JOSH Earl is living the life he always dreamed of but never thought was possible.
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Born in Burnie, the now Melbourne-based comedian has a bio that spans stand-up, television, podcasts, and radio.
Last year, he filled the role of Adam Hills as host of one of the country's favourite TV quiz shows Spicks and Specks.
In June, he joined Melbourne's Triple R radio statio on its weekday breakfast program.
As with anyone who does breakfast radio, Earl said the early starts (typically 4am) were tough.
But the hours suit him well, he's usually home before noon to hang out with his two young kids.
"I'm home with them for about an hour before I go into the home office and try to work on comedy for about five hours or so," Earl said.
"But because they can now reach the door handles, it's getting increasingly harder."
As for the work itself, Earl said Triple R, a community station, was a "really, really good place".
"I interviewed Amy Schumer last week, and today I talked to David Wenham," he said.
Like a lot of comedians, Earl supplements his stand-up work with TV and radio gigs.
While he said he enjoyed the fun, glitzy side to television — "you've got people doing your make-up and throwing clothes on you" — stand-up comedy is his passion.
At this time of the year, comedians are heads down and bums up coming up with new material for the festival circuits.
"All the festivals are opening up for acts, so comedians are now thinking 'what am I going to talk about for an hour this time?'," Earl said.
"My last couple of shows were me talking about myself, so I thought 'I'm sick of that' so I'm going to do something more theatrical."
It will be a chance for Earl to show off his musical prowess, a talent he regularly incorporates into his shows and something that has made him stick out from the pack.
"The show I'm working on is called Festival, and it's a music festival set in a one-hour show.
"It'll be everything you get out of a festival — there won't be any camping, though," he explained.
"I did Splendour in the Grass last year, I got to perform there. Now I'm in my 30s, I was looking at all these teenagers having fun, and I'm standing there cold and muddy, and I just wanted to go back to comfort."
Despite his career growth, including winning the best comedy gong at the Perth Comedy Festival in 2012 (and holding the title for best costume in the Brooklyn Primary School fancy dress parade from 1986 to 1988, according to his online bio), Earl said he always stayed grounded.
"It's very easy in this industry to think 'it's not fair, I never get those opportunities'," Earl said.
"But I'm pretty good at not thinking that. I think it partly comes from working since I was 17. I know what the alternative is. This is a dream job.
"When I was growing up in Burnie, I didn't think this sort of thing was ever possible."
Later this month, Earl is coming back to the island state and lining up on the Fresh Comedy stage in Launceston.
Earl said it was great to be back in Tassie, and since he went to university in Launceston, it was also a reunion.
Tasmania's comedy scene is booming with burgeoning artists, as well as the established names that are now known around the country, such as Hannah Gadsby, Luke McGregor, and Justin Heazlewood, alias The Bedroom Philosopher, with whom Earl went to high school, and the two remain close mates.
But Earl said the scene wasn't always so prolific.
"When I first started I didn't know any other comedians but now there are so many Tasmanian comedians, it's so great," he said.
His advice to hopeful comics was two-fold.
One: Try and do as many gigs as possible.
"You learn so much," he said.
"Secondly, try and find your own voice. Don't try and copy other comedians.
"Some people will go on YouTube and see a funny guy and try to replicate that.
"But the audience can see that it's fake."
GIG FACTS
WHAT: Josh Earl headlines Fresh Comedy.
WHEN: Friday, August 21, from 7.30pm.
WHERE: Fresh on Charles, Launceston.
TICKETS: Reserved seating is sold out, general admission $15. Fresh on Comedy regularly sells out, so it is recommended you buy your tickets online before the event. Click here for ticket details.