Bennett Arron

Bennett Arron

Bennett Arron: Loser

Gig review

Is Bennett Arron a winner or a loser? That’s the simple premise of this affable Welsh comic’s show.

He’s had a long career as a stand-up, which has to count as a victory, even if he hasn’t had the stellar success of peers such as Peter Kay – with whom he shared the runner-up slot in the 1997  BBC New Comedy Award.  But by making such comparisons he can make even a solid career in a tough industry feel like a failure, joining the litany of such low-status stories which he shares good-naturedly with his audience.

Loser is a straightforward chronological account of those embarrassments, from being unable to act cool after his first kiss at the school disco to his contemporary life, entertaining on the cruise ships as well as the comedy circuit, occasionally sharing a green room with the likes of Michael McIntyre.

He goes from cemetery gardener in his native Port Talbot to teaching drama at a Catholic girls' school, an unusual calling for a Jewish man. Then a sommelier and a venue manager, where he had his first contact with the nascent world of alternative comedy, which - following an ill-judged first gig at his local synagogue – has been his life ever since.

Famously, he was a victim of identity theft, making a Channel 4 documentary about it and – in the process – managing to ruffle some high-profile feathers. That’s been the focus of a previous show, of course it has, but a potted version is included here to complete the autobiography he’s sharing, and to add to the feeling this is an anthology of ‘greatest hits’ anecdotes.

They are delightfully told, and as a permanently self-effacing raconteur, Arron is the fall guy in every one of them, further endearing him to the audience. The stories are garnished with gags – occasionally quite cheesy, truth be told – but they get the laughs and add to the geniality.

In an interesting QI-worthy aside, he brackets himself with other overlooked Welshmen, such as Bill Frost, who probably beat the Wright Brothers to manned flight but has not been remembered by history.

It would be a definite stretch to class Arron as a similar innovator in his field of comedy, but these are amusing stories, effectively told by a master self-deprecator, always smiling at his predicament. As you are guaranteed to as well.

Thanks for reading. If you find Chortle’s coverage of the comedy scene useful or interesting, please consider supporting us with a monthly or one-off ko-fi donation.
Any money you contribute will directly fund more reviews, interviews and features – the sort of in-depth coverage that is increasingly difficult to fund from ever-squeezed advertising income, but which we think the UK’s vibrant comedy scene deserves.
Read More

Published: 4 Oct 2023

Agent

We do not currently hold contact details for Bennett Arron's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.

We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.