Have a Whale of a time with John
North East stand-up John Whale is to make a guest appearance at Giggle Beats’ next comedy quiz night on 3 June.
Whale, a rising talent renowned for his deadpan style, will perform a short set upstairs at The Hancock pub in Newcastle, following the popular pub quiz.
He follows in the footsteps of So You Think You’re Funny? finalist Jonathan Pelham, who closed May’s sold-out event.
Whale said: “It’s immensely flattering to be asked to do the hallowed ‘keep the punters entertained while the scores are totted up’ spot down at The Hancock.
“Quizzes can often be quite tense. Those who attend are often so addicted to quizzing that they have lost the neurons responsible for laughing at anything besides funny team names.
“That’s why it’s refreshing to have the Giggle Beats Comedy Quiz, in which comedy fans can still pit their nerdy wits against each other, but in an atmosphere in which trivia isn’t considered the highest form of intellectualism, and the onus is more on enjoyment, and, let’s face it, alcohol.
“Moreover, the quiz is a great way to bring the many comedy fans we have in the North East together, in a setting aside from regular stand-up shows.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to distract quizzers from trying to look like they’re not checking their phones long enough to bring something to the night.”
Giggle Beats editor Andrew Dipper added: “I’m a big fan of John’s, so I’m over the moon that he’s agreed to join us in June.”
After starting stand up in Edinburgh whilst studying at university, Whale, from South Shields, quickly became a regular on the circuit in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
In his first year John reached the semi-finals of So You Think You’re Funny? and has twice performed for BBC Comedy Presents, the second time being at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Now back home in the North East, he gigs regularly at The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle as well as comedy clubs across the country.
In a review last year, Giggle Beats described him as “a real joy to watch.”
The review went on to say: “It’s so easy to compare Whale to Stewart Lee: he’s cutting in his condemnation of pop culture, his writing is intelligent, and his sense of timing is impeccable.”
Hosted by local comedian Simon Buglass, the Giggle Beats Comedy Quiz takes place at The Hancock pub, Newcastle, on the first Monday of every month.
Sponsors Go Faster Stripe, The Stand Comedy Club and the Comedy Advertising Network provide the prizes – including a £25 bar tab, comedy tickets, DVDs and loads more.
Entry is £2 (“A staggering level of hilarity for your money” – KYEO.TV), and if you like comedy and pub quizzes then this is the night for you.
The quiz starts at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm.
Here’s a grainy old clip of Whale in action:
The Giggle Beats Comedy Quiz takes place every first Monday at The Hancock, Newcastle. The next quiz is on Monday 3 June. For more details, see our Quiz page.
