VIZ creator Simon Donald quits North East for London

Jun 28 2009 by Tom Mullen, Sunday Sun

VIZ genius Simon Donald is hoping to make London laugh.

The funnyman, who first penned cartoons for the adult-themed comic in his Newcastle bedroom, is upping sticks to pursue a full-time stand-up comedy career in the capital.

Since Viz’s launch in 1979, Simon has become famous for his hilarious cartoon characters Roger Mellie, Sid the Sexist and Mr Logic.

And although its creator is now heading for London, his comic once featured a character by the name of Cockney W*****.

Viz, whose characters inhabit the fictional Tyneside town of Fulchester, went from tiny beginnings to become a worldwide hit and brought fame and fortune for Simon.

Now the Geordie is capitalising on his success by pursuing his original dream of stand-up comedy – a dream he says he must be close to London’s West End Theatreland to fully realise.

He said: “It’s one of those things. The movers and shakers in every career tend to be in the capital city, so that’s where I’m heading.

“On the London stand-up circuit there are so many clubs, especially in the West End, that you can do three gigs in a night.

And there are just so many people who are based there. I’ve always wanted to live in London since I first went there in 1981. It’s a place I’ve always got along well with.

“But it will be a big step personally. I’ve never lived away from Newcastle, I never went to university or anything. They didn’t let me.”