Viki Jackson with husband Charlie

A TRAINED clown says she has all the tips and tricks to be happier.

Viki Jackson, a “happiness facilitator”, says a mix of mindful­ness and comedy could be the key.

She will be explaining it all in a new “Making Happy Mistakes” class later this month at the Islington Arts Factory in Parkhurst Road, Holloway.

The event is part of Playface, a “mindful comedy” school she started earlier this year with her husband, fellow comedian Charlie Jackson.

“There are obviously other comedy schools but I think this is completely new. The mindfulness comedy isn’t something that we have seen or found,” the 32-year-old said, explaining how their school has a focus on play and “spreading happiness”.

She said it’s not just the clients who leave happy. “I am so much happier than when I was in advertising,” she added, describing how she finally gave up her advertising executive role, selling Pringles and Coca-Cola, last year.

“It’s just so much more rewarding being in front of people and seeing them flourish and learn more and discover new skills,” she said.

Viki on stage

Having studied at the Museum of Happiness in east London, she now teaches people how to be happy through improv and comedy – even if comedians are notori­ously miserable.

“Stand-up can be quite lonely,” is her theory. “I think improvisers tend to be happier,” she said.

The mistakes workshop aims to show people failing is ok.

“If it’s an everyday thing like you sent an email to a wrong person or you’ve over-boiled the pasta, it can be that that you’ll go down a tunnel of being like, ‘Oh my god, what else can’t I do properly?’,” she said.

“And you might end up spiralling from that, or it might just put a bit of a damper on your day. The workshop can help you just think differently and be a bit more positive.”

Ms Jackson, who lives in Caledonian Road, got into comedy after once being painfully shy. Not only did she never believe she would be on stage or leading workshops, she struggled to pitch ideas at work and would back out of rooms at social events. Improv was life-changing.

She says she realised what a positive influence it was having on her when she was leading a presentation and a slide failed. “Beforehand, I would have just crumbled and not been sure what to do or say.

“But this time, rather than getting flustered, I just went ‘Cool’. It gave me the ability to be like, ‘OK, this has just happened but it’s fine’,” she said.

Playface is offering a range of one-off classes alongside longer courses in comedy and mindfulness.

For more information go to: www.playface.fun