Andrew Dipper

Barnard Castle return for Jenny Eclair

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She’s gone on to become one of the UK’s most iconic stand-ups – but for Jenny Eclair, it all started in Teesdale.

Eclair, who recently appeared alongside Patrick Monahan on ITV’s diving show Splash, lived in Barnard Castle as a child before pursuing her dream to become a stand-up comedian.

And on 1 March Teesdale promoters Funny Way To Be are bringing Eclair back home for one night only at the recently-refurbished Witham Hall in Barnard Castle.

“When I lived in Barnard Castle I went to a school on an army estate – I think it was Stainton Grove,Éclair recalls.

“It was tough. I’d been to a really posh school in Berlin before that so I was shocked – it was a tough, tough school in a 1960s sort of way. You had to ask for toilet paper and everything.

“But I don’t think it really did me any harm to be honest. Barnard Castle is a beautiful place and I can’t wait to come back.”

Eclair was the first ever female winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 1995.

She is a familiar face on TV, with small screen highlights on Loose Women, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, the Grumpy Old Women series, plus the Grumpy Guides, Grumpy Holidays and It’s Grim up North.

Eclair was also voted as the 27th best stand-up of all time in a recent poll by Channel 5.

Peter Dixon, of Funny Way To Be Comedy Club, said: “Jenny is one of the very best female stand-ups so I was delighted when she agreed to come to Barnard Castle to perform.

“It’s something of a homecoming show as she told me that she lived in the area for a few years as a child. It would be great if some of her old school buddies were able to come along.

“Tickets are already going fast for this show, as you might expect, and we are hoping for a sell out return to town for Jenny.”

Tickets for Jenny Eclair: Eclairious are on general sale now from funnywaytobe.com, priced £15.