Daniel Cann

I can vividly remember seeing a loud, brash, blue comic at St David’s Hall in Cardiff in 1995. He had the audience eating out of his hand as well as doubled over with laughter. That comedian was Frank Skinner. This latest book from him is about his experiences as he returned to performing live stand-up after a ten year absence.

All his angst, hopes and fears are recorded journal style as he crafts his new show and tours with it across the country. The book finds him actively editing and working on his act, shaping it into a satisfactory routine for him. The reader therefore gets a unique insight into the world of the travelling comic and especially Skinner.

What drives him? What made him come back? Like in his first book he is brutally honest as he analysis the reasons why he went back on tour again. He candidly shares how it feels to ‘die’ on stage, how his television sitcom failed and how he was let go by both BBC and ITV. This is no bitter rant; rather he accepts the fleeting nature of television and celebrity. So we have him openly discussing his failures as well as his successes, rare for someone of his stature.

Skinner is no has-been, but if you were wondering where he has been the last few years then this book is the answer. As he goes on tour his observations on how comedy has changed in the ensuing years are fascinating as are his thoughts on how much Britain has changed. He feels he is still at war with Middle England and he is critical of consensus and maintaining the status quo. So despite turning fifty he is as challenging and outspoken as ever.

The book is not all about his act. He openly talks about his faith, his relationship with his on-off girlfriend, his friendships and his feelings about how he is received by the general public and the media. He reveals that he avoids any reviews of his shows. He comes over as a sensitive, somewhat anxiety-ridden individual far removed from the laddish persona of the 1990s. He openly blanches at a description of him in a newspaper as a comedian of the ‘Loaded’ generation.

At one point in the book Skinner even wonders if living in London for so long has eradicated the ‘Birmingham Frank’, thus running the risk of alienating him from his fans. We are with him all the way as he professes his love for West Bromwich Albion, cricket, art, culture, music and of course his experiences on the road. He travels with his tour manager Adam, who sounds very different to Skinner; it is enjoyable learning how this ‘odd couple’ got along over the ensuing months. The book is packed with amusing episodes in hotels and at venues for the gigs. There are plenty of poignant and funny observations. I laughed out loud on several occasions reading this.

It’s a personal journey then for the comic as well as a physical one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how he found his comedic feet whilst touring new material across the country. The book charts his anxiety as well as his growing confidence. We are with him for the ride. You will also see a side to him that few thought existed, an introspective and thoughtful man at odds with the general public’s view. This is at times painfully honest and he makes it clear for all of his success and wealth he still has everyday problems to contend with like blocked sinks, insect infestations and girlfriend problems. It is all the more better for it.

Celebrity name dropping is kept to a minimum and because of this we are allowed a more honest appraisal of him. If Skinner’s first book was an excellent account of his early years and his climb up the ladder of fame then this one is him coping with the pressures of it. He is still working hard and proving to himself that he still has it. This book is a rewarding and informative read from one of the country’s best comedians. An honest account of a man at his work.