Hannah Byczkowski, winner of the BBC's The Traitors in 2022, has revealed that the reality show helped her become a better comedian, despite initial skepticism from bookers and fellow comedians. Speaking ahead of her Edinburgh Festival Fringe show 'Killer', Byczkowski explained that she had quit her career in palliative care to pursue standup full-time, and that her experience on The Traitors, while traumatic, ultimately sharpened her comedic skills.
From Palliative Care to the Stage
Byczkowski described her career change as a 'midlife crisis'. She said: 'I was being with people while they were dying, and I kind of lost all sensitivity for it. That's when I realised that I'd come to the end of that career.' She had always wanted to do something creative, and after trying to write a book, she turned to standup comedy, which she says is what she truly wanted to do.
The Traitors: Trauma and Laughter
Byczkowski won the second series of The Traitors in 2022. She said fans often ask if she and fellow contestant Wilf are still friends, which they absolutely are. She described filming as 'one of the most traumatic experiences I've had – in a fun way', adding that between filming, the cast laughed constantly. 'We all got on so well we would absolutely howl with laughter. Then the next thing you know we were sat around a table accusing people of murder.' She drew a parallel to the comedy circuit, saying it is 'pretty much the same as The Traitors'.
Earning Her Stripes
Despite her TV fame, Byczkowski said being known for The Traitors did not help her get better gigs. 'Bookers and other comedians were just like, “Oh, you went on TV and you think you can do gigs, huh?” Everybody was kind of like: “You've got to earn your stripes.”' However, she believes the experience made her a better comedian. 'I don't think it helped me in comedy at all … but I think it kind of helped me become a better comedian.'
Worst Gig and Comedy Heroes
Byczkowski recalled her worst gig in Skegness, where only about 20 people stared at her in silence. Her watch timer failed to start, so she had no idea how long she had been on stage. 'I did my normal 20 but in 13 minutes. By the time I came off, the MC wasn't even back at the side of the stage yet. Horrific.' She cited Alan Carr and Daisy May Cooper as her comedy heroes, praising them for being 'inherently funny' rather than relying on joke structure.
A Joke That Doesn't Land
Byczkowski shared a joke she is convinced is brilliant but fails with audiences: confusing the abbreviation for cocktail ('cocky-T') with the bird cockatoo. 'When I wrote that, I thought: there's no way that this is going to fail. I've yet to meet an audience that laughs.'
Advice and Rituals
Her best advice came from someone who told her 'nobody else cares'. She explained: 'No matter what it is in life, nobody cares. If you're at the beach and you don't like the way you look, or if you said something or have done something … nobody cares. Everyone cares about themselves more than they care about you.' Before a show, she avoids thinking about her set too much and usually has a cigarette.
Show Details
Hannah Byczkowski: Killer is at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh, from 5-30 August.
