Anti-Cupid Daniel Sloss Is Breaking Hearts & Saving Lives With His New Show 'So?'

The swaggering Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss has long been on a mission to expose the hypocrisy underlying political correctness. But in his incisive new stand-up show, So?, he takes a shot at romantic love - revealing his own "bullshit relationships". This anti-Cupid is even tallying the break-ups he's instigated, or "lives saved", on Twitter.

"I never intended, when I wrote the joke, for it to have that effect - but it's definitely something that makes me laugh," Sloss admits. "A lot of people get upset by how proud I am of the number. I always have to point out, one, if a 26-year-old can break up your relationship in 75 minutes, maybe it wasn't that strong to begin with and, two, I've had far more positive messages. People after the show have been like, 'You made me realise that the person I am with is the one I love.' But I'd never mention those on stage because those aren't funny." Sloss is slyly subverting the self-help idiom. "I've always thought there is an arrogance that people in relationships have. They look down on people that are single as if it's a bad thing - and I've always enjoyed being single."

The Kirkcaldy, Fife native premiered So! at 2016's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he consistently sells out. Sloss has now performed it across Europe and in New York.

Sloss experienced tragedy in childhood with the passing of his sister Josie, who had cerebral palsy. His family used black humour to manage grief. Attending The Fringe with his dad, Sloss determinedly took to writing stand-up routines. His alter ego then diffident, he was precociously gigging at 16 - and hailed a 'next big thing'.

Over time, Sloss' subject matter has become darker - and more controversial. In 2015, he introduced a show entitled Dark, dealing with "disability and death". The comedian isn't purposely sensationalist. Ultimately, Sloss' jokes are reflexive - being about himself and his (approving) family.

In person, Sloss is thoughtful, candid and, surprisingly, gracious. "My stage persona is obviously confident and arrogant - and I understand that sometimes it might come across as genuinely that. I'd hate for the audience to actually believe that I was as arrogant as I'm pretending to be." Sloss' humour centres on his "exaggerated views". And, Sloss says, his ironic comedy only works because he projects supreme confidence - and "conviction". "I find there's more funniness if you tell the audience that it's funny - especially 'cause my jokes are 'taboo'."

Provocateur status aside, Sloss is enjoying growing mainstream recognition - notably Stateside. He's guested on Conan O'Brien's talk show Conan a record seven times. But, despite talk of sitcoms, Sloss remains dedicated to stand-up. "I just wanna be the greatest comic of all time - that's it. In 20 years' time, I want to be in the same breath as Louis CK and [George] Carlin and Chris Rock... I want comics to sort of look up to me in the same way that I look up to those comics."