Another gig at the Cosmic Comedy Club, 175-177 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, W6 8.

The pub had opened in 1896 as The Greyhound and then, as the Cosmic Comedy Club, was known as a stand-up venue in the 1990s. It went through the name changes of Astro Bar, Puzzle and (the final name before its closure in 2017) Southern Belle. Pubology has some details and an image here.

Tuesday August 31^st 1999 and, in the UK, it was the tail end of the August Bank Holiday weekend. The Cosmic was having its new act night and Anvil Springsteen was the compere, hosting try-outs from:

• Belinda Merriman
• James Dowdswell
• Jimmy Carr
• Rick Ridley
• Mark Down
• Pam Ford
• Moz
• Alison Cannon
• Graeme Cary

Wonder who, out of that group, went on to have a brilliant, International career?

Admission was free and the show started at 8pm.

Jimmy’s other appearances at the Cosmic can be seen here. Or you can see a gigs listing at Pubs & Clubs 1998-2001.

Who else was gigging?

There were a couple of other recognisable names in the gigs that were being promoted on the same newspaper page as the one above. Jimmy has also appeared at many of the venues listed below and, to find out more, use Search or click on UK Comedy Circuit.

Friday August 27th 1999

Laughing Club were presenting a £6 night of entertainment (from 8.30pm) at The Room, Orange Tree Theatre.

• Marion Pashley
• Paul Sinha
• Hilary Barker
• Steve Morrison
• Paddy’s Uncensored Cabaret
• Alfie Joey – compere

And Ha Bloody Ha were putting on a £7 evening (from 7.30pm) at Ealing Film Studios, Ealing Green.

• Felix Dexter
• Russell Peters
• Alan Francis
• Harry Denford

Saturday August 28^th 1999

Laughing Club (again at The Room, Orange Tree Theatre) were charging £7 for the 8pm show from:

• Micky Flanagan
• Paul Sinha
• Stanley Rimmer
• Silky
• Alfie Joey – compere

Meanwhile, over at The Cricketers, Fairfields South, Ha Bloody Ha had a £6 show (from 8.30pm) featuring:

• Russell Peters
• Robin Banks
• Pete Wylie

Sunday August 29^th 1999

Laughing Club were once again at The Room, Orange Tree Theatre with a 7.30pm show. For £6 you got a Bank Holiday Special with:

• Sally Holloway
• Paul Sinha
• Lucy Baler
• Mark Down
• Jeff Baker
• Ian the Poet – compere

And they had another Bank Holiday Special at The Grange Tavern, Ealing. Again, £6 at 7.30pm, but this time with:

• Sally Holloway
• Clyde West
• Jeremy Engler
• Angie MacEvoy
• Paddy’s Uncensored Cabaret
• Alfie Joey – compere

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 at this point. 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. Like all the other comics listed above.

There is a page (here) about the UK Comedy Circuit

There is another page (here) for The Year 1999. It lists everyone (that you may recognise) that I can confirm were on the circuit with him, plus which comics were on TV / Radio that year.