KING OF COMEDY

You might have seen his new show on Netflix, but there’s nothing like seeing proper comedy live. Come and enjoy an evening with the one and only Michael McIntyre who brings his infectious laughter to the capital this month

It’s probably safe to assume that when Michael McIntyre saw the careers counsellor at his upmarket private school in England, he wasn’t advised to work on his skipping skills. Nevertheless, it was his ability to bound gaily across the stage in the manner of an over-excited fouryear-old-boy that would eventually turn his fortunes around, taking him from jobbing stand-up to the world’s highest-earning comedian.

When he finally caught a break at the renowned Comedy Store club in London, McIntyre was more than Dhs220k in debt and travelling the country performing in low-end clubs for less than Dhs900. Then he appeared on the Royal Variety Show, performing a series of physical comedy skits that saw him flying across the stage, arms swinging, and suddenly he found the door to the VIP room of comedy had opened before him.

“The days when I couldn’t pay the rent and used a salvaged microwave as a dining table seem a world away now,” he said. “Yet I haven’t forgotten just how tough it can be. I used to look at houses and dream about them being our perfect place when in fact I couldn’t even afford to pay the rent, let alone buy a house.”

No such worries nowadays. Last year alone McIntyre bagged a multimillion dirham deal with Netflix, rocketing him to the top spot on the comic league table, and cementing his position as the king of British comedy.

JULY 16

Etihad Arena, Yas Island, from Dhs295. Etihadarena.ae