Born into a circus family Martin had an early career as a juggler, unicyclist, knife thrower, fire-eater, and magician. As the result of an accident in the big top, in which he sustained a shattered ankle, he was forced to retire from performing his freestanding ladder/tall unicycle/ basketball juggling/pyrotechnic act and became a stand-up comedian.

His picture is featured on Trivial Pursuits. The Genus Edition. He is on one of the arts and entertainments squares, wearing a leotard

Martin 'Bigpig' Mor at the 2010 Glasgow Comedy Festival
Live Review
Glasgow Universal

To call Martin Bigpig Mor’s Glasgow comedy festival offering a ‘show’ would be a generous application of the word. This isn’t a performance of carefully selected, well rehearsed material, but rather a bloke just having a chat. The effect is akin to an hour of skilful compering, with warm, breezy banter interspersed with a few amicable anecdotes. The upshot is a good-natured experience guaranteed to cheer you up, even if there’s little substance, and certainly no structure, to it.

But there’s no doubting that his low-key approach is appropriate. Audience numbers are relatively modes tonight, so most of us feature in the night’s unfolding conversation at least once,. The house lights are kept on, too, further eroding the distinction between performer and observer.

Bigpig pitches the banter just right; affably joshing with the tipsily chatty Hebredeans, the sour-faced pharmacists and the jocular older man with affection, charm and authority. He asks leading questions setting up material – of course – but is also happy to roll with whatever happens, always quick to add something entertaining to whatever topic might arise. ‘Is there anything you want to talk about?,’ he asks more than once, adding to the feel this is more a dialogue than a monologue.

The Northern Irish-born comic certainly cuts a distinctively unconventional figure on stage, with bushy beard and sizeable tattoo collection – but aside from a bit of friskily sexual material about intimate swabs and dodgy strip clubs, there’s nothing in his patter to scare the conformists.

The discussion takes in snowball fights, the upkeep of his facial hair, or the inappropriateness of Ice-T’s gangsta patter to an Edinburgh crowd. There are no jokes so brilliant you’ll be wanting to tell them later, but the hour is so good humoured and delivered in such jocular manner that it flies by in an undemandingly enjoyable way.

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Just seen Martin @ the Hull Comedy festival,and he was by far the best act of the night

zoe, October 2010

I saw him as Frankie Boyle's warm up. Also at Louth on his own, Very good act, very funny, deliciously filthy and a pleasure to watch

Garry Edwards, October 2010

I saw him as Frankie Boyle's warm up guy - he was funnier than Frankie Boyle!

Kiwi Girl, September 2010

You can tell he's a genuinely lovely bloke. Although if he's actually a miserable sod that would make his act even more impressive. He's a pleasure to watch and his goodwill is infectious. A fantastic MC.

John Hall, September 2010

Absolute genius. Talented. A natural. Cheers big man

zack, August 2010

Cracking comic, seen him a couple of times when he was supporting Frankie Boyle's 2008/9 tour. Lots of interaction with the audience , deliciously filthy and a pleasure to watch.

Ni Tle, May 2010

I watched Martin perform at Comedy for Kids at the Stand in Glasgow. He is now my 8 year old's favourite comedian!

Brownie Boy, November 2009

James Nealson's comment is absolutely hilarious. L and indeed OL.

Bev Butcher, October 2009

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