IRVINE funnyman Billy Kirkwood will combine his two loves in one of the biggest weeks of his career.

This Sunday (November 15), the stand-up will share the same stage as WWE icon Mick Foley for Insane Championship Wrestling’s sold-out Fear and Loathing VIII show at Glasgow’s SECC in front of around 4,000 people.

That’s before he performs his first (and the venue’s last) headline show at the Magnum Leisure Centre next Friday, November 20.

Over the last few years, wrestling nut Billy has been the voice of ICW as they’ve built their way up from underground cult to mainstream phenomenon.

The comic will cement his place in British wrestling history when he provides commentary on the show for ICW’s On Demand service.

Fear and Loathing VIII is the country’s biggest grappling show since World of Sport behemoths Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks collided in London’s Wembley Arena in 1981. And Billy is thrilled about playing such a pivotal role in the groundbreaking event.

Speaking exclusively to the Times this week, he said: "I’d been a wrestling fan since I was in single figures and I was a fan of ICW in the early days. I was meeting my friend Neil Bratchpiece, who’s better known as The Wee Man, and we briefly did a podcast together.

"He said they had a few comics who weren’t wrestling fans and they pretty much bombed. One of them pulled out of being a guest ring announcer for one night so they asked me and I was delighted.

"I was asked to be guest ring announcer and I just started doing wrestling jokes and it was getting attention from the guys in the back so (ICW owner) Mark Dallas asked me if I’d like to do broadcasting. So now I have my two dream jobs, to be a comedian and to do wrestling commentary.

"Picking between the two is like choosing between your kids. Comedy is my first love but if I could sustain a living from wrestling in some way then it would be a hard choice.”

He added: “Getting the crowd riled up is the easy part, it’s scary but it’s very exciting, it’s going to be a night filled of main events. If I wasn’t involved I’d be there supporting them, it’s something that wrestling fans should be proud of. Wrestling isn’t a dirty word anymore.”

Topping the bill at the SECC will be two Ayrshire superstars in a much-anticipated grapple. Former WWE star Drew Galloway, of Ayr, will put his ICW world title on the line against Stevenston superstar Grado.

Billy says he’s not surprised at Grado’s runaway success.

Irvine Times:

He said: “I thought he would be a success from the first Madonna video he made. I remember seeing it and going ‘I wish I’d thought of that!’.

"I’m unbelievably proud of him. He’s done such a fantastic job. Who has managed to cross into the media from wrestling? He’s got 4,000 people coming to see him in the main event in what’s the hardest slot of the night.

"The ‘Ayrshire Mafia’ are leading the way! We’ve produced about two to four superstars in British wrestling, who knows who the next are going to be?”

Like most Irvinites his age, Billy grew up with fond memories of the Magnum.

But not many will have had the family connections that he shares with the old centre. And with his headline show nearing a sell-out, Billy says fans can expect a wild night of entertainment

“I was close so many times to headlining it,” he added. “My mum was actually a cleaner in the dressing rooms and my uncle used to be a projectionist in the theatre. Now over 30 plus years later I’m going to be the last comedian to headline, it’s really exciting.

"I’ve always wanted to perform there and I was very close about four years ago but then I was told it was closing so we pulled it.

"But here we are and it’s still not closed! It’s a whisker off a sell-out and there’s only single seats left so we’re ready to go.

"This is the first time it’s been full in a long time. It’s terrifying but I love gigging in Irvine and it will mean a lot to me.

“There’s going to be a lot of silliness, a lot of swearing and some dirty stuff so it’s going to be fun!"