An audience with a comedy trailblazer
Sean’s Show invited us to the quirky comic’s London flat... with hilarious results, writes
A TELEVISION reconstruction of his Muswell Hill flat, complete with live audience, was the setting for Sean’s Show.
It marked the TV debut of rising comedy star Sean Hughes who wrote and starred in the series. It began 30 years ago in April, 1992 on Channel 4, and showcased Sean’s quirky comedy style as he lived his life out in front of a studio audience.
He had previously appeared in director Alan Parker’s 1991 film hit The Commitments playing Dave from Eejit Records, but Sean’s Show brought him to the attention of telly viewers.
The cast included future Goodnight Sweetheart actor Victor Mcguire with Kate Robbins appearing as Cilla Black and Succession actor Brian Cox as Brother Shaw. Steve Coogan also appeared as a character called Lovey while Vinnie Jones appeared as himself.
Sean’s Show followed the comic’s success on the comedy circuit and the Edinburgh Festival.
He became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Perrier award in 1990 for A One Night Stand With Sean Hughes, which was also set in his flat, recreated with multiple props.
Sean’s Show was critically acclaimed and ran for 14 episodes. Sean went on to become a team captain on BBC’S Never Mind The Buzzcocks and penned two bestsellers.
As an actor he appeared in crime drama series The Last Detective opposite Peter Davison and enjoyed a stint in Coronation Street as Pat Stanaway in 2007. Sean sadly passed away in 2017 at the age of 51. Dara Ó Briain called him “one of the Irish comedy trailblazers of the UK” while Sarah Millican revealed he was the first comic she ever saw perform live.
Sean once wrote: “I want to be cremated. I know how boring funerals can be. I want to gather, meet new people, have a laugh, a dance, meet a loved one. I want people to have free drink all night.”