Alfie Brown

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 29th November 2024

It was the first of times, it was the worst of times. And with us this week is Alfie Brown, who definitely experienced the latter in 2024. He lost his father in February (the brilliant composer, producer and Alan Partridge bandleader Steve Brown), then potentially his career in March, as a severely ill-judged old stand-up bit resurfaced.

After that seismic few months you might have expected him to lay low. Instead, out came a show: Open Hearted Human Enquiry, which is now touring the UK, including three nights at London's Leicester Square Theatre. Has it felt very different to perform, than his previous hours?

"I think the subject matter of my own cancellation forced me to consider how I am communicating, and what language I use," muses Brown. "These are things that a good stand-up needs to be doing anyway, but circumstance engineered even greater focus on them."

Circumstance certainly did. Stand-up is also a useful platform for addressing stuff within stand-up, when done well. And this show has done well.

"Everyone's perception will be different, but I can mitigate that with honesty and clarity," he says, having apologised for the furore-inducing routine. "Perhaps more time went toward this in this show, whereas usually I am trying to be funny... this show is also funny."

But what on earth will he do next? "Next I'll write another stand-up show. Then after that, maybe a year off."

Here's to a less dramatic 2025. But now let's head back a few decades.

First gig?

January 6th 2006. Lindsay's Bar, Edinburgh. The Laughing Horse New Act of the Year. Daliso Chaponda won the heat. I saw him the other day, still impossible to follow. It was full, my jokes were bad, two colleagues from TopShop had come up to visit Edinburgh and came to the show as well as my then girlfriend. I was 18, it was humiliating.

Favourite show, ever?

Second show of Edinburgh Festival 2012. It went well, I'd taken a few risks and it'd paid off. It felt like I was on a right track. I thrust my fist in the air and whisper-screamed 'yes!' behind the curtain as soon as I got off stage.

Worst gig?

Following the wonderful Paul Smith in Liverpool. At a Christmas gig. At a spillover venue, in front of 300 people. I was wearing white socks so they called me Ken Barlow. They saw my hair and scousers did impressions of Harry Enfield's scousers. Fairly jarring. I was eventually booed off.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

Adam Brace, my friend and director. Without question. He is the one who taught me to be most like myself.

And who's the most disagreeable person you've come across in the business?

On comedian carshares, if my company was particularly egregious, I would play what I called the 'umhm' game. How many times could I say 'umhm' in a row as the other person talked about themselves. Record was 73. That person. One of comedy's properly delusional drags.

Is there one routine/gag you loved, that audiences inexplicably didn't?

Yes. Quite a few. But in time I usually come to side with the audience. Worth remembering. Things that don't work are not necessarily for the bin, but they'll always need changing.

Were you always going to do a show this year? Taking a sabbatical would have been entirely understandable.

I couldn't take time off, not now. Stand-up is how I communicate. I would have felt more lost without it.

Any reviews, heckles or post-gig reactions stick in the mind?

Kate Copstick coming up to me in 2013 straight after my show and saying 'I've worked out why you're a cunt'. Not allowing for the possibility that I may not be a cunt. Very funny.

How do you feel about where your career is at, right now?

Better than I did six months ago. This tour has been incredible, I've sold more tickets than ever. I'm so grateful to my producer. I, for the first time in a while, feel like things can be good.

Alfie Brown: Open Hearted Human Enquiry is at London's Leicester Square Theatre on December 6, 7 and 14. Tickets