John Shuttleworth comes to Ilkley in April

John Shuttleworth celebrates 40 years in showbiz with his new ‘Raise the Oof’ tour coming to Ilkley [Photo: Tony Briggs]

Comedy icon and Radio 4 favourite John Shuttleworth returns to celebrate 40 years in showbiz with his new ‘Raise the Oof’ tour coming to the King's Hall on 1st April.

Known for his quirky wit, charmingly mundane songs, and beloved Yamaha keyboard (complete with auto-accompaniment!), Shuttleworth—brought to life by actor and creator Graham Fellows—promises audiences in Ilkley a show filled with laughter, nostalgia, and all-new stories.

John Shuttleworth has starred in the hit series 500 Bus Stops (BBC 2) as well as Celebrity Antiques Roadshow, Celebrity Pointless, Count Arthur Strong, and most recently Rocky and Ralf’s Very Northern Road Trip all on BBC1.

This year’s tour kicks off with the echoes of a dramatic finale from 2022. At one of his final shows at Peak Cavern (familiarly known as "The Devil's Arse"), the concert took a dramatic turn when a lost hiker, trying to find his way to the venue, accidentally ended up dangling 100 feet above the audience! The gig had to be called off as Edale Mountain Rescue swooped in, rescuing the hiker from a precarious cliff ledge just inches from a steep drop. Ever the good sport, John promised the disappointed fans a make-up performance and pledged to “write a song about the incident,” which he’ll debut on the upcoming tour.

Now back and better than ever, ‘Raise the Oof’ brings Shuttleworth's comedy genius to venues across the UK, offering original hits and hilarious tales from his four decades in entertainment. Audiences will be treated to tales of his early days with neighbour and clarinettist Ken Worthington (last place contestant on New Faces), the humorous realities of married life with miserable wife Mary, and his relentless mission to make it big in music. Shuttleworth remains determined to mail off his cassette demos (with Dolby noise reduction!) to today’s top acts, hoping for a late-career breakthrough.

With his unique comic voice, critics call him "the Cole Porter of the antimacassar set" (The Times) and praise his "ludicrously compelling" performances (Evening Standard). As The Guardian raves, “His stand-up is second to none… you can practically warm your hands on his good nature.”

Alongside his milestone tour, Shuttleworth released a new book in March, published by Omnibus Press, John Shuttleworth Takes the Biscuit. It will be  filled with original, hilarious stories from his life in and around Sheffield, brought to life with vibrant cartoons by Fellows’ longtime friend and collaborator, Kevin Baldwin. Additionally, he’s launching a new CD, The Pumice Stone and Other Rock Songs, featuring his latest hit, The Ballad of Dangly Man, inspired by the real-life rescue drama at his 2022 show in The Devil’s Arse.

John Shuttleworth is at The King's Hall, Ilkley on Tuesday 1st April, 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the Bradford Theatres website: www.bradford-theatres.co.uk