Axel Blake

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 21st October 2022

Crown affixed firmly on head, this year's Britain's Got Talent winner Axel Blake is currently touring the length and breadth of the British Isles, like the biggest lap of honour, ever. He's certainly putting a shift in, gigging from Exeter to Arbroath, plus a few towns a good few of us might struggle to locate on a map. So is the Londoner breaking new ground?

"I've been to about 70% of the towns pre-tour, some of them I remember, some of them I totally forgot I ever went to," he admits. "If this tour has made me realise anything, it's that my geography of the UK isn't great. Well, at least, it's the first time I've ever heard of some of the towns I'm visiting."

Which is no bad thing. As Axel explains, "I'm loving what I do because I get to see so many different places and make the people there laugh. It'll be interesting to see where in the country the best crowds are at."

We'll get back to him on that. So what does In Style involve?

"In my show, you'll find an hour of belly laughs and a funny insight as to how I view the world," says Blake. "I guess you'll have to come see the show to find out. It'll be a laugh, I swear."

By the moon and stars in the sky, he'll be there. It was a big day when he began, too.

First gig?

I remember it was Mother's Day in March 2009. It was a day to remember and forget as I cut Mother's Day with my mum short to go and do the show and I still did terribly. There were about 200 people there, it felt mad getting up on stage in front of that many people back then. I remember it so well, so does my Mum, sadly.

Favourite show, ever?

That's an easy question, it's BGT hands down. Can't quite compare it to anything, ever.

It's so weird though, because it was all recorded back in January and until it went on TV, I wasn't allowed to tell anyone about it. I'd been doing the best gigs of my life, but no one knew, even some of my family and friends didn't know about it.

It's definitely the only gig I've done where I've been showered in gold confetti by Simon Cowell. Doesn't get any better than that.

Worst gig?

A gig in a weird area called Spalding, it was a funeral wake. Tough crowd.

I don't think funerals are quite my gag. I'll be sticking to the stage from now on.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

Danny Slim Gray. He's the comedian that made me wanna start my comedy career. Me and him have got something in common actually, apart from being comedians, we both worked as bus drivers. I think he probably did a much better job than I did though.

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

I can't think of anyone disagreeable. There's always going to be critics and hecklers in the audience but that's where the challenge is. Making the grumpy guy in the back row laugh should be the aim of any comedy gig. Then you know you've nailed it.

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

There's a joke that I'm going to do on my tour about my missus giving birth; no spoilers here. I think there might be a few shocked faces.

Do you have any tips for comics thinking of trying BGT in future?

Go for it! What's the worst that can happen? Take the leap of faith, you won't regret it.

I know how hard it can be trying to break into being a full-time comedian and Britain's Got Talent is so much bigger than any usual comedy gig, but you've just got to chance it and see where it takes you. I always said to myself that, even if it went really badly, I just had to enjoy the process and make my family proud that I tried.

Also, Simon isn't as scary as you think. Actually, he's the best judge (no bias here).

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

After a gig, a lady SPECIFICALLY asked me to hug her for a minimum of 30 seconds... she said she really needed it. I couldn't say no really, could I.

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

I'm loving it, it's moving so fast but I'm here for it. I've already kicked off my UK tour, which I never could have dreamed would happen before Britain's Got Talent. I've had so many different random jobs growing up, after I left school, I worked as a kitchen fitter, a mechanic, a bus driver and then as a delivery man for Waitrose. Nothing can ever compare to being a comedian for me though.

I first got into comedy when my mate asked me to help him out with a talent show he was organising. It gave me a taste for stand-up, and I never looked back.

As cheesy as it sounds, I never thought I'd be where I am today, I even gave up on comedy for a while to focus on looking after my family. If it wasn't for Britain's Got Talent, I would have given up for good.

I've gone through some major struggles along the way, and it's not been easy, but I've always got to see the funny side...right. I don't think I'll be changing my career path anytime soon.