A comedian who has regularly featured on television has shared his unique memory of Swindon ahead of his upcoming gig in the town.
Ed Byrne has been a staple on British television screens since the 1990s, appearing on ‘Father Ted’, ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ just to name a few.
Along with appearing on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ six times, Ed became a regular on BBC’s ‘Mock The Week’ starring as the show’s most common guest panellist.
He is now bringing his ‘Tragedy Plus Time’ tour to Swindon and is excited to come as his last visit to the town was during a very memorable time for everyone in the country.
“The last time I came to Swindon was one of the very last gigs before lockdown as it was March 2020, and I think theatres closed days after that performance,” he said.
“So Swindon definitely sticks out in my mind from previous years!”
The 51-year-old did not get chance to explore in 2020 but is hoping to visit one of the town’s watering holes this time around.
“As we were coming into the pandemic, I didn't really get out and about in Swindon the last time I was there,” said Ed.
“However, on this tour I always have a pre-show pint, so I will choose my Swindon pub very carefully and look forward to tasting the local ale.”
Ed also revealed that choosing the town as one of the tour’s dates was by no means a random choice.
“We try and get to as many as major towns and cities around the UK as we can,” he said.
“I think we've got one or two Wiltshire dates, but Swindon is always a staple on the tour agenda.”
The Irish comedian has also warned that audiences need to ready themselves because this tour heads into highly emotional new territory.
“It’s something of a departure, and I’m slightly worried about that,” he said.
“Being funny is a furrow I’ve been happy to occupy. But this new show features some heart-wrenching, soul-bearing stuff.”
The tour ventures into the world of grief and loss, a decision prompted by the passing of Ed’s younger brother Paul, aged just 44, in February 2022.
“Every night hundreds of people who didn’t know who Paul Byrne was will leave the theatre knowing who Paul Byrne was,” he said.
“I’m happy with that, and I think I give a good account of him on stage.
“I wouldn’t say he’s up there with me every night, but he’s there every time I think about the show, and I’ve got to make sure I do right by him.”
The show aims to take the most difficult of subject matter and encourages the audience to laugh in its face in a way they would otherwise simply never do.
“Obviously I don’t want the whole thing to be an onslaught,” said Ed.
“That’s partly because of the digressions, and that’s why they’re there. But they also illustrate how grief works in that you can still have a good time, you can still be happy, you can still have a laugh about other things and be frivolous.
“I said to the audience in one of the early previews that yes, it is sad but don’t worry because the show is funny. Believe it or not, I’m actually quite good at this.”
You can catch Ed at the Wyvern Theatre from 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 27 and tickets can be purchased here.
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