Two more early appearances at The Room, Orange Tree Pub, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2NQ. See how this venue looks now – here.
Jimmy had already performed there a few times (see here) and was back on Saturday December 18th 1999 for a Christmas Special Show.
Starting at 7.30pm and costing £10 (no concessionary) you got quite a line-up for your tenner. In the order listed on the ad:
- Andy Parsons (ex Mock The Week)
- Shelagh Martin
- Jimmy Carr
- Lawry Lewin
- Ben and Arn
- James Holmes
This same line-up, price and start time (also at the Orange Tree) was also advertised for Wednesday December 22nd 1999.
Who else was gigging?
Which other comedians were performing that weekend?
Thursday December 16th
Cosmic Comedy Club, Fulham Palace Road, had an evening of comedy, with a Christmas party, disco and dinner for £40, starting 7pm. The comic line-up was:
- Gavin Webster
- Jack Russell
- Paul B Edwards
- Paul Thorne
Also, on the 16h the Orange Tree had a more well-known name (now) for £5 from 8.30pm. Laughing Club presented:
- Parson’s and Naylor’s Sketchpad with special guests
- Lee Mack
- Frisby and friends
Friday December 17th
Cosmic Comedy Club were doing another £40 Christmas evening that was advertised as “Gavin Webster and friends”.
Meanwhile, at the Orange Tree, from 7.30pm and for £6 Laughing Club presented:
- John Gordillo
- Hal Cruttenden
- Lawry Lewin
- Shappi Khorsandi
- Milk Tray Man
- Alfie Joey
Over at Ealing Studios, for £25, you got a Christmas buffet, late bar and dancing from 8.5pm. Ha Bloody Ha presented:
- Dominic Holland
- Andy Parsons
- George Egg
- Lee Canterbury
Saturday December 18th
At Chiswick Comedy Club (in Rowan’s Café Bar) £10 got you Ha Bloody Ha presenting Steve Best and 3 guests from 8.30pm.
Hammersmith’s Cosmic Comedy Club meanwhile had a 7.30pm show, for £12, that included a disco until 2am. The comedians were:
- Gavin Webster
- Addy Borgh
- Steve Amos
- Miles Crawford
The Orange Tree had an 8.30pm show, for £7, where Ha Bloody Ha presented:
- Andy Parsons
- John Gordillo
- Alun Cochrane
- Peter Tennant
- Alfie Joey
Sunday December 19th
Laughing Club presented a show at the Orange tree (Gold or Mould) for £2.50, from 8pm.
And Laughing Club also had a show at The Grange Tavern, Ealing. From 7.15pm your £5 got you:
- John Gordillo
- Juliet Cowan
- Simon Heaton
- Peter Tennant
- Alfie Joey
Meanwhile the Bearcat Comedy Club at the Turk’s Head had a £10, 8.30pm Christmas party with:
- Boothby Graffoe
- Steve Best
- Steve Gribbin
Background
At this stage in his career Jimmy was just performing above pubs and “going on stage after strippers” (his words) so there was no tour name yet. Just driving up and down the UK, sometimes doing 2-3 venues a night, trying to get spots on open nights and hoping to get enough to cover his petrol money.
There is a page (here) about the UK Comedy Circuit, which includes a list of the old venues.
There is another page (here) for The Year 1999. It lists everyone that I can confirm were on the circuit with him, plus which comics were on TV / Radio that year.
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