Comedy News Round Up
Tours A Go Go Plus Lots More
Do you want a guaranteed laugh? Bookmark Mark Simmons’ tour dates. Simmons (below) won the U&Dave Joke of the Fringe award this summer and - blowing my own trumpet for once – I was the judge who nominated his joke: '“I was going to sail around the globe in the world’s smallest ship but I bottled it”. If you don’t like it maybe now is the time to unsubscribe - but if you really like it you could upgrade to paid subscription. Or failing that go and see Mark Simmons on tour. He’s just added a Soho Theatre date. Details of all of his shows here.
Another comic who looks like he is on a winning streak in Chris McCausland (below). At the time of writing the blind Liverpool comedian is wowing fans on Strictly Come Dancing. He was already planning an extension of his current Yonks! tour, but now that extension has been extended. See all the new dates and ticket links here.
For those that like their comedy a little less Saturday night primetime, Daniel Kitson (squatting below) has announced a run of his latest show Pith at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. You won’t be seeing Daniel Kitson on Strictly, so you’ll have to buy a ticket, but trust me, he’s a genius with an eye for comic details that is rarely bettered. He says of the show, “there might be a new thought and an old friend and someone else’s coat too close to my leg. There might be clues and there might be carpet and there might be a busker in Cardiff singing hallelujah. And, it’s possible, there might be jokes." I’m sold. Find out more about Pith here.
Someone who lives not a million miles from where Kitson was born is Sheffield songsmith John Shuttleworth (below). Can you believe that next year he will be celebrating his fortieth year in showbiz? It was 1985 when he met TV’s Clarinet Man - next door neighbour Ken Worthington who came last on New Faces in 73 (Tony Hatch crucified him). Shuttlworth is marking the anniversary with a tour and also a new book: John Shuttleworth Takes the Biscuit – A Crumbly Selection of Songs & Stories published by Omnibus Press. On sale 6th March 2025. Details here.
Angela Barnes (below, by Matt Crockett) was on Celebrity Weakest Link at the weekend and she’s back on the road soon too. Mock the Week regular Barnes is preparing to embark on a brand new tour for 2025 with Angst. Angela is a worrier. Whatever it is, she’ll worry about it. But don’t let that worry you – she’ll worry enough for the both of you. Sounds relatable… more details and ticket links here.
And finally, for those of you that have been enjoying Emma Sidi (picture below by Matt Stronge) on Taskmaster (which should be all of you), Sidi is taking her latest live show on tour. In the show she plays Labour’s Chief of Staff Sue Gray. Trust me, this is a lot more daft than it sounds, brilliantly observed, brilliantly absurd. More details here.
There is more comedy news every day on beyondthejoke.