BEST OF 2016: Comedian Alison Spittle gives us her picks of the year

Favourite album of the year?
You know what, I’m gonna go for Rihanna, ANTI. I just think it has to be the best album of the year. And listening to the extended version, I don’t understand why those tracks weren’t included on the original album. They’re the most interesting, I think, and I just think she’s fantastic. It’s strange, cause I never really gave her a second thought before, but I really really really like her now, cause that’s an album I’ve listened to loads this year.

Rihanna, "Work"

Favourite track of the year?
My favourite song this year has been Kanye West’s Fade. I just love the video to it, I love listening to it. It wasn’t even my favourite song on his album when I first heard it, but it’s a real grower, I quite enjoy it. The video is just this lady dancing, but she’s really really good, it’s like Flashdance kind of.

Kanye West, "Fade"

Favourite gig you played? One you went to?
My favourite gig to do was Vicar Street, it was my first ever time performing there, it was lovely. Funny story, it was the first time I tried contact lenses that day, and one of them got stuck in my eye. It was so bad, but the audience was so nice, I asked them onstage if somebody could help me with my contact lens, and this woman came up and said, “Oh, my husband does this all the time, he can help, and he just flicked my eye, and that worked, they were out. And I’ve never worn contacts ever since.
Favourite gig I went to, can I pick a comedy one? It was probably seeing Maeve Higgins, every time I've seen her she just gets better and better. I think I've seen her about ten times, and that won't be the last. She lives in New York now, but I'll be sure to see her when she comes back over.

Maeve Higgins on Prairie Home Companion

Favourite tv show?
There's so many good ones, but Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is so good, I really really enjoy it. I haven't seen the second season yet, so I have to binge it, but it's so funny. I really like Rachel Bloom, she's fantastic, that's definitely my top pick.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend trailer

Favourite movie?
Well, this is a change of pace, but Room was amazing. Brie Larson was absolutely incredible. I just loved how they did it, how in the first about three-quarters of the film, you're just in that one room. But for that kid it feels like a massive world. I really enjoyed it, even though it broke my heart. It was one of the best Irish films in years.

Room trailer

Favourite book?
Lindy West's Shrill I loved that book. I just love Lindy West in general, and her book is really funny. Have you read that bit where she sums up why Love Actually is the worst movie of all time? It's the funniest thing, and it's definitely the time of the year to revisit her essay on why it's such a bad film. But this book is just a bunch of her essays, and it covers so many topics. I really like people who take no shit, like her and like Kanye West. I don't know what the hell's going on with him, if I'd talked to you a few days ago when there was none of this Trump shit, I would have been like yeah, Kanye West! But I'm a little disappointed, and he doesn't seem well, so I hope he's getting the help he needs.

Any plans for 2017?
Hopefully no more celebrities dying. But for me, I've got a gig in Whelan's January 22, so that's soon, and I'm really looking forward to that. I've got a band supporting me, and I've never done that before. I was like, why doesn't this happen more? And I think there might be a proper reason why it doesn't happen more, but I guess we'll find out!