Burger van owner, Shooting Stars panellist, and stand-up comic Angelos Epithemiou took time out from his busy schedule to speak to Paul Fleckney about everything from his Oscar ambitions to Tony Blair, ahead of an appearance at Outside the Box.

What are you up to today?

Today is gonna be tough. I got to go see my brother Agatheus, he’s a problem, he’s prone to violence and has been had up for car theft. I don’t mind that, though, because one of the cars he nicked helped pay for my van.

How do you compare the buzz of the burger van to the buzz of the stage?

I do get a buzz out of the burger van but that is usually an electric shock off the tea urn. Agatheus fitted it and I reckon he’s left a wire dangling somewhere because, if I touch the urn at the wrong time of day, then I get a right blast. I can’t have the urn and the microwave on at the same time because then the toaster won’t work.

What is the secret of the success of your comedy?

I don’t see myself as doing comedy. I only went on that TV show to talk about my business and then they started stitching me up and making me say stupid things and basically making me look like an idiot. When I do live things I usually give talks about the environment.

Have Vic and Bob asked you for any advice about comedy?

They keep themselves to themselves and I keep myself to myself. Bob asked me how to fry an egg properly once but I could see a bit of mischief in his eye, so I was straight with him. I said: ‘are you really committed to this?’ He just crumbled.

What is the ‘real’ Angelos Epithemiou like?

I am not as bright as I look on the telly. They can do that on telly, you see, they can make you look brighter than you are.

Would you rather be remembered as a top-class burger proprietor or top-class comedian?

Well, it’s burgers all the way – I’m not a comedian. But, in the future, I want to be a top-class physicist and be remembered for that and maybe win a prize for my findings, like an Oscar or something like that.

Where do you see your career going now?

I see my career going left. Maybe I’ll get into politics. I’m going down the Citizens’ Advice Bureau later to find out about that because I reckon I have something to offer. Don’t get me wrong, I think Tony Blair is doing a good job, but people say to me: “Angelos, he’s not as good as he was when he was chancellor of the exchequer,” and I say: “But what you got to remember is he’s a disabled, he’s only got one eye.”

Angelos Epithemiou @ Outside the Box, cornerHOUSE, Douglas Road, November 5, 8pm, £7/£5, outsidetheboxcomedy.co.uk Interview courtesy of londonisfunny.com