Paul Sinha is bringing an entirely new show to Southport Comedy Festival sponsored by Halliwell Jones BMW but be warned – he won’t be holding back!
The festival favourite is arriving at the big marquee at Victoria Park with some exciting material that has won him rave reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
Standing head and shoulders above his contemporaries amidst some very tough competition, some national journalists should take note.
There have been some ill-judged clickbait tabloid stories about Paul supposedly suddenly being in a position where he ‘can’t drive or dance anymore’ due to his Parkinson’s condition.
It has led to him taking aim with both barrels on his brilliant Twitter / X account, asking anti-disability tabloid hacks to start focusing on what people do best.
“Just once I’d like the headline to be ‘man has rich and varied career, despite Parkinson’s’ rather than focusing on the negatives,” he Tweeted.
“Life is still massively enjoyable.”
As well it should be. Paul has a successful career in medicine behind him.
He’s known to millions of people from the hit TV show The Chase.
He was one of the most acclaimed comedians at the Edinburgh Festival this year, where he wrote an entirely new show to last year.
He has been an internationally-renowned comedian for the past 20 years.
There are many reasons why people should head to watch him perform live at Southport Comedy Festival with his new Pauly Bengali show on Thursday 12th October 2023, with tickets on sale here: southportcomedyfestival.com
Some journalists should book themselves a seat and see what Paul does best.
After Yorks Live posted a headline: ‘Crippling disease forces The Chase’s Paul Sinha to stop driving’ in July, he replied:
‘”Crippling” “Forces” I choose not to drive because my right leg is stiffer than it once was. Save your exploitative, ghoulish headlines for a few years’ time. I’m not crippled, and I’m still fortunate enough to make my own choices. Reporting on disability needs to be truthful.”
United Press ran the headline: ‘The Chase: Paul Sinha ‘can’t drive or dance anymore’ due to Parkinson’s’
Paul replied: “I can drive. I choose not to for speed of braking reasons. I never could dance. I was collared by some journos at a recent do and was trying to give bland answers. It is certainly true that it takes me ages to get dressed.”
His renowned ability to tell jokes, perform comedy songs, and share stories and revelations from his stellar career in showbiz remain undimmed.
He said: “I am strong enough that it doesn’t upset me, but it is very frustrating.
“The story should be told in a more positive and more honest way.
“But sadly some journalists think the most dramatic headline will get the most clicks.
“They think I have a certain level of celebrity where I’m an easy target.
“They wouldn’t dare try and write stories like that with someone like Billy Connolly!
“I don’t know how long my general health can go on.
“But I am still enjoying performing my live comedy gigs, I still enjoy filming The Chase.”
He is living life in the moment.
His new Pauly Bengali tour is a ‘celebratory’ show which sees him take aim at other celebrities who have angered him.
He told the British Comedy Guide earlier this year: “without wishing to be bleak, I’m in the last stage of my entertainment career. I feel like, realistically, I’ve got a shot at about five more good years and just want to throw everything at the wall and enjoy myself, not really giving a shit about who I upset in the process.
“There will be stuff I say on stage this summer that will be brutal, genuinely brutal in my opinion, but coming from a moral point of view. I pick my targets very carefully and put a lot of thought into whether the victims are justifiable or not. Because although I’m tired of pathos, I’m not tired of being angry and of trying to make an impression. I’ve not mellowed. Stand-up is a way I can say things that I can’t on social media.”
It promises to make for a superb night out for people in Southport.
He certainly wowed the crowds in Edinburgh, earning some rave reviews from critics.
He said: “My Edinburgh run this year was very successful.
“I always look forward to performing there.
“Unlike when I’m away touring, in Edinburgh I don’t have to travel anywhere for a whole month, and that is quite nice!
“It is incredibly exciting to write and perform something new there every year.
“It is amazing being part of the world’s biggest arts festival, in one of the world’s finest cities.
“What is there not to love about the Edinburgh Festival?
“Apart from the expense of it!
“I am really looking forward to bringing an entirely new show to Southport Comedy Festival this year.
“Hopefully people who enjoyed my last show will love the new one!
“It will contain lots of jokes, and some musical comedy too. I thoroughly enjoy it.”
It is Paul’s passion for making people laugh which drives his stand up comedy career.
He should have been treating people’s funny bones instead of tickling them.
He trained as a medical student at St George’s Hospital Medical School and became a GP.
But it was at medical school that he discovered his love of starring on stage, and he began performing stand up comedy while working as a junior doctor in hospitals in London and King’s Lynn.
“A lot of people are fascinated by my medical background,” he said.
“They often asked me why I swapped a life in medicine for such an unstable career path.
“Once I entered the world of comedy it became my dream.
“I am incredibly lucky to have secured an escape route from medicine!”
Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones BMW takes place at Victoria Park in Southport over 17 nights from Friday 29th September to Sunday 15th october 2023, with acts including Paul Sinha, Rich hall, Jason Byrne, Simon Brodkin, Seann Walsh, Jen Brister, Mark Steel and more.
Show details:
Paul Sinha – Pauly Bengali
Thursday 12th October 2023
Venue: Southport Comedy Festival Under Canvas at Victoria Park in Southport, Esplanade,Southport,PR8 1RX
Tickets £15+ BF
Age restriction:16+ PG
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm
Paul Sinha added: “My important work, cobbling together strained puns, songs, ill thought out leftwing invective and clunky meditations on mortality needs public funding.
“Please help me fight the dark forces by a mechanism called ‘ticket sales’.”
- For tickets please visit: southportcomedyfestival.com
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail
