My Dad...

From Live At The Apollo

More Stewart Francis videos

A Canadian comedian, largely based in Britain, who has performed at international festivals in Montreal, Aspen, South Africa, Edinbugh, Glasgow and Befast – as well as those in his homeland.

His TV appearances include The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in the US and The Comedy Store and Live At Jongleurs in the UK.

He has also written for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Canada’s Gemini Awards.

Stewart Francis: Tour de Francis
Live Review
Brighton Dome

Canadian comic Stewart Francis is known for the quality of his one-liners – and is getting rather better known for them thanks to memorable recent appearances on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Mock The Week.

So no surprises to find the tour that TV exposure has led to is simply an hour of gags. Scores, if not hundreds, of dumb, immature – and frequenty hilarious – one-liners. The unwavering tone of the night doesn’t make for much variety, but the quality of the writing ensures a sizeable collection of wonderfully quotable jokes.

Conversation isn’t something he does. When his radio mike picks up interference from Arthur Smith’s gig next door, it leaves him flummoxed, if unruffled. All he can do is plough into the material until a techie quickly arrives on stage with a replacement.

When he later repeats a gag, an occupational hazard with a fragmented set like his, he has another well-honed joke about the apparent slip that leaves the audience uncertain as to whether it was a mistake at all.

Sound problems asides, it’s an impeccably slick performance from a performer with a highly developed sense of timing. As for the material, it’s impossible to do justice to the jokes without repeating them, which would ruin the element of surprise that makes them so effective. That said, if you have seen him before, all the greatest hits are in this show, and it’s a joy to hear them again. His are not jokes that diminish in the retelling.

At his best, he plays with audience expectations of how a gag will pan out, abruptly switching direction or swerving to another punchline. The very finest have a delayed drop as the audience suddenly appreciate just how clever – in a stupid way – Francis has just been. Occasionally there’s even a smaller sub-joke to the main one, which is particularly impressive to achieve in two sentences.

Of course, with such a mass of gags, not all can live up to his brilliant best, but there’s strength in numbers, and you forgive a couple of more straightforward quips, knowing some precious gold will shortly be along shortly. Few hours pack in so many gags with such a high hit rate.

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My favourite stand up on the circuit at the moment. The one-liners are some of the funniest I've ever heard and the sharp, dead-pan delivery gives each joke that bit of extra punch. His surreal humour is played out like scenes from a movie as his face comes alive, transforming from one expression to another. Highly recommended, 10/10.

Ben, November 2010

I have seen several "headline" comedians visiting the Comedy Store in London on a weekly basis. Stewart Francis is by far the best of the lot. The funniest comedian around at the minute. I saw him in Peterborough recently on the Tour De Francis and laughed so hard at times, I thought I was going to stop breathing! Highly recommended.

Darryl Purdy, November 2010

I went to see Tour De Francis TWICE - Once in Cambridge and then again in Norwich. This is one of the best touring shows I have seen - and I've seen a lot!. One liners, puns, and the odd silly noise. Top Stuff.

Linda, June 2010

Saw Stewart at the Dancehouse Theatre in Manchester on Friday night....all I can say is Wot A LEGEND...my face hurt from laughing for an hour solid, funniest thing Ive seen in a long long time...thanks Stewart for making my night sooooo funnny xxx

Kath Howard, April 2010, May 2010

I thought 'my wife' jokes were dead till I saw Stewart Francis.

Riera, March 2010

Just been to see Stewart tonight in Leicester. He is brilliant and had me in fits of laughter throughout the entire show, which was around 1hr 20mins. You get a lot more than the 6 minute videos knocking around on YouTube and trust me, the material you haven't heard is at the very least, equally as funny as what you have heard. His timing and delivery, combined with his fantastic facial expression really set him apart from others. He's very original, his jokes are really clever and quickly delivered. A brilliant show and I would definitely see him again, outstanding.

Tim, November 2009

King of the single line, funny as fuck, laughed my ass off...

Neil, June 2009

Hysterical. A master of every aspect of stand up.

ns, September 2008

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