Jaik Campbell says he wanted to be a comedian since the age of eight... but it took him 18 more years until he first gave it a try, primarily as a way to help him get over the stutter that provides the basis for much of his material.

In 2001 he was a finalist in the Hackney Empire All-Stars talent contest – and three years later was in the final of the same venue's main New Act competition. He took part in another talent hunt, the late-night ITV1 show Stand-Up Britain, in 2003 where he was again a finalist.