David Baddiel, watch out. Brother Ivor is proving to be quite the funnyman.
Last week, Ivor — a well-known comedy writer and author — made his debut appearance as a stand-up. He hosted the Jewish Community Centre’s Comedy for a Cause evening at the Comedy Store in Piccadilly Circus.
Mr Baddiel, 46, introduced the line-up of comedy talent, which included the award-winning Josh Howie and Matt Kirshen; Bennett Arron, Jewish Comic of the Year Joe Bor; BBC TV’s David Schneider; and Canadian comedian Judy Batalion. But he also entertained the audience with some gags of his own.
He tells People: “I never saw myself as the performer in the family.” In fact, this formed the basis of one of his jokes. He told the audience: “I’m a writer. How did I end up doing this? It’s what happens when Jewish women ask you to do something. You turn into the Vicar Of Dibley. In your head, you are saying ‘no no no, no no no’, but out of your mouth comes: ‘Yes, I will do it.’”
Mr Baddiel, who lives in Crouch End, north London, says he did run some of his material past his brother, David, who offered some advice.
The author of 13 books, Mr Baddiel is unlikely to be giving up his day job, however.
He is currently busy working on Claudia Winkleman’s BBC Radio 2 show Hot Gossip, and BBC One’s Hole in the Wall, where a variety of celebrities try to force themselves through odd-shaped holes in giant moving walls. He is also trying to write another children’s book.
Proceeds from the evening will go to The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.
