Stand-up and Gary Powndland collaborator dies young

Tributes have been paid to alternative comedian Andrew McBurney after his death was announced.

A finalist in several new act competitions a decade ago, the Black Country-based comic was a regular collaborator with Jack Kirwin, especially as a sidekick to his Gary Powndland character where fans know him as Barry Mullet, pictured.

Kirwin broke the tragic news on Facebook last night, but did not reveal any details about the circumstances.

He wrote: ‘It is with the heaviest heart I have to tell you the tragic news that last night we lost the incandescent Andrew McBurney (Barry Mullet). 

‘We are absolutely devastated beyond belief. We found one another in the dark and saved each other’s lives. We lived together, wrote together, performed together, laughed together and cried together. I will mourn the loss of my beautiful friend for the rest of my life.

‘He was kind, thoughtful, ridiculously talented, gifted, dedicated to his art, humble and loving. I was nothing until I met that man. He is half the reason the Gary Powndland character and world exist. I would’ve walked away from comedy if I hadn’t met him.

‘He has made me promise him that I will carry on and never quit. On everything I hold dear to me I will keep that promise. Our friendship was so special. He showed me new music, films, art I hadn’t seen before. He opened my eyes to new ways of thinking.

‘I will be forever proud of what we achieved together in the world of comedy. We created our own unique brand of comedy based on our working class roots and our love for the absurd. We called it "Squalid Surrealism".

‘We were two different people with different interests but we both had big hearts that we shared with each other. I will cherish the memories of sitting next to him on stage during double act routines and looking across at him as we both desperately to keep it together. We had a chemistry. We never knew why it was there but it just was.

‘I used to look across at the stage at him and be in awe, in real time. The first time me and my Dad saw him perform it was like being struck by comedy lightning. He was the real fucking deal, and left audiences and fellow acts in his wake up and down the country. I am lost but I am lucky to have my family who absolutely adored Andy like I did, and he them.

McBurney also hosted the Weird Arseholes podcast with Paul Palmer. Their Facebook page said: ‘It is with great sadness to tell you all that our brother, our wonderful friend and one of the kindest souls in the universe, Andrew McBurney has passed away. He was loved by all and surrounded by family and loved ones. Myself and Jack cannot express the impact of this tragic loss.’

Other comedians paid their tributes too.

Shaparak Khorsandi said: ‘Such sad news. Loveliest of guys and absolute one-off talent.’

Laura Lexx called him  ‘brilliant and real and charming and lovely’ and Pauline Eyre wrote: ‘This is horrible news. What a wonderfully funny, brilliant and talented comedian and all-round lovely person he was.’

Born in Glasgow, McBurney made the final of So You Think You’re Funny and Laughing Horse New Comedian of The Year in 2013; won the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award in 2014; made the semi-final of the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014; and the final of Scottish Comedian Of The Year in 2016.

Published: 27 Jul 2025