I want to keep this quick because I have just eaten kippers and need to spend the rest of today washing my hands because they reek- of kippers (from the handling them in and out of the pan, the “panhandling” if you will). I will spend most of my Wednesday like a sort of olfactory Lady Macbeth.
I waited to get in touch this week because I wanted to include this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ticket link.
On May 5th in Manchester I am recording some Standup Comedy for later upload to a little known video sharing website called YouTube.
If you are a fan of my comedy, comedy in general, or Live Comedy performed by a funny, bleak, articulate, occasionally contrarian and highly experienced comedian- then this may be for you!
I use Youtube for loads of non comedy stuff- one recent search was “the least smelly way to cook kippers at home” but judging by the reek of my gaff now, I don’t think I got the best advice.
I also like cooking tips and recipes.
And I watch various martial arts channels- do be careful though as the algorithm can start suggesting you street fights and “bullies” being “owned” which can quickly get a bit full on.
Casey Neistat videos are brilliant, I do Breathe and Flow yoga vids occasionally, and for some reason last week I watched a Kingsley Amis documentary that had been chopped into 10 minute chunks, my favourite part was when KA was asked about his good friend Larkin (who I am confident he thought the finest poet alive) and he said “He always gets his round in” and started talking about Philip’s approach to money in the pub. Can’t remember which section the Larkin stuff was, I watched it all.
YouTube once went through a phase of offering me HGV drivers showing people around their cabins, and I have no idea why! But I clicked! What made me watch a guy from somewhere in Staffordshire saying “in here I have a little kettle and some teabags” and why on Earth did I stay with it?!
When Google bought YouTube I remember being surprised- possibly because I am a bit thick and I hadn’t seen the potential. I had only spotted pets falling off couches and Charlie Bit My Finger type videos. In fact it was probably even before Fenton/Jesus Christ which still makes me laugh now.
The potential really was in the free distribution of our material (not just comedy, Casio watch reviews, macrame, or whittling tutorials, and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness analysing the music of Oasis- who knew any of that was coming down the pipeline?)
Let me know in the comments what weird stuff you watch on YouTube.
I once messaged a Russian woman based in New Zealand to thank her for a kettlebell routine I’d learned from her from the comfort of my home in Manchester! What a time to be alive!
And I don’t know why I watch as many High Peak Autos videos as I do- but I do!!! I am not even car hunting!
The show will be me doing a big chunk of my truly truly great standup, supported by a few comedian friends. Much like a night at a good comedy club, but with my bits being filmed for posterity.
I am pretty sure the audience shots will be minimal so it is probably OK to attend with a mistress or a non-husband Gentleman of your choice. I mean OK for secrecy, obviously morally it is your conscience… and I don’t know how you people sleep at night you filthy pigs…
Please buy a ticket, and then look forward to it. I love having tickets for something to look forward to.
Right now I have tickets to see musician John Bramwell (formerly of (I am Kloot) and I just bought Mrs C tickets for David Sedaris later in the year. Looking forward to stuff is great. (See! I AM upbeat! And people say I am dour.)
I intend to put a free special online every year for the next 5 years and then perhaps I will retire and write amusing or thoughtful essays. Either that or my Live Career can dwindle enough for me to switch across to lorry driving… now where did I put that little kettle?
So glad I signed up to your substack because I finally have tickets to see you!!! Woohoooooo!!!
My guilty pleasure weird thing I (occasionally) watch on YouTube is footage of old Sega Master System games, purely for nostalgia......p.s. I'm not weird