If you've engaged with any military banter on social media, there’s a decent chance the algorithm has put Pat Smith on your feed.
From skits on army recruitment to negotiating Christmas as a married couple, the former infanteer’s gags have garnered some 285,000 followers across multiple channels.
Having left the army in 2018 after a six-year career in 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, the 34-year-old worked in finance while writing comedy on the side – until redundancy last December freed him up to pursue it full time.
Twelve months on, he’s podcasting, writing YouTube sketches and performing stand-up, but it’s his online content that pays the bills. He told Soldier how he made it happen...
Was a short career always your plan?
No, but I got malaria during a training team deployment in Nigeria. I ended up in intensive care and couldn’t walk properly. I realised getting back to full fitness was going to be a push and by then my heart wasn’t in it 100 per cent anyway, so I got out.
What is it about military life that makes it ripe for comedy?
Being in the army after Afghanistan wound down gave me loads of potential material. When there’s a bigger picture, the higher-ups don’t pay as much attention to little rules, but as soon as nothing’s going on they get finicky. And the blokes get bored; that’s when the ridiculous stuff starts happening. People taking things too seriously gave me a lot of ideas for my skits.
What was your big break?
I entered a few competitions and one was a comedy version of X-Factor run by Jim Davidson for his UStream channel. I won that and the prize was my own special. That spurred me on.
Were you the unit joker?
Only one-on-one with friends; in groups I was a bit more of a grey man. I try to blend into the background when there’s too many people about, which is strange seeing as I now stand up in front of hundreds.
Do you get nervous?
Every now and again you get the wobbles but usually it means you’ll have a good show.
What’s been your most popular clip so far?
One about the difference between morning and evening gym sessions – that got about eight million views on Instagram. You just have to find things that are relatable and hope the algorithm puts it in front of people. I saw a big jump when I started doing army stuff.
What do you miss most about the service?
The laughs. A lot of humour comes from boredom. Also, in the army the potential consequences of the job are so severe that I feel like it’s needed to balance it out, which is why the banter is quite dark.
What don’t you miss?
I can’t stand wasted time – that’s a complex I got from the army. You’re there for your time to be used as they wish.
What’s your perfect Christmas?
I’d be happy locking myself away, getting a takeout and not being £300 down, which is the opposite of my wife – she likes all the Christmas stuff. I’m trying to get less grumpy. It’s a struggle.
Got a festive message for the troops?
May Santa bless you all with biff chits and Rollover Naafi hotdogs this festive season. Psych! Get on that gate, lads, and suck it up.
YouTube: @patsmithcomedy
