Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery: Nov 19

On Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery, in his first ever personal-profile interview, Sam Simmons will talk openly to Julia Zemiro about his troubled childhood, with some confronting admissions.

Sam Simmons is impossible to pigeonhole. He doesn’t do classic stand-up but his love of the absurd has seen him turn heads here and in the UK and US. His ABC series, Problems, has been a breakout hit on the BBC and he made an unforgettable appearance on Conan, which he is soon to repeat.

There is nothing conventional about Sam or his Adelaide childhood. He and his single mother shared a sometimes intense and difficult relationship. When he takes Julia back to the Brighton bungalow they shared, it is not an experience replete with easy or happy memories.

Sam takes Julia to Brighton Secondary College where he runs into his old music teacher. Sam’s BFF, Stewart, turns up and the old mates tell Julia about the stuff and nonsense they got up to during their years at the secondary school. They shared the same absurd sense of humour then, and now, and Sam says that making Stewart laugh was always something that made him feel proud. Sam walks Julia through the corridors and takes her into the boys’ toilet that was the scene of his first (and rather awkward) kiss.

As well as comedy, Sam has a passion for animals and always has. They end their day at Adelaide Zoo, where he did work experience as a youngster. Channeling his inner zoo guide Sam shows her around this favourite childhood haunt and even gives some impromptu keeper talks.

9pm Wednesday on ABC.