Nick Doody's Clown Song

Downstairs At The King's Head in Crouch End, London

More Nick Doody videos

Nick’s Doody’s career as a stand-up comedian got off to a pretty good start: while still a student, Nick supported Bill Hicks on his final tour of the UK, at Bill’s request. A finalist in the 199 So You Think You're Funny new act competition, Nick has gone to be a familiar face on the comedy circuit and as a writer for such shows as BBC4’s Late Edition and Channel 4’s FAQ U, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Friday Night Live.

Nick Doody: Look At This Massive Picture Of My Face
Live Review

Of all the posters for Fringe shows around Edinburgh this month, Doody's were the ones you were certain not to miss. They simply showed a massive picture of his face overlaid with the words Look At This Massive Picture Of My Face. The more savvy among you will already realise that it's a parody of the large scale pictures of other comedians less self-consciously sported by promo posters all over town, though Doody clarifies the point with a demo of two of the most common expressions adopted by comedians – 'you've surprised me getting off my horse' being one.

The show continues in reflexive mode with a kindly request to pay attention (it's frequently a problem in the free venues) leading into a routine about ignoring flight attendants' safety procedures aka their 'big moment'.  An otherwise respectable looking couple however didn't seem to see the irony that they continued to whisper to each other and even got out a phone that they both proceeded to look at it. Really there's no telling some people….

Had they bothered to pay full attention, they would have had no problem seeing that Doody is one of the most incisive comics on the Fringe.

Doody's always been unafraid to push at boundaries in his material. Here he notes how easily offence can be taken; for example how a certain word in the English language could prove inadvertently but potentially inflammatory spoken in the presence of a black dwarf. There's a response to the media's simplistic comedian-bashing topic of this Fringe (there's always one) which this year generalises about rape jokes, 'of course rape is wrong. That's why I did a joke about it, and not a rape.'

A woman shortly afterwards walks out. Doody wonders if she was offended or he had inadvertently reminded her of something she needed to do. And with remarkable comic timing, a few minutes later a pre-teen boy follows. 'Ah now I see,' notes Doody laughing.

Further into the show there's more observational material, straightforward stuff but filtered through Doody's common-sense, slightly exasperated view of the world. Female beauty products come in for his withering wit as does male sexuality. Approaching 40 as he is, there's more a wisdom at play he claims, but one that can on occasion be undermined by his cock.

Moving on to take in religion he creates a fantastic routine about how the notion of a Creator led to random aspects of religious practice… while a taxi driver's theory on 'what's up with Muslims' is sublime.

For a conclusion Doody, having mounted the political horse, leaves with a frankly visceral and vivid image of the beast Thatcher and her sucklings Cameron and Osborne that's likely to be imprinted on your retina when you go sleep. A gem of the Fringe, and a free one at that.

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I saw Nick Doody in Bristol, at Jesters, a few days ago and he was great. It wasn't a full hour, but pretty much everything said by Michael Monkhouse stands.

Harriet R, September 2009

When was the last time a comedian was scarily, angrily, gut-wrenchingly dangerous? Ben Elton? Denis Leary? Or how about Nick Doody? Hypocrite - his second Edinburgh appearance - shows he's more provocative than ever. Back then he pointed out how we ridicule Bush's verbal slips but forget his warmongering. Now he once again takes on bog-standard subjects (Glasgow's terrorist attacks?) but instead of stroking our cosy attitudes he points the finger at us. And it hurts. But we need it. Now don't misunderstand me. Nick rants and raves but he also dabbles in the ridiculous (the similarity of ecstasy to soya milk), the spontaneous (arrive late? You have been warned) and the just plain silly (he can't ski). But it's all done with bile and style and piles of passion. Best of all, he understands the rhythm of a one-hour show: belly-laughs first, then riskier stuff, halfway slow-down, final wind-up into a whirling swirling frenzy of - of stuff I can't possibly do justice to. All I can do is suggest you check him out. Soon. One hour? Nick could talk all night. He's also scarily, angrily, gut-wrenchingly funny.

Michael Monkhouse, September 2007

The most exciting British comic since Alexei Sayle. Miss him at your peril.

Michael Monkhouse, September 2007

Real talent to perform intelligent and incisive material to crowds expecting something more Lowest Common Denominator and still have them rocking.

Steve Day, May 2007

Loved every minute of it. This guy is immensely talented.

Nathan Stanton, November 2006

Absolutely brilliant, comedy genius!

Roy Tabard, October 2006

Superb

Geoff Taylor, September 2006

Nick was briliant in Munich! I am still laughing in my head

TheDoryLama, April 2006

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