Jerry Sadowitz gives a rare interview

Jerry Sadowitz says he’s not more successful because he’s not ‘gay or public-school English’.

In a rare interview, the acerbic Scottish comic said he was unhappy with his career, claiming that showbusiness was ‘owned and run by the English ruling classes’ who have held him back.

‘If they see anything you or I do and think it is great, they look for one of their own who can do that,’ he said. ‘The lack of success is because I am Scottish and working class and I am not more gay and public-school English.

‘Comedy is big business and the next big comedian will probably be sponsored by Sony,; he told Glasgow’s Sunday Mail. If you are a toy doll and you have an English ruling-class guy behind you, you can't not succeed. It becomes nothing to do with the act and all to do with the promoter.’

Sadowitz has been represented by big-name agents before, but when challenged that his reputation for being difficult to work with might be a factor, the comic said his image was unjustified.

‘Would I choose not to be working?’ he said. ‘It's such a myth, the refusal to compromise.’

‘I have achieved nothing that I wanted to. I still live in a rented flat. It's not very good. I'm 50, I don't drive, I haven't had a relationship, I haven't got a career, an agent, a promoter or a manager.’

Although Sadowitz blames the English for the state of his career, he says he gets little work back home, either.

‘Another thing I am angry about is that if there was no Glasgow comedy festival, I would never have done a headline gig in my home town.’

He sounded a despondent note as he added: ‘ Do you think there is somebody else on this planet who is as sick as I am, who has the pain and thoughts I have in my head? I don't even want these thoughts in my head.

‘If I won the lottery, I'd stop performing and say, “Go f*** yourself - enjoy the imitators”.’

Sadowitz was speaking to the Mail to tie in with the Glasgow Comedy Festival, now under way. Click here to read the full interview.

Published: 20 Mar 2011