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I really love that I can actually make things that normally are not considered intellectual, actually smart.

Ismo Leikola, or simply Ismo, is a Finnish comedian who burst onto the comedy scene in 2002.

Back then, he was still a university student studying physics.

At the time, stand-up comedy in Finland was barely a thing, almost non-existent in fact.

You are listening to the documentary in the studio from the BBC World Service, the series

that delves into the world of artists as they create and develop new work.

I'm Olga Smirnova and in this edition I am following the Finnish comedian Isma Leikola, a man once officially crowned the funniest

person in the world. The title came in 2014 when Ismama won the Global Laugh Factory competition,

where audiences and some celebrities cast their votes.

His prize? A US comedy tour the following year,

and not long after, he packs his bags and moves to Los Angeles.

But here's the thing.

When people think of Finland, they often imagine crystal clear lakes, pristine forests,

world-class education, but comedy?

That does not usually spring to mind.

And yet, this Finnish comedian has managed to make millions love across the world,

in both Finnish and English.

How does he do it?

I'll be following Isma as he performs in Europe, in the US and finally back in his native Finland,

to discover how his unique brand of humour travels across cultures and languages.

All right, Oslo, are you ready? Please welcome.

...