Jack Gleadow

Written by: Si Hawkins
Published: Friday 3rd April 2020

As you're probably well aware by now, the comedy industry is soldiering on during the otherwise bewildering Corona shutdown. This week the Leicester Comedy Festival managed to put together a pretty impressive awards show, which was a bit like a regular awards show where lots of winners couldn't turn up in person, but here no-one could, so everyone accepted via video link.

One of those gong-getters was Jack Gleadow, a previous Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year who this time coined the best joke of the whole festival, which we won't repeat here in case he needs it over the coming weeks. Yes, the splendidly visual comic has just kicked off a new show, which continues this very evening.

"Jack's Night In is a weekly comedy variety show with stand-up, sketches, gameshows and interviews," he says. "It's going to be a six-part series, with more to come for as long as this lockdown happens."

"First of all, I thought about doing a live stream every week, but I wanted to push myself to see how creative I could be with the medium and time I have at home. I got my friend Banskie at Peril Design to create some really amazing graphics and the excellent comedian Duncan Oakley did the theme tune. I have some fantastic guests lined up throughout the series as well."

"It's basically an old school Saturday night entertainment show, something I've always dreamed of doing, just there's no shiny floor, no studio audience, and no budget."

Well, who needs them? He's certainly throwing himself at it.

"It took a few days to work out the format and regular features, but now I've done that it's lots of fun to play with. I start work each Monday on a new episode which will be edited and ready to go out 'as live' on Friday at 7pm - it's a tight deadline and process, but I like having that timeframe. Lots of people sent me pictures of them watching it at home with their families on the TV which was lovely to see."

He's a lockdown legend. Now, back to the misty past when gigs had people at them.

First gig?

It was 20th October 2012, exactly a month after I turned 18. The gig was above a pub in Hull owned by an ex member of The Beautiful South. I had a fun gig with about 40 people there, and instantly I got the bug. But I didn't quite have the Perfect 10 yet.

Favourite show, ever?

In November last year I performed my biggest solo show to date, and sold out The Hull Truck Theatre in, would you believe it, Hull. This is the venue I came and saw all my comedy heroes perform at when I was younger, but on this night it was me at the helm.

I rarely gig in my hometown now and to perform my debut show in such a big room was such a thrill. I got a standing ovation at the end and couldn't help but shed a few tears, it was a great moment that I'll cherish forever.

Worst gig?

I had one show in Edinburgh last year where everything seemed to go wrong, and to make it worse my mum and dad travelled up to watch it. On the plus side, they took me for a nice pub meal afterwards.

Which one person influenced your comedy life most significantly?

I'd probably have to say my dad, though both my parents have been phenomenally supportive in me choosing to do this, but my dad has driven me to gigs and built props and ideas.

Before I was a comedian I spent five years as a young magician and my dad use to write jokes and make tricks for me. He's a lot funnier than me but just don't tell anyone that.

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

I wouldn't say there was anyone in particular but there do seem to be some comics that don't appreciate that comedy has different styles and voices, and [think] that if it's not done in one specific form then it's not comedy at all.

I think everyone should appreciate that comedy comes down to taste and it's not going to be for everyone, but you should treat everyone with the same kindness and respect.

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

I commissioned an animatronic microphone to be built, that would sing/talk every time I walked away from it. All I can say is it was a very expensive joke that was only seen a few times!

Any other comics doing lockdown stuff you're enjoying?

Scott Bennett is doing a weekly show from his shed, which just proves his natural comic talent.

The Dan Nightingale and Adam Rowe daily podcast Have A Word is just a joy.

Jon Pearson is doing regular online comedy nights which are a great way to see fantastic line-ups and support the community.

There's lots more stuff going on. It's brilliant how quickly everyone has moved online.

Are there particular reviews, heckles or post-gig reactions that stick in the mind?

Lembit Opik came up to me after a gig at a biker rally in a field in Yorkshire and took a picture.

That's all there is to that story, but it's a sentence I thought I would never construct, let alone live it.

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

Well, it was going really well until about the 20th March when the country went into lockdown. I can't wait to get back doing live gigs, but I am enjoying doing this online project and putting something a bit different out there.