In this historic February 1998 broadcast of The Dini Petty Show, brilliant British comedian Eddie Izzard steps onto the stage for one of his very first North American television appearances. Filmed just months before the landmark HBO special Dress to Kill catapulted the comedian to global superstardom, this rare footage captures a performer on the absolute cusp of an international breakthrough. Already dubbed “the funniest man in England” by Monty Python icon John Cleese, Izzard brings a trademark mix of high-fashion heels, sharp lipstick, and effortlessly surreal logic to daytime TV.
Rather than treating Izzard’s distinct gender presentation as a mainstream media crisis, host Dini Petty leans into a delightful, routine fashion summit. The duo casually compares lipstick shades and debates the structural benefits of high heels on television sets. This lighthearted banter creates a quietly revolutionary moment for 1998 television, framing personal wardrobe choices with radical, everyday ease.
Beyond the style commentary, the interview digs deep into the mechanics of performance art. Izzard reflects on the brutal apprenticeship of street performing and busking, explaining how performing on empty sidewalks teaches an artist to project unshakeable confidence. The conversation moves at a breakneck pace, weaving together brilliant stand-up theory, a childhood near-death experience in Lake Ontario during a 1971 summer in Campbellford, and a hilarious, completely fabricated history of Henry VIII’s alleged underwear situations.
Endorsed early on by comedy royalty like Robin Williams and Michael Palin, this long-lost archival interview showcases the brilliant, untamed mind of a future multi-Emmy winner. Unseen since its original CTV airing, this master tape has been optimized and preserved via the official archive of The Dini Petty Show, protecting an unforgettable milestone in modern comedy history.
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