Jimmy’s first gig was probably around December 1998 and it was a spot in a small upstairs room of a pub on London’s Upper Street, The Tut ‘n’ Shive.

In interviews he’s struggled to remember the exact date but was nominated for an award in Aug 1999, so it can only have been before then.

He’d been in this pub 3 weeks in a row, chatting with comics, when he was asked if he wanted to do five minutes – he said he’d give it a go…and there it began.

To give the venue its place in comedy history (and for those who may want to drop in for a nosey) what was the Tut ‘n’ Shive is now the Islington Arts Club, at 235 Upper Street. It seems to have gone through a lot of change in the last 25 years and also appears to have been called Cedar Room, Angel & Crown, Independence, Lush and Library.

Another early gig, sometime in 1999, was at a venue called Aquarium on Tottenham Court Road (mentioned in this 2005 interview with The Independent).

For more early gigs see Pubs and Clubs 1998-2001 (which includes a video) or posts under the category of Early Gigs.