The latest star of popular RTE show Republic of Telly has opened up about his battle with cancer.
Edwin Sammon, the new comic to join the sketch show, has admitted that he followed his dream to work in comedy after he beat the disease.
Speaking to our sister mag TV Now this week, he said: “In 2013 I was diagnosed with two cancers – bowel and secondary liver cancer – so that put things in perspective.
Going through the cancer treatment gave me a lot of time to think and when I got through it, I thought I’d give it a go.”
Explaining how things started to work out for his career, he said: “I moved back up to Dublin and was lucky enough to get a nice apartment and got a phone call from Jason Butler, who was the producer on Republic Of Telly, to ask me to play the priest on the original Bridget & Eamon, which was a segment on Republic Of Telly before the series happened.”
Edwin also gave some advice to aspiring comedians in the interview, saying it’s smart to have a back up plan.
“Comedians doing stand-up should have other skills they make money from. I worked in Woodies in Glasnevin for years before I left to pursue this fulltime. There’s a lot to be said for a steady pay cheque,” he said.
“It’s possible to make a living [from comedy] if you don’t desire things or if you don’t want a mortgage, or a car or children – all of which I don’t have – but beyond that I don’t know.
He added: “It does help when you are recognisable from TV and you get more established. If you can get good gigs at festivals, or if you can get support gigs for established comedians, then you can build up a following.”
For the full interview make sure to get your copy of this week’s TV Now Magazine!