The Scottish Highlands are staggeringly beautiful but add in the unseasonably sunny weather and when London is deluged in rain, I must count my blessings for our stay-cation as they are known in our Covid world. I am a writer of sorts and one who happens to be travelling but this does not make me…
My latest venture to arrest the career oblivion visited on me by lockdown is to create an audio version of my book, Eclipsed. The story of how my eldest son out-gunned my best efforts in show-business before his teenage years. He is Tom Holland, the actor best known nowadays as the latest incarnation of Spider-Man….
An exciting start to my year and a need perhaps to recalibrate my career, my accomplishments and my place in the world. Because it turns out that I am in fact, a legend. Who knew? Not me and it seems not my son either when Daniel Kaluuya made the surprise announcement during an actor to…
I owe a great deal to Des O’Connor who died last week, as anyone who has read Eclipsed can attest. It might even be that Des had a greater impact on my life and my career than anyone else. He was a rare thing in show-biz. Like the late, great Bob Monkhouse he was happy…
Who knew that the trip to the supermarket would ever become a thing. ‘Okay everyone, you stay here. I’m going out. Good luck dad. The hunter/gatherer in us all is rekindled, albeit more gatherer than hunter these days. But nonetheless, intrepid people venturing out – some without masks – to get provisions for their family…
Summertime is the downtime for professionally funny people. Most people are away and those who aren’t don’t wish to be cooped up inside. It is wonderfully quirky then that the Edinburgh festival confounds such logic and grows bigger each year – as comedians seek their fame and fortune and are happy to risk financial oblivion…
I am reminded of a passage in my book, Eclipsed when back in the day, Eddie Izzard came to watch me at a comedy club in London with a view to taking me under his wing. Maybe the audience knew somehow because they granted me an encore (rare for a club) and after the gig,…
Funny thing, taking the piss. Because it’s absolutely central to our culture – being able to laugh at ourselves and at others. But only to a point of course. Because only certain piss taking is permissible – and this is a very quick guide. Taking the piss out of one self (self-deprecation) – this is…
I was an open spot at the time and Felix was already a thoroughbred comic. A headliner and circuit star. Playing all the clubs and always closing. Cleaning up as we say. I loved his act. A well spoken and ultra cool black guy. He always wore cool clothes. He was tall and too handsome to…
