James Mullinger is 'living the dream' at Norden Farm

Local lad James Mullinger will be asking audiences to look on the bright side of life as he returns for a show in his hometown.

Living The Dream will see a lot of interaction with the audience as James tries to help them realise their dreams and take a more positive attitude to life.

The 35-year-old, formerly of Portlock Road, said: "The title, while not the most original, is about how five years ago, we would use that phrase in an upbeat, positive way.

"You would see people in Maidenhead High Street downing Jaeger-bombs saying 'I'm living the dream', but now you only hear it in a sarcastic way.

"You ask a mate if he's coming down the pub and he says 'I can't, I have to pop to Tesco's and pick up some toilet duck and a plunger, I'm living the dream'.

"Rather than it being a 'poor me' show, I want people to leave with a skip in their step."

James has recently become a dad for the second time, and tells all about his experiences of fatherhood and having to read Thomas the Tank Engine again and again.

"My take on being a parent is a positive one, I'm not one who goes into complaining about lack of sleep because for me it's the best thing in the world.

"My advice for anybody worried about becoming a parent is to party as hard as you can in your 20s. Looking after a baby is easy compared to going into work with three hours sleep and a hangover."

The Movie Kingdom presenter and GQ writer has interviewed many celebrities over the years such as Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise and George Clooney, and touches upon his experiences in the show.

"I have managed to upset both Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway. I have spent 10 years interviewing people for print but doing it on TV was different and I wasn't any good at all.

"Basically, Cameron was right to be annoyed at me but Anne Hathaway wasn't game for a laugh and I was trying to be funny which didn't quite work.

"I will be showing footage of both examples in the show."

Speaking about growing up in Maidenhead, James said: "It's nice to come home, normally when a comedian comes to the town he will look at the local paper to get some stories but I have 20 years worth of stories.

"I have books and books of antidotes about when I would turn up for work in WH Smiths in Nicholsons Walk hungover after spending the night drinking."

"I love coming to Norden Farm and having grown up in Maidenhead, it was the only place to see culture, comedians and musicians, so in many ways it does feel like a dream performing there."

Living the Dream will be performed at Norden Farm on Friday, November 29. Visit www.nordenfarm.org for details.