Tuesday 14 November 2023

"Sheffield 61977"


Tom Wrigglesworth is one of the most gifted comedians I've seen. You'll probably know him from Radio 4's Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang-Ups which documents his weekly telephone calls to his elderly parents. Basically, Tom's moved down to London and every Sunday calls his mum & dad back home in Sheffield and, as they say, hilarity ensues. Skilfully written, the gags, the delivery, the timing is perfect. Seeing him on stage last week night and I don't think I've ever seen a comic so at ease in their own skin. His story telling is so relaxed you don't see the funny line that's about to blindside you until it's too late. Hang on to your sides, literally: the current. Mrs. Medd is nursing a bruised rib and I could hear her next to me really struggling.

Tom never said where in Sheffield his fictional parents live. I'd like to think they reside on Constable Road S14, overlooking the Herdings tower blocks. I've been made aware, sadly, that there are only two left standing; one of the towers was demolished in 1996. (I'm going up in a couple of weeks to see how it looks now and take a few photographs.) Sheffield brutalism at its finest.

Constable Road, Sheffield (1961)


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