A COMEDIAN has spoken of how his struggles with mental health inspired him to try standup - ahead of his upcoming series of Rhu comedy nights.

Comedian Jonathan Soutar-Findlay - known as The Neurodivergent Daftie on video app TikTok - is starting the first of his free ‘Tuesday Lunacy’ nights at the Rhu Inn on September 26.

The events will be held on the last Tuesday of every month and will let comedians of all experience levels take to the stage to entertain locals.

Jonathan, from Dumbarton, was inspired to finally give stand-up a chance after he started making funnyTikTok videos during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 to help with his mental health.

Jonathan said: “I come from a background of working in performing arts, but unfortunately, I had to stop due to injury and haven't performed in a long while.

“I suffer from mental health problems and during lockdown my mental health dipped severely, so I downloaded TikTok to use as a distraction technique and to help spread joy and laughter during that scary and difficult time that everyone was going through.

“After going viral a couple of times on there, and ending up with a massive following, that finally gave me the confidence to do stand-up comedy, after being told by friends and family I'd be good at it.

“I never listened to them in the past, because that's people that know you well and they're supposed to say anything to support you. But when it came from absolute strangers that's what gave me the validation to go ahead and give it a go.

“I'm currently awaiting a diagnosis for ADHD and it is a struggle, so stand-up comedy has been my coping mechanism. And if it gets to make others laugh and forget about their own troubles for a short period then that's an even bigger bonus.”

Since getting into stand-up after a performing in a charity show for Cancer Research, Jonathan has landed regular gigs in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

He also went on to host a regular comedy night in Dumbarton – the success of which led to the general manager of the Rhu Inn asking Jonathan to organise a series of events for the local pub.

Jonathan added: “I did my first gig for Cancer Research with a group of other comedians, and the response from that went well, so since then I've been gigging between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“I recently started a comedy night in Dumbarton which was successful and due to that the GM of the Rhu Inn reached out and asked if I could start one there, and here we are.

“People can expect a monthly night - the last Tuesday of every month - which is free entry and for over 18s.

“There will be a mixed range of comedians and a wide range of comedy ranging from rude and crude humour to humour which is more subdued.”

To book a seat at September’s free Tuesday Lunacy night, call the Rhu Inn on 01436 820054.