Comedy triumph for the short-sighted stand-up!
SOLICITOR MAX WOWS THE AUDIENCE – EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN’T SEE MUCH OF THEM
THE toughest business people from all four corners of the county completed the challenge of a lifetime last night.
The seven brave souls took to the stage to perform their first ever stand-up comedy routines – all in a good cause.
And after a nerve-racking couple of hours at Leicester’s Y Theatre the judges came to the biggest decision of their lives and named Howes Percival solicitor Max Galt 2018 Stand Up Challenge winner.
Each of the seven completed fiveminute routines to help raise thou- sands of pounds for Leicester-based charity Big Difference Company and its offshoot the annual Leicester Comedy Festival.
Max came top with his quirky tale of taking his pet cat to the vets, while in second place was Radio Leicester presenter Monica Winfield, followed by Tim Cadman, of Serjeants LLP, who was third.
The other contestants were Karl Craig West, of Buzz Website Design, Martin Smith, of Force Four Creative, Russell AC Irwin, of East Midlands Airport and Shaf Islam, from Leicester restaurant Chutney Ivy.
Recovering from his ordeal, Max, a solicitor in dispute, said the build-up had been quite terrifying but he had managed to iron any mistakes in the dress rehearsal. He had previously said – with tongue firmly in cheek – that he was “coerced” into taking part, under “threat of sacking” by his firm, a long-standing supporter of Big Difference Company.
The 26-year-old from Clarendon Park said: “I mined my life for funny stories and absurdities and just went for it.
“I normally wear glasses but took them off before going on stage so I couldn’t see anything – that made it a lot easier to talk to the crowd.
“When it was over there was such a big wave of relief – it felt like reaching the summit of a mountain or completing a sky dive.
“I would have to think hard before doing it again, though.”
More than 200 people attended the show and together helped raise almost £5,000, with contestants still collecting sponsorship and donations from friends and colleagues.
Leicester Comedy Festival director Geoff Rowe said the Stand Up Challenge had become a real highlight of the business calendar.
He said: “We’re so grateful to the contestants who get on stage and perform stand-up comedy for the first time, and raise money for our charity.
“The business community turned out in force last night for the show, which was part of the Leicester Business Festival.
“We will be repeating the project again next year so anyone interested in raising some smiles and money for charity, should get in touch.”
Money raised helps the city comedy festival and community projects delivered by Big Difference Company throughout the year.
Those good causes have included working with children and young people, as well as helping people with disabilities and older people.
Next year’s Leicester Comedy Festival runs from February 6-24.
The Stand Up Challenge has taken place each autumn since 2013 and past contestants have included East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles, former LLEP chairman Nick Pulley and Leicester Racecourse boss Robert Bracken.