clear game for them to play. I thought if I was coming at it as drag, what would I perceive to be very “masculine” traits to put into the character?

For me, it was manspreading and making people move out the way for me. I realised when I’m backstage I’m constantly trying to not be in the way, and I’m only 5ft tall, so I thought, let’s play with the opposite of that. If I am taking up this much space, what comes with that is more confidence, so I made this giant character – giant hands, a big chef’s hat, the suit jacket twice the width of my shoulders.

Although if I could go back to last March, when I bought some velvet curtains from a charity shop in Wales to make the suit, I wish I could tell myself: in the run-up to Edinburgh, you’re going to have to preview this show in 30C heat. Previous characters I’ve done include someone who sang hip-hopera – hip-hop songs, opera style – but I found it very restrictive. I feel like a baking-themed Elton John is more free.

That’s been a really joyful part of it as well. It has sparked so many ideas. I started doing standup 10 years ago, and got a bit sick of writing normal jokes.